Xiao Baoyin
Southern Qi prince who rebelled against Northern Wei.
Xiao Baoyin (486 – 10 June 530), courtesy name Zhiliang, was an imperial prince of the Chinese Southern Qi dynasty. After fleeing to the rival Northern Wei dynasty as Southern Qi fell, he served as an official and general before rebelling in 527 to try to reestablish Southern Qi. His rebellion failed, and he was captured and forced to commit suicide.
Quick Facts
- Birth
- 486
- Death
- 10 June 530
- Courtesy name
- Zhiliang
- Dynasty
- Southern Qi
- Father
- Xiao Luan (Emperor Ming of Southern Qi)
- Mother
- Liu Huiduan
- Spouse
- Princess Nanyang
Facts from the source article.
Early life
Xiao Baoyin was born in 486 during the reign of Emperor Wu of Southern Qi. He was the sixth son of Xiao Luan and his wife Liu Huiduan, who also bore Xiao Baojuan, Xiao Baoxuan, and Xiao Baorong. Liu Huiduan died in 489, when Xiao Baoyin was two.
During Xiao Baojuan's and Emperor He's reigns
In 500, Xiao Yan rebelled and declared Xiao Baorong emperor. In 501, Zhang Xintai seized Xiao Baoyin to declare him emperor but was defeated; Xiao Baojuan did not punish Xiao Baoyin. Around the new year 502, Xiao Baojuan was assassinated, and Xiao Yan entered the capital, changing Xiao Baoyin's title to Prince of Poyang. As Xiao Yan prepared to take the throne, he began executing imperial princes. Xiao Baoyin's eunuch Yan Wenzhi and attendant Ma Gong helped him escape through a hole in the wall to a boat on the Yangtze River. He reached Shouyang, a Northern Wei border city. Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei welcomed him, and after Xiao Yan established the Liang dynasty later in 502, Liang publicly claimed Xiao Baoyin had been executed for treason.
Service as Northern Wei official and general
Emperor Xuanwu favored Xiao Baoyin for his mourning of Xiao Baojuan. In spring 503, after Xiao Baoyin begged for an attack on Liang, Emperor Xuanwu gave him an army and the titles Duke of Danyang and Prince of Qi, intending him to reestablish Southern Qi as a vassal. He was permitted to gather strategists, and married the Princess Nanyang. Xiao Baoyin held key offices under Emperor Xuanwu and Emperor Xiaoming. In 507, he was temporarily stripped of titles after a defeat with Yuan Ying, but they were soon restored. In 511, he kept his army undamaged during a Northern Wei defeat. In 516, he helped prevent a Liang attack on Shouyang and refused a defection offer from Liang's Emperor Wu. In 522, he denounced Xiao Zhengde, who had fled to Northern Wei, leading to Xiao Zhengde receiving no preferential treatment.
Rebellion and death
Xiao Baoyin continued considering rebellion, using the claim that Yuan Lüe was instructed by Liang's Emperor Wu to kill him. In winter 527, after assassinating the official Li Daoyuan, he declared himself Emperor of Qi. His rebellion lacked support, and in 528 his general Hou Zhongde ambushed him. Xiao Baoyin fled with his wife Princess Nanyang and youngest son Xiao Kai to the rebel leader Moqi Chounu, who made him Taifu and a major general. In 530, Erzhu Tianguang captured Moqi and Xiao Baoyin. They were taken to Luoyang and displayed for three days. Xiao Zan and officials Li Shenjun and Gao Daomu pleaded for Xiao Baoyin's life, but Wang Daoxi argued against it. Emperor Xiaozhuang beheaded Moqi and forced Xiao Baoyin to commit suicide. As he took poison, his family visited him; he stated, 'This is heaven's wish. I only regret that I had not been a proper subject.'
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