Yuan Zhao

Biography

Imperial Clan Origin and Accession

Yuan Zhao's grandfather was Yuan Yu, prince of Lintao, and his father was Yuan Baohui, prince of Lintao. The Book of Wei and the History of the Northern Dynasties refer to him as "Zhao, heir of the late prince Baohui of Lintao". After Emperor Xiaoming, Yuan Xu, died, the empress dowager Ling, who held power, first passed off her infant daughter as an imperial son and then declared that Yuan Zhao, a descendant of Emperor Xiaowen, could inherit the throne. Yuan Zhao ascended the throne on 2 April 528 (second month, yimao day, 1st year of the Wutai era, Northern Wei). He was then still an infant and the court was managed by the empress dowager Ling. The young daughter of Emperor Xiaoming was briefly presented as an heir to the throne, but the sources describe the empress dowager's impersonation and change of candidate within a very short span, and this should not simply be set out as a stable imperial succession.

The Heyin Incident

Erzhu Rong marched on Luoyang citing the succession and the political situation at the Northern Wei court, and raised Yuan Ziyou, prince of Changle, in opposition. The Book of Wei and the History of the Northern Dynasties record that after Erzhu Rong crossed the river the empress dowager Ling and the young ruler Yuan Zhao were killed. Another account states specifically that after securing Luoyang Erzhu Rong had the two drowned in the Yellow River, with the date given as 15 May 528; a further account gives 17 May 528, and the date conversions do not agree. Yuan Zhao himself was young, and the surviving sources do not show him making political or military decisions on his own.

Major Activities

Political and institutional context

The cached record places Yuan Zhao within the institutions and conflicts of Northern Wei.

Source-based record

The process around his accession can serve as an instance of the disordered succession at the end of the Northern Wei: after Emperor Xiaoming, Yuan Xu, died, the empress dowager Ling, who held power, first passed off her infant daughter as an imperial son and then declared that Yuan Zhao, a descendant of Emperor Xiaowen, could inherit the throne; Yuan Zhao ascended the throne on 2 April 528 (second month, yimao day, first year of Wutai, Northern Wei) while still an infant, with the empress dowager managing the court. Erzhu Rong marched on Luoyang citing the succession and the political situation and raised Yuan Ziyou, Prince of Changle; the Book of Wei and the History of the Northern Dynasties record that after crossing the river Erzhu Rong had the empress dowager and the young ruler killed, and another account states specifically that the two were drowned in the Yellow River on 15 May 528, a further account giving 17 May, the conversions not agreeing. Yuan Zhao was young and the surviving sources show no political or military decision taken by him independently.

His accession and his death were little more than forty days apart; the empress dowager's passing off her infant daughter as an imperial son and her subsequent installation of Yuan Zhao made the succession procedurally hasty and left no strong record of open approval by the imperial clan or the ministers. This background was one reason why Erzhu Rong could take up arms in the name of the succession and the political situation, and throughout Yuan Zhao himself remained a nominal ruler.

Personal Relations

• Relationships are recorded from the cached source text and should be read together with the related entries listed below.

Historical Assessment

The Book of Wei and the History of the Northern Dynasties record Yuan Zhao's accession and death under the heading of a "young ruler", without giving him a basic annals of his own or leaving any assessment of his personal rule. The Book of Wei describes his death as that of an emperor, but this does not change the fact that his reign was extremely short and that no independent administration by him can be traced. Yuan Zhao's career chiefly reflects the succession system and the conflict over military power at the end of the Northern Wei rather than any personal achievement by the child ruler.