Qin and Han · Ruler

Emperor Guangwu 世祖

Shizu

Attested AD 23 - AD 25

Passages: 9
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Emperor Guangwu was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 25 建武元年
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 33
AD 24 更始二年春
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 10
AD 23 漢兵至宛
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 24, passage 6

Places and affiliations

Polity Han 漢 · Relation Led
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passages 10, 33
AD 25 建武元年
At Luoyang 洛陽 · Relation Entered
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 33
AD 24 更始二年春
At Ji 薊 · Relation Returned from
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 10

Works and attributed material

Proclamation · Named subject · Direct quotation · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Ren Guang (任光)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 19
Speech · Speaker · With Ren Guang (任光) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passages 12, 14

Events and relationships

Accepted plan
AD 24 更始二年春 · Political · Decision maker · With Ren Guang (任光)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 17
Defeated
AD 23 漢兵至宛 · Military · Commander · With Wang Yi (王邑)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 6
Defeated
AD 23 漢兵至宛 · Military · Commander · With Wang Xun (王尋)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 6
Rode to xindu
AD 24 更始二年春 · Military · Leader · At Xindu 信都
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 10
Sacked
AD 24 更始二年春 · Military · Commander · At Handan 邯鄲
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 23
Torch ruse
AD 24 更始二年春 · Military · Commander · At Tangyang 堂陽
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 22

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 6

References in the histories

Search passages

History

9 passages

Book of Later Han, Chapter 24Volume 21: Biographies of Ren, Li, Wan, Pi, Liu, Geng · 9 passages

光因率黨與從賜，為安集掾，拜偏將軍，與世祖破王尋、王邑。 Ren Guang then brought his followers to Liu Ci's service as an adjutant for pacification, was commissioned lieutenant general, and fought beside Emperor Guangwu to defeat Wang Xun and Wang Yi.

更始二年春，世祖自薊還，狼狽不知所向，傳聞信都獨為漢拒邯鄲，即馳赴之。 In the spring of Gengshi 2, Emperor Guangwu was retreating in disorder from Ji with nowhere clear to go; word reached him that Xindu alone still held for Han against Handan, and he rode for it at once.

光等孤城獨守，恐不能全，聞世祖至，大喜，吏民皆稱萬歲，即時開門，與李忠、萬脩率官屬迎謁。 Ren Guang and his comrades had been defending a lone city and feared they could not last; when they learned Guangwu had arrived, they were elated. Officials and commoners shouted long life, threw open the gates, and with Li Zhong and Wan Xiu went out in formal procession to receive him.

世祖入傳舍，謂光曰：『伯卿，今勢力虛弱，欲俱入城頭子路、力子都兵中，何如邪？』 Emperor Guangwu went to the post station and said to Ren Guang, "Boqing, we are weak now. I am considering whether we should join the forces of Chengtou Zilu and Lizi Du. What do you think?"

世祖曰：『卿兵少，如何？』 Guangwu asked, "Then what? Your force is small?"

世祖從之。 Emperor Guangwu accepted the plan.

光乃多作檄文曰：『大司馬劉公將城頭子路、力子都兵百萬眾從東方來，擊諸反虜。』 Ren Guang then had broadsheets forged in large numbers: "Grand Marshal Liu is leading Chengtou Zilu's and Lizi Du's hosts—a million men—from the east to crush the rebels."

世祖遂與光等投暮入堂陽界，使騎各持炬火，彌滿澤中，光炎燭天地，舉城莫不震驚惶怖，其夜即降。 That evening Emperor Guangwu entered Tangyang territory with Ren Guang and the rest; each rider carried a torch until the marshes glittered with fire. The blaze seemed to touch sky and earth, and the whole town panicked and surrendered before dawn.

建武元年，世祖入洛陽，遣大司馬吳漢等擊檀鄉，明年春，大破降之。 In Jianwu 1 Emperor Guangwu entered Luoyang and dispatched Grand Marshal Wu Han against the Tanxiang rebels; the following spring the imperial army shattered them and took their surrender.