Tuoba Yu
Tuoba Yu 拓拔余 | |||||||||||||
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Emperor of Northern Wei | |||||||||||||
Reign | 12 March[1] - 29 October 452 | ||||||||||||
Predecessor | Emperor Taiwu | ||||||||||||
Successor | Emperor Wencheng | ||||||||||||
Died | 29 October 452 | ||||||||||||
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House | Tuoba | ||||||||||||
Dynasty | Northern Wei | ||||||||||||
Father | Emperor Taiwu | ||||||||||||
Mother | Lu Zuo Zhaoyi |
Tuoba Yu (拓拔余) (died 29 October 452
Background
It is not known when Tuoba Yu was born, but it is known that he was the youngest of Emperor Taiwu's six sons who survived childhood. His mother Consort Yujiulü (i.e.
Sometime late in Emperor Taiwu's reign, Tuoba Yu became friendly with Emperor Taiwu's eunuch Zong Ai, who in 451 had falsely accused Crown Prince Huang's associates Chouni Daosheng (仇尼道盛) and Ren Pingcheng (任平城) of crimes, causing many members of Crown Prince Huang's staff to be executed and Crown Prince Huang himself to fall ill in fear and die. In spring 452, in fear that Emperor Taiwu would punish him, Zong assassinated Emperor Taiwu. The officials initially did not announce Emperor Taiwu's death, but were debating between whether to make Crown Prince Huang's oldest son Tuoba Jun or Emperor Taiwu's oldest surviving son Tuoba Han (拓拔翰) the Prince of Dongping emperor. Zong, who was also on poor terms with Tuoba Han, summoned Tuoba Yu to the palace instead, and forged an edict of Emperor Taiwu's wife Empress Helian to ambush and put the officials in favor of either Tuoba Jun or Tuoba Han to death. He then executed Tuoba Han as well and made Tuoba Yu emperor.
Brief reign
Tuoba Yu honored Empress Helian as
It was also described that Tuoba Yu drank often, and often spent time on entertainment and hunting, with little time for important matters of state. Zong, as prime minister, was in charge of imperial guards as well, and he became extremely arrogant. Eventually, Tuoba Yu grew tired of Zong's antics and planned to strip him of his authority. Zong heard about this, and in winter 452, while Tuoba Yu was making a sacrifice to his great-grandfather Emperor Daowu at night, Zong sent his assistant Jia Zhou (賈周) to assassinate him. He was on the throne for only slightly over seven months. Several officials subsequently overthrew Zong and made Tuoba Jun emperor (as Emperor Wencheng). Emperor Wencheng buried Tuoba Yu with honors due an imperial prince, but not due an emperor, and gave him a posthumous name.
Era name
- Chengping (承平 chéng píng) 452
Ancestry
Tuoba Shi (d. 371) | |||||||||||||||||||
Emperor Daowu of Northern Wei (371–409) | |||||||||||||||||||
Empress Xianming (351–396) | |||||||||||||||||||
Emperor Mingyuan of Northern Wei (392–423) | |||||||||||||||||||
Liu Juan (d. 385) | |||||||||||||||||||
Empress Xuanmu (d. 409) | |||||||||||||||||||
Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei (408–452) | |||||||||||||||||||
Du Bao | |||||||||||||||||||
Empress Mi (d. 420) | |||||||||||||||||||
Lady Wei | |||||||||||||||||||
Tuoba Yu (d. 452) | |||||||||||||||||||
Yujiulü Disuyuan | |||||||||||||||||||
Yujiulü Puhun | |||||||||||||||||||
Yujiulü Datan (d. 429) | |||||||||||||||||||
Lady Yujiulü | |||||||||||||||||||
In popular culture
- Portrayed by Vanness Wu in the 2016 Chinese TV series The Princess Weiyoung.
References
- Book of Wei, vol. 18.
- History of Northern Dynasties, vol. 16.[1]
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 124, 125, 126.