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:''This article is about the late Eastern Han warlord. For the Western Han prince, see [[Liu Zhang (Han prince)]].''
:''This article is about the late Eastern Han warlord. For the Western Han prince, see [[Liu Zhang (Han prince)]].''
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'''Liu Zhang''' (162? - [[219]]) was a warlord duiring [[Three Kingdoms]] period of [[Chinese history]]. He became governor of Yizhou (益州), succeeding his father [[Liu Yan (Three Kingdoms)|Liu Yan]] and ruled the region until [[214]], when he surrendered to [[Liu Bei]]. In popular accounts of the period, such as ''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms]]'', he is portrayed as a foolish and incapable ruler, but in historian [[Chen Shou]]'s ''[[Sanguo Zhi]]'', there is no evidence to support this. After his surrender to Liu Bei, he again surrendered to [[Eastern Wu]], and died shortly afterwards.
'''Liu Zhang''' (162? - [[219]]) was a warlord duiring [[Three Kingdoms]] period of [[Chinese history]]. He became governor of Yizhou (益州), succeeding his father [[Liu Yan (Three Kingdoms)|Liu Yan]] and ruled the region until [[214]], when he surrendered to [[Liu Bei]]. After his surrender to Liu Bei, he again surrendered to [[Eastern Wu]], and died shortly afterwards.


==Life==
==Life==


===Governorship of Yizhou===
Liu Zhang was the fourth son of [[Liu Yan (Three Kingdoms)|Liu Yan]] and from him inhereted the position of inspector of the [[Yizhou|Yizhou region]]. As a member of the [[Liu]] family, he was distantly related to [[Liu Bei]]. After refusing to hand over Yi to Liu Bei the two were sent into a war. Liu Zhang was described as a capable administrator who lacked decisiveness with talented officers such as [[Fa Zheng]] and [[Zhang Ren]] that he could not trust or empower --and Fa Zhang later became Liu Bei's associate. He was defeated by Liu Bei but his life was spared after he surrendered.

The youngest son of [[Liu Yan]], Liu Zhang spent his early career at the [[Eastern Han Dynasty|Han]] court as an assitant to his two eldest brothers, Liu Fan and Liu Dan. They served at the court when it was controlled by the warlords [[Li Jue]] and [[Guo Si]]. Liu Zhang was sent by the court to admonish his father for brutal actions, but upon arriving his father refused to let him go back to the court.

In [[194]], following the deaths of his elder brothers and then his father, he succeeded governorship of Yizhou. During his rule over the province, he did not show ambition to expand his territory, but it is said that he was a good ruler and maintained peace in his realm.

In [[200]], [[Zhang Lu]], who had previously recognized Liu Yan as his master, rebelled against Liu Zhang. Liu Zhang had Zhang Lu's mother, brothers, and other family members executed.

In [[211]], at the suggestion of his advisor [[Zhang Song]], he asked [[Liu Bei]] to come to his assistance in the battle against Zhang Lu. The welcoming of Liu Bei was a plan by Zhang Song, [[Fa Zheng]], and [[Meng Da]] to ultimately make him their leader, since they considered him more ambitious and worthy of serving than Liu Zhang. [[Wang Lei]], [[Huang Quan]], [[Li Hui]], and others tried to persuade Liu Zhang not to accept Liu Bei into his territory, but their pleas were ignored and Liu Bei was welcomed as a guest general of Liu Zhong where he would go to the front to fight against Zhang Lu.

When Zhang Song's true intentiones were revealed to Liu Zhang by his elder brother Zhang Su, he executed Zhang Song and began his battle against Liu Bei, who then began his conquest of Yizhou. Although generals such as [[Zheng Ren]] fought hard to defend their master, Liu Bei's forces had the upper hand, and by [[214]] they had surrounded Liu Zhang's capital at [[Chengdu]]. Liu Zhang's advisors [[Dong He]], [[Hu Jing]], and [[Liu Ba]] pleaded to their master to resist at all costs, but Liu Zhang rejected their pleas, saying "I don't want my subjects to suffer any more." He then surrendered to Liu Bei.


===After Surrendering===
There was some opposition to Liu Zhang's leadership in his early days. After his father's death, the Imperial government selected someone from their own court to replace him, but Liu Zhang assumed control of the province himself and did not allow the appointee to enter. This led to a rebellion led by, among others, [[Gan Ning]]. Although Gan Ning and his cohorts were defeated and fled to [[Liu Biao]], with whom Liu Zhang had been involved in small-scale warfare, Liu Zhang would continue to have problems maintaining his personnel, with period defections and rebellions.


Soon after surrendering his territory, Liu Bei sent him and his second son Liu Xun to the western part of Jingzhou, on the border with [[Sun Quan]]'s territory. In the year [[219]], however, forces led by Lü Meng, a subordinate of Sun Quan, captured Liu Bei's general Guan Yu and executed him, seizing Jing province. Liu Zhang and a son, Liu Chan (not the same Liu Chan as the Emperor of Shu), were taken in by the Sun forces, and Sun, seeking to establish a claim to the rest of Liu Bei's territory, gave Liu Zhang the title of Governor of Yi Province, which had been his previous title before suffering defeat at the hands of Liu Bei. However, Wu made no further attempts to invade Liu Bei's territory, and Liu Zhang died shortly after being made a vassal of Sun Quan. His eldest son, Liu Xun, continued to serve in Shu whilst Liu Chan served in Wu.
Because he was afraid of another prefect named [[Zhang Lu]], he turned to [[Cao Cao]]. Cao Cao was one of the most powerful rulers in China and a messenger ([[Zhang Song]]) was sent to him to forge an alliance. However, the messenger was treated with nothing but contempt by Cao Cao. The messenger would eventually anger Cao Cao and be kicked out of his capital Xu Chang. On his way home, the messenger came across the prefect Liu Bei. Liu Bei treated the messenger with genuine kindness as opposed to Cao Cao. The messenger decided that Liu Bei was the one who should be trusted to defend Liu Zhang.


===Historical Evaluation===
Liu Bei chose to help Liu Zhang because they were distant relatives and Liu Zhang was more than satisfied to receive his assistance. However, Liu Bei's generals and many officers under Liu Zhang (hoping for a stronger leader themselves) tried to convince Liu Bei to attack Liu Zhang. Liu Bei made no move at first; however, after Liu Zhang refused to allow Liu Bei passage in order to assist his ally [[Sun Quan]], who was facing a large invasion from Cao Cao's forces, Liu Bei announced his decision to attack Liu Zhang, killing two of Zhang's subordinates. Many peasants rebelled against Liu Zhang because they wished for a more capable leader. Liu Zhang's son held Cheng Du Castle for a year but eventually the were defeated by Liu Bei's forces.


In popular accounts of the period, such as ''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms]]'', he is portrayed as a foolish and incapable ruler.
Liu Zhang surrendered soon afterwards and was transferred to Jing province.


In historian [[Chen Shou]]'s ''[[Sanguo Zhi]]'', his rule is said to have been very peaceful until events of the period brought Liu Bei into his domain. However, Chen Shou, who had once served as an officer of [[Shu Han]], and still held some sympathy for his former masters, suggested that Liu Bei rightfully wrested leadership of Yizhou from Liu Zhang.
In the year [[219]], however, forces led by [[Lü Meng]], a subordinate of Sun Quan, captured Liu Bei's general [[Guan Yu]] and executed him, seizing Jing province. Liu Zhang and a son, Liu Chan (not the same Liu Chan as the Emperor of Shu), were taken in by the Sun forces, and Sun, seeking to establish a claim to the rest of Liu Bei's territory, gave Liu Zhang the title of Governor of Yi Province, which had been his previous title before suffering defeat at the hands of Liu Bei. However, Wu made no further attempts to invade Liu Bei, and Liu Zhang died shortly after being made a vassal of Sun Quan. His eldest son, [[Liu Xun]], continued to serve in Shu whilst Liu Chan served in Wu.


==Family==
==Family==
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[[Category:219 deaths|Liu Zhang]]
[[Category:219 deaths|Liu Zhang]]
[[Category:People of the Three Kingdoms]]
[[Category:People of the Three Kingdoms]]
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[[de:Liu Zhang (Kriegsherr)]]
[[de:Liu Zhang (Kriegsherr)]]

Revision as of 06:13, 25 March 2007

This article is about the late Eastern Han warlord. For the Western Han prince, see Liu Zhang (Han prince).
Names
Simplified Chinese: 刘璋;
Traditional Chinese: 劉璋;
Pinyin: Líu Zhāng
Zi: Jìyù (季玉)

Liu Zhang (162? - 219) was a warlord duiring Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He became governor of Yizhou (益州), succeeding his father Liu Yan and ruled the region until 214, when he surrendered to Liu Bei. After his surrender to Liu Bei, he again surrendered to Eastern Wu, and died shortly afterwards.

Life

Governorship of Yizhou

The youngest son of Liu Yan, Liu Zhang spent his early career at the Han court as an assitant to his two eldest brothers, Liu Fan and Liu Dan. They served at the court when it was controlled by the warlords Li Jue and Guo Si. Liu Zhang was sent by the court to admonish his father for brutal actions, but upon arriving his father refused to let him go back to the court.

In 194, following the deaths of his elder brothers and then his father, he succeeded governorship of Yizhou. During his rule over the province, he did not show ambition to expand his territory, but it is said that he was a good ruler and maintained peace in his realm.

In 200, Zhang Lu, who had previously recognized Liu Yan as his master, rebelled against Liu Zhang. Liu Zhang had Zhang Lu's mother, brothers, and other family members executed.

In 211, at the suggestion of his advisor Zhang Song, he asked Liu Bei to come to his assistance in the battle against Zhang Lu. The welcoming of Liu Bei was a plan by Zhang Song, Fa Zheng, and Meng Da to ultimately make him their leader, since they considered him more ambitious and worthy of serving than Liu Zhang. Wang Lei, Huang Quan, Li Hui, and others tried to persuade Liu Zhang not to accept Liu Bei into his territory, but their pleas were ignored and Liu Bei was welcomed as a guest general of Liu Zhong where he would go to the front to fight against Zhang Lu.

When Zhang Song's true intentiones were revealed to Liu Zhang by his elder brother Zhang Su, he executed Zhang Song and began his battle against Liu Bei, who then began his conquest of Yizhou. Although generals such as Zheng Ren fought hard to defend their master, Liu Bei's forces had the upper hand, and by 214 they had surrounded Liu Zhang's capital at Chengdu. Liu Zhang's advisors Dong He, Hu Jing, and Liu Ba pleaded to their master to resist at all costs, but Liu Zhang rejected their pleas, saying "I don't want my subjects to suffer any more." He then surrendered to Liu Bei.

After Surrendering

Soon after surrendering his territory, Liu Bei sent him and his second son Liu Xun to the western part of Jingzhou, on the border with Sun Quan's territory. In the year 219, however, forces led by Lü Meng, a subordinate of Sun Quan, captured Liu Bei's general Guan Yu and executed him, seizing Jing province. Liu Zhang and a son, Liu Chan (not the same Liu Chan as the Emperor of Shu), were taken in by the Sun forces, and Sun, seeking to establish a claim to the rest of Liu Bei's territory, gave Liu Zhang the title of Governor of Yi Province, which had been his previous title before suffering defeat at the hands of Liu Bei. However, Wu made no further attempts to invade Liu Bei's territory, and Liu Zhang died shortly after being made a vassal of Sun Quan. His eldest son, Liu Xun, continued to serve in Shu whilst Liu Chan served in Wu.

Historical Evaluation

In popular accounts of the period, such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he is portrayed as a foolish and incapable ruler.

In historian Chen Shou's Sanguo Zhi, his rule is said to have been very peaceful until events of the period brought Liu Bei into his domain. However, Chen Shou, who had once served as an officer of Shu Han, and still held some sympathy for his former masters, suggested that Liu Bei rightfully wrested leadership of Yizhou from Liu Zhang.

Family

Ancestors

  • Liu Yu (劉余) (distant ancestor)
  • Liu Yan (father)

Brothers

  • Liu Fan (劉範)
  • Liu Dan (劉誕)
  • Liu Mao (劉瑁)

Sons

  • Liu Xun (劉循)
  • Liu Chan (劉闡)

See also

Template:People of the Three Kingdoms