Emperor Xiaozhuang of Northern Wei

Emperor Xiaozhuang of Northern Wei
北魏孝莊帝
Emperor of Northern Wei
ReignMay 15, 528[1] – January 6, 531[2]
PredecessorYuan Zhao
SuccessorYuan Ye
Born507
DiedJanuary 26, 531
Burial
Jing Mausoleum (靜陵)
Names
Family name: Yuán (元)
Given name: Zǐyōu (子攸)
Era dates
  • Jiàn yì (建義) 528
  • Yǒng ān (永安) 528-530
Posthumous name
Initially Emperor Wuhuai (武懷皇帝), later Emperor Xiaozhuang (孝莊皇帝)
Temple name
Jingzong (敬宗)
HouseYuan
DynastyNorthern Wei

Emperor Xiaozhuang of Northern Wei (Chinese: (北)魏孝莊帝, 507 – 26 January 531;[3] r. May 528 – Jan 531), personal name Yuan Ziyou (Chinese: 元子攸), courtesy name Yanda (彥達), was an emperor of China's Northern Wei dynasty. He was placed on the throne by General Erzhu Rong, who refused to recognize the young emperor, Yuan Zhao, who Empress Dowager Hu had placed on the throne after she poisoned her son Emperor Xiaoming.

During his reign, General Erzhu largely controlled the military and acted in a violent manner, leading Emperor Xiaozhuang to believe that he would usurp the throne. In late 530, Emperor Xiaozhuang ambushed General Erzhu and killed him in the palace, but his cousin Erzhu Shilong and nephew Erzhu Zhao subsequently captured and killed Xiaozhuang.

  1. ^ wu'xu day of the 4th month of the 1st year of the Yong'an era, per Emperor Xiaozhuang's biography in Book of Wei
  2. ^ Emperor Xiaozhuang's biography in Bei Shi indicate that he was captured by Erzhu Zhao on the jia'chen day of the 12th month of the 3rd year of the Yong'an era.
  3. ^ According to Emperor Xiaozhuang's biography in Book of Wei, he was 24 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died on the jiazi day of the 12th month of the 3rd year of the Yong'an era of his reign; the date corresponds to 26 Jan 531 in the Julian calendar. ([永安三年]十有二月...甲子,崩于城内三级佛寺,时年二十四。) Wei Shu, vol.10. His biography in Bei Shi used the term "shi" (弑) to indicate that he was killed.