Liu Tun
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Liu Tun | |
|---|---|
| 劉暾 | |
| Colonel-Director of Retainers (司隸校尉) | |
| In office 310–311 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Huai of Jin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 311 |
| Relations | Prince of Chengyang, Liu Zhang (ancestor) |
| Children | Liu You Liu Bai (died between 307 and April 311)[a] |
| Parent | Liu Yi (father) |
| Courtesy name | Changsheng (長升) |
| Peerage | Duke of Zhuxu |
Liu Tun (died c.October 311),[1] courtesy name Changsheng, was an official of the Jin dynasty (266–420). During the War of the Eight Princes, he was one of the few ministers entrusted with managing the Eastern Court while Emperor Hui of Jin was kept in Chang'an. After the Disaster of Yongjia, Liu Tun was captured and plotted with the Han-Zhao general, Wang Mi, to break away, but was killed by Shi Le not long after. He was also known to have served as Colonel-Director of Retainers five times throughout his career.
Liu Tun was the son of the Cao Wei and Western Jin minister, Liu Yi (died c.March 285).[2] His family was from Ye County, Donglai Commandery, and he was a descendant of the Western Han dynasty prince, Liu Zhang. In 280, he entered the government and was appointed an Academician.
In January 283, Emperor Wu of Jin had his brother the Prince of Qi, Sima You, exiled from Luoyang to his fief. He then had his ministers debate on what should be bestowed on his brother for his achievements, during which Liu Tun, along with his fellow academicians, submitted a petition opposing Sima You's banishment. Emperor Wu was furious and had Liu Tun arrested and sent before the Minister of Justice. He was released following a general amnesty but was relieved of his official duties. He was later appointed Magistrate of Suanzao and then Imperial Clerk.[3]
War of the Eight Princes
Service under Empress Jia
Emperor Hui of Jin succeeded Emperor Wu, but because of his developmental disability, he was unable to assert real power over the court. Instead, in 291, after the deaths of Yang Jun, Sima Liang and Wei Guan, the imperial court fell under the control of Empress Jia Nanfeng and her relatives, Jia Mi and Guo Zhang, becoming known as the Jia-Guo regime. In c.November 295,[4] a fire broke out in the imperial armory. At the time, Guo Zhang had a hundred men under him who could put out the fire, but he was more interested in protecting his own property. Liu Tun severely questioned him for his actions, and Guo Zhang angrily said, "Sir, I can easily cut off your frontal bone if I wanted to!" Liu Tun replied, "How dare you use favour to act like a tyrant! Are you going to cut the Son of Heaven's faguan as well?" He attempted to remove Guo Zhang from office, and Guo Zhang was unable to defend himself. Despite everyone else making excuses for Guo Zhang, Liu Tun refused to relent. After the incident, Guo Zhang reportedly became less extravagant and led a simpler life.[5]
Service under Sima Jiong and Sima Ai
Liu Tun was eventually transferred to the Interior Minister of Taiyuan. In February 301, after purging the Jia clan the previous year, the Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun, usurped the throne from Emperor Hui. He appointed Liu Tun as General Who Attacks Barbarians, but he declined. When the Prince of Qi, Sima Jiong, raised a coalition to restore Emperor Hui later that April, Liu Tun raised an army in support of him and joined the Prince of Changshan, Sima Ai.[6][7]
After Sima Lun was deposed later that year, Liu Tun was appointed Assistant of the Left to the Masters of Writing. During his tenure, he was described as having performed diligently and kept the court free of corruption. He later became an acting Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk, during which he submitted a petition to the court asking it to dismiss more than ten officials, including the Prince of Dong'an, Sima Yao, which earned him praise. He was then officially instated as Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk and appointed Zhongshuzi, Left General of the Guards and Colonel-Director of Retainers. Afterwards, he sent another petition to dismiss a few more officials.[8]
In January 303, when Sima Ai fought Sima Jiong in Luoyang, Liu Tun sided with the former. After Sima Jiong was killed, Sima Ai enfeoffed Liu Tun as the Duke of Zhuxu. The following year, in 304, Sima Ai was defeated by the alliance of the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong, and the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying. Liu Tun was dismissed from his office, but soon returned as Colonel-Director of Retainers.[9]
Managing the Eastern Court
In 305, Emperor Hui was forcibly relocated from Luoyang to Chang'an by Sima Yong. The imperial court was divided into two, with the Western Court in Chang'an and the Eastern Court in Luoyang. Liu Tun, as well as the prominent ministers Xun Fan and Zhou Fu, were left behind to manage politics in Luoyang on behalf of the emperor.[10]
Later that year, the Prince of Donghai Sima Yue rallied the forces in the east to campaign against Sima Yong and bring Emperor Hui back to Luoyang. The general, Zhou Quan (周權), forged a proclamation to restore the deposed Empress Yang Xianrong in Luoyang but was foiled and killed. Sima Yong then issued an edict ordering her to commit suicide on the grounds that she was inciting rebellion. However, Liu Tun and his peers defended her, stating that she was under tight surveillance and was unaware of any plot. Sima Yong was furious and ordered his subordinate, Lü Lang (呂朗), to arrest Liu Tun, prompting him to flee to the Prince of Gaomi, Sima Lüe, in Qing province.[11]
In 306, the Prefect of Jian County, Liu Bogen (劉伯根), became a bandit and raised an army in rebellion in Qing province. As Bogen led his followers towards the provincial capital, Linzi, Sima Lüe appointed Liu Tun as Grand Chief Controller and General Who Guards the Army before sending him to fight the rebels. However, Liu Tun was defeated and fled back to Luoyang.[12]
In June that same year, Sima Yue returned Emperor Hui to the capital with his forces. Yang Xianrong, who was grateful to Liu Tun for saving her life, reported to the emperor on his deeds. As a result, Liu Tun was restored to his previous title, given the office of Household Counsellor with Golden Tassel, and once again appointed Colonel-Director of Retainers.[13]