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War of the Eight Princes

Type Event Region China Time 291–306

From 291 to 306 CE, princes of the Western Jin imperial clan successively entered rounds of armed conflict over central military and political power,…

Timeline

  1. 291Luoyang · HenanEmpress Jia Nanfeng of Emperor Hui conspired with imperial clan members to execute Yang Jun and other relatives by marriage, deposing and killing Sima Liang, Prince of Runan; the chaos thus began, and princely interference in politics intensified.
  2. 300–305Central Plains · HenanSima Lun, Prince of Zhao, failed in his usurpation; the Princes of Qi, Hejian, Chengdu, and Donghai and other imperial clan members successively raised troops, attacking one another. Luoyang and Chang'an repeatedly suffered the ravages of war, and central authority existed in name only.
  3. 306Luoyang · HenanSima Yue, Prince of Donghai, ultimately seized control of the court, poisoned Sima Ying, Prince of Chengdu, and enthroned Emperor Huai of Jin; but Western Jin's strength had already declined, non-Han peoples migrated inward and popular uprisings broke out everywhere, and the empire entered the eve of collapse.

Sources