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新五代史·傳嗚呼，梁之惡極矣！ 自其起盜賊，至於亡唐，其遺毒流於天下。 天下豪傑，四面並起，孰不欲戡刃於胸，然卒不能少挫其鋒以得志。 梁之無敵於天下，可謂虎狼之強矣。 及其敗也，因於一二女子之娛，至於洞胸流腸，刲若羊豕，禍生父子之間，乃知女色之能敗人矣。 自古女禍，大者亡天下，其次亡家，其次亡身，身茍免矣，猶及其子孫，雖遲速不回，未有無禍者也。 然原其本末，未始不起於忽微。 《易·坤》之初六曰：「履霜，堅冰至。」 《家人》之初九曰：「閑有家，悔亡。」 其言至矣，可不戒哉！ 梁之家事，《詩》所謂「不可道」者。 至於唐、晉以後，親疏嫡庶亂矣！ 作《家人傳》。
From the New History of the Five Dynasties, Biographies: Alas, how utterly vile the Liang were! From banditry to the overthrow of Tang, their taint spread across the realm. Champions rose on every quarter of the empire, each longing to drive a blade between their ribs; yet none could so much as nick their momentum or gain the upper hand. The Liang were unmatched under Heaven—fierce as tigers and wolves. Their fall came through dalliance with a woman or two—chests gaping, guts spilled, bodies butchered like livestock, ruin erupting between father and son. Thus one learns how desire can undo a man. Women’s curses since antiquity toppled empires first, households next, and lives after that; even when the man himself was spared, sons and grandsons still paid. Whether ruin came soon or late, no line escaped unscathed. Trace any case to its roots, though, and it always began in trifling negligence. In the Book of Changes, the hexagram Kun, first line: “Frost underfoot means solid ice ahead.” In the Family, the first line: “Order in the household drives away regret.” The warning could not be plainer—who would not take heed! The Liang household was what the Book of Songs means by “things that must not be told.” After Tang and Jin, the lines between kin and stranger, principal wife and concubine, dissolved into chaos. Hence this “Imperial Family” biography.
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Empress Wenhuì, of the Wang clan
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Taizu of Liang’s mother, posthumously Empress Wenhuì, was a Wang of Shanfu in Shanzhou. She bore three sons: Quanyu, Prince of Guang; Cun, Prince of Lang; and youngest of all, Taizu. Widowed young, she hired out her three sons as laborers in the household of Liu Chong of Xiao County. Taizu in his prime was a wastrel; the whole county loathed and endured him. Chong hated Taizu’s idleness and beat him often; only Chong’s mother pitied him, bathing and combing his hair herself, and told the family: “Zhu the Third is no ordinary man—treat him kindly!” When Huang Chao rebelled, Taizu and Cun both took to the hills; marching on Guangzhou under Chao, Cun was killed in battle. Within a few years Taizu deserted Chao for Tang, then turned and shattered Chao’s forces, and took the Xuanwu command. He then sent carriages and escorts to Xiao County to fetch the empress from the Chong household. At the knock on the door the empress shrank back in terror and told the Lius: “Zhu the Third was a good-for-nothing who turned bandit—he must be dead. Why have you come?” The envoy told the whole story; the empress wept for joy. She and Chong’s mother rode back together, and she was created Grand Lady of Jin.
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Taizu spread a feast before the Grand Lady, raised his cup to her long life, and made merry. Taizu said: “Zhu of the Five Classics studied all his life yet never won a degree; he has a son who commands a circuit—he need not blush before the ancestors.” The empress was silent a long while, then said: “You have risen far—one might call you extraordinary—but your deeds may not match your father’s.” Taizu did not understand; the empress said: “Your brother Zhu the Second followed Huang Chao with you and died alone in the south; his children still live at Wugou—are you too grand now to remember them?” Taizu wept and begged pardon, then sent for all of Cun’s sons and brought them home. Taizu was brutal and bloodthirsty; the empress often checked him, and many owed their lives to her.
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In the autumn of Dashun 2, the empress fell ill; diviners said, “She should return to her native place.” She went back. She died at Wugou. After Taizu’s accession he founded four temples, raising his father to Emperor Mu and his mother to Empress Wenhuì.
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Empress Yuanzhen, of the Zhang clan
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Taizu’s Empress Yuanzhen was a Zhang of Quetingli in Dangshan, Shanzhou, born to a rich household. Taizu betrothed her in his youth; she bore Youzhen, the Last Emperor. When Taizu’s star rose, she was created Lady of Wei. Worthy, keen, and exact in deportment, she could awe even the brutal Taizu. He often asked her counsel on state matters, and she was usually right. When Taizu raged and killed, she often intervened; many lived because of her. Once Taizu had marched halfway on campaign when the empress decided the move was wrong and sent a lone rider to call him back; he returned on the day she named.
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Youyu, Prince of Chen, besieged Xuzhou and routed Zhu Jin at Stone Buddha Mountain; Jin escaped, but Youyu let him go. Taizu raged and relieved him of command. Terrified, Youyu fled into the hills with a few riders and, after long hiding, took refuge with the Prince of Guang. The empress secretly coached Youyu to give himself up; at dawn he rode in, threw himself on the courtyard stones, wept, and asked to die. Taizu ordered him dragged out for execution. The empress heard, ran barefoot into the yard, clutched Youyu, and wept: “You came back in bonds to clear yourself—was that not proof you never rebelled?” Taizu relented and spared him.
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After Taizu broke Zhu Jin and brought Jin’s wife away, the empress met him at Fengqiu and he told her what he had done. The empress went straight to Jin’s wife; Jin’s wife bowed low, and the empress bowed in return, weeping: “Yan and Yun share our house’s surname; brothers drew swords over a trifle, and your plight could have been mine— had Bianzhou fallen, I would stand where you stand today!” She wept again when she had finished. Taizu was touched and had Jin’s wife tonsured; the empress often sent her food and clothes. “Director of Works” was the honorary post Taizu then held.
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In Tianyou 1 the empress died of illness. At Taizu’s accession she was posthumously created Worthy Consort. She was first buried at Runse in Kaifeng; the Last Emperor later gave her the posthumous title Empress Dowager Yuanzhen and placed her tablet in Xuanling. After her death Taizu turned to debauchery, and disaster followed—or so the record runs.
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Honored Consort Chen came from Songzhou and entered the palace for her looks. Though Taizu kept hundreds of women once he was great, the Honored Consort alone held his heart. When Taizu fell ill she and dozens of nuns kept Buddhist observances night and day without rest; he took it as devotion to him and doted on her the more. In Kaiping 3 she took the tonsure and retired to a monastery in Songzhou.
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Honored Lady Li, too, had risen by her beauty. She was modest and steadfast and rarely left his side. Once, as Taizu dozed in illness, a roof beam snapped; only Lady Li was beside him. She seized his robe; he scrambled clear as the timber crashed on the couch. Grateful, he created her Honored Lady. None of their final fates are recorded.
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The Last Emperor’s Virtuous Consort Zhang was daughter of Guiba, a Liang minister who had served Taizu with distinction. While still heir, he betrothed her. On his accession he meant to make her empress; she asked to wait until he had worshipped Heaven at the suburban altar, but he never held that ceremony. In Zhenming 1 she fell mortally ill; the emperor rushed her creation as Virtuous Consort, and she died that night at twenty-four.
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Second Consort Guo’s father Guihou had been prefect of Dengzhou under Liang. She, too, had entered the palace young for her looks. When Liang fell and Zhuangzong took Bian, the former Liang women came weeping to bow before him. Youyong, Prince of He, had a beautiful consort, Lady Shi; Zhuangzong called for her, and she cursed him to his face. He had her killed. The consort was summoned next; afraid, she obeyed. She was soon tonsured, given the dharma name Shizheng, and settled in Luoyang.
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When Zhuangzong first entered Bian, the Last Emperor climbed the Jianguo Tower and told Huangfu Lin, commander of the Control Crane Guard: “Jin is my hereditary enemy. I will not wait for their steel—finish me, so I never fall into their hands!” Lin and the emperor embraced and wept. That night Lin drove the blade home; then he cut his own throat. Zhuangzong entered Bian and ordered Zhang Quanyi of Henan to bury the body and keep the head in the state altar. In Jin Tianfu 3 an edict allowed families to reclaim criminal heads held at the altar; the Last Emperor’s head was released, and General of the Right Guard An Chongruan buried it with the consort. The consort died in Luoyang.
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Taizu had two elder brothers: Quanyu and Cun. Eight sons: the eldest Youyu, then Yougui, Youzhang, Youzhen, Youyong, Youhui, and Youzi, plus the adopted Youwen. On yiyou in the fifth month of Kaiping 1, Youwen became Prince of Bo, Yougui of Ying, Youzhang of Fu, Youzhen of Jun, Youyong of He, and Youhui of Jian. Youyu had died before the accession and was posthumously made Prince of Chen; Youzi, Prince of Kang, received his title under the Last Emperor. Youzhang first held Shouzhou, the palace guard commands, and the Fengde treasury; under Yougui he governed Yan; under the Last Emperor he held Zhongwu, then Wuning. The fates of Youyong and Youhui are unknown.
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Quanyu, Prince of Guang, was created when Taizu took the throne. Taizu and the middle brother Cun had both turned bandit; Quanyu alone stayed with their mother, still laboring in Liu Chong’s house. When Taizu prospered, mother and son came to Xuanwu; Quanyu held the Lingnan West military governorship. He retired with the honorary rank of Grand Preceptor.
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As Taizu prepared to accept the throne, the ritual officers set the ceremony in the front hall; Quanyu watched and asked him: “Zhu the Third—do you really think you can manage this?” Once, as Taizu drank and diced with him in the palace, Quanyu, deep in wine, hurled the dice against the bowl and shouted: “Zhu the Third, you were a dirt farmer from Dangshan until heaven made you lord of four circuits—what did the throne ever owe you? and you wiped out Tang’s three-century throne—I will see your whole line butchered. What are you dicing for!” Taizu took offense and broke up the party. Quanyu disliked the capital as well and mostly stayed in his native Dangshan. Each of the three sons received a royal title: Youliang as Prince of Heng, Youneng as Prince of Hui, and Youhui as Prince of Shao.
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In Qianhua 1, Songzhou was raised to the Xuanwu army, and Youliang was made its military commissioner. Youliang presented an auspicious wheat stalk with three ears. Taizu raged: “Songzhou suffered great floods this year—what use is this!” Youliang was dismissed and remained in the capital. When Taizu lay ill, Quanyu came to visit; they embraced and wept together; Taizu released Youliang and let him return east with Quanyu. In Zhenming 2, Quanyu died of illness. Youliang, Prince of Heng, was transferred to succeed as Prince of Guang.
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Youneng served as acting governor of Song and Hua and as prefect of Chen, ruling lawlessly wherever he was posted; rogues flocked to his patronage. The people of Chen were fond of illicit cults; some Buddhists formed a sect called the “Supreme Vehicle,” meeting by night with men and women intermingled in debauchery. The sorcerers Mu Yi and Dong Yi gathered followers, styled themselves emperors, and appointed officials; Youneng at first let them continue. When they raided prefectures and counties, the Last Emperor sent troops and destroyed them. After Youzi, Prince of Kang, was caught in treason and put to death, the Last Emperor turned against his kinsmen, and the whole clan lived in fear. In Zhenming 4, Youneng rose in Chenzhou and struck toward the capital. Defeated at Chenliu, he fled home; after some months he submitted. The Last Emperor spared his life but stripped him to Marquis of Fangling.
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Youhui governed Shaan and planned to mutiny with his garrison. The Last Emperor recalled him to the capital; he and Youliang and Youneng were thrown into confinement. When Liang fell and Zhuangzong took Bian, all were put to death. Elder brother: Cun, Prince of Lang (Cun's sons were Youning and Youlun.) Cun, Prince of Lang, had marched with Taizu under Huang Chao against Guangzhou and was killed in the fighting. Cun’s sons were Youning and Youlun.
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Youning, styled Anren, was bright from boyhood and never let pleasure or wrath show on his face. Taizu appointed him to the army; he excelled with bow and blade. He rose to command the Inner Palace Victorious Guard and to govern Gongzhou. While Taizu besieged Fengxiang, he sent Youning east to hold Xuanwu. Wang Shifan struck Liang and invested Qizhou; Youning met him, captured a thousand horses, and took thousands of heads. When Taizu brought Emperor Zhaozong home, he made Youning military governor of Jianwu and gave him the honorific “Valiant Merit Lord Who Welcomes the Imperial Carriage.” Taizu sent him against Shifan again; he invested Bochang and massacred the city until the Qing River ran with blood and would not flow. At Shilou his force was routed; Youning was thrown from his horse and slain.
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友倫幼亦明敏，通《論語》、小學，曉音律。 存已死，太祖以友倫為元從馬軍指揮使，表右威武將軍。 燕人攻魏內黃，友倫以前鋒夜渡河，奪馬千匹。 李罕之以潞州降梁，晉人攻潞，友倫以兵入潞州，取罕之以歸。 累遷檢校司空，領藤州刺史。 太祖圍鳳翔，晉人襲梁，友倫以兵三萬至{樊石}山，晉人乃卻，友倫西會太祖於鳳翔。 昭宗還長安，拜友倫寧遠軍節度使。 太祖東歸，留友倫宿衛，伺察昭宗所為。 友倫擊鞠墜馬死，太祖大怒，以兵七萬至河中。 昭宗涕泣，不知所為，將奔太原，不果。 宰相崔胤遣人止太祖，太祖以為友倫胤等殺之，奏請誅胤等，昭宗未從，乃遣友諒至京師，以兵圍開化坊，殺胤及京兆尹鄭元規、皇城使王建勛、飛龍使陳班、閣門使王建襲、客省使王建乂、前左僕射張浚。
Youlun too was precocious; he knew the Analects and the Elementary Learning and understood pitch and mode. With Cun dead, Taizu made Youlun commander of the veteran Horse Army and had him appointed Right Mighty Martial General. When Yan troops struck Neihuang in Wei, Youlun led the van, forded the river by night, and took a thousand horses. Li Hanzhi surrendered Luzhou to Liang; when Jin besieged it, Youlun marched in, lifted the siege, and escorted Hanzhi home. He rose to honorary Sikong and governed Tengzhou. While Taizu invested Fengxiang, Jin struck Liang; Youlun brought thirty thousand men to Mount Fanshi and drove them back, then marched west to Taizu at Fengxiang. When Zhaozong went back to Chang’an, Youlun was made military governor of Ningyuan. Taizu left for the east and stationed Youlun in the palace to spy on the emperor’s every move. Youlun died in a polo fall; Taizu flew into a rage and marched seventy thousand men on Hezhong. Zhaozong wept in despair; he meant to flee to Taiyuan but never managed it. Cui Yin sent envoys to halt him, but Taizu was convinced that Yin and his circle had murdered Youlun. He demanded their deaths; Zhaozong refused. Taizu then sent Youliang to the capital with troops, invested Kaihua Ward, and killed Yin, Zheng Yuangui, Metropolitan Prefect of Jingzhao, Wang Jianxun of the Imperial City, Chen Ban of the Flying Dragon Office, Wang Jianxi of the Gate Office, Wang Jianyi of the Reception Office, and the former Left Vice Director Zhang Jun.
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After Taizu’s accession the clan was already ennobled, but the Secretariat argued that his late brother Cun and his nephews Youning of Jianwu and Youlun of Ningyuan still deserved titles. Cun was posthumously made Prince of Lang, Youning Prince of An, and Youlun Prince of Mi.
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Youyu, Prince of Chen, styled Duanfu, was skilled at riding and archery from boyhood; on Taizu’s campaigns he won the troops through generous forbearance. Taizu and Jin invested Huang Ye at Xihua. Ye’s men shouldered spears, scaled the walls, and hurled abuse; the Prince of Jin sent Mongolian archers to shoot in volleys, but none struck home. Taizu looked to Youyu, who hit with a single shot. The army roared; the Prince of Jin was delighted and sent him a fine bow and a hundred arrows. When Taizu governed Xuanwu, he made Youyu commander of the inner guard. In Jingfu 1 Taizu attacked Yun. Youyu led the vanguard and halted at Doumen; Yun forces struck by night and Youyu fled in defeat. Taizu followed behind, unaware that Youyu had been beaten; the van met the enemy and many were killed. Taizu reached a village and at last found Youyu. Zhu Xuan was then at Puzhou. Taizu sent Youyu ahead with two hundred horsemen; Taizu came after and lost contact with him. Taizu at last met the enemy, was routed, and fled. The pursuers pressed hard. At Dagou he was nearly taken, but firewood heaped in the ditch let his horse cross. Li Fan and more than ten other Liang officers died.
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That winter Youyu seized Puzhou and then invested Shi Pu in Xuzhou. Zhu Jin marched with twenty thousand to relieve Pu; Youyu routed him at Mount Shifo and Jin fled. The chief registrar Zhu Yougong whispered to Taizu that Jin could have been run down and that Youyu had let him escape. Taizu raged, transferred Youyu’s command to Pang Shigu, and handed him to the law officers. A courier by mistake delivered the order to Youyu himself; in terror he knew not what to do, but Empress Zhang coached him and he escaped punishment. He served as acting prefect of Xu. Xu Prefecture bordered Cai and had been ravaged by raiders. Youyu brought back the scattered population and added more than thirty thousand households.
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Promoted to commander of all armies, he helped subdue Yan and Yun and then returned to govern Xu Prefecture. When Cui Hong fled to Huainan, Youyu marched in and pacified Caizhou without disturbing trade. When Taizu took Huguo as well, he left Youyu as acting governor. He was made military governor of Zhongwu. Taizu invested Fengxiang without success and turned to attack Binzhou. Youyu stormed Lingtai and Liangyuan, seized Longzhou, and Yang Chongben surrendered Bin. When Chongben rebelled again, Taizu sent Youyu against him; he camped at Yongshou. Youyu died of illness.
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子博王友文
Son: Youwen, Prince of Bo
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Youwen, styled Deming, had been born Kang Qin. Handsome and bookish as a youth, eloquent and able to write verse, he was adopted and raised by Taizu. While Taizu governed four circuits, he made Youwen commissioner of revenue, salt, and iron. While Taizu campaigned everywhere, Youwen levied taxes to fill the war chest. At the founding he pooled the taxes of Xuanwu, Xuanyi, Tianping, and Huguo—the four commands he had held—under the Jianchang Palace with Youwen as director, and created him Prince of Bo. When Taizu went west, Youwen stayed behind as guardian of the eastern capital.
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Yougui, later the Deposed, was born when Taizu first governed Xuanwu and raided the lands between Song and Bo, of a chance union with an innkeeper’s wife. As he grew he proved eloquent, shrewd, and resourceful. Youwen, Prince of Bo, was gifted in many arts and Taizu loved him; he was also the elder son. When Taizu took the throne and no heir had been named, Taizu’s heart leaned to Youwen alone. After Empress Zhang died and Taizu took no new empress, each son posted to a command invited his wife to attend at court. Youwen’s wife, Lady Wang, was beautiful, and Taizu favored her above all. During Taizu’s long illness, Lady Wang and Yougui’s wife Zhang attended him alone in his chambers. When Taizu briefly rallied, he told Lady Wang: “I know I will not recover. Go to the eastern capital, summon Youwen, and I will settle matters with him.” His heart intended to entrust the succession to him. He then told Jing Xiang: “Give Yougui a prefecture and hurry him to his post.” He then made Yougui prefect of Laizhou.
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太祖素剛暴，既病，而喜怒難測，是時左降者，必有後命，友珪大懼。 其妻張氏曰：「官家以傳國寶與王氏，使如東都召友文，君今受禍矣！」 夫婦相對而泣。 左右勸友珪曰：「事急計生，何不早自為圖？」 友珪乃易衣服，微行入左龍虎軍，見統軍韓勍計事，勍夜以牙兵五百隨友珪，雜控鶴衞士而入。 夜三鼓，斬關入萬春門，至寢中，侍疾者皆走。 太祖惶駭起呼曰：「我疑此賊久矣，恨不早殺之，逆賊忍殺父乎！」 友珪親吏馮廷諤以劍犯太祖，太祖旋柱而走，劍擊柱者三，太祖憊，仆於床，廷諤以劍中之，洞其腹，腸胃皆流。 友珪以裀裖裹之寢中，祕喪四日。 乃出府庫，大賚羣臣及諸軍。 遣受旨丁昭浦矯詔馳至東都，殺友文。 又下詔曰：「朕艱難創業，逾三十年。 托於人上，忽焉六載，中外協力，期於小康。 豈意友文陰畜異圖，將行大逆。 昨二日夜，甲士突入大內，賴友珪忠孝，領兵剿戮，保全朕躬。 然而疾恙震驚，彌所危殆。 友珪克平兇逆，厥功靡倫，宜委權主軍國。」 然後發喪。 乾化二年六月既望，友珪於柩前即皇帝位，拜韓忠武軍節度使，以末帝為汴州留後，河中朱友謙為中書令。 友謙不受命。 而懷州龍驤軍三千，劫其將劉重霸，據懷州，自言討賊。 三年正月，友珪祀天於洛陽南郊，改元曰鳳歷。
Taizu had always been brutal; in illness his moods were unpredictable, and a demotion now always meant worse to come. Yougui was terrified. His wife Zhang said: “The emperor has given the imperial seal to Lady Wang and sent her east to call Youwen home—you are finished!” Husband and wife wept face to face. His attendants urged him: “Desperate times call for desperate measures—why not strike first?” Yougui changed clothes, slipped into the Left Dragon-Tiger Army, and plotted with its commander Han Qing. That night Han Qing accompanied Yougui with five hundred personal guards, mixed them among the Control Crane guards, and entered the palace. At the third watch they forced Wanchun Gate and burst into the sleeping quarters; the nurses scattered. Taizu leapt up in terror and shouted: “I have long known you for a traitor—why did I not kill you sooner! Beast—would you murder your own father!” Yougui’s henchman Feng Ting’e ran him through with a sword; Taizu circled a pillar while the blade bit the wood three times, then collapsed on the bed. Feng drove the point into his belly and spilled his guts. Yougui swaddled the corpse in the bedchamber and hid the death for four days. Then he opened the vaults and lavished gifts on court and camp. He dispatched Ding Zhaopu with a forged edict to the eastern capital to kill Youwen. He also proclaimed: “I founded this house through thirty years of hardship. Six years on the throne, court and camp alike have labored toward a modest peace. Who dreamed that Youwen was plotting treason and preparing a coup! Two nights ago armored rebels broke into the inner palace; thanks to Yougui’s loyalty and filial devotion, he led troops to kill them and preserved my person. The shock has left me gravely ill. Yougui crushed the traitors; none equals his service. Let him rule army and state.” Only then was the death made public. On the full moon of the sixth month of Qianhua 2, Yougui was enthroned before the bier; Han became military governor of Zhongwu, the Last Emperor was left as acting governor of Bian, and Zhu Youqian of Hezhong was named Secretariat Director. Youqian refused the post. Meanwhile three thousand Dragon Surging troops at Huai seized their commander Liu Chongba, occupied the city, and proclaimed a crusade against the regicide. In the first month of his third year Yougui offered to Heaven at Luoyang’s southern altar and proclaimed the era Fengli.
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Taizu’s grandson by a daughter, Yuan Xiangxian, joined the imperial son-in-law Zhao Yan and others in a pact with the Last Emperor to overthrow the usurper. In the second month Xiangxian entered with the guard; Yougui and Zhang fled to the north wall and tried to scale it in vain. He ordered Feng Ting’e to kill them both; Feng then took his own life. The Last Emperor restored Youwen’s honors and struck Yougui down to commoner rank.
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子康王友孜
Son: Youzi, Prince of Kang
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Youzi, Prince of Kang, had double pupils and secretly believed the throne was his by right. In Zhenming 1, as the Virtuous Consort was being readied for burial, Youzi sent a killer into the imperial bedchamber by night. The Last Emperor slept and dreamed of murder; waking, he heard his sword clatter on the couch-rail. He sprang up, blade in hand: “Treason!” He searched the room, caught the assassin, slew him himself, and then put Youzi to death. Next day he told Zhao Yan and Zhang Hanjie: “I almost never saw you again.” From then on he estranged the imperial clan and put his faith in Zhao and Zhang—on the road to ruin.
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Alas! In the Spring and Autumn manner, to judge right from wrong and grant or deny a place in the record—how difficult that is! Someone asked: “Taizu of Liang slew his sovereign as a subject; Yougui slew his father as a son—the same crime. A usurper who reigns a year and changes the era is still written as “lord” in the Spring and Autumn—but Yougui is denied a place in the Basic Annals. Why? Father and son were equally vile; you erase the son but keep the father—can that be what the Spring and Autumn intended?” I replied: “The Liang story is clear enough! The father’s guilt needs no denial of the son’s reign to expose it; but the Last Emperor’s purpose must be honored. The Spring and Autumn rule is this: when a ruler is murdered and the assassin goes unpunished, the guilt falls on the court and the clan. In what I write of Yougui, I mean to vindicate the will to punish the regicide.”