Northern Han

For the state also known as "Northern Han" during the Sixteen Kingdoms period, see Han-Zhao.

The Northern Han (simplified Chinese: 北汉; traditional Chinese: 北漢; pinyin: Běi Hàn) was a dynastic state of China and one of the Ten Kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It was founded by Liu Min (Emperor Shizu) as a continuation of the Later Han dynasty founded by his brother Liu Zhiyuan (Emperor Gaozu). The Northern Han lasted from 951 to 979, when it was conquered by the Northern Song dynasty.

Han 漢
951–979
The Northern Han in 951
Capital	Taiyuan
Common languages	Chinese
Religion	Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Chinese folk religion
Government	Monarchy
Emperor
• 951–954	Emperor Shizu
• 954–968	Emperor Ruizong
• 968	Emperor Shaozhu
• 968–979	Emperor Yingwu
Historical era	Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
• Established	951
• Ended by the Song dynasty	979
Currency	Chinese cash, Chinese coin, copper coins etc.
Preceded by Succeeded by Later Han (Five Dynasties) Song dynasty
Today part of	China

Founding of the Northern Han

The short-lived state of Later Han fell in 950 because of Guo Wei, a powerful military governor's de facto coup. Liu Min founded the Northern Han Kingdom, sometimes referred to as the Eastern Han, in 951 claiming that he was the legitimate heir to the imperial throne of Later Han. Liu Min immediately restored the traditional relationship with the Khitans, who had founded the Liao dynasty.

Sources conflict as to the origin of the Later Han and Northern Han emperors; some indicate sinicized Shatuo ancestry while some traditional historical sources claim that the emperors claimed patrilineal Han Chinese ancestry.

Territorial extent

The Northern Han was a small kingdom located in Shanxi with its capital located at Taiyuan. Shanxi had been a traditional base of power since the fading days of the Tang dynasty in the late ninth century and early tenth century. It was wedged between the two major powers of the day, the Liao dynasty to the north and the Later Zhou dynasty (then the Northern Song dynasty) to the south.

Wedge between Liao and Song

The existence of the Northern Han was one of the two major thorns in relations between the Liao Dynasty and Later Zhou's successor Northern Song, the other being the continued possession of the Sixteen Prefectures by the Liao Dynasty. The Northern Han had placed itself under the protection of the Liao.

Emperor Taizu of Song was successful in nearly completing the incorporation of the southern kingdoms into the Song Dynasty by his death in 976. His younger brother, Emperor Taizong wished to emulate his older brother's successes. Wuyue was brought into the realm in 978.

Fall of the Northern Han

Emboldened by his success to the south, Emperor Taizong decided to embark on a campaign to finally destroy the Northern Han. Leading the army himself, he brought his forces to the Northern Han capital of Taiyuan, which was laid under siege in June. An initial relief force sent by the Liao was easily defeated by Song. After a two-month siege of the capital, the emperor of the Northern Han surrendered and the kingdom was incorporated into the Northern Song.

Rulers

Sovereigns in Northern Han Kingdom 951–979

Temple Names (Miao Hao 廟號)	Posthumous Names (Shi Hao 諡號)	Personal Names	Period of Reigns	Era Names (Nian Hao 年號) and their according range of years
世祖 Shìzǔ	神武帝 Shénwǔdì	Liu Min (劉旻)	951–954	Qiányòu (乾祐) 951–954
睿宗 Ruìzōng	孝和帝 Xiàohédì	Liu Jun (劉鈞)	954–968	Qiányòu (乾祐) 954–957 Tiānhuì (天會) 957–968
少主 Shàozhǔ	Did not exist	Liu Ji'en (劉繼恩)	968	Did not exist
Did not exist	英武帝 Yīngwǔdì	Liu Jiyuan (劉繼元)	968–979	Guǎngyùn (廣運) 968–979

The family tree of the Later Han and Northern Han rulers

The family tree of the Later Han and Northern Han rulers
- Later Han emperors;   - Northern Han emperors adopted Marriage Liu Tian 劉琠 Xianzu 显祖 Liu Zhiyuan 劉知遠 895–948 Gaozu 高祖 947–948 Liu Min 劉旻 895–954 Shizu 世祖 951–954 Liu Chengyou 劉承祐 931–951 Yindi 隱帝 948–951 Liu Yun 劉贇 d.951; r.950 Liu Jun 劉钧 926–968 Ruizong 睿宗 954–968 Xue Zhao 薛钊 Lady Liu 劉氏 Mr. He 何某 Liu Jien 劉继恩 d. 968 Shaozhu 少主 968 Liu Jiyuan 劉继元 d. 992 Yingwudi 英武帝 968–979

References

Sources

• Mote, F.W. (1999). Imperial China: 900-1800. Harvard University Press. pp. 16, 106–108. ISBN 0-674-01212-7.