Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Ruler

Liu Yuanhai 劉元海

Attested AD 304

Passages: 14
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Liu Yuanhai was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 304 永興元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 101, passage 161

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Liu Xuan (劉宣)
granduncle 從祖
grandnephew 從孫
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Jin 101, passage 114
Spouse of Lady Huyan (呼延氏)
wife 妻
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 180

Career and standing

Colonel of the Garrison Cavalry 太弟屯騎校尉
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 123
General Who Crowns the Army 冠軍將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 125
General Who Supports the State 輔國將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 124
northern Shanyu 北單于
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 137
great Shanyu 大單于
Elected
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passages 119, 138
Baron of Lunu 盧奴伯
Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 125

Show 1 more source-backed claim

King of Han 漢王
AD 304 永興元年
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 161

Places and affiliations

Polity Han 漢 · Relation Founded
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 161

Works and attributed material

Edict · Author
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passages 161-178

Events and relationships

Usurped King of Han
Political · Founder · At southern suburb altar 南郊
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 161

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 161

References in the histories

Search passages

History

14 passages

Book of Jin, Chapter 101Volume 101 Records 1: Liu Yuanhai and Liu Xuan · 14 passages

惠帝失馭，寇盜蜂起，元海從祖故北部都尉、左賢王劉宣等竊議曰：「昔我先人與漢約為兄弟，憂泰同之。 As Emperor Hui lost control, Liu Xuan, former northern commandant and left worthy king, whispered with kinsmen: "Our ancestors swore brotherhood with Han and shared its fate.

左賢王元海姿器絕人，幹宇超世。 Left Worthy King Liu Yuan's presence and scope outshine every man of his day.

於是密共推元海為大單于。 They secretly elected Liu Yuan great Shanyu.

元海請歸會葬，穎弗許。 Liu Yuan begged leave to mourn; Sima Ying refused.

穎為皇太弟，以元海為太弟屯騎校尉。 When Sima Ying became crown younger brother, Liu Yuan became his garrison-cavalry colonel.

惠帝伐穎，次於蕩陰，穎假元海輔國將軍、督北城守事。 During Emperor Hui's march on Dangyin, Sima Ying put Liu Yuan in charge of the northern wall.

及六軍敗績，穎以元海為冠軍將軍，封盧奴伯。 After the six armies collapsed Sima Ying named him General Who Crowns the Army and baron of Lunu.

并州刺史東嬴公騰、安北將軍王浚，起兵伐穎，元海說穎曰：「今二鎮跋扈，眾餘十萬，恐非宿衛及近都士庶所能禦之，請為殿下還說五部，以赴國難。」 When Bingzhou governor Sima Teng and Wang Jun raised troops against Sima Ying with more than a hundred thousand men, Liu Yuan advised Ying: "The two commands are now overbearing, and I fear neither the palace guard nor the people near the capital can withstand them. Let me return for Your Highness and persuade the five Xiongnu divisions to answer the state's crisis."

元海曰：「殿下武皇帝之子，有殊勳於王室，威恩光洽，四海欽風，孰不思為殿下沒命投軀者哉，何難發之有乎！ Liu Yuan answered, "You are Sima Yan's son, beloved across the realm—every warrior would die for you; raising the tribes is no hard task.

穎悅，拜元海為北單于、參丞相軍事。 Sima Ying cheered up, named Liu Yuan northern Shanyu, and attached him to the chancellor's staff.

元海至左國城，劉宣等上大單于之號，二旬之間，眾已五萬，都于離石。 At Zuoguocheng Liu Xuan proclaimed him great Shanyu; inside twenty days fifty thousand men gathered with capital at Lishi.

元海曰：「穎不用吾言，逆自奔潰，真奴才也。 Liu Yuan sneered, "Sima Ying ignored my counsel and ran—little better than a bondsman.

元海曰：「善。 Liu Yuan said, "Well spoken.

永興元年，元海乃為壇於南郊，僭即漢王位，下令曰：「昔我太祖高皇帝以神武應期，廓開大業。 In Yongxing year one Liu Yuan built an altar in the southern suburb, usurped the title King of Han, and issued an order: "Formerly our Grand Progenitor, the High Emperor, answered the age with divine arms and opened a vast enterprise.