Emperor Xuan of Han

Also known as Liu Xun

Liu Xun, first named Bingyi, was a grandson of Crown Prince Liu Ju. Born in 91 BC, he was an infant when the witchcraft purge destroyed his family; the official Bing Ji kept him alive in prison and he grew up with his grandmother's kin. In 74 BC, after Liu He was deposed within a month, Huo Guang put him on the throne, and he reigned under the titles Benshi, Dijie, Yuankang, Shenjue, Wufeng, Ganlu and Huanglong. He ruled in person from Huo Guang's death in 68 BC, and two years later the Huo clan was destroyed for plotting revolt; Huo's wife had earlier had his first empress, Xu Pingjun, poisoned. In 60 BC Zheng Ji became the first Protector of the Western Regions, and in 51 BC the Xiongnu chanyu Huhanye came to court and scholars debated the classics at Shiqu. He died in January 48 BC as Zhongzong. The Hanshu has him tell his heir that Han rule mixed the ways of hegemon and true king.