Sun Hao
| Sun Hao | |
|---|---|
A Qing dynasty portrait of Sun Hao
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| Emperor of Eastern Wu | |
| Born | 242 |
| Died | 284 (aged 42) |
| Reign | 264–280 |
| Predecessor | Sun Xiu |
| Names | |
| Traditional Chinese | 孫皓 |
| Simplified Chinese | 孙皓 |
| Pinyin | Sūn Hào |
| Wade–Giles | Sun Hao |
| Courtesy name | Yuanzong (Chinese: 元宗; pinyin: Yuánzōng; Wade–Giles: Yüan-tsung) |
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| Other names |
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Sun Hao (242–284), courtesy name Yuanzong, originally named Sun Pengzu with the courtesy name Haozong, was the fourth and last emperor of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. He was the son of Sun He, a one-time crown prince of the founding emperor Sun Quan. He ascended the throne in 264 after the death of his uncle Sun Xiu (Emperor Jing) in the light of the desire of the people to have an older emperor, considering the recent destruction of Wu's ally state Shu Han. However, he turned out to be a most unfortunate choice, as his cruelty, extravagance, and inability to handle domestic matters doomed Wu, which was eventually conquered by the Jin Dynasty in 280, ending the Three Kingdoms period.
Sun Hao is also known by his pre-ascension title of "Marquis of Wucheng" (烏程侯) and post-conquest Jin-bestowed title "Marquis of Guiming" (歸命侯).
Sun Hao was born in 242, as Sun He's eldest son, at a time either briefly before or briefly after Sun He was created crown prince following the death of his father Sun Quan's eldest son and first crown prince, Sun Deng, in 241. Sun Hao's mother, Consort He, was a concubine of Sun He.
In 250, when Sun Hao was just eight, after Sun Quan tired of constant disputes between Sun He and his brother Sun Ba (孫霸), he ordered Sun Ba to commit suicide and deposed Sun He, who was exiled to Guzhang (故鄣; in present-day Huzhou, Zhejiang), presumably with his family, and reduced to commoner status. Sun Hao went from the status of eventual presumed heir to being the son of a commoner, albeit the grandson of the emperor.
In 252, Sun He's status was elevated from commoner status, as Sun Quan, just before his death that year, instated him as the Prince of Nanyang, with his fief at Changsha. Indeed, there were rumours, even after Sun He's younger brother Sun Liang took the throne after Sun Quan's death, that the regent Zhuge Ke, an uncle of Sun He's wife Princess Zhang, was interested in restoring Sun He and making him emperor instead. After Zhuge Ke's assassination and replacement by Sun Jun in 253, however, Sun He fell into danger, as Sun Jun had been instrumental in having him deposed in the first place and wanted to eliminate any chance of a comeback. He used the rumours as excuse to have Sun He demoted back to commoner status and exiled to Xindu (新都; in present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang), and then sent messengers to force Sun He to commit suicide. Princess Zhang also committed suicide, but when offered the chance to, Consort He refused, stating that if she died as well, no one would be left to care for Sun He's sons, so she raised Sun Hao and his three brothers by other consorts — Sun De (孫德), Sun Qian (孫謙), and Sun Jun (孫俊, not the same person as the regent). Sun Hao was 11 years old when his father died.
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