Historical Figure
Guangwu of Han
b. 5 BC
Emperor of China from 25 to 57 AD
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Biography
Emperor Guangwu of Han, personal name Liu Xiu (劉秀), courtesy name Wenshu (文叔), was the founding emperor of the Chinese Eastern Han dynasty. Through the Eastern Han's suppression and conquest of regional warlords, the dynasty's rule over the whole of China proper was consolidated by the time of Emperor Guangwu's death in AD 57. During his reign, Taoism was made the official religion of the Eastern Han, and the Chinese folk religion began to decline.
Timeline
The story of Guangwu of Han, told in moments.
Born Liu Xiu in Nanyang. A minor branch of the Han imperial family. When Wang Mang usurped the throne, Liu Xiu was farming a small plot of land with no army, no allies, and no particular plan.
Led 8,000 troops against Wang Mang's force of 420,000 at the Battle of Kunyang. A freak hailstorm scattered the larger army. Liu Xiu won. He was 28.
Proclaimed himself emperor, founding the Eastern Han dynasty. Chose Luoyang as his capital. He spent the next twelve years conquering warlords and reunifying China piece by piece.
Completed reunification of China. Unlike most founders, he scaled back the military and reduced taxes. He freed slaves, pardoned prisoners, and rebuilt the civil service.
Died at 62 after a 32-year reign. He'd told his officials to keep the funeral simple. For a man who reunified an empire, he had an unusual distaste for spectacle.
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