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Wang Mang

Han consort-clan regent who took the throne in 9 AD as founder of the Xin dynasty, attempted sweeping land and currency reforms, and was killed when rebels took Chang'an in 23 AD

Also known as Zi Jujun

Wang Mang, courtesy name Jujun, came from Yuancheng in Wei commandery and was a nephew of Wang Zhengjun, empress of Emperor Yuan. Made Marquis of Xindu in 16 BC and grand marshal in 8 BC, he withdrew to his fief under Emperor Ai. Back in power under Emperor Ping as Duke Who Secures the Han, he installed the infant Ruzi Ying after Ping's death and ruled as acting emperor. In January 9 AD he took the throne, naming his dynasty Xin and reigning under the eras Shijianguo, Tianfeng and Dihuang. His reforms declared all farmland royal land, banned the sale of slaves, set up state market controls, changed the coinage several times and downgraded the titles of the Xiongnu and other neighbours. In 23 AD troops of the Gengshi regime stormed Chang'an and he was killed on the Jian Terrace. He received no temple or posthumous name, and Ban Gu placed his biography at the end of the Book of Han (Hanshu).

Life and times

  1. 45 BCEBornHan
  2. 9Wang Mang's Xin CoupTook partage 53Wang Mang replaced Han with Xin and imposed land and currency reforms whose disruption, amid disaster, helped ignite the Lulin and Red Eyebrows uprisings.
    1. Wang Mang's Archaic ReformsUsurping the Han throne, Wang Mang enacted utopian archaic reforms including state-owned Wangtian land and state monopolies, triggering severe instability.
  3. 23 CEDied
  4. 25Restoration of GuangwuPrecursorLiu Xiu rose from victory at Kunyang, defeated rival regimes, restored Han as Eastern Han, and promoted recovery through lighter rule.
    1. Liu Xiu Triumphs at Kunyang23age 67Liu Xiu led 3,000 shock troops into the heart of Wang Mang's 420,000 army at Kunyang, dealing a death blow to the Xin dynasty.

Family tree

  1. Direct kin
    Wang Mang
    Cousin
    Emperor Cheng of Han
    Paternal aunt
    Wang Zhengjun

Connections

  1. Shared events3
    1. Liu Xiu6 BCE–57 CE
    2. Ma Yuan14 BCE–49 CE
    3. Deng Yu2 CE–58 CE
  2. Rulers and officials1
    1. Emperor Ping of HanSovereign · 9 BCE - 6 CE