Liu Hu (Tiefu)

Liu Hu (劉虎) (died 341), also known as Wulugu (烏路孤), posthumously named Emperor Jing (景皇帝), was a Tiefu-Xiongnu chieftain during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was the founder of the Tiefu tribe and was the great-grandfather of the Helian Xia state's first emperor, Helian Bobo. Due to Tang dynasty naming taboo, he is referred to as Liu Wu (劉武) in the Book of Jin.[1]

In this Chinese name, the family name is Liu.

Life

Liu Hu was a descendant of the Southern Xiongnu chanyus and the grandson of the Right Virtuous King (or Left Virtuous King according to the Book of Wei), Qubei. In 272, Liu Hu's uncle, the Right Virtuous King, Liu Meng, was killed after his rebellion in Bingzhou against the ruling Jin dynasty (266–420), allowing Liu Hu's father, Liu Gaoshengyuan, to take charge of his people. Following Gaoshengyuan's death in 309, Liu Hu succeeded him and founded a tribe he named the "Tiefu" (鐵弗), a word used to refer to people with a Xiongnu father and a Xianbei mother.[2]

Initially, Liu Hu submitted to the neighbouring Tuoba-Xianbei tribe, but in 310, after amassing enough followers, he revolted against them.[3] At the same time, the Bai-Xianbei tribe (白部) had also raised an army, so Liu Hu allied with them to attack Xinxing (新興郡; north of present-day Xinzhou, Shanxi) and Yanmen commanderies, which were governed by the Jin Inspector of Bingzhou, Liu Kun. In response, Liu Kun requested the Tuoba tribe for reinforcements, to which the chieftain, Tuoba Yilu, sent 20,000 cavalry units under Tuoba Yulü to assist him. Liu Kun and Yulü greatly routed Liu Hu and the Bai, killing many in their camps and tribes.[4] Liu Hu fled west to Shuofang Commandery by crossing the Yellow River and offered his submission to the Xiongnu-led Han Zhao state. The emperor of Han, Liu Cong, considered Liu Hu to be a member of his clan, so he conferred him the title of Duke of Loufan. He was also appoint General Who Stabilises the North, General of the Household Gentlemen of the Dingling and Chief Controller of the Xianbei.[5]

In 318, Liu Hu marched from Shuofang to attack Dai, the Tuoba tribe's state. However, he was badly defeated by the Prince of Dai, Tuoba Yulü and forced to flee beyond the Great Wall.[6] His nephew, Liu Lugu (劉路孤) took his own followers to surrender to Dai, where he married a daughter of Tuoba Yulü.[7]

In 341, Liu Hu attacked Dai on its western borders but was once again routed after the Prince of Dai, Tuoba Shiyijian, sent an army to deal with him. Liu Hu barely escaped with his life, but soon died of natural causes and was succeeded by his son, Liu Wuhuan.[8] After Liu Hu's great-grandson, Helian Bobo established Xia in 407, he was posthumously honored as Emperor Jing.

References
  1. Liu Hu (劉虎) shares the same given name as Emperor Gaozu of Tang's grandfather, Li Hu (李虎).
  2. (鐵弗劉虎，南單于之苗裔，左賢王去卑之孫，北部帥劉猛之從子，居於新興慮虒之北。北人謂胡父鮮卑母為「鐵弗」，因以為號。猛死，子副崙來奔。虎父誥升爰代領部落。誥升爰一名訓兠。誥升爰死，虎代焉。) Wei Shu, vol.95
  3. (始臣附於國，自以眾落稍多，舉兵外叛...) Wei Shu, vol.95
  4. (白部大人叛入西河，鐵弗劉虎舉眾於雁門以應之，攻琨新興、雁門二郡。琨來乞師，帝使弟子平文皇帝將騎二萬，助琨擊之，大破白部；次攻劉虎，屠其營落...) Wei Shu, vol.1
  5. (曾祖武，劉聰世以宗室封樓煩公，拜安北將軍、監鮮卑諸軍事、丁零中郎將，雄據肆盧川。) Jin Shu, vol.130
  6. (為代王猗盧所敗，遂出塞表。) Jin Shu, vol.130
  7. (二年，劉虎據朔方，來侵西部，帝逆擊，大破之，虎單騎迸走。其從弟路孤率部落內附，帝以女妻之。) Wei Shu, vol.1
  8. (冬十月，劉虎寇西境。帝遣軍逆討，大破之，虎僅以身免。虎死，子務桓立，始來歸順，帝以女妻之。) Wei Shu, vol.1
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