Emperor of Xia

This article is about the state during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. For other dynasties named Xia, see Xia.
Xia
夏
407–431
Helian Xia in 423
Helian Xia in 423
CapitalTongwan (418–427)
Shanggui (427–428)
Pingliang (428–430)
GovernmentMonarchy
Emperor 
• 407–425
Helian Bobo
• 425–428
Helian Chang
• 428–431
Helian Ding
History 
• Established
407
• Helian Bobo's claim of imperial title
418
• Fall of Tongwan
11 July 427[1][2]
• Disestablished
431
• Helian Ding's death
13 May 432[3][4]
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Later Qin
Western Qin
Northern Wei
Tuyuhun
Liu Song dynasty
Today part ofChina

Xia (Chinese: 夏; pinyin: Xià), known in historiography as Hu Xia (胡夏), Northern Xia (北夏), Helian Xia (赫連夏) or the Great Xia (大夏), was a dynastic state of Xiongnu origin established by Helian Bobo during the Sixteen Kingdoms period in northern China. Prior to establishing the Xia, the imperial clan existed as a tribal entity known as the Tiefu (simplified Chinese: 铁弗; traditional Chinese: 鐵弗; pinyin: Tiěfú).[5]

Although the Xia only lasted from 407 to 431, its capital Tongwan situated in the Ordos Desert was a heavily fortified and state-of-the-art city that served as a frontier garrison until the Song dynasty. Its ruins were discovered during the Qing dynasty and can still be seen in present-day Inner Mongolia.

The Book of Wei also records that Liu Kuren's tribe, the Dugu, were descended from the Xiongnu. Yao Weiyuan (姚薇元) suggested in the past that 'Dugu' was an alternate form of 'Tuge' (屠各), the Xiongnu aristocratic clan that had adopted the Han Chinese surname of Liu (劉), members of which also ruled the Former Zhao state. This writer further suggests that 'Tuge' is an alternate form of 'Tuhe' (徒河), which is the branch of the Xianbei from which the Murong (慕容) were descended. The Liu (Dugu) were also known as 'Tiefu' (鐵弗), a term which meant that they had Xiongnu fathers and Xianbei mothers. Thus it is reasonable to say that the Dugu were at least half Xianbei.

All rulers of the Xia declared themselves "emperors".

Chieftains of the Tiefu and rulers of the Xia

Temple name Posthumous names Personal name Durations of reign Era names
Tiefu Tribe (309–407)
– Liu Hu 劉虎 309–341 –
– Liu Wuheng 劉務恆 341–356 –
– Liu Eloutou 劉閼陋頭 356–358 –
– Liu Xiwuqi 劉悉勿祈 358–359 –
– Liu Weichen 劉衞辰 359–391 –
– Liu Bobo 391–407 –
Xia (407–431)
Shizu Wulie Helian Bobo
(same person as Liu Bobo)		 407–425 Longsheng (龍升) 407–413
Fengxiang (鳳翔) 413–418
Changwu (昌武) 418–419
Zhenxing (眞興) 419–425
– Helian Chang 425–428 Chengguang (承光) 425–428
– Helian Ding 428–431 Shengguang (勝光) 428–431

Rulers family tree

Xia
Qubei
去卑
d. ?; r. 216–?
Liu Meng 刘猛
d. 272		Liu
Gaoshengyuan
劉誥升爰 d. 309;
r. ?–309
Liu Fulun
劉副崙		Liu Hu
劉虎 d. 341;
r. 309–341
Liu Wuheng
劉務恒
d. 356;
r. 341–356		Liu Eloutou
劉閼陋頭
r. 356–358
Liu Xiwuqi
劉悉勿祈
r. 358–359		Liu Weichen
劉衛辰
d. 391;
r. 359–391
You Dedai
右地代		□Li Qiti
力俟提		Ali Luoyin
阿利罗引		Zhi Lidi
直力鞮		Wei Fa
韦伐		Helian Bobo 赫連勃勃
b. 381– d. 425
Wulie 武烈
r. 407–425		Ruo Men
若门		Chi Yijian
叱以鞬		Yi Dou
乙斗		Wen Chen
文陈		□
Luo Tí
罗提		Helian
Zhuxing
赫連助興		Helian
Weiyidai
赫連謂以代		Helian
Duluogu
赫連度洛孤		Helian
Shegan
赫連社干		Helian
Wushiba
赫連烏視拔		Helian
Tugu
赫連禿骨		Helian
An
赫連安		Suruo
Dougen
宿若豆根		Yi Sheng
乙升
Helian
Gui
赫連璝
d. 424		Helian
Yan
赫連延		Helian Chang
赫連昌
d. 434; r. 425–428		Helian Lun
赫连伦 d. 424		Helian Ding
赫連定
d. 432; r. 428–431		Helian
Man
赫連滿		Empress Helian
d. 453
Empress Taiwu
太武皇后 (432–452)		Su Dagan
宿沓干
daughter
wife of
Luo Ti
罗提		Helian
Douwuyu
赫连豆勿于		Su Shí
宿石
□Su Ni
宿倪
Helian
Ziyue
赫连子悦
Helian
Zhungzhang
赫连仲章


See also

References

  1. ^ "中央研究院網站".
  2. ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 120.
  3. ^ "中央研究院網站".
  4. ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 122.
  5. ^ Grousset, Rene (1970). The Empire of the Steppes. Rutgers University Press. pp. 61. ISBN 0-8135-1304-9.