Emperor Ming of Southern Qi

Emperor Ming of Southern Qi
南齊明帝
Emperor of Southern Qi
Reign5 December 494[1] – 1 September 498
PredecessorXiao Zhaowen
SuccessorXiao Baojuan
BornXiao Xuandu (蕭玄度)
452
Died498 (aged 45–46)
Burial
Xing'an Mausoleum (興安陵)
SpouseLiu Huiduan
Names
Xiāo Luán (蕭鸞)
Era dates
  • Jiànwǔ (建武): 494-498
  • Yǒngtài (永泰): 498
Posthumous name
Emperor Míng (明皇帝)
Temple name
Gāozōng (高宗)
FatherXiao Daosheng, Prince Zhen of Shian (Emperor Jing)
Xiao Daocheng (adoptive)
MotherLady Jiang (Empress Yi)

Emperor Ming of Southern Qi ((南)齊明帝) (452 – 1 September 498[2]), personal name Xiao Luan (蕭鸞), courtesy name Jingqi (景棲), childhood name Xuandu (玄度), was an emperor of the Southern Qi dynasty of China. He was a nephew of the Southern Qi founder Emperor Gao, who later became prime minister during the reign of Emperor Gao's great-grandson Xiao Zhaoye.

Believing that Xiao Zhaoye was an incompetent emperor who might act against him, Xiao Luan carried out a coup d'état and assassinated Xiao Zhaoye. After briefly making Xiao Zhaoye's brother Xiao Zhaowen emperor, he deposed Xiao Zhaowen as well, and took over himself as emperor. During his reign, he was known for being exacting and demanding, but also being frugal. He is seen as a very dark figure in history, because he slaughtered the surviving sons of Emperor Gao and Emperor Gao's son Emperor Wu, despite their kindness toward him.

  1. ^ gui'hai day of the 10th month of the 1st year of the Jian'wu era, per Emperor Ming's biography in Nan Qi Shu
  2. ^ According to Emperor Ming's biography in Nan Qi Shu, he was 47 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died on the ji'you day of the 7th month of the 1st year of the Yong'tai era.