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Emperor Guangwu of Han

Portrait of Emperor Guangwu of Han

Eastern Han · 1st ruler

漢光武帝 Hàn Guāngwǔdì劉秀 Liú Xiù

Wade–Giles: Han Kuang-wu-ti · Liu Hsiu

Reigned 25–57 (31 years)

Reigned 31 years (25–57). Died at 62 (East Asian reckoning) of natural causes. 1st ruler of Eastern Han.

Facts

Reign
5 August 25 – 29 March 57 (1st ruler of Eastern Han)
Length of reign
31 years
Born
15 January 5 BC
Died
29 March 57
Age at accession
30
Age at death
62
Cause of death
Natural causesNatural death or illness (including old age)
Path to the throne
Self-proclaimedFounded the titleClaimed the imperial title without receiving the throne from an earlier ruler (e.g. Emperor Gaozu of Han, Emperor Guangwu of Han, Hongwu Emperor)
Era names
  • 建武 Jiànwǔ (proclaimed 25)
  • 中元 Zhōngyuán (proclaimed 56)

Ages are given in East Asian reckoning (sui): a person is one year old at birth and gains a year at each New Year, so the figure is one or two years higher than the Western age.

During the reign

Number of times each event is recorded in the official histories. How each item is counted

Era name changes
2
General amnesties
10
Empresses installed
2
Crown princes deposed
1
Personal campaigns
7
Rebellions suppressed
17
Rebellions faced
17
Capital relocations
0

Emperors of Eastern Han

All 14 emperors of Eastern Han