Emperor Ming of Southern Qi
Emperor Ming of Southern Qi ((南)齊明帝) (452–498), personal name Xiao Luan (蕭鸞), courtesy name Jingqi (景棲), childhood name Xuandu (玄度), was an emperor of the Southern Qi dynasty of China. He was a nephew of the Southern Qi founder Emperor Gao, who later became prime minister during the reign of Emperor Gao's great-grandson Xiao Zhaoye.
Emperor Ming of Southern Qi 南齊明帝 | |||||||||||||||||
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Emperor of Southern Qi | |||||||||||||||||
Reign | 494–498 | ||||||||||||||||
Predecessor | Xiao Zhaowen | ||||||||||||||||
Successor | Xiao Baojuan | ||||||||||||||||
Born | Xiao Xuandu (蕭玄度) 452 | ||||||||||||||||
Died | 498 (aged 45–46) | ||||||||||||||||
Burial | Xing'an Mausoleum (興安陵) | ||||||||||||||||
Spouse | Liu Huiduan | ||||||||||||||||
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Father | Xiao Daosheng, Prince Zhen of Shian (Emperor Jing) Xiao Daocheng (adoptive) | ||||||||||||||||
Mother | Lady Jiang (Empress Yi) |
Believing that Xiao Zhaoye was an incompetent emperor who might act against him, Xiao Luan carried out a coup d'état and assassinated Xiao Zhaoye. After briefly making Xiao Zhaoye's brother Xiao Zhaowen emperor, he deposed Xiao Zhaowen as well, and took over himself as emperor. During his reign, he was known for being exacting and demanding, but also being frugal. He is seen as a very dark figure in history, because he slaughtered the surviving sons of Emperor Gao and Emperor Gao's son Emperor Wu, despite their kindness toward him.