Prior to becoming emperor

Sima Ye was a son of Sima Yan (司馬晏) the Prince of Wu, a son of Jin's founding emperor Emperor Wu, and Lady Xun, a daughter of Xun Xu. However, he was posthumously adopted by his uncle Sima Jian (司馬柬) the Prince of Qin, who died in 291, nine years before his birth, and so he inherited the title of Prince of Qin.

When the Jin capital Luoyang fell to Han Zhao forces in 311, Prince Ye's uncle Emperor Huai was captured, and his father Prince Yan was killed. Prince Ye himself, at age 13, was able to escape from Han Zhao forces, and he got to Mi (密縣, in modern Zhengzhou, Henan) when he encountered his uncles, the Jin officials Xun Fan (荀藩) and Xun Zu (荀組), who decided to support him as their leader. Later that year, the general Yan Ding tried to escort Prince Ye into the Guanzhong region (modern central Shaanxi), where he thought the central government could be rebuilt, but on the way, most of the supporters and troops deserted them—including Prince Ye's uncles. Eventually, however, Yan and Prince Ye were able to arrive in Guanzhong. They were supported by the general Jia Ya, and Jia was able to capture Chang'an in 312, allowing Prince Ye to enter and set up his headquarters there. In fall 312, Jia and Yan offered Prince Ye the title of crown prince, and they then organized a provisional government.

Reign

In spring 313, the captured Emperor Huai was executed by the Han Zhao emperor Liu Cong. The news, however, took three months to get to Chang'an. Once it did, Crown Prince Ye held an official mourning for his uncle and then ascended the throne as Emperor Min. At that time, the city of Chang'an was so poor that it had less than a hundred households, and there were only four wagons available. The officials lacked official uniforms and seals. The military matters were largely entrusted to the generals Qu Yun and Suo Chen. Emperor Min issued an edict ordering Sima Bao the Prince of Nanyang, who still had a sizable force in Qin Province (秦州, modern eastern Gansu) and Sima Rui the Prince of Langya, who held large portions of territory near and south of the Yangtze River, to come to his aid, but both Sima Bao and Sima Rui only paid nominal allegiance to him and failed to actually provide any assistance. Around the new year of 314, Han Zhao made a surprise attack on Chang'an, and while that attack was thwarted that time, it showed how the Jin regime under Emperor Min lacked power to defend itself. Only Zhang Gui the governor of Liang Province (涼州, modern central and western Gansu) sent small detachments and supplies periodically to Chang'an. In 315, Sima Bao considered coming to Emperor Min's aid, but ultimately did not do so, and Suo subsequently refused a plan to send the emperor to Sima Bao, reasoning that Sima Bao would then use the emperor as a puppet.

In fall 316, the Han Zhao general Liu Yao the Prince of Zhongshan made a major attack against Emperor Min's territory. After he captured Beidi Commandery (北地, roughly modern Tongchuan, Shaanxi), the other Jin cities in Guanzhong collapsed. Two relief forces arrived, but were hesitant to engage Liu Yao. Liu Yao therefore was able to besiege Chang'an, and after the food supply ran out, Emperor Min resolved to surrender. He was delivered by Liu Yao to the Han Zhao capital Pingyang (平陽, in modern Linfen, Shanxi).

After capture by Han Zhao

Liu Cong initially created the former Jin emperor the Marquess of Huai'an. In early 318, at a feast, he had the marquess serve as butler, and a number of former Jin officials could not control themselves and cried out loud at their former emperor's humiliation. Furthermore, around this time, there were a number of uprisings against Han Zhao, each claiming to want to capture Han Zhao's crown prince Liu Can to exchange him for the former Jin emperor. Liu Can therefore recommended that Sima Ye be executed, and Liu Cong agreed, executing him after receiving Liu Can's report.

Era name

• Jianxing (建興 Jiànxīng) 313–317

Ancestry

生平

稱帝前

司馬鄴首先過繼於伯父秦王司馬柬而襲封為秦王。永嘉二年（308年）被封為散騎常侍與撫軍將軍。

永嘉五年（311年），漢攻陷洛陽，俘獲晉懷帝，司馬鄴的生父司馬晏及司馬鄴的兄弟們都遇害，司馬鄴本人逃亡滎陽密縣行台投靠舅父司空荀藩、光祿大夫荀組，並得到他們的擁戴；因密縣地近敵國漢，他們又隨行台遷到許昌。十月，豫州刺史閻鼎想奉司馬鄴入關據長安以號令四方，河陰令傅暢也寫信勸說，但包括荀藩、荀組、司徒左長史劉疇、鎮軍長史周顗、司馬李述等在內的支持者和軍隊都是山東人，不願意西行，都在中途逃散，劉疇等更在途中圖謀作亂，閻鼎派兵未能追回，只平定了劉疇，殺了劉疇和中書令李絙等人。閻鼎挾持司馬鄴乘牛車從宛城到武關，在上洛遇到盜賊，士卒敗散，收其餘眾，到藍田，派人告訴雍州刺史賈疋，賈疋遣兵相迎。十二月，司馬鄴等入雍城，賈疋派輔國將軍扶風太守梁綜率兵守衛。永嘉六年（312年）四月賈疋奪取長安，迎接司馬鄴入主。當時有玉龜出于霸水，神馬在城南嘶鳴。

九月，閻鼎、賈疋尊司馬鄴為皇太子，登壇宣告攝政，建立行台、宗廟、社稷，大赦天下，以閻鼎為太子詹事，總攝百揆（實際上的丞相）；加賈疋征西大將軍，秦州刺史南陽王司馬保為大司馬；命荀藩督攝遠近，荀組領司隸校尉、行豫州刺史，與荀藩共守開封。

十二月，賈疋兵敗被殺，眾人推始平太守麴允領雍州刺史。同月，閻鼎與京兆太守梁綜爭權，殺梁綜；麴允與撫夷護軍索綝、馮翊太守梁肅合兵攻閻鼎，閻鼎出奔被殺。

統治

永嘉七年（313年）晉懷帝於平陽遇害，四月消息傳到長安，司馬鄴為懷帝舉哀，於長安即帝位，改元建興，是為晉愍帝，以衛將軍梁芬為司徒，麴允為尚書左僕射、錄尚書事，京兆太守索綝為尚書左僕射、領吏部、京兆尹。晉愍帝即位時，西晉已經沒有可以作戰的能力，而且長安也沒有可與前趙作戰的物資，人口不足百戶，只有四輛馬車，也缺少官服和印綬。愍帝不久以索綝為衛將軍、領太尉，軍國大事由麴允和索綝二將主持。四月，漢中山王劉曜、司隸校尉喬智明就會合平西將軍趙染（或作趙冉）攻打長安，麴允出屯黃白城抵禦。五月，愍帝下詔以司馬保為右丞相、大都督，督陝西諸軍事，掌控江南及其附近大片地區的琅琊王司馬睿為左丞相、大都督，督陝東諸軍事，下詔掃除敵寇、奉迎懷帝梓宮，令幽、並兩州發兵三十萬攻平陽，司馬保率秦、涼、梁、雍之師三十萬到長安，司馬睿率所領精兵二十萬到洛陽勤王；但司馬保、司馬睿對他僅有名義上的表忠而沒有提供實際的幫助。六月，愍帝遣殿中都尉劉蜀、蘇馬詔令司馬睿按時進軍，八月，劉蜀到建康，司馬睿以剛平定江東、無暇北伐推辭。九月，因麴允屢敗，愍帝詔以索綝為征東大將軍率兵相助。十月，趙染對劉曜稱麴允大軍在外，長安空虛，劉曜于是派趙染率精騎五千襲長安，入外城。愍帝奔射雁樓。趙染焚燒龍尾道及諸營，殺掠千餘人後退屯逍遙園。將軍麴鑒率眾五千救長安，追殺趙染，在零武大敗。劉曜則因麴允屢敗而輕敵，反被麴允夜襲所破而退兵，喬智明被殺。

建興二年（314年）二月，下詔以司空幽州刺史王浚為大司馬，衛將軍荀組為司空，涼州刺史張軌為太尉，封西平郡公，并州刺史劉琨為大將軍。張軌老邁，實際由其子張寔主事，西晉特設副刺史之職，由張寔擔任。五月，漢軍奇襲長安。六月，劉曜、趙染入寇新豐諸縣，被安東將軍索綝所破。七月，劉曜、趙染等又進逼長安，領軍將軍麴允討伐擊破他們，趙染中流矢而死。漢國的襲擊雖然失敗，但已顯示了愍帝政權自衛之乏力，只有張軌父子不時派小股部隊和補給到長安。九月，單于代公拓跋猗盧遣使獻馬。

建興三年（315年）正月，愍帝以侍中宋哲為平東將軍屯華陰。二月，進司馬睿為大都督、督中外諸軍事，司馬保為相國，荀組為太尉，劉琨為司空。進封拓跋猗盧為代王。四月，大赦。六月，漢朝霸、杜二陵及薄太后陵被盜，挖出不可勝數的金玉彩帛，朝廷下令收集其餘，充實內府。同月，地震，愍帝又大赦，並敕令雍州修複陵墓。九月，劉曜入寇北地郡，愍帝命領軍將軍麴允抵禦。愍帝向司馬保徵兵，司馬保左右以壯士斷腕為例，建議斷隴道以觀其變，但從事中郎裴詵說：「蛇咬頭了，頭可以斷嗎？」于是司馬保決定勤王，以鎮軍將軍胡崧行前鋒都督，等諸軍集合再發兵，但最終也沒實施。索綝擔心愍帝成為司馬保的傀儡，也拒絕了麴允奉愍帝投奔司馬保的計劃。于是長安以西也不再對朝廷進貢，百官飢餓到以野生的穀物充飢。十月，麴允進攻青白城。以豫州牧、征東將軍索綝為尚書僕射、都督宮城諸軍事。漢軍攻陷馮翊，太守梁肅逃奔萬年縣。十二月涼州軍士張冰得到玉璽，上寫「皇帝行璽」，送給涼州刺史張寔，張寔覺得這不是人臣該留下的東西，十二月，派使者送到長安。

建興四年（316年）四月，張寔遣步騎五千赴京。七月，劉曜再發兵攻打長安，攻北地郡，麴允率步騎三萬去救，卻被劉曜擊潰，北地郡失守，太守麴昌逃回長安。劉曜進軍到涇陽，關中渭北地區西晉治下諸城都崩潰了，建威將軍魯充、散騎常侍梁緯、少府皇甫陽都被殺。八月，劉曜進逼圍攻長安，切斷長安的糧運，長安內外斷絕。九月，安定太守焦嵩、新平太守竺恢、弘農太守宋哲率援軍趕到，散起常侍華輯監京兆、馮翊、弘農、上洛四郡兵屯霸上，卻都躊躇不願與劉曜交戰。麴允和公卿們只能退守小城。司馬保所派的胡崧率軍入援擊敗了劉曜，卻擔心朝廷複振則麴允、索綝勢力更大，于是率城西諸郡兵屯駐渭北遮馬橋不進軍，回師槐里。十月，長安饑荒，城中一斗米賣到二兩金子，人們互相吃，死了一大半，逃跑者止不住，只有涼州援軍一千人堅守不動。麴允在太倉找來數十釀酒用的曲餅，製成粥進呈愍帝，也都吃光了。十一月，晉愍帝哭著對麴允說：「窮厄如此，外無救援，雖然死社稷是我應該做的，但我決定忍恥出降，讓士民活下來。」嘆道：「誤我事者，麴、索二公也！」派侍中宗敞送上降表。建興四年十一月十一日（316年12月11日），愍帝乘羊車以肉袒銜璧抬棺之禮出東門投降，群臣哭著登車抓他的手，都悲傷得無法忍受。御史中丞吉朗引咎自責，不忍相隨，也恥于效力于漢，自殺。劉曜燒了棺材，接受投降，派宗敞奉愍帝回宮，兩天後遷愍帝及公卿到軍營，之後送往漢都城平陽。尚書梁允、侍中梁浚、散騎常侍嚴敦、左丞臧振、黃門侍郎任播、張偉、杜曼及諸郡守都為劉曜所殺，華輯逃奔南山。十二月，司馬睿得知長安失守，出兵並傳檄四方擇日北伐。

愍帝建都長安以來，直到敗亡都未及建立郊廟。建興四年梁芬商議追尊愍帝生父司馬晏，愍帝不從，索綝等亦引用曹魏制度以為不可，故僅追贈司馬晏為太保。

被漢俘虜後

漢帝劉聰駕臨光極殿，愍帝稽首于前。麴允伏地慟哭，被扶也不能起身，劉聰怒而囚之，麴允自殺。劉聰以愍帝為光祿大夫，封懷安侯。建興五年（317年）二月，宋哲逃到建康，稱受愍帝詔令司馬睿統攝萬機。三月，司馬睿稱晉王，承制，改元建武。

十一月，劉聰令愍帝代行車騎將軍的職務，穿著戎服，手執戟矛，在前面開路，百姓聚在路旁觀看，有人指著他說：「這是以前的長安天子。」一些西晉遺民故老見故君受辱，抽泣流涕，劉聰聽到後十分厭惡。太子劉粲建議殺司馬鄴以絕後患，劉聰說建興元年剛殺過庾氏，不忍再殺人，且再觀之。十二月，劉聰設宴光極殿，讓愍帝行酒、洗酒杯，上廁所時又讓愍帝拿馬桶蓋，在座的原西晉大臣多失聲哭泣，尚書郎辛賓起身抱著愍帝痛哭，被劉聰下令拖出去斬殺。漢將趙固投晉，揚言活捉劉粲，換回司馬鄴。劉粲上表稱若司馬鄴死，則百姓無所望，不會為李矩、趙固所用。建興五年十二月二十日（318年2月7日），愍帝在平陽被殺。

次年三月，噩耗傳到建康，司馬睿遂在眾人勸進下即位建立東晉。

家庭

史書沒有記載愍帝是否有后妃。愍帝曾想納表兄荀邃的女兒，征荀邃為散騎常侍，但荀邃擔心兇險沒有去長安受命。

祭祀

晉元帝司馬睿自認為上承武帝大統，即自認為愍帝伯父。但元帝沒有聽太常華恆所議為惠帝、懷帝、愍帝另外立廟，而是從驃騎長史溫嶠所議，從《春秋》尊尊之義，在正殿永遠保留惠帝、懷帝、愍帝的神主位。元帝駕崩後，神主還在愍帝之下。

異象

愍帝初，有童謠說：「天子何在豆田中。」建興四年，愍帝投降劉曜時，正在城東豆田壁中。

建興元年，狗與豬交配。狗意味著兵革，豬意味著北方匈奴，異類交配為禍兆。後來愍帝果然被匈奴俘虜。

建興元年十一月，會稽大雨、地震、雷電，赤氣曜于西北。當時，劉聰已經在平陽稱帝，李雄在蜀中稱制，天下大亂，長安孤微，為君主失時之象。十二月，河東地震，下肉雨。郭景純說這是失政的徵兆。

建興二年正月辛未辰時，日隕于地，又有三個太陽從西向東運動。五年正月庚子，三個太陽一起出現，彩虹滿天。太陽有重暈，左右兩珥。占卜者說白虹是兵氣也，多個太陽出現是天下有兵禍，又說不過三十天，諸侯爭相為帝，太陽重暈，就是天下有王要稱帝，重暈而有日珥，就是天下有侯要稱帝。天文學家陳卓說天下要三分了。果然三月司馬睿改元建武，漢國皇帝劉聰、成國皇帝李雄也得到三國時期曹魏、蜀漢的疆域，于是連年交兵。

建興二年正月己已朔，黑霧如墨，連日如同黑夜，五天後才停止。

建興二年四月甲辰，地震；三年六月丁卯，長安又地震。這是君主年幼，下臣掌權，四方不寧，兵亂不息的徵兆。

建興二年九月，蒲子縣的馬生了人。按京房《易傳》所言：沒有天子，諸侯相互征伐時，妖馬生人。當時皇室衰微，胡狄交侵，兵戈日逼，不久愍帝也被俘。

愍帝建興二年十一月，枹罕羌妓產一龍子，色似錦，文常就母乳，遙見神光，少得就視。這是皇權不振的徵兆，愍帝終于被俘。

建興四年六月丁巳朔、十二月甲申朔、五年五月丙子、十一月丙子，都有日食。六月發生大蝗災。

建興四年，新蔡縣吏任僑妻產二女，腹心相合，胸以上、臍以下則分離，這是表示天下未統一的惡兆。內史呂會上言說根據《瑞應圖》，異根同體謂之連理，異畝同穎謂之嘉禾，二人同心是《易經》「二人同心，其利斷金」之理，是四海同心的祥瑞，為當時人所笑。不久天下大亂，愍帝亦被俘。

建武元年五月癸未，太白、熒惑合于東井。占卜者說這是喪事之兆。七月，愍帝被殺。此記載與其他史料記載的十二月被殺有出入。

建武元年七月，晉陵人陳門才家的牛生了兩個頭的牛犢。按京房《易傳》所言，牛生子二首一身，是天下將分之象。不久，被拘在平陽的晉愍帝就被匈奴所殺。

愍帝被殺前，平陽有石頭說話，為不祥之兆。

家世

嗣父：秦獻王司馬柬

注釋

|-

|-

|-