Xiao Baojuan

Reign: 489 – 502
Life: 483–502

Xiao Baojuan (蕭寶卷) (483 to 31 December 501), né Xiao Mingxian (蕭明賢), commonly known by his posthumously demoted title of Marquess of Donghun (東昏侯), courtesy name Zhizang (智藏), was an emperor of the Southern Qi dynasty of China, during the Northern and Southern dynasties period. He was a violent ruler who executed high-level officials at his whim, and this drew several major rebellions, the last of which, by his general Xiao Yan, overthrew him and eventually his dynasty, with Xiao Yan establishing the Liang dynasty. He is known as the Marquess of Donghun because Xiao Yan demoted him to that title after he was killed in a siege of the capital Jiankang.

During Xiao Baojuan's reign, Clovis I ruled France, Ariadne ruled Rome, and Emperor Ninken ruled Japan.

Want to learn more? Further reading

China: A History by John Keay

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The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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