Li Xun (Western Liang)

This article is about the Western Liang ruler. For the Tang dynasty official, see Li Zhongyan. For the Tang dynasty prince, see Li Xun (Tang dynasty). For the Chinese footballer, see Li Xun (footballer, born 1992).

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Ruler of Western Liang

Li Xun

Ruler of Western Liang
Reign| 420–421
Predecessor| Li Xin

Born| Unknown
Died| 421
| Full name

* Family name:

Lǐ (李)

* Given name:

Xún (恂)

Era name and dates
Yǒngjiàn (永建): 420–421
Regnal name
Champion General, Inspector of Liang Province (冠軍將軍 涼州刺史)
House| Li
Dynasty| Western Liang
Father| Li Gao

Li Xun[a] (Chinese: 李恂; died 421), courtesy name Shiru (士如), was the final ruler of China's Western Liang dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. Li Xun tried to hold out against the conquering Northern Liang armies under its prince Juqu Mengxun, after his brother Li Xin's death in 420. He was only able to hold the city of Dunhuang for several months, before Juqu Mengxun successfully sieged the city, and Li Xun committed suicide, which marked the collapse of the Western Liang dynasty.

## Brief reign

[edit]

Very little is known about Li Xun's life, including whether he was the son of his brother Li Xin's mother Princess Dowager Yin. Under his father Li Gao (Prince Wuzhao) and/or Li Xin, Li Xun successively served as the governor of Jiuquan (酒泉, roughly modern Jiuquan, Gansu) and Dunhuang Commanderies. His rule of Dunhuang was said to be benevolent and favored by the people. In 420, while trying to attack Northern Liang, Li Xin fell into a trap set by Juqu Mengxun and was killed in battle. Juqu Mengxun then quickly reached the Western Liang capital Jiuquan, and Li Xin's other brothers abandoned Jiuquan and fled to Dunhuang. Once they reached Dunhuang, they and Li Xun, then the governor of Dunhuang, abandoned Dunhuang and fled to the hills north of Dunhuang.

Juqu Mengxun commissioned Suo Yuanxu (索元緒) to be the governor of Dunhuang. However, Suo quickly lost favor with the people by being rude, dishonest, and cruel. Some people of Dunhuang, under the leadership of Song Cheng (宋承) and Zhang Hong (張弘), secretly invited Li Xun back to Dunhuang, and in winter 420 he did so, forcing Suo to flee. Song and Zhang offered Li Xun the titles of Champion General (冠軍將軍) and Inspector of Liang Province (涼州刺史), and he changed the era name to signify that Western Liang was still a state. Juqu Mengxun then sent his heir apparent Juqu Zhengde (沮渠政德) to attack Dunhuang, and Li Xun defended the city, refusing to engage Juqu Zhengde.

However, Juqu Mengxun soon arrived, and he built levees to accumulate water around Dunhuang. Li Xun offered to surrender, but Juqu Mengxun refused. At this point, Song Cheng betrayed him and offered the city to Juqu Mengxun. Upon hearing this, Li Xun committed suicide, and Juqu Mengxun slaughtered the city. Western Liang was at its end.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ In this Chinese name, the family name is  Li.

## References

[edit]

* Book of Jin, vol. 87.
* Book of Wei, vol. 99.
* History of the Northern Dynasties, vol. 100.
* Spring and Autumn Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms, vol. 8.
* Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 119.

Lord of (Western) Liang

House of Li

Died: 421

Chinese nobility
Preceded by

Li Xin

|  Duke of Western Liang
420–421  | Extinct
Duke of Jiuquan
420–421  | Forfeit

Title next held by

Helian Lun
Titles in pretence
Preceded by

Li Xin

| — TITULAR —
Emperor of China
420–421
Reason for succession failure:
Annexed by Northern Liang | Succeeded by

Juqu Mengxun

* v
* t
* e

Monarchs of the Sixteen Kingdoms

Cheng-Han (304–347)|

* (Li Te)
* (Li Liu)
* Li Xiong
* Li Ban
* Li Qi
* Li Shou
* Li Shi
* (Fan Ben)

Han-Zhao (304–329)|

* Liu Yuan
* (Liu He)
* Liu Cong
* Liu Can
* (Jin Zhun)
* Liu Yao
* (Liu Xi)

Former Liang (318–376)|

* (Zhang Gui)
* Zhang Shi
* Zhang Mao
* Zhang Jun
* Zhang Chonghua
* Zhang Yaoling
* Zhang Zuo
* Zhang Xuanjing
* Zhang Tianxi

Later Zhao (319–351)|

* Shi Le
* Shi Hong
* Shi Hu
* Shi Shi
* Shi Zun
* Shi Jian
* Shi Zhi
* (Liu Xian)

Former Yan (337–370)|

* Murong Huang
* Murong Jun
* Murong Wei

Former Qin (351–394)|

* Fu Jiàn
* Fu Sheng
* Fu Jiān
* Fu Pi
* Fu Deng
* (Dou Chong)
* Fu Chong

Later Yan (384–409)|

* Murong Chui
* Murong Bao
* (Murong Xiang
* Murong Lin
* Lan Han)
* Murong Sheng
* Murong Xi
* Murong Yun

Later Qin (384–417)|

* Yao Chang
* Yao Xing
* Yao Hong

Western Qin (385–431)|

* Qifu Guoren
* Qifu Qiangui
* Qifu Chipan
* Qifu Mumo

Later Liang (386–403)|

* Lü Guang
* (Lü Shao)
* Lü Zuan
* Lü Long

Southern Liang (397–414)|

* Tufa Wugu
* Tufa Lilugu
* Tufa Rutan

Northern Liang (397–460)|

* Duan Ye
* Juqu Mengxun
* Juqu Mujian
* (Juqu Wuhui)
* (Juqu Anzhou)

Southern Yan (398–410)|

* Murong De
* Murong Chao

Western Liang (400–421)|

* Li Gao
* Li Xin
* Li Xun

Xia (407–431)|

* Helian Bobo
* Helian Chang
* Helian Ding

Northern Yan (407–436)|

* Gao Yun
* Feng Ba
* Feng Hong

Chouchi (296–443)|

* Yang Maosou
* Yang Nandi
* Yang Yi
* Yang Chu
* Yang Guo
* Yang Jun
* Yang Shi
* (Yang Tong)
* Yang Cuan
* Yang Ding
* Yang Sheng
* Yang Xuan
* Yang Baozong
* Yang Nandang
* Yang Baochi

Dai (310–376)|

* Tuoba Yilu
* Tuoba Pugen
* Son of Tuoba Pugen
* Tuoba Yulü
* Tuoba Heru
* Tuoba Hena
* Tuoba Yihuai
* Tuoba Hena (2nd reign)
* Tuoba Yihuai (2nd reign)
* Tuoba Shiyiqian

Ran Wei (350–352)|

* Ran Min
* (Ran Zhi)

Duan Qi (350–356)|

* Duan Kan

Western Yan (384–394)|

* Murong Hong
* Murong Chong
* Duan Sui
* Murong Yi
* Murong Yao
* Murong Zhong
* Murong Yong

Zhai Wei (388–392)|

* Zhai Liao
* Zhai Zhao

Huan Chu (403–404)|

* Huan Xuan

Western Shu (405–413)|

* Qiao Zong

Xia → Shang → Zhou → Qin → Han → 3 Kingdoms → Jìn / 16 Kingdoms → S. Dynasties / N. Dynasties → Sui → Tang → 5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms → Liao / Song / W. Xia / Jīn → Yuan → Ming → Qing → ROC / PRC
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