Background and early career

Chen Baxian was born to Chen Wenzan (陈文赞) and Lady Dong in 503 CE, the second year of the reign of Emperor Wu of Liang (the founding emperor of Liang Dynasty). He was from Wuxing Commandery (吴兴, roughly modern Huzhou, Zhejiang). His family traced its ancestry to Chen Shi (陈寔), a county magistrate and Confucian scholar during Han Dynasty. During the lineage that was traced, Chen's ancestors generally served as officials, although several were important figures in imperial governments of Jin Dynasty and the subsequent Southern dynasties, including Chen Baxian's grandfather Chen Daoju (陈道巨).

When Chen Baxian was young, he was considered ambitious, not caring about managing properties. As he grew, he studied military strategies and learned various fighting techniques. Initially, he married a daughter of Qian Zhongfang (钱仲方), who was also from Wuxing Commandery, but she died early. After Lady Qian's death, he married Zhang Yao'er, likewise from Wuxing Commandery. She bore him at least one son, Chen Chang. It is known that he had five sons before Chen Chang, but all, including Chen Ke (陈克), the only one whose name is preserved in history, appeared to have died early; it is not known who were their mothers.

In the late 530s, when Xiao Ying (萧映) the Marquess of Xinyu, a nephew of Emperor Wu, was the governor of Wuxing Commandery, he had the chance to see Chen Baxian and was impressed by him. When Xiao Ying was made the governor of Guang Province (广州, modern Guangdong) around 540, he invited Chen to serve on his staff, and subsequently, Xiao Ying made him an acting commandery governor.

War with Vạn Xuân

In 541, the people of Giao Châu Province (in modern northern Vietnam), dissatisfied with the cruel rule of Xiao Zi (萧谘) the Marquess of Wulin (another nephew of Emperor Wu), rebelled under the leadership of Lý Bôn. Xiao Ying sent the generals Sun Jiong (孙冏) and Lu Zixiong (卢子雄) to attack Lý Bôn, with Xiao Ying overseeing the operations. In spring 542, Xiao Ying and Xiao Zi ordered Sun and Lu to attack, despite Sun and Lu's request to delay the attack to fall 542 due to fears that hot temperature could cause illnesses. When Lý Bôn crushed their forces with heavy casualties, Xiao Zi falsely accused Sun and Lu of working in concert with Lý Bôn, and Emperor Wu ordered Sun and Lu to commit suicide. Lu Zixiong's brothers Lu Zilüe (卢子略) and Lu Zilie (卢子烈) and subordinates, the brothers Du Tianhe (杜天合) and Du Sengming and Zhou Wenyu, attacked the capital of Guang Province, wanting to kill Xiao Zi and Xiao Ying to avenge Lu Zixiong. Xiao Ying ordered Chen to engage them, and he defeated them, killing Du Tianhe and capturing Du Sengming and Zhou. Believing that Du Sengming and Zhou were both good soldiers, he released them and retained them on his staff. For this accomplishment, Emperor Wu created Chen the Viscount of Xin'an, and while he did not summon Chen to the capital Jiankang, he had an artisan draw a portrait of Chen and deliver it to him.

In January 544, Lý Bôn proclaimed himself emperor and named the country Vạn Xuân, ending the Second Chinese domination of Vietnam. In winter 544, Xiao Ying died, and initially, Chen started escorting Xiao Ying's casket back to Jiankang for burial. On the way, while he was still at Dayu Mountain (大庾岭, on the borders of modern Jiangxi and Guangdong), he was ordered to rendezvous with the new governor of Giao Châu Province, Yang Piao (杨瞟), and another nephew of Emperor Wu's, Xiao Bo (萧勃), to attack Lý Bôn. Xiao Bao did not want to set out on the campaign, and therefore tried to persuade Yang not to advance. Chen persuaded Yang otherwise, and in spring 545, Yang, with Chen as his lieutenant, attacked Lý Bôn, defeating him and forcing him to flee into the mountains and conduct guerilla warfare instead. In 548, Lý Bôn's subordinates killed Lý Bôn, and when Lý Bôn's brother Lý Thiên Bảo succeeded him and attacked Ai Province (爱州, centered on modern Thanh Hóa Province, Vietnam), Chen defeated Lý Thiên Bảo. Emperor Wu made Chen the governor of Gaoyao Commandery (高要, roughly modern Zhaoqing, Guangdong) as well as the commander of the forces of the surrounding commanderies.

During the Hou Jing Disturbance

In summer 548, Hou Jing, formerly a general of Eastern Wei (a branch successor state of Northern Wei) whose defection Emperor Wu had accepted, rebelled, and in 549 captured Jiankang, taking Emperor Wu and his son and crown prince Xiao Gang hostage. After Jiankang's fall, Hou, who had initially claimed that he wanted to restore Northern Wei's imperial clan to power, from the control of the regent Gao Cheng, enticed the governor of Guang Province, Yuan Jingzhong (元景仲), a member of Northern Wei's imperial Yuan clan, to join him, and when Chen received the news, he publicly announced Yuan's treachery and gathered the troops of the nearby generals to attack Yuan. Yuan committed suicide, and Chen welcomed Xiao Bo, then the governor of Ding Province (定州, roughly modern Guigang, Guangxi) to take over Guang Province. In winter 549, against Xiao Bo's request, Chen took his troops and embarked on a campaign to join the fight against Hou, sending messengers to Emperor Wu's son Xiao Yi the Prince of Xiangdong, the governor of Jing Province (荆州, modern central and western Hubei), pledging support and loyalty to Xiao Yi, then commonly viewed as the leader of the remaining Liang provinces not under Hou's control.

For the next year, Chen advanced north through modern Jiangxi, fighting the various local warlords and generals loyal to Hou, with his main struggle against Li Qianshi (李迁仕). In spring 551, he captured and killed Li. Xiao Yi made him the governor of Jiang Province (江州, roughly modern Jiangxi). By fall 551, he had rendezvoused with Xiao Yi's main general, Wang Sengbian, at Xunyang (寻阳, in modern Jiujiang, Jiangxi). In 552, after they had sworn a solemn oath to Liang, they advanced east toward Jiankang, where Hou had killed Xiao Gang (who had succeeded Emperor Wu as Emperor Jianwen) and taken the throne himself as Emperor of Han. Chen was instrumental in the subsequent siege of Jiankang, and they defeated Hou together, causing Hou to flee. Subsequently, Hou was killed by his own men. For Chen's contributions, Xiao Yi created Chen the Marquess of Changcheng—Chen's home county. Wang put Chen in charge of the important city Jingkou (京口, in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu). For the next two years, Chen was several times involved in border battles against Northern Qi (Eastern Wei's successor state). At times, when Xiao Yi (who had by now taken the throne as Emperor Yuan but set up his capital at his headquarters of Jiangling rather than at Jiankang) summoned Wang on campaigns, Wang would put Chen in charge of Jiankang.

Seizure of power

In 554, Western Wei launched a major attack on Jiangling, and Emperor Yuan summoned Wang to come to his aid, putting Chen in charge of Jiankang. Before Wang could reach Jiangling, however, Western Wei had already captured Jiangling, killing Emperor Yuan and declaring his nephew Xiao Cha emperor instead (as Emperor Xuan). (Xiao Cha's state is known in history as the Western Liang.) Wang and Chen refused to recognize Emperor Xuan; instead, in spring 555, they welcomed Emperor Yuan's 11-year-old son Xiao Fangzhi the Prince of Jin'an—Emperor Yuan's only surviving son—to Jiankang, preparing to make him emperor and first having him take the title Prince of Liang. (When Jiankang fell, Chen's son Chen Chang and nephew Chen Xu, who had been serving in the imperial administration, were captured and taken to the Western Wei capital Chang'an as honored captives.)

At this time, however, Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi had other ideas, and he sent his brother Gao Huan (高涣) the Prince of Shangdang to command an army to escort Emperor Yuan's cousin Xiao Yuanming the Marquess of Zhenyang—whom Eastern Wei had taken captive in 547—back to Liang to be emperor. Wang initially rejected Xiao Yuanming, but after his forces lost a few battles to Northern Qi forces, changed his mind and decided to accept Xiao Yuanming as emperor after extracting a promise from Xiao Yuanming to make Xiao Fangzhi crown prince. In summer 555, Xiao Yuanming arrived at Jiankang to take the throne, and he created Xiao Fangzhi crown prince. Wang and Chen continued to be in charge of the military.

Chen, however, was unhappy about the situation, believing Xiao Yuanming to be unworthy of the throne. Despite Wang Sengbian's knowledge of Chen's displeasure, however, Wang did not suspect Chen of having any rebellious intentions, as they had been friendly, and Wang and Chen had agreed on having Wang Sengbian's son Wang Wei (王頠) marry Chen's daughter, although the marriage had not been established on account of the recent death of Wang Sengbian's mother. in fall 555, believing reports that Northern Qi was going to attack, Wang sent his secretary Jiang Gan (江旰) to Jingkou to alert Chen. Chen instead detained Jiang and started a surprise attack on Wang. With Wang not suspecting that an attack would occur, Chen quickly reached Wang's headquarters at Shitou (a fortress near Jiankang), capturing and killing Wang Sengbian and Wang Wei. He took over control of the imperial government, forcing Xiao Yuanming to abdicate and making Xiao Fangzhi emperor (as Emperor Jing).

Immediately, Chen faced resistance from the generals Xu Sihui (徐嗣徽), Ren Yue (任约), and Hou Tian (侯瑱), and Wang Sengbian's brother Wang Sengzhi (王僧智) and son-in-law Du Kan (杜龛). (Du was the governor of Chen's home commandery of Wuxing, and the historian Bo Yang had speculated that Du's disrespect for Chen and his curbing of special privileges that Chen's clan was exerting in Wuxing might have been an impetus for Chen's rebellion against Wang.) Chen initially sent his nephew Chen Qian and his general Zhou Wenyu against Du and Du's ally Wei Zai (韦载), but the campaign was inconclusive, and Chen subsequently went to attack himself. Meanwhile, Xu and Ren, aided by Northern Qi, made a surprise attack on Jiankang, nearly capturing it, but were repelled by Chen's general Hou Andu. Soon, Chen defeated Wei and Wei surrendered, and Chen returned to Jiankang, leaving Zhou to face Du.

Despite Northern Qi aid, Xu and Ren could not defeat Chen, and Chen put Shitou, which the Northern Qi general Liu Damo (柳达摩) had captured, under siege. Liu sought peace, but requested Chen to send his relatives as hostages to Northern Qi. Most officials advocated peace, and Chen, despite his skepticism about such a peace holding, agreed, and sent his nephew Chen Tanlang (陈昙朗), Emperor Yuan's grandson Xiao Zhuang the Prince of Yongjia, and Wang Min (王珉), the son of the key official Wang Chong (王冲), as hostages, permitting Northern Qi forces to withdraw, and Xu and Ren withdrew with them.

By spring 556, Du had either been captured or surrendered to Zhou and Chen Qian, and Chen Baxian executed Du. Wang Sengzhi fled to Northern Qi, and the capital region was largely under Chen Baxian's control. Meanwhile, Northern Qi forces were preparing another attack, but they invited Xiao Yuanming to their camp to discuss peace. Chen sent Xiao Yuanming to Northern Qi camp, but before talks could begin, Xiao Yuanming died from a severe infection on his back. By summer 556, Northern Qi forces were again descending on Jiankang, but once there, their forces stalemated with Chen's forces. Northern Qi forces' food supplies soon ran out, and Chen defeated them, killing Xu and capturing a number of Northern Qi generals, whom Chen executed. (In response, Northern Qi executed Chen Tanlang, although Chen Baxian never found out during his lifetime.) Meanwhile, Hou Tian, having been defeated by another general, Hou Ping (侯平), chose to submit to Chen.

During the next year, Chen began to receive greater and greater titles and offices, progressing from being the Marquess of Changcheng to Duke of Changcheng to Duke of Yixing to Duke of Chen to Prince of Chen. In 557, Xiao Bo declared a resistance against Chen from Guang Province. Soon, however, Zhou defeated Xiao Bo's general Ouyang Wei (欧阳頠), and Xiao Bo was killed by his own generals. At the same time, Wang Lin, who controlled modern Hunan and eastern Hubei, suspicious of Chen's intentions, refused his summon to Jiankang and prepared for battle instead. Chen sent Zhou and Hou Andu against Wang Lin. In winter 557, Chen had Emperor Jing yield the throne to him, establishing Chen Dynasty as its Emperor Wu. He created Emperor Jing the Prince of Jiangyin. He posthumously honored his parents emperor and empress, his deceased wife Lady Qian empress, and his deceased son Chen Ke crown prince. He created his wife Zhang Yao'er empress.

Reign

While it is not known when Emperor Wu became a Buddhist, once he became emperor he immediately took steps to officially sanction Buddhism, as he displayed a relic believed to be a Buddha's tooth and held a major Buddhist festival. He also, following the lead of Liang's Emperor Wu, offered himself to Buddha's service on one occasion. He made several requests to Western Wei's successor state Northern Zhou to return Chen Chang and Chen Xu, and while Northern Zhou promised to do so, they would actually not be returned in Emperor Wu's lifetime.

Meanwhile, news that Emperor Wu had accepted the throne had reached the front where Zhou Wenyu and Hou Andu were engaging Wang Lin, greatly depressing Zhou and Hou's forces, as this removed a major appeal that they had—that Wang was being a rebel for refusing to follow Emperor Jing's orders. Wang defeated Zhou and Hou and captured them. After doing so, however, both Chen forces and Wang Lin's forces were stalemated by the fact that the general Lu Xida (鲁悉达), who controlled Northern Jiang Province (北江州, roughly modern Anqing, Anhui), was accepting overtures from both sides but refusing to actually obey either side. Not able to make progress in his campaign against the new Chen state, Wang sought help from Northern Qi and requested that it return Xiao Zhuang to be emperor. Soon, Northern Qi returned Xiao Zhuang, and Wang Lin declared Xiao Zhuang emperor at Ying Province (郢州, modern eastern Hubei).

In summer 558, Emperor Wu had the former Emperor Jing of Liang killed. He sent Hou Tian and Xu Du (徐度) to attack Wang Lin, but soon negotiated a peace with Wang Lin, after Wang's general Yu Xiaoqing (余孝顷) was defeated by the independent general Zhou Di (周迪), satrap of Linchuan (Jiangxi). (Meanwhile, Zhou Wenyu and Hou escaped from Wang's custody and returned to Chen, although Zhou was soon assassinated by the independent general Xiong Tanlang (熊昙朗).)

In summer 559, Emperor Wu suffered a major illness and died suddenly. At that time, the only close relative of his in Chen territory, his nephew Chen Qian the Prince of Linchuan, was away building a fort at Nanhuan (南皖, in modern Anqing, Anhui). Empress Zhang, after consulting the officials Du Leng (杜棱) and Cai Jingli (蔡景历), chose not to announce Emperor Wu's death and summoned Chen Qian back from Nanhuan. The imperial officials decided to support Chen Qian as emperor, and while Empress Zhang was initially hesitant, hoping that Chen Chang would return, she eventually agreed, and Chen Qian took the throne as Emperor Wen.

Era name

• Yongding (永定 yǒng dìng) 557-559

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Zhao, of the Qian clan (昭皇后 钱氏)

　• Chen Ke, Crown Prince Xiaohuai (孝怀皇太子 陈克)

• Empress Xuan, of the Zhang clan (宣皇后 章氏; 506–570), personal name Yao'er (要儿)

　• Chen Chang, Prince Hengyangxian (衡阳献王 陈昌; 537–560), sixth son

　• Princess Yuhua (玉华公主)

• Unknown

　• Chen Li, Prince Yuzhangxian (豫章献王 陈立)

　• Chen Quan, Prince Changshasi (长沙思王 陈权)

　• Princess Yongshi (永世公主), first daughter

　　• Married Qian Chan (钱蒇), and had issue (one son)

　• Princess Kuaijimu (会稽穆公主)

　　• Married Shen Junli of Wuxing, Marquis Wangcai (吴兴 沈君理; 525–573), and had issue (Lady Shen Wuhua)

Ancestry

生平

早期生涯

梁武帝天监二年（503年）出生，自幼家境贫寒，却好读兵书。初仕乡为里司，后到建康为油库吏，之后又为新渝县侯萧暎传教（传令吏）。当时，萧映是广州刺史，于是陈霸先随萧暎来到广州，任中直兵参军。因陈霸先平乱有功，被提任为西江督护，很快又因平交州李贲之乱有功，封为交州司马兼领武平太守（越南永福省永安市附近），后任振远将军、高要太守。梁武帝萧衍授予陈霸先直阁将军一职，封号新安子。

侯景之乱

侯景叛乱，陈霸先于梁大宝元年（550年）正月，在始兴（今广东韶关）起兵讨侯景，次年与征东将军王僧辩会合共进。天正二年（552年）三月，领军围石头城（在今南京），大败侯景。因功授征虏将军、开府仪同三司，封司空，领扬州（非今日之扬州市）刺史，镇京口（今江苏镇江）。

立帝之争

梁承圣三年（554年），西魏破江陵，梁元帝被杀。陈霸先与王僧辩请晋安王萧方智以太宰承制，又遣长史谢哲奉笺劝进，晋安王入居朝堂，称梁王。承圣四年（555年），王僧辩屈事北齐，迎立北齐扶植的萧渊明为梁帝，陈霸先苦劝无效，遂诛王僧辩，立萧方智为帝。后又击退北齐的南下侵略，铲平了王僧辩馀党的反抗，晋封陈公，受九锡。

王僧辩的部下王琳得知陈霸先立萧方智为帝，并不服气，太平二年五月，进攻陈霸先。六月。陈霸先命平西将军周文育、平南将军侯安都等征讨王琳。侯安都至沌口（今武昌）与王琳对峙多日，侯安都军大败。陈霸先再派遣侯瑱、徐度进攻王琳，再派谢哲调解。八月，王琳退军湘州（今湖南长沙），陈霸先以大军进驻大雷（今安徽望江），同年十月，陈霸先因此功晋爵陈王。双方再度对峙，直到陈霸先病逝。

建立陈朝

梁太平二年（557年）梁敬帝萧方智禅位，陈霸先代梁称帝建立陈朝，史称南陈。陈朝疆域从江南到岭南数省。王琳也立永嘉王萧庄，称帝于荆州。陈永定三年（559年）六月十二日，生病。六月二十一日病逝。因唯一在世亲子陈昌被北周扣留，遗诏追兄子临川王陈蒨入纂。八月甲午，群臣上谥号曰武皇帝，庙号高祖。丙申，葬万安陵（在今南京市江宁区）。隋灭陈后，王僧辩之子王颁是隋军大将，为报父仇，掘陈霸先之墓，挖出骨骸，焚化成灰水喝进肚里。

评价

在位仅二年，是魏晋南北朝时期中属于南朝方面十分难得的英明君主，其个性节俭朴素，「常膳不过数品，私宴用瓦器、蚌盘，肴核充事而已；后宫无金翠之饰，不设女乐」。在政治上宽政廉平，爱育为本，恒崇宽政，不行株连，怀柔攻心，诚贯天下。疆域有江南，岭南，交州数个省。在经济上，稳定保持了江南的发展。

• 南陈的吏部尚书姚察在陈亡被俘到隋朝后，为隋文帝撰写陈朝历史，仍认为陈霸先「英略大度，应变无方，」与汉高祖刘邦、魏武帝曹操一样同属伟人（《陈书》卷一：英略大度，应变无方，盖汉高、魏武之亚矣）。

• 唐散骑常侍姚思廉（557年－637年），字简之，自幼习史，父亲是南陈的末任吏部尚书姚察。姚思廉曾任隋朝代王杨侑侍读。唐朝李渊称帝后，为李世民秦王府文学馆学士。自玄武门之变，进任太子洗马。贞观初年，又任著作郎，「十八学士」之一。官至散骑常侍，受命与魏徵同修梁陈二史。贞观十年（636年），成《梁书》（50卷）《陈书》（30卷），为二十四史之一。他评价陈霸先「智以绥物、武以宁乱、英谋独运、人皆莫及」。

• 唐郑国文贞公魏徵（580年－643年2月11日），字玄成，唐朝贞观时谏臣，曾是《隋书》、《周书》、《北齐书》、《梁书》、《陈书》五部史书的总监修官。魏徵认为陈霸先效命旧王朝，立下丰功伟绩，功勋不下曹操、刘裕；三分天下，能够「决机百胜」，雄豪无愧刘备、孙权（高祖拔起垄亩，有雄桀之姿。始佐下藩，奋英奇之略。魏王之延汉鼎祚，宋武之反晋乘舆，懋绩鸿勋，无以尚也。决机百胜，成此三分，方诸鼎峙之雄，足以无惭权、备矣）。

• 唐朝大史学家李延寿评价：用「雄武英略」、「性甚仁爱」、「恒崇宽简」、「弥厉恭俭」 来称赞陈霸先一生。

• 北宋《资治通鉴》编撰者司马光用「临戎制胜，英谋独运」、「为政务崇宽简」、「性俭素」等语言分别概括了陈霸先治军、从政、为人的鲜明个性。

• 明朝南京太仆寺丞归有光评价：恭俭勤劳，志度弘远，江左诸帝，号为最贤。赫然陈祖，大业光灿。寂寞沛乡，吾兹感叹。

• 中国共产党中央委员会主席毛泽东说他欣赏的是陈霸先南征北战所使用的战术。毛泽东在晚年时曾要求人们读读《陈书》，了解陈霸先的身世经历。

• 中华民国作者柏杨在他的一本名为《中国人史纲》的出版品中评道：「陈帝国是南北朝唯一没有出过暴君的政权。」

圣井铭并叙碑

隆庆元年（1567年），长兴县令归有光撰写《圣井铭并叙碑》，由县丞吴承恩亲笔书写，刻石立碑，原置于陈霸先出生地圣井旁，现藏于长兴博物馆。

家族

父亲

• 陈文赞，追尊为太祖景皇帝

母亲

• 董氏，安皇后，陈文赞之妻，陈武帝之母

皇后

• 昭皇后钱氏。

• 宣皇后章氏，名章要儿。

亲生子女

• 陈克，孝怀太子，昭皇后之子，早夭

• 陈立，豫章献王，早夭

• 陈权，长沙思王，早夭

• 陈昌，衡阳献王，宣皇后之子

• 永世公主

• 会稽穆公主

嗣子

• 陈文帝陈蒨