Liu Yan (Han dynasty warlord)

Liu Yan
劉焉
Governor of Yi Province (益州牧)
In office
188 (188)–194 (194)
MonarchsEmperor Ling of Han /
Emperor Xian of Han
Succeeded byLiu Zhang
Personal details
BornUnknown[1]
Qianjiang, Hubei
Died194[2]
Chengdu, Sichuan
Children
OccupationPolitician, warlord
Courtesy nameJunlang (君郎)
PeerageMarquis of Yangcheng
(陽城侯)
In this Chinese name, the family name is Liu.

Liu Yan (pronunciationⓘ) (died 194[3]),[2] courtesy name Junlang, was a Chinese politician and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He was also a member of the extended family of the Han emperors. For most of his career he served as the governor of Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing), which he developed into an independent power base. His domain was passed on to his son Liu Zhang, and eventually to Liu Bei, who founded the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period.

  1. ^ Although Liu Yan's birth year was not recorded, he should be at least in his 20s when his teacher Zhu Tian died in July 160. Thus, his birth year should be in the late 130s or before.
  2. ^ a b The Sanguozhi stated that Liu Yan died in the 1st year of the Xingping era (9 Feb 194 - 28 Jan 195 in the Julian calendar) in the reign of Emperor Xian of Han. (... 興平元年，癕疽發背而卒。)
  3. ^ Liu Xie's biography in Book of the Later Han dated the battle between Han Sui, Ma Teng and Guo Si, Fan Chou to the 3rd month of the 1st year of the Xing'ping era. This corresponds to 9 April to 7 May 194 in the Julian calendar.([兴平元年春]三月，韩遂、马腾与郭汜、樊稠战于长平观，遂、腾败绩，左中郎将刘范、前益州刺史种劭战殁。) Houhanshu vol.09. Liu Yan's biographies in both Houhanshu and Sanguozhi indicated that he died after this incident.