Reign
While Xiao Zhaowen, now 14, carried the title of emperor, actual authority was in the hands of Xiao Luan, and Xiao Luan had himself initially created the Duke of Xuancheng, and then the Prince of Xuancheng. In Xiao Zhaowen's name, Xiao Luan soon carried out the executions of a large number of princes who were sons of Emperors Gao and Wu, whom he viewed as threats against himself:
- Xiao Qiang (蕭鏘), the Prince of Poyang, son of Emperor Gao
- Xiao Zilong (蕭子隆), the Prince of Sui, son of Emperor Wu
- Xiao Zimao (蕭子懋), the Prince of Jin'an, son of Emperor Wu
- Xiao Zijing (蕭子敬), the Prince of Anlu, son of Emperor Wu
- Xiao Rui (蕭銳), the Prince of Nanping, son of Emperor Gao
- Xiao Qiu (蕭銶), the Prince of Jinxi, son of Emperor Gao
- Xiao Kent (蕭鏗), the Prince of Yidu, son of Emperor Gao
- Xiao Shuo (蕭鑠), the Prince of Guiyang, son of Emperor Gao
- Xiao Jun (蕭鈞), the Prince of Hengyang, son of Emperor Gao
- Xiao Feng (蕭鋒), the Prince of Jiangxia, son of Emperor Gao
- Xiao Zizhen (蕭子真), the Prince of Jian'an, son of Emperor Wu
- Xiao Zilun (蕭子倫), the Prince of Baling, son of Emperor Wu
- Xiao Ziqing (蕭子卿), the Prince of Luling, son of Emperor Wu
Initially, Xiao Zhaowen's younger brother Xiao Zhaoxiu (蕭昭秀), the Prince of Linhai, was to be killed as well, but was spared at the last minute. In place of these imperial princes from Emperors Gao and Wu's lines, Xiao Luan, because his own sons were young, installed his nephews Xiao Yaoguang (蕭遙光), Xiao Yaoxin (蕭遙欣), and Xiao Yaochang (蕭遙昌) in important posts. Less than three months after Xiao Zhaowen became emperor, Xiao Luan issued an edict in the name of Xiao Zhangmao's wife Empress Dowager Wang Baoming, stating that Xiao Zhaowen was not sufficiently intelligent and healthy to be emperor, giving the throne to Xiao Luan, who then took the throne as Emperor Ming.
Read more about this topic: Xiao Zhaowen
Famous quotes containing the word reign:
“I find that I sent wolves not shepherds to govern Ireland, for they have left me nothing but ashes and carcasses to reign over!”
—Elizabeth I (1533–1603)
“I am monarch of all I survey;
My right there is none to dispute;
From the center all round to the sea
I am lord of the fowl and the brute.
O Solitude! where are the charms
That sages have seen in thy face?
Better dwell in the midst of alarms,
Than reign in this horrible place.”
—William Cowper (1731–1800)
“Without poets, without artists, men would soon weary of nature’s monotony. The sublime idea men have of the universe would collapse with dizzying speed. The order which we find in nature, and which is only an effect of art, would at once vanish. Everything would break up in chaos. There would be no seasons, no civilization, no thought, no humanity; even life would give way, and the impotent void would reign everywhere.”
—Guillaume Apollinaire (1880–1918)