In ancient imperial societies, the status of the emperor was very high, but it was also a very risky profession, so few emperors died young. So, which emperors in history have reigned for less than a year? According to rough statistics, there are about forty-one, and the shortest reign is not even two hours.
1.Deposed Emperor Liu He: 27 days. Liu He is the grandson of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty Liu He and the son of Liu Ju, King of Chang'an. In the first year of Emperor Yuanping of the Han Zhao Dynasty (74 BC), Liu Fuling died. Liu He had no children, and under the influence of the powerful minister Huo Guang, he entered the palace and was made the crown prince. On July 18 of the same year, Liu He accepted the emperor's seal and inherited the throne, but after only 27 days of reign, Huo Guang deposed him on the grounds that he was autocratic and did not protect Sheji, and was known as Emperor Zhao of the Han Dynasty.
Emperor Liu Long of Han II: 220 days. Liu Long was the youngest son of Emperor Liu Zhao of the Han Dynasty, and grew up among the people, because most of Liu Zhao's sons died young. On February 13, 106, Emperor Han He died, and Liu Long, who had just turned 100 days old, was made empress by Emperor Deng Sui of Han He. However, after reigning for only 220 days, Liu Long died on September 21, the first year of Yanping (106), becoming the youngest and shortest-lived emperor in Chinese history.
3.Liu Yi, former young emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty: 206 days. Liu Yi was the son of Liu Shou, the king of Hui in northern Hebei. On April 30, the fourth year of Emperor An Yongchu (125 years), Liu Shou died, and the Empress Dowager Zhen Ji, with the support of Zhen Xian, set up Liu Yi as the emperor and was in charge of state affairs, known as the former young emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty. However, after reigning for only 206 days, Liu Yi died on October 27 of the same year (December 10, 125).
4.Liu Wei, Emperor of Hanshun: 148 days. Liu Wei was the son of Liu Bao, Emperor Shun of Han, and was made crown prince in April (144 days) of the first year of Jiankang. In August of the same year (September 20, 144), Emperor Liu Bao of Han Shun died and was succeeded by Liu Wei. However, Liu Wei died on the sixth day of the first month of the first year of King Yong (February 15, 145) at the age of three, reigning for only 148 days.
5.Liu Kui, the second youngest emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty: 136 days. Although Liu Kui was the eldest son of Emperor Liu Hong and Empress He of the Han Dynasty, he was not the heir chosen by the emperor, who preferred Liu Xie. However, Emperor Ling of Han died on 13 May 189, and two days later (15 May), Empress He and the general He Jin canonized Liu Biao as emperor. However, after Liu Wei ascended the throne, the Ten Standing Servants rebelled, and Dong Zhuo entered Beijing to seize the government. Under the coercion of Dong Zhuo, Empress Dowager He issued an edict on September 28, 189, the first year of Zhaoning (189), to abolish Liu Bian's throne as King Hongnong and make Liu Xie emperor, who reigned for only 136 days.
City-State Emperor Li Pan: 116 days Li Pan was the nephew of Li Xiong, the founding emperor of the Cheng Han Dynasty during the Five Hu and Sixteen Kingdoms period. Although Li Xiong had ten sons, because his sons were not excellent, he made his nephew Li Ban the crown prince. On June 25, the twenty-fourth year of Yuan Heng (334), Li Xiong died and Li Ban ascended the throne, but Li Ban's succession to the throne caused dissatisfaction among Li Xiong's sons. In October of the twenty-fourth year of Yuan Heng (334), Li Ban was assassinated in the mourning palace by Li Xiong's son Li Yue because of night weeping, and he reigned for only 116 days.
7.Emperor Liu He of Han Zhao: 6 days. Liu He was the eldest son of Emperor Liu Yuan of Han Zhao during the Wuhu and Sixteen Kingdoms period, and was made crown prince in the first month of the fourth year of Yongjia (310). On July 18 of the same year, Liu Yuan died and was succeeded by the crown prince Liu He. After Liu He ascended the throne, he was extremely jealous of Liu Yue, the king of Chenliu, Liu Yang, the king of Changle, Liu Yannian, the king of Jiangdu, and Liu Cong, the king of Chu, who were appointed as assistants, so he conspired with Liu Rui, the king of Xichang, and Hu Yanyou, the king of Zongzheng, to get rid of the four kings, and Liu Cong was killed by Liu He after only six days on the throne.
Emperor Liu Che of the Han Dynasty: 22 days Emperor Liu Che of the Han Dynasty was the son of Emperor Liu Cong of the Han Dynasty, and was made the crown prince in the first year of Jianwu (317). On July 19, the first year of Taixing (318), Liu Cong died, and Liu Che ascended the throne the next day. Soon after ascending the throne, Liu Che entrusted state affairs to his brother-in-law Jin Zhun due to alcoholism and court pleasures. Later, he angered Jin Zhun by forcibly seizing Empress Jin, which eventually led to Jin Zhun rebelling, and he was captured in the Guangwu Palace, where he was killed after only 22 days in power.
The ninth Shao Emperor of Later Zhao: 23 Tianshi was the son of Shi Hu, Emperor Wu of Later Zhao. In the first year of Daning (349), the 10-year-old Shi Di was made the crown prince. On April 23 of the same year, Shi Hu died, and Shi Di became the crown prince, but due to his young age, all power was in the hands of his biological mother, Empress Liu and Zhang Yun. After learning the news of his father's death, Shi Zun organized men and horses to attack Yecheng and killed Zhang Jackal. On the fifth day of the fifth month of the sixteenth year, Shi Zun proclaimed himself emperor and was named the king of Shichi, but he was soon killed along with his mother.
Tenth place, Shi Zun of Zhao State: 183 days. Shi Zun was the ninth son of Emperor Wu of Zhao, Shi Hu. After his father's death, Shi Zun gathered an army to kill Shi Hu, the youngest emperor of Zhao State, and became emperor himself. However, after ascending the throne, the dispute between Shi Zun and Ran Min escalated, and he planned to kill Ran Min.
11.The next one is the stone book of the Zhao State: 103 days. After Ran Min killed Shi Zun, he named Shi Jian, the king of Yiyang, as the emperor. Although the power of the court had fallen into the hands of Ran Min at this time, the Hu people such as Sun Fudu and Liu Ba, the generals of Long Xiang, refused to admit defeat, so they planned to kill Ran Min and others again, but they were defeated by Ran Min again. In the first month of the second year of Taining (350), Ran Min changed the country name to Wei, the family name to Li, and the year name to Qinglong. In February of the same year, Ran Min killed Shi Jian and proclaimed himself emperor, but Shi Jian reigned for only 103 days.
Sima Yu, Emperor Jianwen: 245 days Sima Yu was the youngest son of Emperor Sima Rui of the Jin Yuan Dynasty and the half-brother of Sima Shao, Emperor of the Ming Dynasty of the Jin Dynasty. On the sixth day of the first month of the sixth year of Taihe (372), the great Sima Huan Wen deposed the Jin Yuan Emperor Sima Yi as the king of the East China Sea and renamed Sima Yu as the emperor. Although Sima Yu was proclaimed emperor, he was actually more under the control of Huan Wen, and finally died of illness on the seventh day of the ninth month of the second year of Xian'an (372), reigning for only 245 days.
13.Fu Chong, the last emperor of the Qin Dynasty: four months. Fu Chong, the son of Emperor Fu Deng of Qin, was made crown prince in August of the third year of the old Qin dynasty (388), and was defeated and killed by Yao Xing in June of the same year. In the first month of the ninth year of the Old Qin Dynasty (394), Fu Deng went on an expedition to the east, and was defeated and killed by Yao Xing in June of the same year, and Fu Chong hurried to Huangzhong to take the throne. In October of the same year, King Wuyuan of Qin drove Fu Chong away and took refuge with Yang Ding, the king of Longxi, who was defeated and killed by Fu Chong and Yang Ding.
14.Southern Song Liu Shao: 72 days. Liu Shao was the eldest son of Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty, Liu Yilong, and was made crown prince at the age of six in the sixth year of Yuanjia (429). During his tenure as crown prince, he was at odds with Emperor Wen because of his opposition to the Northern Expedition, and at the instigation of the sorcerer Yan Daoyu, he performed witchcraft, causing Emperor Wen to get rid of the crown prince. As a result, Liu Shao conspired with Liu Jun, the king of Shixing, to launch a coup d'état on February 21, the thirtieth year of Yuanjia (453), killing his father Liu Yilong and establishing himself as emperor. However, after only three months of reign, Liu Shao was defeated and killed by his brother Liu Jun.
15.Xiao Zhaoye, King Yulin of Qi in the Southern Dynasty: 350 days. Xiao Zhaoye is the grandson of Emperor Xiao Zhen of Qiwu, the eldest son of Xiao Changmao, the prince of Wenhui, was made the grandson of the emperor in April of the eleventh year of Yongming (493), and on July 30 of the same year, Emperor Wu of Qi died of illness and Xiao Zhaoye ascended the throne. However, during his reign, he rewarded and wasted money, committed adultery with his concubine Huo, exiled his master Xiao Ziliang to Wang Rong, and entrusted the government to Xiao Luan, Marquis of Xichang, and was killed on July 20 in the first year of Longchang (494) at the age of 21.
Xiao Zhaowen, King Qi Gong of the Southern Dynasty, sixteen years: 75 days. Xiao Zhaowen is the grandson of Emperor Xiao Zhen of Qi Wu and the second son of Xiao Changmao, the prince of Wenhui. On July 20 of the first year of Longchang (494), Xiao Luan, the prime minister, general of the Zhenjun and Marquis of Xichang, staged a coup d'état and killed Xiao Zhaoye, and on July 25, Xiao Zhaowen ascended the throne. Although Xiao Zhaowen sat on the throne, the power of the court was in the hands of Xiao Luan, and on October 10 of the same year, Xiao Luan issued an edict in the name of the Queen Mother to remove Xiao Zhaowen from the position of King of Hailing.
17.Nanliang Xiao Zhengde: 4 months. Xiao Zhengde is the nephew of Xiao Yan of Liang Taizong. In the second year of the Taiqing Dynasty of Liang (548), the Southern Liang broke out"Hou Jing's Rebellion", Xiao Zhengde ascended the throne as emperor on the first day of November of that year, moved the town to Pinghou, and appointed Hou Jing as prime minister. However, in March of the third year of Liang Taiqing (549), Hou Jing captured Jiankang, Shao Bao was reinstated, and Xiao Zhengde was demoted to the rank of Great Sima.
18.Nanliang Yuzhang Wang Xiaohuan: A few days. Xiao Yan is the great-grandson of Emperor Wu Xiao Yan, the grandson of Xiao Tong, the prince of Zhaoming, and the son of Xiao Huan, the king of Yuzhang. In the second year of Dabao (551), the rebel general Hou Jing killed Xiao Gan, the Jianwen Emperor, and made Xiao Yan emperor. But soon Hou Jing usurped the throne, and Xiao Huan was demoted to the king of Huaiyin.
19.Xiao Yuanming, Emperor Min of Southern Liang: Less than a year. Xiao Yuanming is the grandson of Emperor Wen of Liang Xiao Shun and the son of Xiao Wei, King of Xuanwu in Changsha. In the third year of Chengsheng (554), he captured Jiangling in the Western Wei Dynasty and killed Emperor Xiaoyi of Liang. The following year, in the fourth year of Chengsheng (555), Xiao Yuanming was proclaimed emperor with the support of Gao Yang of the Northern Qi Dynasty and the Taiwei Wang Shengqian. In the winter of the same year, Sikong Chen Ba first gathered troops in Jingkou, deposed Xiao Yuanming, and established Xiao Fangzhi as emperor.
20 Tuoba Yu, King of Nan'an of the Northern Wei Dynasty: 232 days Tuoba Yu was the son of Emperor Taiwu Tuoba Tao. In the second year of Zhengping (452), Zhongzong Aili Tuoba Yu was the emperor and killed Emperor Taiwu. During Tuoba Yu's reign, he indulged in lust and feared that Zong Ai would usurp power, so he planned to get rid of Zong Ai. On the first day of the tenth month of the second year of Zhengping (452), Zongai used Tuoba Yu's temple to kill Tuoba Yu.
The 21st Empress Dowager of the Northern Wei Dynasty: 1 Tian Empress Dowager Yuan was the daughter of Emperor Xiaoming of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the only flesh and blood of Emperor Xiaoming. Although the Empress Dowager Yuan Dang was the daughter of the Empress Dowager Hu, she claimed that she gave birth to the crown prince because of a fierce dispute with Emperor Xiaoming. On February 25, 528 (March 31, 528), Empress Dowager Hu poisoned Emperor Xiaoming, and the next day she canonized Mrs. Yuan, who had been born a month earlier. Since no one suspected that Emperor Xiaoming was dead, Empress Dowager Hu deposed Emperor Xiaoming on the same day.
22.Northern Wei Yuanzhao: 43 days. Yuan Xu is the great-grandson of Emperor Xiaowen Yuanhong and the son of Yuanbaohui, King of Lintao. On April 2, 528, after deposing Yuan Xu's wife, Empress Dowager Hu believed that Empress Dowager Hu had killed Emperor Xiaoming and put Yuan Xu, who was only three years old, on the throne, shocking the world. Jinyang Taishou Zhurong launched a crusade and captured Luoyang on May 15. Yuan Zhao and Empress Dowager Hu were captured and drowned in the Yellow River.
23.Yuan Ye of the Northern Wei Dynasty: 117 days. Yuan Ye is the great-grandson of Emperor Jingmu Tuoba Huang, the grandson of Tuoba Zhen, the king of Nan'an Hui, and the second son of Yuanyi, the king of Fufeng. In October of the third year of Yong'an (530), Emperor Yuan Ziyou of Xiaozhuang killed Er Zhurong, and Yuan Ye of Erzhu Shilong was lucky to ascend the throne, but he was only a puppet emperor, and after Er Zhu Zhaocheng captured and killed Emperor Xiaozhuang, he lost his use value. In February of the second year of Jianming (531), Yuan Ye was forced to abdicate and was demoted to the position of king of the East China Sea.
24.Northern Wei Emperor Yuen Long: 165 days. Yuan Lang was the third son of Yuan Rong, King of Zhangwu. In October of the second year of Jianming (531), Yuan Lang ascended the throne under the protection of Gao Huan. On April 18 of the second year of Zhongxing (532), Gao Huan marched into Luoyang, and Yuan Lang was forced to abdicate and demoted to the king of Anding County.
25.Gao Yin, Emperor of Northern Qi, abdication: 284 days. Gao Yin was the eldest son of Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi Gao Yang, and was made crown prince in the first year of Tianbao (550). In the tenth year of Tianbao (559), Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi died, and Gao Yin ascended the throne on October 19. In the first year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (560), King Changshan rebelled. On the third day of August of the same year, the Empress Dowager Lou Zhaojun deposed Gao Yan and made him the king of Jinan.
26.Gao Heng, the youngest emperor of the Northern Qi Dynasty: less than ten months old. Gao Heng was the son of Gao Wei, the monarch of the Later Qi Kingdom. On the first day of the first month of the first year of Chengguang (577), Gao Wei hurriedly ceded the imperial throne to his son Gao Heng to avoid bearing responsibility for the country's demise, but by this time the Northern Qi was on the verge of extinction. Gao Heng and his retinue fled to Jizhou, and then abdicated to Gao Cheng, the prime minister who also served as the king of the city, but before the abdication order arrived, Gao Heng was captured. In October of the same year, Gao Heng was killed.
27.Emperor Xuan of the Northern Zhou Dynasty Yuwen Yong: 257 days. Yuwen Yong, the eldest son of Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, was established as the crown prince in the first year of the founding of the Great People's Republic of China (572). On the first day of the sixth month of the first year of Xuanzheng (578), Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty died, and Yuwen Yong ascended the throne the next day. During his reign, Yu Wenyun indulged in wine, and later on February 19, the first year of Dacheng (579), he passed the throne to his eldest son, Yu Wenyan, and himself indulged in wine.
28.Emperor Gong of Sui Emperor Yang Yu: 177 days. Yang Yu was the grandson of Emperor Wen of Sui Yang Guang and the third son of the crown prince Yuande Yang Zhao. In the last years of the Sui Dynasty, the world was in turmoil. After Li Yuan rebelled in Taiyuan and conquered Chang'an, on November 16, the thirteenth year of the Great Cause (December 18, 617), Emperor Wen of Sui honored Emperor Yang of Sui as Emperor Taishang, and Yang Yu succeeded him. On May 14 of the same year (June 12), Li Yuan forced Yang Yu to abdicate and proclaimed himself emperor.
29.Yang Guang, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty: 336 days. Yang Tong is the grandson of Emperor Yang Guang of Sui and the second son of Yang Zhao, the prince of Yuande. In March of the fourteenth year of the Great Cause (618), Emperor Yang of Sui was killed in the Jiangdu Rebellion, and Yuan Wendu, Huangfu Wuyi, and Lu Chu, the right attendant of the Criminal Department, supported Yang Dong as emperor. However, as Wang Shichong's power grew, Yang Tong was forced to abdicate to Wang Shichong in April of the second year of Huangtai (619) and became the Duke of Lu.
30.Tang Dynasty Li Jiao: 188 days. Li Li, the eldest son of Li Shi of Tang Dezong, was made crown prince in December of the 14th year of the Great Calendar (779). On the 23rd day of the first month of the 21st year of the Great Calendar (805), Tang Dezong died, and on the 26th of the first month, Li Huan ascended the throne. After Li Yu ascended the throne, he was appointed"Two kings Liu Liu"As the main force of the reformers, it was called historically"Forever renewed"However, due to the strong power of the eunuchs, he was forced to abdicate on August 4 of the same year, and the eldest son Li Chun succeeded to the throne.
31.Liao Xuanzong Ye Luchun: Three months. Yelu Chun is the grandson of Yelu Zongzhen of Liaoxing Sect and the cousin of Yelu Yanxi, Emperor Tianzuo. In the ninth year of Tianqing (1119), the Jin soldiers attacked Shangjing, and Emperor Tianzuo fled into the mountains. In March of the same year, the Liao Han ministers elected Yeluchun as the emperor and established the Northern Liao. However, he reigned for only three months and died on June 24 of the same year.
32, Yelu Yanxi of Northern Liao: five months. In April of the third year (1123) of the second son of Tianzuo Emperor Yelu Enlai, Yelu Yanxi Baoda, defected to Tianzuo Emperor from the Jin army, at this time, Tianzuo Emperor was deprived of the title of Western Expedition, and Yelu Enlai and Temujin fled to the north. In May, ** supported Yelu Deren as emperor and changed the year name to the divine calendar. In October of the same year, Yeruen died at the age of Chinese New Year's Eve.
33.Yelu Jueli, the last emperor of Northern Liao: more than 20 days. Yelu Yili was the great-grandson of Liao Xingzong, who ascended the throne after Yelu Yixin's death and was Emperor Huan. In November of the same year, he was killed by his own men in a rebellion, and he reigned for just over 20 days.
34, the last emperor of the Jin Dynasty, Wanyan Chenglin: In less than two hours, Wanyan Chenglin was a descendant of Jin Shizu, a general of the Jin Dynasty, who escaped from Caizhou and destroyed Jin in southern Mongolia with Jin Aizong. In the first month of the third year of Tianxing (1234), Caizhou was besieged, and Wanyan Chenglin, who did not want to be king, asked Jin Aizong to agree to abdicate, and Jin Aizong died on February 8. The next day, the succession ceremony soon began, the Song army and the Mongol army invaded the city, Jin Aizong fled to Yulanxuan and hanged himself, Wanyan Chenglin led the army to meet the enemy, and finally died in the chaos.
Zhao Yu, the thirty-fifth emperor of the Song Dynasty: 313 days. Zhao Yu was the third son of Song Duozong and the younger brother of Song Gongzong and Song Duanzong, and after Duanzong's death, he was proclaimed by Lu Xiufu and Zhang Shijie on 10 May 1278, but during this time, the Southern Song dynasty was unable to defend itself against the Mongol army. On the sixth day of the second month of the second month of Xiangxing (March 19, 1279), Lu Xiufu, the prime minister of Zuo, committed suicide by jumping into the sea with the seven-year-old Zhao Yu on his back after losing the battle of Yashan, and died in Yashan.
36.Marco Polo-Asuji VIII, Emperor Tianshun of the Yuan Dynasty: 42 days. Marco Polo-Asujiba was the eldest son of Emperor Taiding, the original name of Marco Polo-Yisu Timur. He was appointed crown prince in March of the first year of Taiding (1324) and died on the 10th day of July in the first year of Zhihe (1328) due to civil strife. On the tenth day of the seventh month of the first year of Nahe (1328), the righteous grandson Timur died of illness in Shangdu, Yan Timur due to the civil strife in the Privy Council, on the ninth day of September in the thirteenth year, the son of Yuan Wuzong Tutimur was called the emperor, the prime minister rebelled against Lusha on the third day of October, Asuji was called the emperor, and the Yuan Dynasty broke out the battle of the two capitals. On the 13th day of October in the first year of the Tianli calendar (November 14, 1328), the Yuan army surrounded Shangdu, the prime minister Gulusha and other ministers surrendered, and the Tianli Emperor ascended the throne, and Gurusha was killed a month after surrendering.
37.Yuan Ming Dynasty Marco Polo Jane-Peshuo: 184 days. Marco Polo Chan and Xi were the eldest son of Yuan Wuzong and the elder brother of Yuan Wenzong. On the twenty-eighth day of the first month of the second year of the Tianli calendar (1329), Hexi was in the north of Helin. In August of the same year, He Xi died violently on his way south to Dadu at the age of 30.
38.Marco Polo-Ilinchban, Yuanningzong: 53 days. Marco Polo-Yilinqiban was the second son of Yuan Mingzong, who died on the 12th day of the eighth month of the 3rd year of Zhizheng (September 2, 1332), and Yilinqiban ascended the throne on the 4th day of the 10th month of the 10th year of Zhizheng (October 23, 1332) under the patronage of Empress Budachuri. However, after only 53 days of reign, Yilin Qiban died at the age of seven on the third day of the eleventh year of his reign (December 14, 1332).
39.Akihito Zong Zhu Gaochi: 262 days. Zhu Gaochi was the eldest son of Ming Chengzu Zhu Di, and was made crown prince in the second year of Yongle (1404). July 18, 22. On the seventh day of the ninth lunar month, Zhu Gaochi officially ascended the throne, but died on May 29, the first year of Hongxi (1425), eight months after his accession to the throne.
40, Mingguangzong Zhu Changluo: 29 days. Zhu Changluo is the eldest son of Zhu Yijun of Mingshenzong, in July of the 48th year of Wanli (1620), Shenzong died, and Zhu Changluo officially ascended the throne on the first day of August (August 28), but died on September 26 of the same year less than a month after ascending the throne.
41.Zhu Yijun, Emperor of the Southern Kingdom of Shaowu of the Ming Dynasty: 40 days. Zhu Yiwu is the ninth grandson of Zhu Yuanzhang, Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, and the younger brother of Zhu Yijun of Ming Shaozong. On November 5 (December 11), Zhu Youzhen was made his heir by the university scholars Su Guansheng and He Wuji, but then the Guitang dispute broke out. During the civil strife in the Southern Ming Dynasty, the Qing army entered the customs, and after the city was broken on December 15 (January 20, 1647), Zhu Youzhen was martyred by hanging.
The emperors listed above have reigned for less than a year in history. It should be noted that due to space limitations, those who usurped power, rebelled, and established themselves as emperors, such as Liu Xian at the end of the Zhao Dynasty, Li Zicheng at the end of the Dashun Dynasty, and Lu Shao at the end of the Liang Dynasty, who did not have the title of emperor during their reigns, are not included.