Princess Jieyou (Chinese: 解忧公主; pinyin: Jiěyōu Gōngzhǔ; Wade–Giles: Chieh-yu Kung-chu; 121 BC – 49 BC), born Liu Jieyou (Chinese: 刘解忧), was a Chinese princess sent to marry the leader of the Wusun kingdom as part of the Western Han Chinese policy of heqin.

Biography

As the granddaughter of the disgraced Prince Liu Wu (劉戊) who had taken part in the disastrous Rebellion of the Seven States,[1] her status was low enough that she was sent to replace Princess Liu Xijun (劉細君) after her untimely death and marry the Wusun king Cunzhou (岑陬).[2] After his death, she married his cousin and successor, Wengguimi (翁歸靡),[3] to whom she bore five children including Yuanguimi (元貴靡).[4]

Jieyou lived among the Wusun for fifty years and did much work to foster relations between the surrounding kingdoms and the Han. She was particularly reliant upon her attendant, Feng Liao, whom she dispatched as an emissary to Wusun kingdoms and even to the Han Court.[5] She faced opposition from pro-Xiongnu members of the Wusun royalty, particularly Wengguimi’s Xiongnu wife. When word came that the Xiongnu planned to attack Wusun, she convinced her husband to send for aid from the Han Emperor.[6] Emperor Wu of Han sent 150,000 cavalrymen to support the Wusun forces and drive back the Xiongnu.[7]

When Wengguimi died, Jieyou married Nimi (泥靡), also known as the Mad King.[8] While they had a son, Chi Mi (鴟靡), their relationship was unhappy.[9] She soon conspired with several Han emissaries to have him assassinated,[10] but the assassination attempt failed and Jieyou was nearly killed by his supporters in retaliation.[11] In the end, Nimi was killed by Wengguimi’s son, Wujiutu (烏就屠)[12] who, upon negotiating with Feng Liao, agreed to co-rule with Jieyou’s son, Yuanguimi.[13]

In 51 BCE at the age of 70, Jieyou asked to be allowed to retire and return to the Han. Emperor Xuan of Han agreed and had her escorted back to Chang'an where she was welcomed with honor. She was given a grand palace with servants usually reserved for princesses of the imperial family. In 49 BCE, Jieyou died peacefully.

Ancestry

References

Citations

  1. ↑ (國之將亡，賢人隱，亂臣貴。使楚王戊毋刑申公，遵其言，趙任防與先生，豈有篡殺之謀，為天下僇哉？) Sima Qian. Records of the Grand Historian, Volume 50, House of Prince Yuan of Chu.
  2. ↑ (公主死，漢復以楚王戊之孫解憂為公主，妻岑陬。) Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Volume 96, Traditions of the Western Regions.
  3. ↑ (岑陬胡婦子泥靡尚小，岑陬且死，以國與季父大祿子翁歸靡), Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Vol. 96, Traditions of the Western Regions.
  4. ↑ (復尚楚主解憂，生三男兩女：長男曰元貴靡), Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Vol 96, Traditions of the Western Regions.
  5. ↑ Lee, Lily Xiao Hong Lee; et al. (2015). Antiquity through Sui: 1600 B.C.E. - 618 C.E. Routledge. p. 139. ISBN 1317475917.
  6. ↑ (公主及昆彌皆遣使上書，言「匈奴復連發大兵侵擊烏孫，取車延、惡師地，收人民去，使使謂烏孫趣持公主來，欲隔絕漢。昆彌願發國半精兵，自給人馬五萬騎，盡力擊匈奴。唯天子出兵以救公主、昆彌。」) Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Vol. 96, Traditions of the Western Regions.
  7. ↑ (兵大發十五萬騎，五將軍分道並出。語在匈奴傳。遣校尉常惠使持節護烏孫兵，昆彌自將翕侯以下五萬騎從西方入), Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Vol. 96, Traditions of the Western Regions.
  8. ↑ (立岑陬子泥靡代為昆彌，號狂王。), Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Vol. 96, Traditions of the Western Regions.
  9. ↑ (狂王復尚楚主解憂，生一男鴟靡，不與主和), Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Vol. 96, Traditions of the Western Regions.
  10. ↑ (漢使衛司馬魏和意、副候任昌送侍子，公主言狂王為烏孫所患苦，易誅也。) Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Vol. 96, Traditions of the Western Regions.
  11. ↑ (車騎將軍長史張翁留驗公主與使者謀殺狂王狀), Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Vol. 96, Traditions of the Western Regions.
  12. ↑ (初，肥王翁歸靡胡婦子烏就屠，狂王傷時驚，與諸翕侯俱去，居北山中，揚言母家匈奴兵來，故眾歸之。後逐襲殺狂王，自立為昆彌。) Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Vol. 96, Traditions of the Western Regions.
  13. ↑ (焉烏就屠詣長羅侯赤谷城，立元貴靡為大昆彌，烏就屠為小昆彌，皆賜印綬。) Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Vol. 96, Traditions of the Western Regions.

Sources

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