Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao

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Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao
Part of the wars of the Three Kingdoms
Date2 June 260[a]
Location
Luoyang, China
Result Cao Mao murdered and the Wang clan exterminated
Belligerents
Cao Mao and conspirators Sima Zhao and various defenders
Commanders and leaders
Wang Shen (Defected)
Wang Jing
Wang Ye
(Defected)
Wang Shen
Wang Ye
Strength
300[citation needed]
Sima Zhao's regicide
Hanyu Pinyin
Sīmǎ Zhāo shì jūn

Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao, also known as the Ganlu Incident (

Western Jin dynasty
.

The incident is also mentioned in the historical novel

Eastern Han dynasty
and the Three Kingdoms period. The events of the incident described in the novel are largely similar to that described in historical sources.

Background

The state of Cao Wei was established in 220 by

Incident at Gaoping Tombs in 249, when the Wei general Sima Yi seized power from the regent Cao Shuang. Sima Yi died in 251 and was succeeded by his sons Sima Shi and Sima Zhao
, who effectively controlled the Wei government.

In 254, Sima Shi deposed the third Wei ruler,

Wang Chen, Pei Xiu, and Zhong Hui
. Cao Mao also provided Sima Wang with a chariot and five imperial guardsmen as escorts because the latter lived further away from the palace than the others.

In 258, Sima Zhao was offered the title of Duke of Jin and the nine bestowments (over nine times), all of which he declined. Discussion and debate over the matter allowed him to judge his level of support.

A year later, in 259, Cao Mao received sightings of yellow dragons in two wells, and he wrote a poem identifying the dragons as being trapped inside wells and likened himself to the dragons. Sima Zhao saw the poem and was angry.

In 260, Sima Zhao was again offered title of Duke of Jin and the nine bestowments and did not immediately decline.

The incident

On 2 June 260, 19-year-old Cao Mao gathered his associates Wang Chen, Wang Jing, and Wang Ye, declaring his intention to make a last-ditch attempt to overthrow Sima Zhao, even at the cost of his life.

Wang Jing advised the emperor against such an action, but Cao Mao ignored Wang Jing's advice and informed Empress Dowager Guo of his plan. In his absence, Wang Shen and Wang Ye secretly deserted Cao Mao and notified Sima Zhao about the plot.

Cao Mao then led his forces from the palace, personally wielding a sword. Sima Zhao's younger brother Sima Zhou attempted to put up resistance at one of the gates, but was defeated and fled. Sima Zhao's aide Jia Chong led another defence at the South Watchtower. When Cheng Ji (成濟), a military officer under Jia Chong, asked Jia what to do, Jia told him to defend the Sima clan regardless of the consequences. Cheng Ji then approached Cao Mao and killed the emperor with his spear.

Aftermath

After Cao Mao's death, the public called for Jia Chong's execution on the grounds that he had committed regicide. Sima Zhao forced Empress Dowager Guo to posthumously demote Cao Mao to the status of a commoner, and then ordered Wang Jing and his clan to be executed. The following day, after pleas from his uncle Sima Fu, Sima Zhao asked Empress Dowager Guo to posthumously instate Cao Mao as the "Duke of Gaogui" (高貴鄉公) and bury Cao Mao with the ceremonies befitting that of a prince, though this was not actually done. Cao Huang (later renamed to Cao Huan), the Duke of Changdao (常道鄉公), was chosen to succeed Cao Mao and was installed on the throne. 19 days later, Sima Zhao had Cheng Ji and his family executed to appease public anger but Jia Chong was spared.

Sima Zhao successfully retained his power during the incident and eliminated his opponents in the Wei court, leaving only the young Cao Huan as a puppet emperor under his control. He did not take the Wei throne, even until his death, but was granted the title of a vassal king—"King of Jin" (晉王)—and the nine bestowments by Cao Huan in 264. Sima Zhao died in September 265 and was succeeded by his son

Western Jin dynasty
.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Cao Mao's biography in the Sanguozhi recorded that he died on the jichou day of the 5th month of the 5th year of the Ganlu era of his reign.[1] This date corresponds to 2 June 260 in the Gregorian calendar.

References

  1. ^ ([甘露五年]五月己丑，高貴鄉公卒， ...) Sanguozhi vol. 4.
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