Biography
Early life
Cao Huan was born in 246 CE, the third year of Ganlu, in Jixian, Yan Kingdom (present-day Jizhou District, Tianjin).
His original name was Cao Huang (曹璜).
He was the son of Cao Yu, Prince of Yan, and grandson of Cao Cao, Emperor Wu of Wei.
Enfeoffment
In 258 CE, the third year of Ganlu, Cao Huan was enfeoffed as Duke of Changdao of Anci County.
Succession to the throne
In 260 CE, the fifth year of Ganlu, Cao Mao, Emperor of Wei, attempted to kill Sima Zhao but was killed by Cheng Ji instead.
After Cao Mao was killed, Sima Zhao, Chancellor, sent his son Sima Yan, General Who Guards the Army and Central Commander, to welcome Cao Huang as emperor.
Cao Huang was renamed Cao Huan (曹奂) to avoid a naming taboo.
He was made the heir of his cousin Cao Rui, Emperor Ming of Wei, who had no surviving sons.
The succession ceremony
On 27 June 260 CE, the day Jiayin of the sixth month, Cao Huan ascended the throne in Taiji Front Hall.
He granted a general amnesty, changed the era name to Jingyuan, and gave people of different ranks titles and grain and cloth.
Puppet emperor
Cao Huan had no real power.
The military and political power of Wei was completely controlled by the Sima family.
He was entirely Sima Zhao’s puppet.
The conquest of Shu Han
During Cao Huan’s reign, in 263 CE, the fourth year of Jingyuan, Wei generals Deng Ai and Zhong Hui attacked Shu Han.
Shu Han fell, and Liu Shan, Emperor of Shu Han, surrendered.
During the campaign against Shu, Sima Zhao was promoted to Duke of Jin, Chancellor, and given the Nine Bestowments for his achievements in conquering Shu.
The abolition of the tuntian system
In 264 CE, the first year of Xianxi, Cao Huan abolished the tuntian (military agricultural colonies) administrative system and dismissed tuntian officials, reassigning them to corresponding positions.
Former Directors of Agriculture were changed to Administrators, and all Commandants of Agriculture were changed to Magistrates and Assistant Magistrates.
This move eased social conflicts and promoted economic development.
Sima Zhao becomes Prince of Jin
Not long after Shu Han fell, Sima Zhao was again promoted to Prince of Jin.
He soon died, and Sima Yan succeeded him as Prince of Jin.
The abdication
In 265 CE, the second year of Xianxi, Sima Yan, Sima Zhao’s son, usurped the throne and established the Jin dynasty.
On 4 February 266 CE, the day Bingyin of the twelfth month of the first year of Taishi, Cao Huan abdicated to Sima Yan.
Wei was destroyed.
Life after abdication
After Wei was destroyed, Cao Huan was enfeoffed as Prince of Chenliu and moved to Jincheng.
He was eventually moved to Yecheng.
When he left the city, Sima Fu, Grand Tutor (Sima Yi’s third brother and Sima Yan’s granduncle), held his hand and said: “I will be a loyal minister of Great Wei until I die.”
Life under Jin
Sima Yan, Emperor Wu of Jin, following the precedent of Liu Xie, Duke of Shanyang, allowed Cao Huan to still use imperial ceremonial guards, worship ancestors with imperial rites, and not refer to himself as a subject.
Jin established the “Supervisor of Military Affairs in Yecheng” to monitor Cao Huan.
When Sima Ying, Prince of Chengdu, served as Grand General and Supervisor of Military Affairs in Yecheng, even his Right Marshal Lu Ji could not meet Cao Huan.
Death
In 302 CE, the first year of Taian of Emperor Hui of Jin, Cao Huan died in Yecheng at the age of fifty-six.
He was buried with imperial rites.
His posthumous title was Emperor Yuan (元皇帝, “Emperor Yuan”).
Descendants
Because Cao Huan died during the War of the Eight Princes, the names of his descendants were not recorded.
It is only recorded that his successor once sent imperial robes when Emperor Hui of Jin was kidnapped to Yecheng.
After the Eastern Jin dynasty, the Prince of Chenliu was inherited by Cao Mai, Cao Cao’s great-grandson, and his descendants, but it is unknown how they were related to Cao Huan.
Personality
Cao Huan was described as respectful and compliant.
He knew that the mandate of Heaven had shifted and peacefully abdicated.
He was compared to Liu Xie, Emperor Xian of Han, who also peacefully abdicated.
Military achievements
The conquest of Shu Han
During Cao Huan’s reign, Wei conquered Shu Han in 263 CE.
Deng Ai and Zhong Hui led the campaign, and Liu Shan surrendered.
Defence against Wu
After Wei conquered Shu Han, Wu troops approached Yong’an.
Wei mobilized troops stationed in Jing Province, Yu Province, and other places to form a pincer formation to support each other.
In 265 CE, the second year of Xianxi, in the fourth month, Wu specially sent envoys Ji Zhi and Hong Qiu to Wei to seek peace.
Relationships
With Cao Cao
Cao Huan was Cao Cao’s grandson.
With Cao Yu
Cao Huan was Cao Yu’s son.
Cao Yu was Prince of Yan.
With Cao Rui
Cao Huan was made the heir of Cao Rui, Emperor Ming of Wei, who had no surviving sons.
With Sima Zhao
Cao Huan was entirely Sima Zhao’s puppet.
Sima Zhao controlled all military and political power.
With Sima Yan
After Sima Zhao died, Sima Yan succeeded him.
Cao Huan abdicated to Sima Yan in 266 CE.
With Sima Fu
Sima Fu was Sima Yi’s third brother and Sima Yan’s granduncle.
When Cao Huan left the city after abdicating, Sima Fu held his hand and said: “I will be a loyal minister of Great Wei until I die.”
Anecdotes
The name change
Cao Huan’s original name was Cao Huang (曹璜).
He was renamed Cao Huan (曹奂) to avoid a naming taboo when he became emperor.
The strange person
In 265 CE, the second year of Xianxi, in the eighth month, officials in Xiangwu County reported to the court that a strange person had appeared in Xiangwu County.
He was over three zhang tall, with footprints three chi and two cun long.
He had white hair and wore a yellow single garment and headscarf, leaning on a staff.
He announced to the people that the realm was peaceful and prophesied that in the twelfth month, Wei’s mandate from Heaven would end and Jin would inherit the mandate.
Soon after, Cao Huan abdicated, and Jin was established.
Not serving private relatives
In the fourth year of Xianning of Emperor Wu of Jin, Cao Huan’s biological father Cao Yu, Duke of Yan, died.
Sima Yan issued an edict: “The Prince of Chenliu is the heir of Emperor Ming and inherits the orthodox imperial line of Cao Wei. He should not observe mourning for his biological father.”
Achievements
- Presided over the conquest of Shu Han
- Abolished the tuntian system, easing social conflicts
- Peacefully abdicated, ending the Wei dynasty
Behind the scenes
Historical sources
Cao Huan’s biography appears in the Records of the Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou, where he is grouped with Cao Fang and Cao Mao as the “Three Young Emperors.”
The last emperor
Cao Huan was the last emperor of Cao Wei.
His abdication marked the end of the Wei dynasty and the beginning of the Jin dynasty.
Comparison to Liu Xie
Cao Huan was compared to Liu Xie, Emperor Xian of Han, who also peacefully abdicated.
Both were puppet emperors who peacefully gave up their thrones.
Historical evaluations
Contemporary
Chen Shou wrote: “The Prince of Chenliu respectfully faced south, and the Chancellor controlled the government. He followed the previous pattern and abdicated. He then enjoyed the fief of a great state and became a guest of Jin. Compared to the Duke of Shanyang (Liu Xie), his honours were increased.”
Later historians
Hao Jing wrote: “Cao Huan knew that the mandate had shifted. He peacefully abdicated and enjoyed the mandate from Heaven until the end. He accepted destruction. He was like Emperor Xian of Han.”
Legacy
Cao Huan is remembered as the last emperor of Cao Wei.
His peaceful abdication marked the end of the Wei dynasty and the beginning of the Jin dynasty.
He was compared to Liu Xie, Emperor Xian of Han, who also peacefully abdicated.
His story represents both the end of the Cao family’s rule and the beginning of the Sima family’s rule.
Timeline
- 246 CE: Born in Jixian; original name Cao Huang; son of Cao Yu
- 258 CE: Enfeoffed as Duke of Changdao of Anci County
- 260 CE: Succeeded Cao Mao age 14; renamed Cao Huan; era name Jingyuan; Sima Zhao as regent
- 261 CE: Jiang Wei attacked Wei; Deng Ai repelled him
- 262 CE: Established Liang Province from part of Yi Province; exempted Yi Province from half taxes for five years
- 263 CE: Wei conquered Shu Han; Liu Shan surrendered; made Empress Bian empress
- 264 CE: Abolished tuntian system; era name Xianxi; Sima Zhao made Prince of Jin
- 265 CE: Sima Zhao died; Sima Yan succeeded as Prince of Jin
- 266 CE: Abdicated to Sima Yan; Wei destroyed; enfeoffed as Prince of Chenliu; moved to Yecheng
- 302 CE: Died in Yecheng age 56; posthumous title Emperor Yuan
See also
References
- Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 4, Biography of the Three Young Emperors.
- Luo Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms, various chapters.