Sima Mao
| Sima Mao 司馬楙 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince of Dongping (东平王) | |||||||||
| Reign | 9 February 266[1] - c.308[2] | ||||||||
| Prince of Jingling (竟陵王) | |||||||||
| Reign | c.308 - 14 July 311 | ||||||||
| Born | Unknown | ||||||||
| Died | 14 July 311[3] Luoyang, Henan | ||||||||
| Issue | None | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| House | House of Sima | ||||||||
| Father | Sima Wang | ||||||||
Sima Mao (simplified Chinese: 司马楙; traditional Chinese: 司馬楙; died 14 July 311, courtesy name Kongwei (孔伟),[4] was the youngest son of Sima Wang, Prince Cheng of Yiyang, and a grandson of Sima Fu, Prince Xian of Anping and a younger brother of Sima Yi, regent of the Cao Wei state during the Three Kingdoms era. Besides his heritage, Sima Mao was best known for his friendship with his second cousin Sima Yao, despite the great difference in their ages,[5] as well as his support for some of Emperor Hui's regents during the War of the Eight Princes. Eventually, Sima Mao died during the Disaster of Yongjia in July 311.
Background and life under Emperor Wu
[edit]Sima Mao was born to Sima Wang in an unknown year as the youngest of four sons.[6] His first recorded post was as a military officer under either Sima Shi or Sima Zhao, who were both regents of the Cao Wei state.[7] When his second cousin Sima Yan (son of Sima Zhao) usurped the throne from Cao Huan in February 266, Sima Mao, together with his elder brother Sima Hong (司马洪), father and grandfather, were made princes on 9 February. Sima Mao's title was the Prince of Dongping and his fief consisted of 3097 households.[8] Sima Wang died in August 271, while Sima Fu died in April the following year. Sima Hong died on 7 March 276.[9]
During Emperor Hui's reign
[edit]In May 290, Emperor Wu died. Emperor Wu's successor, Emperor Hui was developmentally disabled; his reign saw a series of regents who ruled on his behalf. During the regency of Yang Jun, father of Emperor Wu's second empress Empress Yang Zhi, Sima Mao supported Yang. This caused Mao great trouble when Yang was overthrown in April 291. Mao was supposed to be executed, but due to his friendship with Sima Yao, he was spared.[10] This friendship turned out to be a double-edged sword; when Sima Yao was removed from his post on 12 May[11], Mao was also implicated and forced to his fiefdom[12]. While at his fiefdom, Sima Mao was recorded to engage in business; he was also extravagant and enjoyed privileges beyond what his rank entitled him to.[13]
Sima Mao's turn of fortune came in 300, after Sima Lun the Prince of Zhao overthrew Empress Jia Nanfeng in May and became Emperor Hui's regent. Mao supported Lun; when a coalition of Jin imperial princes formed against Lun in 301, Mao was made General of the Guards and supervisor of Lun's troops.[14] However, Lun was overthrown in May, and Sima Mao was again implicated and relieved of his positions.[15] Sima Mao's fortunes again turned in c.November, when his friend Yao was recalled to the Jin court; he was made General who Pacifies the East and Chief Controller of Xuzhou, and sent to garrison Xiapi.[16]
In c.August 305, Sima Yue sent out a proclamation throughout the regions east of Luoyang calling for a campaign against Sima Yong, Mao's cousin. He cited that Yong's general Zhang Fang had forcibly moved Emperor Hui to Chang'an and aimed to bring him back to Luoyang. Sima Yue's brothers and several other prominent governors such as Wang Jun and Sima Xiao all joined him, which greatly disturbed Yong. Yue also began handing out new appointments to his allies without the emperor's consent, but when he tried to transfer the Inspector of Yu province, Liu Qiao and Sima Mao, who declared himself Inspector of Yan province, Qiao and Mao defected to Yong's side in c.September, with Liu Qiao accusing Yue of overstepping his authority.[17]
During Emperor Huai's reign and death
[edit]Emperor Hui died in January 307 and was succeeded by his half-brother Emperor Huai. Sima Mao was made Prince of Jingling during the reign of Emperor Huai, although the exact date or year is unknown. Mao still did not support Sima Yue, who was Emperor Huai's regent, and also Emperor Hui's last regent. In 310, Mao tried to attack Sima Yue's general He Lun (何伦), but was defeated. Blamed by Emperor Huai for the failure, Sima Mao fled Luoyang, and he was relieved of his posts. He avoided Luoyang until Yue's death in April 311.[18][19] However, Sima Yue's death led to a further weakening of Jin imperial authority, which accumulated to the Disaster of Yongjia in July, where Mao was killed.
References
[edit]- ^ ([泰始元年十二月]丁卯，.....。封皇叔祖父孚为安平王....皇从伯父望为义阳王，....，皇从父兄洪为河间王，皇从父弟楙为东平王。) Jin Shu, vol.03.
- ^ Sima Mao's biography in Jin Shu recorded that he was made Prince of Jingling during the reign of Emperor Huai of Jin (307-311). The first record in Zizhi Tongjian of Mao as Prince of Jingling was in 310 (vol.87).
- ^ Sima Mao's biography in Book of Jin recorded that he died in the chaos of the Disaster of Yongjia, while Zizhi Tongjian recorded that he was killed on 14 July (the day after Han troops entered Luoyang). ([永嘉五年六月]戊戌，[刘]曜杀太子诠、...、竟陵王楙、...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.87; (及洛阳倾覆，为乱兵所害。) Jin Shu, vol.37.
- ^ (竟陵王楙，字孔伟，...) Jin Shu, vol.37
- ^ When Sima Wang was made prince in Feb 266, he was already about 61 years old. At the same time, Sima Yao's eldest brother Sima Jin was only about 10.
- ^ ([望]四子：弈、洪、整、楙。) Jin Shu, vol.37
- ^ (起家参相国军事.) Jin Shu, vol.37. Sima Shi's and Sima Zhao's annals in Jin Shu both recorded that they were given the title "xiangguo" during their stints as regents. Sima Yi's annals in the same work recorded that while he was bestowed the title, he declined to accept it; the title was bestowed again to Yi after his death in Sep 251.
- ^ (武帝受禅，封东平王，邑三千九十七户。) Jin Shu, vol.37
- ^ ([咸宁二年]二月丙戌，河间王洪薨.) Jin Shu, vol.03. The title of Prince of Hejian was later given to Hong's nephew Sima Yong.
- ^ (楙善谄谀，曲事杨骏。及骏诛，依法当死，东安公繇与楙善，故得不坐。) Jin Shu, vol.37
- ^ ([元康元年]三月....庚戌，免东安王繇及东平王楙，...）Jin Shu, vol.04
- ^ (繇欲擅朝政，与汝南王亮不平。帝托以繇讨骏顾望，免繇、楙等官，遣楙就国。) Jin Shu, vol.37.
- ^ (楙殖财货，奢僭逾制。) Jin Shu, vol.37
- ^ (召东平王楙为卫将军，都督诸军，...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.84
- ^ (赵王伦篡位，召还。及义兵起，伦以楙为卫将军、都督诸军事。伦败，楙免官。) Jin Shu, vol.37
- ^ ([永宁元年]九月，征其弟东安王繇复旧爵，拜尚书左仆射。繇举东平王楙为平东将军、都督徐州诸军事，镇下邳。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.84.
- ^ ([永兴二年]秋，七月，越传檄山东征、镇、州、郡云：“欲纠帅义旅，奉迎天子，还復旧都。”东平王楙闻之，惧；长史王修说楙曰：“东海，宗室重望；今兴义兵，公宜举徐州以授之，则免於难，且有克让之美矣。”楙从之。越乃以司空领徐州都督，楙自为兖州刺史；诏即遣使者刘虔授之。是时，越兄弟並據方任，於是范阳王虓及王浚等共推越为盟主，越辄选置刺史以下，朝士多赴之。成都王颖既废，河北人多怜之。颖故将公师籓等自称将军，起兵於赵、魏，众至数万。初，上党武乡羯人石勒，有胆力，善骑射。并州大饥，建威将军阎粹说东嬴公腾执诸胡於山东，卖充军实。勒亦被掠，卖为茌平人师懽奴，懽奇其状貌而免之。懽家邻於马牧，勒乃与牧帅汲桑结壮士为群盗。及公师籓起，桑与勒帅数百骑赴之。桑始命勒以石为姓，勒为名。籓攻陷郡县，杀二千石、长史，转前，攻邺。平昌公模甚惧；范阳王虓遣其将苟晞救邺，与广平太守谯国丁绍共撃籓，走之。八月，辛丑，大赦。司空越以琅邪王睿为平东将军，监徐州诸军事，留守下邳。睿请王导为司马，委以军事。越帅甲士三万，西屯萧县，范阳王虓自许屯於荥阳。越承製以豫州刺史刘乔为冀州刺史，以范阳王虓领豫州刺史；乔以虓非天子命，發兵拒之。虓以刘琨为司马，越以刘蕃为淮北护军，刘舆为颖川太守。乔上尚书，列舆兄弟罪恶，因引兵攻许，遣其长子祐将兵拒越於萧县之灵壁，越兵不能进。东平王楙在兖州，徴求不已，郡县不堪命。范阳王虓遣苟晞还兖州，徙楙都督青州。楙不受命，背山东诸侯，与刘乔合。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86. The 7th month of the 2nd year of the Yong'xing era corresponds to 7 Aug to 4 Sep 305, while the 8th month corresponds to 5 Sep to 4 Oct.
- ^ (楙白帝讨越，乃合众袭伦，不克。帝委罪于楙，楙奔窜获免。越薨，乃出。) Jin Shu, vol.37
- ^ ([永嘉四年]竟陵王楙白帝遣兵袭何伦，不克；帝委罪于楙，楙逃窜，得免。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.87
- Fang, Xuanling: Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
- Sima, Guang: Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance (Zizhi Tongjian)