Death
After Emperor Gengshi's forces decisively defeated Wang Mang's last major force—which had sought to crush the rebels with overwhelming force—at the Battle of Kunyang (in which Liu Yan's brother Liu Xiu played a major part), Emperor Gengshi quickly became at least nominally acknowledged by most of the empire as the legitimate Han emperor. However, Emperor Gengshi remained fearful of Liu Yan's capabilities and keenly aware that many of Liu Yan's followers were angry that he was not made emperor. One, Liu Ji (劉稷), was particularly critical of Emperor Gengshi. Emperor Gengshi arrested Liu Ji and wanted to execute him, but Liu Yan tried to intercede. Emperor Gengshi, encouraged by Li Yi (who had by that point turned against Liu Yan) and Zhu Wei (朱鮪), took this opportunity to execute Liu Yan as well. Liu Xiu barely survived after Emperor Gengshi became ashamed of what he had done to Liu Yan.
After Liu Yan's death, Liu Xiu took his sons in and raised them. After Liu Xiu eventually proclaimed himself emperor, founding the Eastern Han Dynasty, in 25, he took steps to honor Liu Yan's sons Liu Zhang (劉章) and Liu Xing (劉興). In 26, he created Liu Zhang Prince of Taiyuan and Liu Xing Prince of Lu (and made Liu Xing the heir to his other brother, Liu Zhong). In 39, he posthumously honored Liu Yan with the title Prince Wu ("martial prince") of Qi (as his son Prince Zhang had, by that point, been moved to the Principality of Qi).
Read more about this topic: Liu Yan (Bosheng)
Famous quotes containing the word death:
“Poor fellow never joyed since the price of oats rose, it was
the death of him.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“To die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly. Death freely chosen, death at the right time, brightly and cheerfully accomplished amid children and witnesses: then a real farewell is still possible, as the one who is taking leave is still there; also a real estimate of what one has wished, drawing the sum of one’s life—all in opposition to the wretched and revolting comedy that Christianity has made of the hour of death.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“We term sleep a death ... by which we may be literally said to die daily; in fine, so like death, I dare not trust it without my prayers.”
—Thomas Browne (1605–1682)