Sima Wei (Jingyao)
| Sima Wei 司馬威 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince of Zhangwu (章武王) | |||||||||
| Reign | 05 October 277[1] - 16 July 288[2] | ||||||||
| Prince of Yiyang (义阳王) | |||||||||
| Reign | 16 July 288 - c.July 301 | ||||||||
| Born | Unknown | ||||||||
| Died | c.July 301[3] Luoyang, Henan | ||||||||
| Issue | None | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| House | House of Sima | ||||||||
| Father | Sima Hong | ||||||||
Sima Wei (simplified Chinese: 司马威; traditional Chinese: 司馬威; died c.July 301), courtesy name Jingyao (景曜),[4] childhood name A-pi (阿皮), was a son of Sima Hong (Prince Ping of Hejian), a grandson of Sima Wang (Prince Cheng of Yiyang), and a great-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 Wei was best known for being one of a few people (possibly the only one) to be requested for execution by Emperor Hui of Jin.
Background and life under Emperor Wu
[edit]Sima Wei was born to Sima Hong in an unknown year. When Sima Hong's second cousin Sima Yan (Emperor Wu and son of Sima Zhao) usurped the throne from Cao Huan in February 266, Sima Hong, together with his younger brother Sima Mao, father and grandfather, were made princes on 9 February.[5] Sima Wang died in August 271, while Sima Fu died in April the following year. Sima Hong died on 7 March 276, and Sima Wei inherited his princedom.[6] In October 277, the title of Prince of Hejian was given to Wei's cousin Sima Yong, while Sima Wei was appointed Prince of Zhangwu. In June or July 288, Sima Qi, son of Sima Yi (Wang's eldest son), lost his title of Prince of Yiyang due to an offence.[7] Sima Wei was then appointed Prince of Yiyang.
During Emperor Hui's reign and death
[edit]In May 290, just under two years after Wei was appointed Prince of Yiyang, Emperor Wu died. Emperor Wu's successor, Emperor Hui was developmentally disabled; his reign saw a series of regents who ruled on his behalf. Sima Wei's activities during the regencies of Yang Jun, Sima Liang and Wei Guan (who were co-regents), and Emperor Hui's wife Empress Jia Nanfeng, were poorly documented. He obtained his first position towards the end of the Yuan'kang era (291-299).[8]
In May 300, Sima Lun the Prince of Zhao deposed Empress Jia in a coup. Sima Wei then aligned himself with Lun. In late January 301, Sima Lun was ready to usurp the throne. He dispatched Sima Wei to force Emperor Hui to relinquish the imperial seal. On 3 February, Lun declared himself emperor.[9]
However, Sima Lun was unpopular as emperor. By late April or early May 301, the situation for Lun gradually worsened as Sima Ying won the Battle of Huangqiao and crossed the Yellow River to approach Luoyang. Officials in the capital were also beginning to openly express their frustration over Sima Lun and Sun Xiu, causing Sun to hole himself up in his office out of fear. Sun only moved to the office of the Masters of Writing after Sima Wei called him to discuss strategy. They ordered a full conscription of men in Luoyang to follow Sima Lun in battle. However, the conscripts later urged Sima Wei to kill Sun; Wei refused by secretly fleeing to his residence.[10]
Sima Lun was deposed on 30 May and forced to commit suicide six days later on 5 June.[11] After his restoration to the throne, Emperor Hui said, "A-Pi broke my fingers, and stole my seal; he must be killed." Thus, Sima Wei was executed.[12] After his death, Sima Qi was made Prince of Jiyang to serve as Sima Wang's heir.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ ([咸宁三年]八月癸亥，....太原王颙为河间王，....河间王威为章武王。) Jin Shu, vol.03.
- ^ ([太康九年]六月庚子朔，日有蚀之。徙章武王威为义阳王。) Jin Shu, vol.03.
- ^ ([永宁元年]五月，诛议阳王威。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.84. The month corresponds to 23 Jun to 21 Jul 301 in the Julian calendar.
- ^ (威字景曜，...) Jin Shu, vol.37
- ^ ([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.
- ^ ([咸宁二年]二月丙戌，河间王洪薨.) Jin Shu, vol.03.
- ^ ([太康九年]五月，义阳王奇有罪，黜为三纵亭侯。) Jin Shu, vol.03; the month corresponds to 16 Jun to 15 Jul 288 in the Julian calendar.
- ^ (元康末，为散骑常侍，...) Jin Shu, vol.37
- ^ (散骑常侍义阳王威，望之孙也，素谄事伦，伦以威兼侍中，使威逼夺帝玺绶，作禅诏，....[永宁元年正月]乙丑，伦备法驾入宫，即帝位，赦天下，改元建始。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.84
- ^ (义阳王威劝秀至尚书省与八坐议征战之备，秀从之。使京城四品以下子弟年十五以上，皆诣司隶，从伦出战。内外诸军悉欲劫杀秀，威惧，自崇礼闼走还下舍。) Jin Shu, vol.59
- ^ ([永宁元年四月]辛酉，左卫将军王舆与尚书陵公漼帅营兵七百馀人，自南掖门入宫，三部司马为应于内，攻孙秀、许超、士猗于中书省，皆斩之，遂杀孙奇、孙弼及前将军谢惔等，漼，人由之子也。王舆屯云龙门，召八坐皆入殿中，使伦为诏曰：“吾为孙秀所误，以怒三王，今已诛秀。其迎太上皇复位，吾归老于农亩。”....丁卯，遣尚书袁敞持节赐伦死，收其子荂、馥、虔、诩，皆诛之。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.84
- ^ (伦败，惠帝反正，曰：“阿皮捩吾指，夺吾玺绶，不可不杀。”阿皮，威小字也。于是诛威。) Jin Shu, vol.37
- ^ (后威诛，复立奇为棘阳王以嗣望。) Jin Shu, vol.37
- Fang, Xuanling: Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
- Sima, Guang: Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance (Zizhi Tongjian)