Juqu Mujian

Juqu Mujian (Chinese: 沮渠牧犍; before 420 – 447), named Juqu Maoqian (沮渠茂虔) in some sources, formally Prince Ai of Hexi (河西哀王), was a king of the Xiongnu state Northern Liang—with most Chinese historians considering him the last king, although with some considering his brothers Juqu Wuhui and Juqu Anzhou to be kings of the state as well. By the time that Juqu Mujian succeeded his father Juqu Mengxun (Prince Wuxuan) in 433, Northern Liang appeared to be stronger than ever, yet was under the shadow of the much stronger state Northern Wei, to which Northern Liang was nominally a vassal. In 439, Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei launched a major campaign against Northern Liang and captured both his capital Guzang (姑臧, in modern Wuwei, Gansu) and Juqu Mujian himself. Juqu Mujian remained an honored Northern Wei subject as Emperor Taiwu's brother-in-law until 447, when Emperor Taiwu, believing him to be trying to rebel, forced him to commit suicide.

It is not known when Juqu Mujian was born, nor who his mother was—the historical records seem to indicate that his mother was not Juqu Mengxun's wife Princess Meng, although do not completely preclude that possibility. He was Juqu Mengxun's third son. The first reference to him in history was in 420, after Juqu Mengxun had destroyed rival Western Liang and captured its capital Jiuquan (酒泉, in modern Jiuquan, Gansu), as Juqu Mengxun made him the governor of Jiuquan Commandery and gave him the deceased Western Liang duke Li Xin's Li Jingshou as his wife.

Juqu Mujian was never named heir by his father's will, as his father initially created Juqu Zhengde (沮渠政德), probably his oldest brother, as heir apparent, in 413. After Juqu Zhengde was killed in battle against Rouran forces in 423, Juqu Mengxun created another brother of Juqu Mujian's, Juqu Xingguo (沮渠興國), as heir apparent. After Juqu Xingguo was captured and detained by the Western Qin prince Qifu Mumo in 429, and Juqu Mengxun failed in his attempt to ransom Juqu Xingguo back from Western Qin, he created a younger brother of Juqu Mujian's, said to be of the same mother as Juqu Xingguo's, Juqu Puti (沮渠菩提), as heir apparent. However, as Juqu Mengxun was ill in 433, the nobles and the officials considered Juqu Puti too young to govern, so they deposed Juqu Puti and made Juqu Mujian, who was considered studious and kind, heir apparent instead. Juqu Mengxun soon died, and Juqu Mujian succeeded to the throne. He created his son Juqu Fengtan (沮渠封壇) as heir apparent.

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