Xiao Yuanming

Emperor Min of Liang
梁閔帝
Emperor of the Liang Dynasty
ReignJuly 1[1][2] – October 29, 555[3][2]
PredecessorEmperor Yuan
SuccessorEmperor Jing
Western Liang Emperor(s)Emperor Xuan
Bornunknown
DiedJune 2, 556[4][2]
IssueXiao Zhang
Xiao Yu
Xiao Dao
Xiao Dun
Full name
Era name and dates
Tiānchéng (天成): July 1, 555 – November 1, 555[6]
Posthumous name
Emperor Mǐn (閔皇帝, lit. "the careful Emperor") (honored by Xiao Zhuang)
DynastyLiang Dynasty
FatherXiao Yi

Xiao Yuanming (蕭淵明) (died 2 June 556), courtesy name Jingtong (靖通), often known by his pre-ascension title of Marquess of Zhenyang (貞陽侯), at times known by his post-removal title Duke of Jian'an (建安公), honored Emperor Min (閔皇帝) by Xiao Zhuang, was briefly an emperor of the Chinese Liang dynasty. He was the nephew of the founding emperor Emperor Wu. In 555, with Liang in disarray after Western Wei had captured and killed Emperor Yuan, Northern Qi, which had held Xiao Yuanming as an honored captive since 547, forced the general Wang Sengbian to accept Xiao Yuanming as emperor. Soon, however, Wang's subordinate Chen Baxian killed Wang and removed Xiao Yuanming from the throne, replacing him with Emperor Yuan's son Xiao Fangzhi (Emperor Jing). Xiao Yuanming died the following year.

  1. ^ ([紹泰元年五月]丙午，即皇帝位，改元天成，...)
  2. ^ a b c Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 166.
  3. ^ ([紹泰元年九月]丙午，贞阳侯渊明逊位，出就邸，....)
  4. ^ ([太平元年]五月，....癸未，渊明疽发背卒。)
  5. ^ In vol.51 of Nan Shi and vol.33 of Bei Qi Shu, his name is recorded as "Ming" (明) as the books were compiled during the Tang era and the word "Yuan" violated naming taboo as it's the name of Emperor Gaozu of Tang.
  6. ^ ([紹泰元年]冬，十月，己酉，晋安王即皇帝位，大赦，改元，...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.166