Duke Huan of Chen
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| Duke Huan of Chen 陳桓公 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12th ruler of Chen | |||||||||
| Reign | 744–707 BC | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Duke Wen of Chen | ||||||||
| Successor | Chen Tuo | ||||||||
| Died | 707 BC | ||||||||
| Spouse | Princess of Cai | ||||||||
| Issue | Crown Prince Mian Duke Li of Chen Duke Zhuang of Chen Duke Xuan of Chen | ||||||||
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| House | Gui | ||||||||
| Dynasty | Chen | ||||||||
| Father | Duke Wen of Chen | ||||||||
Duke Huan of Chen (Chinese: 陳桓公; pinyin: Chén Huán Gōng; reigned 744 BC – died 707 BC), personal name Gui Bao, was a duke of the Chen state.[1]
Duke Huan succeeded his father Duke Wen of Chen, who died in 745 BC. After a reign of 38 years, he died in 707 BC under strange circumstances. He was believed to have become demented and behaved erratically. He went missing on the jia-xu day in the first month of 707 BC. His body was found sixteen days later, on the ji-chou day.[2] The exact date of his death was unknown.
Chen Tuo's usurpation
The uncertainty of Duke Huan's death threw the state into turmoil. His younger brother Chen Tuo took the opportunity to murder Duke Huan's son Crown Prince Mian and usurp the throne.[2][1]
Earlier in his life, Duke Huan had married a princess of the neighbouring state of Cai, who gave birth to a son named Yue. After Chen Tuo's usurpation, the Cai army attacked Chen and killed Chen Tuo in 706 BC. The marquis of Cai then installed Yue on the Chen throne, posthumously known as Duke Li of Chen.[1][3] Duke Li died after a reign of seven years, and he was succeeded by two younger sons of Duke Huan: Lin, Duke Zhuang of Chen, and Chujiu, Duke Xuan of Chen.[4]