Sima Lun
Sima Lun (
sim. ch. 司马伦,
trad. ch. 司馬倫,
py. sī mǎ lún,
wg. Ssu-ma Lun) (before
249 exclusive -
poisoned
June 5,
301),
courtesy name Ziyi (子彛), was titled the
Prince of
Zhao (
pinyin: zhào
wáng,
simplified Chinese: 赵王,
traditional Chinese: 趙王) and the usurper of the
Jin Dynasty from
February 3 to
May 30,
301. He is usually not counted in the list of Jin emperors due to his brief reign, and was oftened mentioned by historians as an example of a wicked usurper. He was the third of the eight princes commonly associated with the
War of the Eight Princes.
As
Sima Yi's youngest son, Sima Lun had a number of minor titles during the
Cao Wei regencies of his brothers
Sima Shi and
Sima Zhao. After his nephew Sima Yan established Jin Dynasty as
Emperor Wu in
365, Sima Lun was created the Prince of Langye. He served as a general and governor at times during his nephew reigns, but was undistinguished; several times he was accused of crimes, but each time Emperor Wu pardoned him of them. In
277, his principality was moved to Zhao.
During the early reign of
Emepror Hui, Sima Lun was in charge of the military command of Qin (秦州, modern eastern
Gansu) and Yong (雍州, modern central and northern
Shaanxi) Provinces, but his misgovernance contributed to conditions where the
Di and the
Qiang rebelled under the Di chief Qi Wannian (齊萬年). His chief strategist Sun Xiu (孫秀) was arrested and initiallly set to be executed, but was spared. Sima Lun and Sun were recalled to the capital
Luoyang, where he flattered Empress Hui's
Empress Jia Nanfeng and became trusted by her. Lun then requested a high level office, but was rebuffed by Empress Jia's advisors
Zhang Hua and Pei Wei (裴頠).
After Empress Jia, in jealousy, deposed the
crown prince Sima Yu (born not of her but of her husband's
concubine Consort Xie Jiu) in
299, there was a conspiracy to overthrow her and restore the crown prince. Sima Lun was persuaded to join the conspiracy, but Sun had another plan for him: instead encourage Empress Jia to assassinate the crown prince in exile, and then use the assassination as the excuse to overthrow her. Sima Lun accepted the plan and persuaded her to assassinate the crown prince, which she did in
300. He then declared a coup against her and arrested her, slaughtering her clan and her associates (including Zhang and Pei). He then forced her to commit suicide.
Sima Lun then became regent for the
developmentally disabled Emperor Hui, but was described to be not particularly more intelligent than Emperor Hui. Even though he carried the regent title, true power was in Sun Xiu's hands. Under Sun Xiu's persuasion, he deposed Emperor Hui and declared himself emperor in
301, offering Emperor Hui the honoric title of
retired emperor but putting him under house arrest. Emperor Hui's grandson, the crown prince Sima Zang (司馬臧), was executed.
The act of usurpation brought widespread anger. In order to appease those who might be angry at his usurpation, Sima Lun rewarded many people with honors. Sun, in particular, was issuing edicts based on his own whims. Suspecting three key princes Sun sent his trusted subordinates to be their assistants. Prince Jiong refused and declared a rebellion to restore Emperor Hui. Prince Ying,
Sima Ai the Prince of Changshan (Emperor Hui's brother), and Sima Xin (司馬歆) the Duke of Xinye (the son of a granduncle of Emperor Hui) all declared support for Prince Jiong. Prince Yong initially sent his general Zhang Fang (張方) with intent to support Sima Lun, but then heard that Princes Jiong and Ying had great forces, and so declared for the rebels instead. Sima Lun's forces were easily defeated by Princes Jiong and Ying's forces, and after just declaring himself emperor for three months, Sima Lun was captured by officials in Luoyang who declared for the rebellion as well, and forced to issue an edict returning the throne to Emperor Hui. He was then forced to commit suicide. Sun and other associates of Sima Lun were executed, as were all of Sima Lun's sons.
*
Jianshi (建始)
February 3-
June 1,
301*
Father**
Sima Yi*
Mother** Lady Bo
*
Children
** Sima Kua (司馬荂), the Crown Prince (created and executed
301)
** Sima Fu (司馬馥), the Prince of Jingzhao (created and executed
301)
** Sima Qian (司馬"), the Prince of Guangping (created and executed
301)
** Sima Xu (司馬詡), the Prince of Bacheng (created and executed
301)
