Portrait of Huo Guang in Sancai Tuhui

This is a Chinese name; the family name is 霍 (Huo). The Sancai Tuhui (三才圖會 compiled by Shanghai natives Wang Qi (王圻 and Wang Siyi (王思義 is a Chinese encyclopedia (known at that time Personal Names in Chinese culture follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western cultures. Chinese family name is one of the hundreds or thousands of Family names that have been historically used by Han Chinese and Sinicized Chinese ethnic The Chinese surname Huo (霍 is an uncommon Chinese surname. The Putonghua ( Standard Mandarin) version is pronounced Huo while the Cantonese

Huo Guang (d. 68 BC) (Traditional Chinese: 霍光), courtesy name Zimeng (子孟) was a Western Han statesman who was a rare example in Chinese history of a powerful official who deposed an emperor for the good of the state rather than to usurp the throne. Year 68 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Lucius Caecilius Metellus A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name ( zì) is a given name to be used later in life The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. A statesman or stateswoman or statesperson is usually a Politician or other notable figure of State who has had a long and respected career in Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River ( valley in the Neolithic era He was the half-brother of renowned Han general Huo Qubing. Huo Qubing ( b 140 BC - d 117 BC born in Linfen, Shanxi, was a general of the western Han dynasty under Emperor Wu.

Service under Emperor Wu

Huo's early career in Han government was not well-documented, but it is known that as of 88 BC -- near the end of Emperor Liu Che (Emperor Wu)'s reign, he was already a fairly highly ranked official with dual titles of fengche duwei (奉車都尉) and guanglu dafu (光祿大夫). Year 88 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome The Social War ends with the defeat of the Italian Background birth and years as crown prince Emperor Wu was the tenth child of Emperor Jing, and was born to one of Emperor Jing's favorite Concubines, When Emperor Wu, near the end of his life, chose his youngest son Liu Fuling (later Emperor Zhao) as heir, he commissioned Huo, ethnically-Xiongnu official Jin Midi, and imperial guard commander Shangguan Jie (上官桀) as coregents, but with Huo effectively in command of the government, with the titles of dasima (大司馬) and dajiangjun (大將軍). Birth and childhood before ascending the throne In 94 BC then-Prince Fuling was born to a favorite concubine of Emperor Wu Consort Zhao who carried the title Lady Gouyi (鉤弋夫人 The Xiongnu ( Turkish: Doğu Hun were a confederation of nomadic tribes from Central Asia with a ruling class of unknown origin and other subjugated tribes Jin Midi or Kim Iljae (134 BC-86 BC ( Traditional Chinese: 金日磾/ Hangul: 김일제/ Revised Romanization: Kim Iljae Courtesy name A regent, from the Latin regens "who reigns" is a person selected to act as Head of state (ruling or not because the ruler is a minor When Emperor Wu died in 87 BC, Emperor Zhao, then eight-years-old, was left in the tutelage of Huo, Jin, and Shangguan. Year 87 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Lucius Cornelius Cinna is elected Consul Emperor Wu's will created the three of them as marquesses, but all three declined. A marquess (ˈmɑrkwɪs or marquis (/mɑrˈkiː/ is a Nobleman of hereditary rank in various European monarchies and some of their colonies

Service under Emperor Zhao

Emperor Zhao, as the youngest son of Emperor Wu, drew jealousy from his older brothers, and in his reign there were multiple conspiracies. In 86 BC, a conspiracy involving Liu Dan (劉旦), the Prince of Yan (燕王) and an elder son of Emperor Wu, was discovered, but the prince was not punished, presumably under Huo's decision, even though the other conspirators were executed. Year 86 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome First Mithridatic War

In 85 BC, Huo was created the Marquess of Bowang (博望侯). Year 85 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome First Mithridatic War — Lucius Cornelius

In the same year, Jin, a moderating influence in the coregency, died. After Jin's death, Shangguan became increasingly jealous of Huo's powers, even though the two had been great friends, and Huo had given his daughter in marriage to Shangguan's son Shangguan An (上官安). In 84 BC, as a ploy to further strengthen his powers, Shangguan Jie gave his granddaughter (also Huo's granddaughter), then age five, in marriage to the emperor, then age 11, and she was made empress in 83 BC. Year 84 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome End of the First Mithridatic War. Year 83 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Sulla returns to Italy from his campaigns

In 80 BC, the dormant conflict between Huo and Shangguan came to a head. Year 80 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Battle of the Baetis River — Democratic rebel Shangguan formed a conspiracy with Liu Dan the Prince of Yan, the Princess Eyi (鄂邑公主) (who, as the emperor's sister, had served as his caretaker), and another important official Sang Hongyang (桑弘羊) to make false allegations of treason against Huo. In Law, treason is the Crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one's sovereign or Nation. However, Emperor Zhao, who trusted Huo, did not act on the allegations. The conspirators then planned a coup d'etat, but were discovered. Most of the conspirators, including Shangguan, were executed, and Liu Dan and the Princess of Eyi were forced to commit suicide.

The Prince He Incident and the installation of Emperor Xuan

In 74 BC, Emperor Zhao died at age 21 without issue -- and therefore without an heir. Year 74 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Nicomedes IV, last king of Bithynia Even though Emperor Zhao had living older brothers, Huo considered them incompetent and unfit for the throne. After some investigation, he settled on making Liu He, Emperor Zhao's nephew and the Prince of Changyi the new emperor. Background and career as the Prince of Changyi It is not known when Prince He was born Once the Prince of Changyi was installed as the emperor, however, he began to spend incessantly and otherwise act inappropriately during the period of mourning for Emperor Zhao.

In response, Huo decided to depose the new emperor -- then an unprecedented action in Chinese history. Under an edict issued by Empress Dowager Shangguan -- Huo's granddaughter -- Prince He was deposed after just 28 days as emperor and exiled to his old principality of Changyi, but without a princely title.

There was no imperial heir in sight who fit Huo's standard of a diligent and skilled emperor. At the suggestion of another senior official Bing Ji (丙吉), Huo made a great-grandson of Emperor Wu (whose grandfather Liu Ju had been Emperor Wu's crown prince by Empress Wei but who subsequently fell out of favor and was killed in a disturbance, with his issue being removed from the imperial household), Liu Bingyi (later Liu Xun 劉詢) emperor. Liu Ju ( Traditional Chinese: 劉據 (128 BC-91 BC formally Crown Prince Li (戾太子 literally "the Unrepentant Crown Prince" was Crown prince Empress Wei Zifu ( Traditional Chinese: 衛子夫 Simplified Chinese: 卫子夫 Pinyin: Weì Zǐfū (d 27 days after Prince He was deposed, Liu Bingyi, who then was a commoner with no titles, became emperor (later known as Emperor Xuan). Family background and early life Parentage disaster and a barely spared young life Liu Bingyi was born in 91 BC to Liu Jin, the son of then-Crown Prince

Service under Emperor Xuan

In 73 BC, Huo offered to return all authority to Emperor Xuan, but the emperor declined and reaffirmed that all important matters were to be presented to Huo before Huo would present them to the emperor. Year 73 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place British Isles Traditional date that Lud became King The emperor also made Huo's son Huo Yu (霍禹) and his grandnephews Huo Yun (霍雲) and Huo Shan (霍山) (Huo Qubing's grandsons) key officials in his administration. Huo Guang's sons-in-law Fan Mingyou (范明友) and Deng Guanghan (鄧廣漢) were made high military commanders. During the next few years, Huo and the emperor effectively shared imperial powers.

In 71 BC, Huo Guang's wife Xian (顯), in order to make her daughter Huo Chengjun (霍成君) empress, poisoned Emperor Xuan's wife Empress Xu Pingjun by bribing her doctor. Events By place Rome Third Servile War ends — Slave uprising under leadership of Spartacus is crushed by a Roman army under Empress Huo Chengjun (霍成君 (d 54 BC was an empress during Han Dynasty. Empress Xu Pingjun (許平君 (d 71 BC formally Empress Gong'ai (恭哀皇后 (literally the Respectful and Lamentable Empress and sometimes (but not at all times In 70 BC, Huo Chengjun was created empress. Year 70 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome August — In Rome, Cicero prosecutes

Death and subsequent destruction of the Huo clan

In 68 BC, Huo Guang became ill and died. Year 68 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Lucius Caecilius Metellus Emperor Xuan and Empress Dowager Shangguan made the nearly-unprecedent act of personally attending Huo's wake and built an impressive mausoleum for Huo. A wake is a Ceremony associated with death Traditionally a wake takes place in the house of the deceased with the body present however modern wakes are often performed at A mausoleum ( plural: mausolea is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons After Huo's death, his sons, sons-in-law, and grandnephews remained in important posts and were made marquesses. The Huo family lived luxurious lives and acted as if it were the imperial household. Emperor Xuan, unhappy about the Huos' arrogance, began to gradually strip their actual powers while formally keeping their titles impressive.

In 67 BC, Emperor Xuan made his son Liu Shi (劉奭, later Emperor Yuan), by the deceased Empress Xu, crown prince, an act that greatly angered Lady Xian, who instructed her daughter to murder the crown prince. Events By place Rome Consuls Manius Acilius Glabrio and Gaius Calpurnius Piso. Family background When Emperor Yuan was born as Liu Shi in 75 BC his parents Liu Bingyi and Xu Pingjun were commoners without titles Allegedly, Empress Huo did make multiple attempts to do so, but failed each time. Around this time, the emperor also heard rumors that the Huos had murdered Empress Xu, which led him to further strip the Huos of actual power.

In 66 BC, Lady Xian revealed to her son and grandnephews that she had, indeed, murdered Empress Xu. Year 66 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Manius Aemilius Lepidus and In fear of what the emperor might do if he had actual proof, Lady Xian, her son, her grandnephews, and her sons-in-law formed a conspiracy to depose the emperor. The conspiracy was discovered, and the entire Huo clan was executed by Emperor Xuan -- an act that later drew heavy criticism from historians for its ungratefulness to Huo Guang. (e. g. , Sima Guang in his Zizhi Tongjian. Life profession and works He was born in 1019 in present-day Yuncheng Shanxi to a wealthy family and obtained early success as a scholar and officer The Zizhi Tongjian ( was a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography. ) (For the time being, Empress Huo was deposed but not executed, but 12 years later she was exiled; in response, she committed suicide. )

Despite the destruction of the Huo clan, Emperor Xuan continued to honor Huo Guang posthumously. In 51 BC, when he painted the portrait of 11 great statesmen of his administration in the great hall of his palace, Huo, alone among the 11, was referred to by title and family name only, which was considered an even greater honor than the honor given to the other 10. Year 51 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Marcus Claudius Marcellus

Impact on Chinese history

Huo was treated somewhat paradoxically by posterity. On one hand, he was greatly admired for his skillful administration of the empire and his selflessness in putting himself in great danger in deposing an unfit emperor. On the other hand, he was also criticized for his dictatorial governing style and alleged nepotism -- traits that some historians claim eventually led to his clan's destruction. Nepotism is the showing of favoritism toward relatives and friends based upon that relationship rather than on an objective evaluation of ability Meritocracy or suitability

Many later conspirators in Chinese history would often claim that they were acting in the empire's best interest, like Huo, even though few actually did. (One example -- perhaps the only one -- was the conspiracy against Emperor Shao of Southern Song Dynasty. During Jin Dynasty Liu Yifu was born in 406 when his father Liu Yu was already a paramount general of Jin and effectively regent The Song Dynasty (宋朝 Pinyin: Sòng cháo Wade-Giles: Sung ( 420 – 479) was first of the four Southern Dynasties in China ) Conversely, when emperors wanted to accuse (and execute) officials of treason, they often euphemistically refer to them as "wanting to act like Huo Guang. " Effectively, Huo set a standard of decisiveness and strength that was rarely matched and even more rarely used for the benefit of the state.