War of the Eight Princes







The Three Kingdoms  


Despite minor infractions over a period of forty-five years, a relatively stable relationship existed between the Three Kingdoms.

In 263 AD, the Wei embarked upon a campaign against the Shu, old foe in the west, and quickly overcame their opponent. Two years later Sima Yan, a senior official of the Wei attained the power of the state and pronounced the new combined state as Jin. This was followed in 280 AD, by the annexation of the southern state of the Wu and thus China was once again a unified nation under a single rule. The Jin.

Sima Yan pronounced himself as Emperor Wu.

Emperor Wu became concerned about the unity of a country the size of China and so created his sons and cousins as princes to rule in the various regions of the country while still under his reign. In effect they were Governors. This all worked well until in 290 AD, Emperor Wu died.


The War of the Eight Princes:


The Eight Princes:

Sima Ai : Son of Emporer Wu: Prince of Changsha
Sima Jiong : Nephew of Emperor Wu : Prince of Qi
Sima Liang : Son of Sima Yi: Prince of Runan
Sima Lun : Son of Sima Yi : Prince of Zhao
Sima Wei : Son of Emperor Wu : Prince of Chu
Sima Yong : Cousin of Emperor Wu : Prince of Hejian
Sima Ying : Son of Emperor Wu : Prince of Chengdu
Sima Yue : Cousin of Emperor Wu : Prince of Donghai



Upon the Death of the Emperor Wu a bitter and intense civil war developed between the Princes of the founding family of the dynasty, the Sima.

This would be a civil war that would not end until only one of the Princes remained alive. It was a war that spanned 15 years of Chinese history and upon its conclusion left the country weakened in both population and in military strength.

The new Emperor Hui, was intellectually disabled and the power of the court largely rested with his step-mother the Empress Dowager Yang who effectively handed the power of the state to her father Yang Jun.

Emperor Hui's wife, Empress Jia, refused to accept this situation and addressed the problem with Prince Sima Wei and Sima Yun who promptly attacked the palace forces, killed Yang Jun and imprisoned Dowager Yang. The power then fell to Sima Liang, The Prince of Runan.

Once again the Empress Jia was not satisfied with the outcome and again she turned to Prince Sima Wei whom she convinced to have Sima liang killed. As soon as Prince Sima Wei had carried out her wishes she announced that he had acted without her husbands official authority and promptly had Prince Wei executed.

This left Emperor Hui in an unchallenged position for seven years, with effectively his wife the Empress Jia in control. In 300 AD Empress Jia saw with disfavor, the rise of one of her husbands son's to the concubine Xie Jiu. With the aid of Sima Lun, who commanded the palace guard she had the young potential heir, Sima Yu, assassinated.

Sima Lun immediately took this opportunity to kill the Empress and her entire family; where-upon he proclaimed himself as Emperor and attempted to enforce his authority upon the Princes. The first to react was Sima Yun who brought his army against that of Sima Lun at Louyang. Sima Yun was killed during the course of the battle and Sima Lun replied by having Emperor Hui imprisoned.

Sima Lun's reign of power was denounced by all of the Princes and this led to further conflict between, not only Sima lun and the Princes but between the remaining Princes.
Firstly, Prince Sima Ying and Prince Sima Yong formed a coalition and attacked the capital Killing Sima Lun and reinstated the Emperor Hui with Prince Sima Jiong as his principle. Prince Sima Jiong attempted to bring the control of the state into his own hands and this was opposed by Prince Sima Ai who defeated Sima Jiong and seized power. The intense battles continued with Prince Sima Ai being killed by Prince Sima Yue. Prince Sima Yue and Prince Yong then pursued Prince Sima Ying who had fled the capital with Emperor Hui.

Prince Sima Ying was eventually captured by Prince Sima Yong who had him killed and and who in turn was to be repaid by Prince Sima Yue.

Emperor Hui was returned to the palace where he was poisoned and the throne then was held by his brother Emperor Huai who had both Prince Sima Ying and Prince Sima Yong hunted down and killed.

This left only Prince Sima Yue alive with Emperor Huai as the ruler of a unified but weakened China.
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