Early career

Fu Pi was first mentioned in historical records in 357, when his father Fu Jiān overthrew the violent and whimsical emperor Fu Sheng and took the throne with the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang). Fu Jiān created Fu Pi, his oldest son, the Duke of Changle. At that time, Fu Pi was described to have talent in both governance and military matters, whose talents were only lesser to his uncle Fu Rong, whose abilities were much praised by historians.

In 378, Fu Jiān commissioned Fu Pi to command a large army against the Jin city Xiangyang (襄阳, in modern Xiangfan, Hubei). At the advice of the general Gou Chang (苟苌), Fu Pi chose to surround the city and cut off its supply route to strangle it into submission, rather than making direct assaults on the city. However, around the new year 379, Fu Jiān, anxious to capture the city, sent him a sword, stating that if by the spring he had not captured the city, he should kill himself with the sword. After receiving the sword, Fu Pi, in fear, made a fierce attack on the city and captured it.

As viceroy over eastern provinces

In 380, Fu Jiān recalled Fu Rong, who had served as the viceroy over the eastern provinces (the former territory of Former Yan, which Former Qin destroyed in 370), back to the capital Chang'an to serve as prime minister in place of the capable Wang Meng, who died in 375. Fu Pi was made the viceroy of the eastern provinces to replace Fu Rong. As Fu Jiān, that year, also implemented a plan to distribute his Di people to various regions of the empire, a substantial number of Di soldiers and their families accompanied Fu Pi to his command post at Yecheng.

Fu Pi was not involved in the crushing defeat that Former Qin forces suffered at the Battle of Fei River, as he remained at Yecheng. In the aftermaths of the battle, however, the Xianbei general Murong Chui, a Former Yan prince, plotted a rebellion to reestablish Yan. In late 383, after persuading Fu Jiān to allow him to visit the eastern provinces to try to calm the people in light of the defeat at Fei River, Murong Chui arrived at Yecheng, where Murong Chui continued plotting, and where Murong Chui and Fu Pi considered ambushing each other but each decided not to do so. When, subsequently, the Dingling chieftain Zhai Bin (翟斌) rebelled and attacked Luoyang, defended by Fu Pi's brother Fu Hui (苻晖) the Duke of Pingyuan, Fu Jiān ordered Murong Chui to put down Zhai's rebellion, and Fu Pi sent his assistant Fu Feilong (苻飞龙) to serve as Murong Chui's assistant. On the way to Luoyang, however, Murong Chui killed Fu Feilong and his Di soldiers and prepared to openly rebel. Meanwhile, despite his suspicions of Murong Chui, Fu Pi did not put Murong Chui's son Murong Nong and nephews Murong Kai (慕容楷) and Murong Shao (慕容绍) under surveillance, and the three fled out of Yecheng and started a rebellion of their own.

In spring 384, Murong Chui openly declared the establishment of Later Yan, claiming the title of Prince of Yan. Fu Pi tried to persuade Murong Chui to end his rebellion, but Murong Chui refused and attacked Yecheng but was unable to capture it quickly. However, most cities north of the Yellow River and east of Taihang Mountains switched allegiance or were captured by Later Yan forces, leaving Yecheng isolated. (The Former Qin cities south of the Yellow River were largely captured by Jin.) With the heart of the empire itself under attacks by rebel regimes Later Qin and Western Yan, Fu Pi could have no expectation of receiving aid, and the situation soon grew desperate for him and his troops. In late 384, Murong Chui briefly lifted the siege of Yecheng to try to regroup, but at the same time, Jin forces attacked. Fu Pi sued for peace, but without his knowledge his assistant Yang Ying (杨膺) also promised on his behalf that he would surrender to Jin. With that promise, the Jin general Xie Xuan aided him with troops and food supplies, but eventually the temporary alliance broke up again. Meanwhile, Murong Chui returned and again put the city under siege after defeating Jin troops under Liu Laozhi (刘牢之). In 385, Fu Pi abandoned Yecheng and headed northwest to Jinyang (晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), where he received news that his father Fu Jiān had been killed by the Later Qin ruler Yao Chang. He then declared himself emperor.

Reign

Fu Pi took measures to try to consolidate his current position—now largely only over modern Shanxi, although there were still many pockets of territory loyal to Former Qin in modern Shaanxi and Gansu, and there were also still pockets of resistance even in the middle of Later Yan territory. His prime minister Wang Yong (王永) (Wang Meng's son) issued a declaration inviting all those who were still loyal to be prepared to rendezvous at Linjin (临晋, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi) in winter 386. Many local generals answered the call, although the rendezvous would never actually happen.

In fall 386, the Western Yan ruler Murong Yong, whose people had abandoned the Guanzhong region to head east, trying to return to their home land, requested Fu Pi to grant permission to let them through. Fu Pi refused and tried to intercept them, but suffered a major defeat, in which Wang Yong and the major general Juqu Jushizi (沮渠俱石子) were killed, and most of Fu Pi's officials and his wife Empress Yang were captured. The only general under Fu Pi who still had a strong army remaining was his cousin Fu Zuan (苻纂) the Prince of Donghai, who remained at Jinyang, but Fu Pi was suspicious of Fu Zuan's intentions and therefore did not dare to return to Jinyang, but instead headed south, wanting to make a surprise attack on Luoyang, then held by Jin. The Jin general Feng Gai (冯该) intercepted him and killed him in battle. His sons Fu Ning (苻宁) the crown prince and Fu Shou (苻寿) the Prince of Changle were captured by Jin forces but pardoned and given to their uncle Fu Hong (苻宏) -- Fu Jiān's crown prince, who had surrendered to Jin earlier. His sons Fu Yi (苻懿) the Prince of Bohai and Fu Chang (苻昶) the Prince of Jibei were escorted by an official to his distant nephew Fu Deng the Prince of Nan'an, who initially proposed making Fu Yi the emperor, but after his subordinates recommended that he take the throne himself, did so.

Era name

• Tai'an (太安 taì ān) 385–386

Personal information

• Father

　• Fu Jiān (Emperor Xuanzhao)

• Wife

　• Empress Yang (created 385, killed by Murong Yong of Western Yan 386)

• Children

　• Fu Ning (苻宁), the Crown Prince (created 385)

　• Fu Shou (苻寿), the Prince of Changle (created 385)

　• Fu Qiang (苻锵), the Prince of Pingyuan (created 385)

　• Fu Yi (苻懿), initially the Prince of Bohai (created 385), later Crown Prince Xian'ai under Fu Deng (created 387, d. 388)

　• Fu Chang (苻昶), the Prince of Jibei (created 385)

生平

早年生活

苻丕少时聪慧好学，博通经史。苻坚曾经与他谈将略，嘉许了他并命邓羌教他兵法。苻丕的文武才干不及叔父苻融，不过他当将领时善于笼络士卒之心。永兴元年（357年）苻坚称天王时受封为长乐公。

委以重任

建元四年（368年），苻坚在攻灭叛乱的雍州刺史苻武后，以苻丕为雍州刺史。建元六年（370年）因取消雍州而离任，但次年苻丕就因雍州复置而任使持节、征东大将军、雍州刺史。后迁征南大将军，都督征讨诸军事，守尚书令。建元十四年（378年）二月，奉命与苟苌等进攻东晋襄阳。当时前秦军很快就攻下了襄阳外城，守将朱序只得固守内城，苻丕于是打算急攻内城。然而最终却听从了苟苌长期围困，待其自降的策略，虽然及得慕容垂攻陷南阳郡后与苻丕会合，秦军仍只一直围困襄阳；而当时的荆州刺史桓冲以及在次年受命领兵救援襄阳的刘波皆因畏惧秦军而未敢前进，都没有起到实质作用。不过，朱序仍一直坚持到年末，前秦御史中丞李柔因而弹劾苻丕等人围攻襄阳近一年仍未能攻陷，耗费日深而无收效。苻坚亦下诏苻丕要以攻取襄阳赎罪，并命人赐剑苻丕，明言若果不能在下一年春天攻下襄阳就要苻丕以剑自杀。苻丕得诏后惶恐，并下令各军加紧进攻，终于在次年二月攻下襄阳。

建元十六年（380年），苻坚为加强管理关东领土，于是决定分十五万户关中氐族人并分配给宗亲重臣，在他们带领下分驻各重镇，如同古代诸侯。苻丕则为都督关东诸军事、征东大将军、冀州牧，派遣他到邺镇守。

与燕争战

苻坚在建元十九年（383年）的淝水之战大败给晋军后返率败军回长安，并在洛阳答允让冠军将军慕容垂出抚河北地区。慕容垂到邺城西南的安阳时修书苻丕，而苻丕知慕容垂北来就已思疑他图谋作乱，但仍亲身迎接，又听从侍郎姜让的谏言，放弃袭杀慕容垂的计划。不久，在新安的丁零人翟斌起兵叛变，苻坚命慕容垂讨伐。苻丕当时自觉慕容垂长在邺城令自己终日都提防他，于是想趁此机会将慕容垂调离邺城，更希望翟斌和慕容垂打得两败俱伤，令自己能从容控制他们，于是给了慕容垂两千弱兵以及差劣的兵器，并以苻飞龙领一千氐族骑兵作为其副手，作提防监视之用。不久慕容垂请求拜谒前燕在邺城宗庙遭苻丕拒绝，微服而入亦被亭吏阻止，令其杀掉亭吏，烧亭而去；慕容垂出发后又因知道苻丕想用苻飞龙除掉自己，所以就借机杀了苻飞龙，并开始招集兵士，更密召留邺的慕容农、慕容楷等出城起兵响应自己。

建元二十年（384年）春，苻丕大宴宾客却请不来慕容农等，调查三天才知他们已在列人起兵了，而慕容垂及后亦自称燕王，率兵进攻邺城。苻丕派了重将石越讨伐慕容农等但石越却兵败被杀，石越之死更令当地人心骚动。随著前燕旧臣想相继响应慕容垂并到邺城会同慕容垂进攻，慕容垂更写信给苻丕及苻坚，向其陈述利害，想苻坚放弃邺城，送苻丕回长安，但遭二人愤怒地拒绝，并回信严厉指责慕容垂叛秦。二月，慕容垂就开始进攻邺城，直至八月仍未能攻下邺城，但城内粮草已尽，要以松木喂饲战马。苻丕向张蚝及并州刺史王腾请兵不得，亦不想向东晋求援；此时谢玄率兵北伐，苻丕派兵抵抗但失败，终令苻丕屈服，写信给谢玄说：「我想向你求粮，以西赴国难，当我与援军相接时就会交邺城给你。若果不能西进而长安失陷，请你领兵助我保护邺城。」不过姜让、最早请苻丕南附东晋的司马杨膺以及担任使者的焦逵皆认为苻丕至此仍不肯放下身段，认定事必无成，反而自己修改苻丕的信，改成愿意在晋军来后向东晋归降，更决定若苻丕届时不肯就想办法逼他就范。而当时慕容垂亦派兵围困邺城，只留西走长安的路，仍愿苻丕自愿弃城；而谢玄亦答应出兵救邺，不但派刘牢之等领二万兵作援，亦运二千斛米以解城中粮荒。

就在次年（385年）刘牢之北行至枋头时，杨膺等人改写苻丕书信并想逼苻丕就范的事被揭发，苻丕于是杀害他们，而因焦逵亦向谢玄等提及此事，令刘牢之闻讯后盘桓不进。此时慕容垂亦因邺城久久未下而想先取冀州，于是调了慕容农到邺城。及后因应刘牢之进攻黎阳，苻丕趁慕容垂出兵，留慕容农守邺围的机会试图突围但失败，慕容垂亦在击退刘牢之后回军邺城。四月，刘牢之在邺击败慕容垂，终解了邺城之围，令慕容垂北走。虽然刘牢之追击燕军失败还须苻丕救援，但苻丕最终都能够率众到枋头获得晋军粮食，解决部众缺粮问题。然而苻丕并非真心与晋合作，亦不曾想放弃邺城，于是在重返邺城时就与晋将檀玄发生了战斗，终由苻丕取胜并重夺邺城。

晋阳称帝

燕、秦两军至此时已经相持一整年了，弄得幽、冀地区发生饥荒，人食人且城池都萧条；而且当时长安亦受到西燕军队的攻击，苻丕于是在当地收兵并要西赴长安。幽州刺史王永因为抵抗不了燕军进攻而率兵退至壶关，并派使者招请苻丕，苻丕于是率邺城中六万多人西赴潞川，并获张蚝和王腾迎至晋阳。苻丕到了晋阳才知苻坚已经被姚苌所杀，于是发丧并于晋阳南即位为帝，改年号为太安。

在王永等人的协助下，关中及陇右的前秦遗众都相继起兵响应苻丕，以对抗慕容氏及姚氏的势力。太安二年（386年），苻丕留戍晋阳及壶关，自率四万兵进屯平阳。西燕君主慕容永见此担忧抵抗不了秦军，于是请求苻丕让他取道东归河北会合慕容垂。但苻丕拒绝并命左丞相王永、俱石子等进攻慕容永。西燕军于是在襄陵与王永所率的秦军发生战斗，王永及俱石子皆兵败被杀，苻丕以兵败，更怕他一直猜忌的苻纂趁他新败而对其不利，于是率数千南奔东垣，更图进攻当时受东晋控制的洛阳。晋将冯该就从陕城出兵邀击苻丕，最终苻丕被杀，除了苻纂等率数万兵出走杏城外，苻丕统下的官员皆为西燕所得。苻丕死后，族子苻登继位，諡苻丕为哀平皇帝。

大臣

• 张蚝为侍中、司空，封上党郡公

• 王永为使持节、侍中、都督中外诸军事、车骑大将军、尚书令，进封清河公

• 王腾为散骑常侍、中军大将军、司隶校尉、阳平郡公

• 苻冲为左光禄大夫、尚书左仆射、西平王

• 俱石子为卫将军、濮阳公

• 杨辅为尚书右仆射、济阳公

• 王亮为护军将军、彭城公

• 强益耳、梁畅为侍中，封县公

• 徐义为吏部尚书，封县公

家庭

皇后

• 皇后杨氏，杨膺妹，苻丕死后为慕容永所纳，立为上夫人，但杨氏反抗并以剑谋杀慕容永，失败被杀。

儿子

• 太子苻宁，苻丕败死时为晋军俘获，获赦并送往早前投归东晋的苻宏那里。

• 长乐王苻寿，苻丕败死时为晋军俘获，获赦并送往早前投归东晋的苻宏那里。

• 平原王苻锵

• 勃海王苻懿，苻丕死后到苻登所驻的南安，苻登以其为皇太弟，两年后去世，諡为献哀。

• 济北王苻昶，苻丕死后到苻登所驻的南安。

注释