Xie Xuan 謝玄

Xie Xuan 謝玄 (343-388), courtesy name Youdu 幼度, was a general of the Eastern Jin dynasty 東晉 (317-420).

He hailed from Yangxia 陽夏 in the commandery of Chenjun 陳郡 (today's Taikang 太康, Henan) and was a nephew of Xie An 謝安 (320-385). His career started as a clerk (yuan 掾) of Huan Wen 桓溫 (312-373). When Xie An was regent, Xie Huan was promoted on recommendation to the post of General Establishing Martiality (jianwu jiangjun 建武將軍) and was appointed regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Yanzhou 兗州, and then as administrator (xiang 相) of the Princedom of Guangling 廣陵. In this position, Xie Xuan was also responsible for the recruitment and training of Northern Garrison troops (beifubing 北府兵).

In 379, the army of the Former Qin empire 前秦 (351-394) besieged Xianyang 襄陽 and, in a pincer movement, also attacked the region of Pengcheng 彭城 in the east (north of present-day Jiangsu province). From Guangling 廣陵, Xie Xuan liberated the city of San'a 三阿. He liaised his forced with Tian Luo 田洛 and took back Xuyi 盱眙 and Huaiyin 淮陰, forcing the Former Qin army to retreat. For his achievements, Xie Xuan was invested as District Marquis of Dongxing 東興縣侯.

In 383, Fu Jian 苻堅 (r. 356-384) once more invaded Jin China, and the forces of the two enemies met in the crucial battle of Feishui 肥水. Xie Xuan was made Commander-in-Chief of the Avantgarde (qianfeng dudu 前鋒都督). With 8,000 elite soldiers, he and his uncle Xie Shi 謝石 (327-389) crossed River Fei and attacked the much stronger army of the Former Qin. A year later, he liberated Pengcheng and advanced farther to the north to conquer the provinces of Xuzhou 徐州, Yanzhou, Qingzhou 青州 and Yuzhou 豫州. Xie's northernmost success was the occupation of Liyang 黎陽 (today's Junxian 浚縣, Henan). He was rewarded with the title of District Duke of Kangle 康樂縣公.

The powerful Prince Sima Daozi 司馬道子 (364-403) was envious of Xie's successes and managed that the court ordered him to return to his garrison Huaiyin, instead of remaining in the critical border post at Pengcheng. Back in Huaiyin, Xie Xuan fell ill and asked for a leave. He was transferred to the position of Household Administrator (neishi 內史) of the Prince of Guiji 會稽, where he died. He was posthumously granted the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry (cheji jiangjun 車騎將軍). His posthumous title was Duke Xianwu 康樂獻武公.