| Helian Chang 赫連昌 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emperor of Hu Xia | |||||||||
| Reign | 425[1]–428[2] | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Helian Bobo | ||||||||
| Successor | Helian Ding | ||||||||
| Born | unknown | ||||||||
| Died | May 7, 434[3][4] | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| House | Helian | ||||||||
| Dynasty | Hu Xia | ||||||||
Helian Chang (Chinese: 赫連昌; died 434), courtesy name Huanguo (還國), nickname Zhe (折), was the second and penultimate emperor of the Hu Xia dynasty of China. He was the successor and a son of the founding emperor Helian Bobo (Emperor Wulie). After his father's death in 425, he tried to expand Hu Xia's territory further, but soon his state began to collapse in light of pressure from the rival Northern Wei dynasty. In 427, his capital Tongwan (統萬, in modern Yulin, Shaanxi) fell to Northern Wei forces, and in 428 he himself was captured. The Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei did not kill him but instead treated him as an honored companion, marrying a sister to him and creating him high titles—initially the Duke of Kuaiji (會稽侯) and later the Prince of Qin (秦王)—but in 434 (after his brother and successor Helian Ding had been captured and executed, ending the Hu Xia), he tried to escape and was killed.