Xiao Zhaoye 蕭昭業, the Prince of Yulin 郁林

Xiao Zhaoye 蕭昭業 (473-494), courtesy name Yuanshang 元尚, was the third emperor (r. 493－494) of the Southern Qi dynasty 南齊 (479-502), one of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420-589).

He was the oldest grandson of Emperor Wu 齊武帝 (r. 482-493) and a son of Xiao Changmao 蕭長懋 (458-493), Crown Prince Wenhui 文惠太子. Zhaoye was the Prince of the Commandery of Nanjun 南郡. He was handsome in appearance and skilled in calligraphy, which made him favored by Emperor Wu. During Emperor Wu's reign, a special edict was issued forbidding the casual circulation of the imperial grandson's handwritten works, as they were considered precious. In 493, after the premature death of his father, he was made Heir Apparent. In the same year, Emperor Wu died, leaving the throne to Xiao Zhaoye, with the support of the regents Wang Jian 王儉 (452-489), Xiao Ziliang 蕭子良 (460-494), the Prince of Jingling 竟陵, and Xiao Luan 蕭鸞 (452-498), the Marquis of Xichang 西昌侯 and eventual Emperor Ming 齊明帝 (r. 494-498). In 494, he changed the reign motto to Longchang 隆昌. The emperor's father was posthumously granted the temple name Shizong Wen Huangdi 齊世宗文皇帝.

After the passing away of Xiao Ziliang, Xiao Luan remained the only man in power, all the more as Xiao Zhaoye did not pay attention to government affairs. Being angry about Xiao Luan's remonstrations against the sovereign's negligence, he even ordered the regent to be executed. Xiao thereupon alarmed some troops of the guard and had the emperor killed in the Yande Hall 延德殿, and replaced him by his younger brother, Xiao Zhaowen 蕭昭文 (r. 494). The Empress Dowager issued a decree that the late emperor's posthumous title be Prince of Yulin 郁林, and ordered to bury him according to the ceremonies fitting to a prince, and not those of an emperor.