It is often said that "the most ruthless imperial family", in order to compete for the throne, even flesh and blood relatives will kill each other, such as Tang Taizong Li Shimin, who seized the throne through the change of Xuanwu Gate. However, in the history of China, there was an emperor who usurped the throne, and he was even more cruel and vicious than Li Shimin! He lost his father at a young age, and his uncle raised him, but later, he usurped the throne and killed all hundreds of people in his uncle's family! Who is this vicious emperor?
This person was Xiao Luan, the fifth emperor of Southern Qi during the Southern and Northern Dynasties! Xiao Luan was born in the Xiao clan of Menlanling, and his grandfather's name was Xiao Chengzhi. Xiao Chengzhi had three sons, the eldest son Xiao Daodu, the second son Xiao Daosheng, and the third son Xiao Daocheng, and Xiao Luan was Xiao Daosheng's son. Xiao Luan lost his father at a young age, and the third uncle Xiao Daocheng took him to his home to raise, even better than his own son, but Xiao Daocheng would not have thought that he actually raised a "white-eyed wolf".
Relying on the family background and the care of the third uncle, Xiao Luan had already held the position of Taishou during the Liu Song Dynasty. Xiao Daocheng was proclaimed empress dowager, and Xiao Luan was made the Marquis of Xichang and the Assassin of Yingzhou. During the reign of Emperor Xiao Zhao of Qiwu, he also had great trust in Xiao Luan, "relocating Shangshu to the left and leading the generals of the Right Guard". Before his death, Emperor Wu of Qi even arranged for Xiao Luan to be a servant and Shang Shuling, and completely controlled the government of Southern Qi.
Xiao Luan deposed the two emperors of Southern Qi, eliminated dissidents in the court, and paved the way for his own usurpation. In 494, under Xiao Luan's arrangement, he changed his father to himself, "into Emperor Gao as the third son", that is to say, he became the third son of the third uncle Xiao Daocheng. In this way, Xiao Luan had the status of a prince, and he could legitimately ascend to the throne. Nevertheless, he was still a usurper.
Although Xiao Luan became emperor, he was very worried, because the third uncle Xiao Daocheng had many descendants in this vein, and they were all potential threats to the throne. For example, Xiao Daocheng had nineteen sons, Emperor Xiao zhao of Qiwu had twenty-three sons, and there were many other branches. Whenever a family banquet was held, Xiao Luan was very frightened, because he saw: "Neither I nor Situ (Xiao Luan's younger brother) have long sons, and the children of Gao and Wu are growing up day by day." ”
When things reached this point, Xiao Luan resolutely raised his butcher knife, and he began to attack Xiao Daocheng's descendants, "Twenty-nine people who were killed by Emperor Tongji Gao's son, grandson, and great-grandson III for Luan." In the end, Xiao Daocheng's vein had already been killed by Xiao Luan. Xiao Daocheng could not have imagined in his dreams that his nephew, who had been raised by his own hands, would actually kill his entire family and make him die. Xiao Zilun, 16, said something before he was killed, "First destroy the Liu clan in the past, today's events, it is reasonable." ”
As the saying goes, "The house of good deeds will have Yu Qing; and the house of ji bad will have remnants", although Xiao Luan killed all the descendants of the third uncle, he was not able to save his dynasty. During the reign of Xiao Luan's son Xiao Baojuan, he continued his father's policy of wantonly slaughtering the ministers, which angered Xiao Yan, who raised an army in Xiangyang and attacked Jiankang in one fell swoop, destroying Southern Qi and establishing the Liang Dynasty. Xiao Luan's atrocities were also "retribution."
Xiao Luan had eleven sons, "Emperor Wu of Liang killed six of them, Dong Faint killed one, Wei killed one, Yu died prematurely, and died of illness and death", "However, all the sons of Luan died badly, and after Gai Luan died". Xiao Luan killed all the descendants of his third uncle Xiao Daocheng, and his own heirs were also killed, probably this is retribution!
References: 1. Book of Southern Qi; 2. History of the South; 3. Zizhi Tongjian