Gao Yan was the sixth son of Gao Huan, the emperor of Northern Qi, and the third emperor of Northern Qi during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and was a half-brother with Gao Cheng and Gao Yang. Reigned for only one year.
Gao Yan was very smart when he was young, and he had the ability and talent to achieve great things very early. His mother, Lou Zhaojun, liked him very much. In 538, he was made the Duke of Changshan County. Gao Yan was good at politics, and from the tianbao dynasty onwards, he began to participate in political affairs, and his political experience gradually matured and enriched. Seeing that Emperor Wenxuan Gao Yang was addicted to wine, Gao Yan was worried and worried, and from time to time he spoke bluntly.
In 559, when Emperor Wenxuan died, Gao Yan stayed in the imperial palace to take care of the aftermath. Emperor Wenxuan's crown prince Gao Yin succeeded to the throne and appointed Gao Yan as Taifu. The affairs of the imperial court were decided by Gao Yan. More than a month later, Gao Yan lived in the palace. Gao Yin is pro-government.
In 560, Gao Yan followed Gao Yin to Yecheng and lived in the General's Mansion. Feeling threatened by the prestige of the high performance, he was suspected and rejected by Gao Yin, so he launched a coup d'état.
In August 560, Empress Lou ordered the abrogation of Emperor Gaoyin, demotion to the position of King of Jinan, and the departure of the imperial palace. On the same day, Gao Yan ascended the throne at the Xuande Hall in Jinyang and granted amnesty to the world. Honored Lou Zhaojun as empress dowager.
After Gao Yan succeeded to the throne, he was both literate and martial. He was diligent in government affairs at home, appointing talents, and externally he personally went north, out of the Great Wall, divided his troops into battles, defeated the enemy army, and captured many cattle and horses. Filial piety to the mother, love brothers. In the second year of his reign, Gao Yan fell from his horse and injured his ribs. Gao Yan had previously deposed Emperor Gao Yin as the King of Jinan and agreed not to kill him, but later Gao Yan killed Gao Yin for political gain. Violation of the Agreement.
Empress Lou went to visit and repeatedly asked Gao Yin, but Gao Yan should not respond. The empress dowager was angry when she learned that Gao Yin had been killed. Before dying, he performed a confession and prostrated his head. Gao Yan felt guilty, and guilt tormented him day and night. Soon, hallucinations arose and saw Gao Yang and the others using their swords to avenge Gao Yin. Later, he hurriedly called for "exorcism" and ordered eunuchs and servants to hold torches and guard the palace all night to prevent "ghosts" from invading the palace.
Gao Yan was relieved and took a few people to the countryside to hunt. Running and running, a cunning rabbit suddenly rushed out of the grass. The high-flying horse jumped up in fright, and fell off the horse's back heavily, breaking its ribs.
After Gao Yan was injured, his condition deteriorated, and he remembered who should inherit the throne after his death. Originally, I made my son the crown prince, but when I thought about it carefully, I felt that it was inappropriate, so I bullied Gao Yin and killed my nephew to usurp the throne. Who can guarantee that after my death, Gao Zhan, the King of Changguang, will not kill my son and become emperor himself? Besides, Gao Zhan is not that kind of person. Thinking about it, he felt that the safest way was to change the crown prince and appoint Gao Zhan as the heir to the throne.
Gao Yan passed the throne to Gao Zhan, the King of Changguang. He also wrote a suicide note to Gao Zhan, pleading with Gao Zhan: "After I die, you must treat my wife and children well, and don't learn from me." After dealing with the aftermath, Gao Yan died at the age of 27. He was buried in Wenjing Mausoleum and given the nickname "Emperor Xiaozhao".