Early life

Liu Yu was born in 363, to his father Liu Qiao and mother Zhao Anzong, while they were living at Jingkou (京口, in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu). His great grandfather Liu Hun was originally from Pengcheng (彭城, in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), before moving to Jingkou. Liu Qiao was said to be a 20th generation descendant of Han Dynasty's Prince of Chu, Liu Jiao, a younger brother of Han's founder Emperor Gaozu of Han. Liu Qiao was a police officer, while Zhao Anzong was the daughter of a commandery governor. They had married in 360, and lived in fair poverty. Lady Zhao died immediately after giving birth to Liu Yu, and Liu Qiao, unable to take care of the child financially or otherwise, considered abandoning the child. Upon hearing this, Liu Yu's aunt, who had given birth to his cousin Liu Huaijing less than a year ago, went to Liu Qiao's house and took Liu Yu, weaning Liu Huaijing and giving her milk to Liu Yu instead. At some point, Liu Qiao remarried, and his new wife Xiao Wenshou bore him two sons, Liu Daolian and Liu Daogui. Liu Yu was said to be respectful to his stepmother and treated her as his own mother.

It is not known when Liu Qiao died, but in any case, Liu Yu grew up with great ambitions and was said to be strong and brave, but he was poor and uneducated, knowing only a few characters. He maintained himself by selling straw sandals, and he liked gambling. The people in his village all looked down on him. At some point, he became an officer under the general Sun Wuzhong.

When the magician Sun En rebelled against Jin rule in 399, Liu Yu joined the army of the general Liu Laozhi, and he became friends with Liu Laozhi's son Liu Jingxuan. On one occasion, he led some tens of soldiers on a scouting mission, when they suddenly encountered several thousand of Sun's soldiers. All of Liu Yu's soldiers were killed, and Liu Yu fell onto a riverbank, but he stood his position there and killed all of Sun's soldiers who dared to approach. Liu Jingxuan, meanwhile, realizing that Liu Yu had been away from camp for too long, went to try to find him, and saw him alone chasing and dispersing thousands of Sun's soldiers. He greatly praised Liu Yu.

Both because of his bravery and his friendship with Liu Jingxuan, Liu Yu rose through the ranks of Liu Laozhi's army. Liu Laozhi, at the time, was a powerful warlord who controlled modern Jiangsu and Zhejiang except for the region around the capital Jiankang. In 401, with Sun En, who had fled to Zhoushan Island in late 399, trying to launch a comeback and attacking Haiyan (海盐, in modern Jiaxing, Zhejiang), Liu Yu fought him, winning several victories over him despite being outnumbered. However, eventually Sun En was able to regroup and head toward Jiankang, which he could not capture and was forced to withdraw from. He regrouped on a sea island. By imperial edict (probably at Liu Laozhi's wishes), Liu Yu was made the governor of Xiapei Commandery (下邳, roughly modern eastern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), and he was ordered to attack Sun En on his island. This allowed Liu Yu to win victories over Sun En. Sun En began to grow weaker and headed south on the coast, with Liu Yu following. In winter 401, Liu Yu defeated Sun En again at Haiyan, forcing Sun to flee far from the coast.

In 402, as the regent Sima Yuanxian and the warlord Huan Xuan prepared for battle, Sima Yuanxian believed that he had Liu Laozhi's support, and Liu Laozhi postured in support of Sima Yuanxian by bringing his forces to Jiankang. However, when Liu Yu requested to engage Huan Xuan, Liu Laozhi refused to give permission. Huan Xuan then sent messengers to try to persuade Liu Laozhi to switch sides, despite the oppositions of his nephew He Wuji (何无忌) and Liu Jingxuan, as well as Liu Yu. Without support from Liu Laozhi, Sima Yuanxian's forces collapsed in response to Huan Xuan's attack, and Sima Yuanxian and his father Sima Daozi were killed by Huan Xuan. Huan Xuan, who did not trust Liu Laozhi, immediately stripped Liu Laozhi of his military command, and Liu Laozhi, upon receiving the order, considered resisting it. He requested Liu Yu's opinion, and Liu Yu found the idea foolish, left Liu Laozhi's army, and returned to Jingkou as a civilian; He Wuji joined him as well. With the rest of the army not willing to go with his plan either, Liu Laozhi committed suicide, and Liu Jingxuan fled to Later Qin and then to Southern Yan.

By summer 402, however, Liu Yu was again in the army, and by 403 he carried a general's rank, when Sun En's nephew Lu Xun (卢循), who had succeeded him after his death in battle in 401, attacked Dongyang (东阳, in modern Jinhua, Zhejiang), and Liu Yu repelled Lu's attack. He then counterattacked and won several battles over Lu, forcing Lu to head south on the sea. At this time, He Wuji tried to persuade him to declare a rebellion at Shanyin (山阴, in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang) against Huan Xuan, but at the advice of Kong Jing (孔靖), he declined at this time, waiting for Huan Xuan to seize the throne so that he would have a reason. When Huan Xuan's cousin Huan Qian (桓谦) asked Liu Yu's opinion about whether Huan Xuan should receive the throne, Liu Yu pretended to be a Huan clan loyalist and encouraged Huan Xuan to receive the throne. In winter 403, Huan Xuan forced Emperor An of Jin to yield the throne to him, establishing the new state of Chu. Liu Yu initially continued to feign loyalty, and Huan Xuan, believing in him and his talents, considered giving him greater authorities, despite counsel from his wife Empress Liu that Liu Yu could not be trusted and should be executed.

Campaign against Huan Xuan

Meanwhile, Liu Yu and He Wuji, now at Jingkou, continued their planning to rebel against Huan Xuan now that Huan Xuan had seized the throne. They were soon joined in their plans by Liu Yi and Meng Chang (孟昶), and soon a number of other disaffected individuals joined their plan, with Liu Yu as the leader. Their plan was to simultaneously start several uprisings:

• Liu Yi, Liu Yu's brother Liu Daogui, and Meng would surprise and kill Huan Xuan's cousin Huan Hong (桓弘), then the governor of Qing Province (青州, then with its headquarters at Guangling (广陵, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu)), and seize Guangling.

• Zhuge Zhangmin (诸葛长民) would surprise and kill Diao Kui (刁逵), the governor of Yu Province (豫州, then modern central Anhui) and seize Liyang (历阳, in modern Chaohu, Anhui).

• Wang Yuande (王元德), Xin Huxing (辛扈兴), and Dong Houzhi (董厚之) would rise in Jiankang and attack Huan Xuan directly.

• Liu Yu, He Wuji, and the other conspirators would surprise and kill Huan Xuan's cousin Huan Xiu (桓修) the Prince of Ancheng, then the governor of Xu (徐州) and Yan (兖州) Provinces, then with their headquarters at Jingkou, and seize Jingkou.

The conspirators put their plans into action. Liu Yu and He Wuji were able to surprise Huan Xiu and seize Jingkou, and Liu Yu then persuaded the capable administrator and writer Liu Muzhi to join him as his propaganda specialist and assistant. Liu Yi, Liu Daogui, and Meng Chang persuaded Huan Hong to go on a hunt, and as Huan Hong opened the city gates to let his hunters out, they surprised him and killed him. However, Zhuge Zhangmin's plans were leaked, as were those of the conspirators at Jiankang. All were arrested, and the conspirators at Jiankang were executed. (Zhuge Zhangmin was subsequently rescued before he could be executed.)

Liu Yu quickly headed for Jiankang, and Huan Xuan, hesitant to engage him directly, waited at Jiankang, trying to see if he could wear Liu Yu down, although, at Huan Qian's insistence, he sent a detachment to try to stop Liu Yu. However, Liu Yu quickly defeated Huan Xuan's generals Wu Fuzhi and Huangfu Fu (皇甫敷) and arrived at Jiankang. He then defeated Huan Qian, and Huan Xuan, in panic, fled west, intending to go back to his power base at Jiangling (江陵, in modern Jingzhou, Hubei). Liu Yu entered Jiankang and declared the reestablishment of Jin, even though at this time Emperor An and his brother Sima Dewen were both still in Huan Xuan's control. Liu Yu entrusted most administrative matters to Liu Muzhi while dealing severe punishment to corrupt officials and those who had supported Huan Xuan, and quickly the government was cleaned up. (The only Huan Xuan supporter who was spared was Huan Xuan's prime minister Wang Mi (王谧), who, when Liu Yu was poor, had helped him and paid off his gambling debts, and therefore Liu Yu not only spared but entrusted him with high posts.) Liu Yu, however, prepared for the contingency that Emperor An would not be recovered by making Sima Zun the Prince of Wuling (a grandson of Emperor An's great-grandfather Emperor Yuan) acting emperor.

Liu Yu sent Liu Yi, He Wuji, and Liu Daogui west to attack Huan Xuan. They quickly defeated Huan Xuan's general He Danzhi (何澹之) and took Jiang Province (江州, modern Jiangxi and Fujian), and then continued to head toward Jiangling. They encountered Huan Xuan's much larger force at Chenghong Island (峥嵘洲), in modern Ezhou, Hubei), and despite the numerical disadvantage, they crushed Huan Xuan's forces. Huan Xuan fled back to Jiangling with Emperor An, while Huan Xuan's brother-in-law Yin Zhongwen (殷仲文) turned against him and took Emperor An's wife Empress Wang Shen'ai and Emperor Mu's wife Empress Dowager He to Jiankang.

Once Huan Xuan arrived back in Jiangling, he tried to prepare to flee to his distant relative, Huan Xi (桓希) the governor of Liang Province (梁州, modern southern Shaanxi and northwestern Hubei). His forces collapsed, however, refusing to follow his orders. At the inducement of his subordinate Mao Xiuzhi (毛修之), whose uncle Mao Qu (毛璩) was the governor of Yi Province (modern Sichuan and Chongqing), he decided to try to flee to Yi Province instead, but on the way, he was intercepted by Mao Qu's subordinates Mao Youzhi (毛佑之) and Fei Tian (费恬), who attacked him, and the officer Feng Qian beheaded him. The officials Wang Tengzhi (王腾之) and Wang Kangchan (王康产) then declared Emperor An's restoration at Jiangling.

However, with Liu Yi's forces still on the way to Jiangling, Huan Qian and Huan Xuan's nephew Huan Zhen (桓振) made a surprise attack on Jiangling, capturing it and seizing Emperor An and Sima Dewen. Huan Zhen and Huan Qian did not try to redeclare Chu; rather, they tried to hold Emperor An as collateral while trying to maintain their status as Jin officials. They initially defeated He Wuji's forces, but by 405, with the other members of the Huan clan (including Huan Xi and Huan Wei (桓蔚) the governor Yong Province (雍州, then southwestern Henan and northwestern Hubei) defeated, Jiangling fell to Liu Yi, and Huan Qian and Huan Zhen fled. He Wuji escorted Emperor An back to Jiankang, and Liu Yu effectively became regent, even though the government was at this point still a coalition of near equals.

As regent

Early years

Liu Yu, although he had ambitions to be emperor, learned from Huan Xuan's failures that he could not act too quickly, but must establish his authority through further victories first, particularly since because he led a coalition of generals and officials with different agendas in his victory over Huan. He therefore proceeded cautiously, initially sharing power with He Wuji and Liu Yi, among others. For the next few years, he also made several offers to resign his posts, judging correctly that the imperial officials would not dare to accept them, to further establish the image that he was indispensable.

In spring 405, Mao Qu's soldiers, unhappy that Mao sent them on long-distance campaigns initially against Huan Xuan and then against Huan Zhen, rebelled, supporting the military officer Qiao Zong as their leader. They defeated and killed Mao and captured Chengdu (成都, in modern Chengdu, Sichuan), and Qiao Zong established his independent Western Shu state there.

Also in 405, Lu Xun, who had in 404 marched south and captured Panyu (番禺, in modern Guangzhou, Guangdong) during the wars relating to Huan Xuan, offered peace to the imperial government by paying a tribute. Liu Yu, believing that he had no abilities to defeat Lu by this point, made Lu the governor of Guang Province (广州, modern Guangdong and Guangxi) and Lu's brother-in-law and lieutenant Xu Daofu (徐道覆) the governor of Shixing Principality (始兴, roughly modern Shaoguan, Guangdong).

In 407, Liu Yu commissioned his friend Liu Jingxuan to launch a major attack on Qiao Zong's Western Shu, but in 408, Liu Jingxuan's forces became stalled against the Western Shu general Qiao Daofu (谯道福) and was forced to retreat when food supplies ran out.

Campaigns against Southern Yan and Lu Xun

In 409, the Southern Yan emperor Murong Chao began a campaign of attacking and pillaging the Jin northern borders, intending to capture men and women to be trained as musicians. In response, Liu Yu decided to launch a campaign to destroy Southern Yan, over the objections of most imperial officials, but was supported by Meng Chang. While Liu Yu was quickly able to defeat Southern Yan's main forces at the Battle of Linqu in late 409 and put the Southern Yan capital Guanggu (广固, in modern Qingzhou, Shandong) under siege, Guanggu did not fall quickly. While Liu Yu was besieging Guanggu, Xu Daofu persuaded a reluctant Lu Xun (who was afraid of a confrontation with Liu Yu) to attack north, reasoning that eventually when Liu Yu was ready, Liu Yu would attack first, and that with Liu Yu besieging Guanggu, they could capture the rest of the empire together.

In spring 410, Liu Yu captured Guanggu, ending Southern Yan, and considered further readying a campaign against Later Qin, but was informed that Lu and Xu were attacking north, and therefore quickly returned south towards Jiankang. Meanwhile, He Wuji led a fleet against Xu at Yuzhang (豫章, in modern Nanchang, Jiangxi), but was defeated and killed by Xu. A second force commanded by Liu Yi was also defeated by Xu and Lu. However, Liu Yi's captured soldiers informed Lu that Liu Yu was on his way back to Jiankang, and Lu, intimidated, considered ending his campaign, but continued to Jiankang at Xu's insistence. A number of imperial officials, including Meng, suggested that Emperor An be taken across the Yangtze River to evade Lu's forces, but Liu Yu refused, choosing to defend Jiankang.

Once at Jiankang, Lu refused several strategies that Xu offered that were risky but offered chances of success, instead trying to intimidate Liu Yu's forces into collapsing, which he could not do. Soon he ran out of food supplies and withdrew to Xunyang (寻阳, in modern Jiujiang, Jiangxi). Liu Yu gave chase, but also ordered his generals Sun Chu and Shen Tianzi (沈田子) to take a fleet by sea to attack Panyu, fully confident that he can defeat Lu and make it impossible for Lu to then retreat to his home base. Meanwhile, Xu attacked Jing Province (荆州, modern Hubei and Hunan), but was defeated by Liu Daogui, and rejoined Lu, preparing for a confrontation with Liu Yu. Around the new year 411, they engaged Liu Yu at Dalei (大雷, in modern Anqing, Anhui), but Liu Yu destroyed their fleet with fire. Lu and Xu fled toward Panyu, which had however been captured by Sun at this point. Lu put Panyu under siege, but Shen, who was then trying to capture other commanderies, returned to Panyu and defeated Lu along with Sun. Lu fled toward Jiao Province (交州, modern northern Vietnam) where he was defeated by the governor, Du Huidu (杜慧度). Lu then killed his wife and concubines and committed suicide by jumping into a river.

Campaigns against Western Shu and Later Qin

With the state having been stabilized after Lu Xun's destruction, Liu Yu again turned his attention outward, hoping to use military victories to propel himself into sufficiently high public standing that he can take the throne for himself. At the same time, however, he began to remove members of his coalition who stood or might stand in his way. In 412, believing that Liu Yi, then governor of Jing Province, was about to act against him along with Liu Yi's cousin Liu Fan the governor of Yan Province, he arrested Liu Fan and his friend Xie Hun, and then made a surprise attack against Liu Yi, defeating Liu Yi's forces easily. Liu Yi was killed in flight. In 413, Liu Yu also surprised and killed Zhuge Zhangmin, whom he suspected of considering to act against him when he was away from Jiankang attacking Liu Yi.

Meanwhile, in late 412, Liu Yu commissioned the general Zhu Lingshi (朱龄石) to attack Qiao Zong's Western Shu, secretly instructing him to take the long route to Qiao Zong's capital Chengdu by Min River (岷江), rather than the short route by Fu River (涪江). Zhu's forces were able to surprise Qiao Zong's main general Qiao Daofu and Qiao Zong himself, capturing Chengdu in 413 and annexing Western Shu back into Jin.

In 414, Liu Yu began to suspect Liu Yi's replacement as the governor of Jing Province, Sima Xiuzhi, who was a member of the imperial clan and whose son Sima Wensi had been created the Prince of Qiao and had gathered many adventurers around him. In spring 414, Liu Yu had Sima Wensi's confederates arrested and executed, while delivering Sima Wensi to Sima Xiuzhi, intending for Sima Xiuzhi to show submission by executing Sima Wensi himself. Instead, Sima Xiuzhi only requested that Sima Wensi's princely title be stripped. In spring 415, Liu Yu arrested another son of Sima Xiuzhi, Sima Wenbao, and Sima Xiuzhi's nephew Sima Wenzu, ordering the two to commit suicide, and then launched an attack on Sima Xiuzhi, who was joined by Lu Zongzhi (鲁宗之) the governor of Yong Province. Initially, Sima Xiuzhi and Lu Zongzhi enjoyed some successes, defeating Liu Yu's son-in-law Xu Kuizhi (徐逵之), but after Liu Yu himself arrived, he defeated Sima Xiuzhi's forces, capturing Jiangling and forcing Sima Xiuzhi and Lu Zongzhi to flee to Later Qin. Liu Yu now no longer had significant opposition in Jin.

In 416, Liu Yu launched a major attack against Later Qin, in light of the recent death of the Later Qin emperor Yao Xing, entrusting the capital to his assistant Liu Muzhi, with his teenage heir apparent Liu Yifu being nominally in charge. In winter 416, the important city Luoyang fell to Liu Yu's general Tan Daoji (檀道济). In light of Luoyang's fall, Liu Yu had Emperor An create him Duke of Song and bestow him the nine bestowments, showing his intentions to take the throne eventually, although he declined both honors at that point.

In spring 417, Tan Daoji and another general, Shen Linzi (沈林子), engaged in a major campaign with Later Qin's most prominent general, Yao Shao (姚绍) the Duke of Lu, the uncle of the emperor Yao Hong. After a month of battles, Yao Shao was defeated, and he died in anger. With Yao Shao dead, the other Later Qin generals could not resist Jin forces. Liu Yu's fleet, commanded by Wang Zhen'e (王镇恶, Wang Meng's grandson), advanced quickly, while Yao Hong tried to first destroy Liu Yu's flank forces, commanded by Shen Linzi's brother Shen Tianzi. Despite Yao Hong's large advantage in numbers, Shen Tianzi crushed him, forcing him to flee back to his capital Chang'an. Wang Zhen'e's fleet then arrived and defeated Later Qin's final resistance, entering Chang'an. Yao Hong surrendered, and Liu Yu had him delivered to Jiankang and executed, ending Later Qin.

Steps toward usurpation

With Later Qin destroyed, there was an expectation that Liu Yu would next advance northwest and either destroy or force the subjugation of the several states in the northwest still -- Xia, Western Qin, Northern Liang, and Western Liang. Indeed, at this point, Western Qin's prince Qifu Chipan, Northern Liang's prince Juqu Mengxun, and Western Liang's prince Li Gao were all sufficiently intimidated that they nominally submitted to Jin's authority. However, Liu Muzhi then died at this time, and Liu Yu, intending on taking the throne, decided to return to Jiankang himself, leaving his 11-year-old son Liu Yizhen and the generals Wang Zhen'e, Shen Tianzi, Mao Dezu (毛德祖), and the official Wang Xiu (王修) in charge of Chang'an.

With Liu Yu having left Chang'an, Xia's emperor Helian Bobo was intent on taking Chang'an himself. He had his sons Helian Gui (赫连璝) and Helian Chang, along with his general Wang Maide (王买德), make a three-pronged advance toward Chang'an while cutting off the supply route between Luoyang and Chang'an. Meanwhile, with Wang Zhen'e and Shen Tianzi being previously envious of each other, Shen Tianzi suspected Wang Zhen'e of being ready to rebel, and so killed him. Wang Xiu then executed Shen Tianzi, but then Liu Yizhen believed the accusations that Wang Zhen'e was in fact about to rebel and that Wang Xiu was ready to as well, and so executed Wang Xiu. Once Wang Xiu was executed, Liu Yizhen himself was without supervision, and he, in fear of Xia forces, withdrew all of his forces inside Chang'an, and Xia forces then besieged the city. Liu Yu, hearing this, sent Zhu Lingshi to replace Liu Yizhen and ordered Liu Yizhen to withdraw. Liu Yizhen's forces, however, having pillaged Chang'an, could not withdraw quickly, and they were crushed by Xia forces at Qingni (青泥, in modern Xi'an, Shaanxi), with nearly the entire army killed or captured. Liu Yizhen barely escaped with his life, and the Chang'an region became Xia possession, although Jin retained the Luoyang region. Liu Yu, initially not knowing whether Liu Yizhen had survived, prepare a campaign to attack Xia, but once he heard of Liu Yizhen's survival, he stopped those plans. He continued to bestow great power (even if at times nominal) in his brother Liu Daolian and in his sons, in order to try to further affirm his authority.

Meanwhile, Liu Yu, having accepted the title Duke of Song and the nine bestowments in summer 418, had Emperor An create him the Prince of Song, but then publicly declined the title. Meanwhile, he became convinced of the truth of a prophecy that stated, "There will be two more emperors after Changming." (Changming, which meant "dawn," was the courtesy name of Emperor An's father Emperor Xiaowu.) He therefore became resolved to kill Emperor An, and he tried several times to have Emperor An's servants poison him, but because Emperor An's brother Sima Dewen continuously attended to him, the servants had no chance to poison him. However, around the new year 419, Sima Dewen was himself ill and had to be at his house. Liu Yu's assassin Wang Shaozhi (王韶之) then took the opportunity to kill Emperor An—according to Zizhi Tongjian, by twisting clothes into a rope and then using it to strangle Emperor An. Liu Yu then made Sima Dewen emperor (as Emperor Gong).

Emperor Gong's reign was brief and powerless. In fall 419, Liu Yu accepted the title Prince of Song. In spring 420, Liu Yu, then at Shouyang (寿阳, in modern Lu'an, Anhui) sent his assistant Fu Liang to Jiankang to pressure Emperor Gong to yield the throne. Emperor Gong responded by summoning Liu Yu back to the capital in summer 419, and Fu then offered him a draft of an abdication edict, requesting that he write it personally. Sima Dewen did so, and then left the palace and went to his old house while he was Prince of Langya. Three days later, Liu Yu took the throne and established Liu Song (as Emperor Wu), ending Jin.

Reign

Emperor Wu created the former Jin emperor the Prince of Lingling. He honored his stepmother Princess Dowager Xiao as empress dowager. He created his brother Liu Daolian, his sons, and his nephews princes. In fall 420, he posthumously honored his wife Zang Aiqin, who had died in 408, empress, and created his oldest son Liu Yifu crown prince. Also, having seen how much damage bad reputation can do to people first hand, he ordered that those who had been labeled undesirables by public opinion be allowed new chances to show their worth.

Soon, Emperor Wu, still believing Sima Dewen to be a threat, sent Sima Dewen's former attendant Zhang Wei a bottle of poisoned wine, ordering him to poison Sima Dewen. Zhang, not wanting to carry out the order, drank the wine himself and died. Meanwhile, however, in order to prevent any likelihood that Sima Dewen would have a male heir, Liu Yu ordered brothers of Sima Dewen's wife Princess Chu, Chu Xiuzhi (褚秀之) and Chu Danzhi (褚淡之,) to poison any male children that Princess Chu or Sima Dewen's concubines would bear. Sima Dewen himself feared death greatly, and he and Princess Chu remained in the same house, cooking their own meals, with Princess Chu paying for the material herself. Assassins that Emperor Wu sent initially could find no chance to kill the former emperor. In fall 421, Emperor Wu sent Chu Danzhi and his brother Chu Shudu (褚叔度) to visit their sister. As Princess Chu came out to meet her brothers in a different house, soldiers that Liu Yu sent intruded into Sima Dewen's house and ordered Sima Dewen to take poison. He refused, stating that Buddhism prohibited suicide and that those who committed suicide could not receive human bodies in their next rebirths. The assassins therefore used a blanket to cover his head and asphyxiated him.

In 422, having been warned by his official Xie Hui that Crown Prince Yifu was often spending his time with people lacking in wisdom, Emperor Wu considered making Liu Yizhen the Prince of Luling crown prince instead. Xie, however, after meeting with Liu Yizhen, had an even worse opinion of Liu Yizhen, and so Emperor Wu stopped considering so.

In summer 422, Emperor Wu became extremely ill, and he entrusted Crown Prince Yifu to Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, Xie Hui, and Tan Daoji. He then died, and Liu Yifu took the throne as Emperor Shao.

Tomb

Liu Yu was buried in the Chuning Tomb (初宁陵, Chuning Ling), which is located in what is Jiangning District, in the eastern suburbs of the present-day Nanjing. The only surviving statues of his spirit way are two qilin, facing each other across the street in the appropriately named Qilinpu Cun ("Qiling Place Village") of the Qilin Town.

Legacy

Liu Yu is mostly remembered as one of greatest generals of the Northern and Southern dynasties. Under him, the Southern Chinese empire came the closest to reconquering the North. Although the territory which he won in the Northwest was quickly lost, his campaigns allowed the Southern dynasties the advantage of defending along the Yellow River, and preserved an independent Southern Chinese state long enough for the Xianbei states in the North to be assimilated.

Era name

• Yongchu (永初 yǒng chū) 420–422

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Wujing, of the Zang clan of Dongguan (武敬皇后 东莞臧氏; 360–408), personal name Aiqin (爱亲)

　• Princess Kuaijixuan (会稽宣公主; 383–444), personal name Xingdi (兴弟), first daughter

　　• Married Xu Kuizhi of Donghai (东海 徐逵之; d. 415), and had issue (two sons)

• Empress Dowager, of the Zhang clan (皇太后 张氏; d. 426), personal name Que (阙)

　• Liu Yifu, Prince Yingyang (营阳王 刘义符; 406–424), first son

　• Princess Yixinggong (义兴恭公主), personal name Huiyuan (惠媛)

• Empress Dowager Zhang, of the Hu clan (章皇太后 胡氏; 368–409), personal name Dao'an (道安)

　• Liu Yilong, Emperor Wen (文皇帝 刘义隆; 407–453), third son

• Xiuyi, of the Fu clan (修仪 符氏)

　• Princess Guangde (广德公主), third daughter

• Xiuhua, of the Sun clan (修华 孙氏)

　• Liu Yizhen, Prince Luling Xiaoxian (庐陵孝献王 刘义真; 407–424), second son

• Xiurong, of the Wang clan (修容 王氏; d. 432)

　• Liu Yikang, Prince Pengcheng (彭城王 刘义康; 409–451), fourth son

• Meiren, of the Yuan clan (美人 袁氏)

　• Liu Yigong, Prince Jiangxia Wenxian (江夏文献王 刘义恭; 413–465), fifth son

• Meiren, of the Sun clan (美人 孙氏)

　• Liu Yixuan, Prince Nan (南王 刘义宣; 415–454), sixth son

• Meiren, of the Lü clan (美人 吕氏)

　• Liu Yiji, Prince Hengyangwen (衡阳文王 刘义季; 415–447), seventh son

• Unknown

　• Princess Wuxingzhao (吴兴昭公主), personal name Rongnan (荣男), second daughter

　　• Married Wang Yan of Langya (琊琅 王偃; 403–456), and had issue (four sons, two daughters including Empress Wenmu)

　• Princess Xuancheng (宣城公主)

　　• Married Zhou Jiao (周峤)

　• Princess Xin'an (新安公主)

　　• Married Wang Jingshen (王景深)

　• Princess Wuxuan (吴宣公主)

　　• Married Chu Zhanzhi (褚湛之), and had issue (one son)

　• Princess Fuyang (富阳公主)

　　• Married Xu Qiaozhi (徐乔之)

　• Princess Shi'an'ai (始安哀公主)

　　• Married Chu Zhanzhi (褚湛之)

　• Princess Yuzhangkang (豫章康公主; 410–464), personal name Xinnan (欣男)

　　• Married Xu Qiaozhi (徐乔之)

　　• Married He Yu of Lujiang (庐江 何瑀; d. 449), and had issue (one son, one daughter)

Ancestry

生平

早年生活

刘裕家族在早年随晋室南渡，长居京口（今江苏镇江市），《宋书》说他是汉高祖刘邦的弟弟楚王刘交第二十一世孙。《魏书》则猜测其祖先可能姓项。刘裕于兴宁元年三月壬寅日（363年4月16日）出生，其时家境贫苦，母亲更因分娩后疾病去世，父亲刘翘无力请乳母给刘裕哺乳，一度打算抛弃他，只因刘怀敬之母伸出援手，养育刘裕，才得以活下来。刘裕长大后，「雄杰有大度」，身高七尺六寸，风骨奇伟，不拘小节。刘裕早年曾以卖鞋为生，但却又常赌博樗蒲，倾尽家财，遭乡里贱视，亦因不修品行而不为当世人们所赏识。不过，刘裕才能出众，且有大志，当时出身琅琊王氏的王谧就十分敬重他，更曾向他说：「你应当会成为一代英雄。」。

投戎建功

刘裕及后从军，最初就任北府军将领、冠军将军孙无终的司马。隆安三年（399年），孙恩起兵反抗晋朝，自海岛攻下会稽，三吴各郡皆响应他，孙恩之乱由而爆发。另一北府将领、前将军刘牢之率军镇压，当时他就请了刘裕参府军事。

当时刘裕奉命率数十人去侦察敌军，却遇上数千人的敌军并发生战斗，虽然所带的人大多战死了，但刘裕仍挥动长刀抵抗，杀伤多人。刘牢之子刘敬宣派兵搜寻刘裕，见刘裕独力抵抗，都赞叹刘裕的能力，并率军进攻，俘杀一千多人。不久诸军击败孙恩各军，又攻下会稽郡治所山阴（今浙江绍兴市），令孙恩退回海岛。

次年（400年）五月，孙恩再袭会稽，杀害驻镇会稽的谢琰，至十一月时刘牢之率军前往才击退孙恩。刘牢之及后命刘裕守句章（今浙江宁波市）。当时句章城小兵弱，而刘裕就常做好作战准备。翌年（401年）二月孙恩就率众自浃口（今浙江镇海）进攻句章，而刘裕就身先士卒，每战都摧其锋锐，致令孙恩无法攻下句章，反为刘牢之所败。三月，孙恩转战海盐（今浙江海盐县），刘裕跟随其进攻方向，于海盐筑城抵抗，又大败来攻的孙恩。

孙恩后循海路至丹徒（今江苏镇江市丹徒区），刘裕率不足千人的部队赶路，与孙恩同时赶至。当时刘裕军队疲累，丹徒守军亦无斗志，但面对孙恩来袭，刘裕仍能率众大败对方，逼其狼狈登船撤离岸上。孙恩不久转屯郁洲（今江苏灌云县东北），朝廷以刘裕为建武将军、下邳太守，讨伐孙恩，多次交战后大破对方，令其势力转弱而南撤。刘裕接著追击，又再败孙恩，令其再度逃到海岛。次年孙恩就被消灭。

建义讨桓

元兴元年（402年），骠骑大将军司马元显下令讨伐荆州刺史桓玄，并以刘牢之为前锋。桓玄率军兵临建康时，刘裕请求进攻，但刘牢之不肯，反而想叛归桓玄。刘裕当时与何无忌极力谏止但都无效，刘牢之终向桓玄请降，桓玄亦顺利消灭司马元显的势力，掌握朝政。

事后桓玄调刘牢之为会稽内史以削其军权，刘牢之图据广陵（今江苏扬州市）叛桓玄，但刘裕认为人心已去，事必不成而拒绝与刘牢之合作，最终刘牢之因失去僚属的支持而自杀。桓修后以刘裕为其中兵参军，并于同年参与讨伐统领孙恩馀党的卢循、徐道覆。当时桓玄诛杀了多名北府旧将，但刘裕仍领兵讨伐卢循部众，更获加任彭城内史。及至桓玄篡位后次年（404年），刘裕跟从桓修入朝建康，桓玄亦十分赏识他，出游都殷勤接引，赏赐亦甚为丰厚。当时桓玄皇后刘氏就劝桓玄除去刘裕，但桓玄仍图藉助刘裕攻略中原，拒绝加害。

早在刘牢之失败之时，刘裕就向何无忌说：「桓玄若果守著臣子的忠节，就应与你辅助他；否则，就要与你对付他。」及至刘裕入朝后回到京口，就与何无忌、刘毅、孟昶、诸葛长民、王元德等人合谋举兵讨伐桓玄，并准备在京口、广陵、历阳（今安徽和县）及建康（今江苏南京市）四地同时起兵。元兴三年二月乙卯（404年3月24日），刘裕托词游猎而外出募众，终得百多人。次日（3月25日）早上起兵，何无忌杀桓修，当时桓修司马刁弘率众前来，刘裕则假称江州刺史郭昶之已在寻阳（今江西九江市）迎晋安帝复位，桓玄更已被处决，自己只是奉密诏诛除桓氏叛党。刁弘信以为真，刘裕不久就诛除刁弘，控制了京口。同时孟昶等亦成功控制了广陵，并率众至京口与刘裕会合，刘裕获众人推举为盟主，总督徐州事，并于次日（3月26日）起兵进攻建康。

桓玄先派吴甫之及皇甫敷抵抗刘裕，刘裕先于江乘（今江苏句容北）杀吴甫之，至江乘以南的罗落桥时奋力作战，又杀皇甫敷，继续进攻。三月己未日（3月28日），刘裕进攻覆舟山，并命弱兵登山，持著旗帜分道而行，营造四周皆有士兵，数量很多的假象；而又因桓玄守军大多是北府军出身，面对刘裕都没有斗志，刘裕于是与诸军进攻，顺利以火攻击溃桓玄守军，而桓玄亦弃城西逃。

刘裕于三月壬戌日（3月31日）获王谧等人推举为使持节、都督扬兖豫青冀幽并八州诸军事、镇军将军，徐州刺史。不久，刘裕奉武陵王司马遵承制总百官行事。刘裕在进建康城后派诸将追击桓玄，终于当年六月诛杀了桓玄，并让在江陵（今湖北江陵）的晋安帝复位。然而，桓氏势力仍在荆州盘据，并反攻江陵，直至义熙元年（405年）才再收复江陵，驱逐当地桓氏势力，并自江陵迎晋安帝回建康，不久刘裕就还镇丹徒。

义熙二年（406年），刘裕因功受封为豫章郡公。义熙四年正月（408年），因上年年末扬州刺史、录尚书事王谧去世，刘裕听从刘穆之的劝言入朝议继任人选，终获授侍中、车骑将军、开府仪同三司、扬州刺史、录尚书事、徐兖二州刺史，入掌朝政大权。

平定卢循

卢循、徐道覆趁刘裕领兵在外，于义熙六年（410年）起兵，进攻江州。当时朝廷急徵刘裕，而当时刘裕刚灭南燕，收到诏书就撤还建康。刘裕至山阳（今江苏淮安市）时知江州刺史何无忌已战死，于是加速回防建康，并于四月赶至。五月，豫州刺史刘毅大败给卢循，卢循继续东下，而刘裕当时就招募兵众，修治石头城并于当地聚兵。不过，由于刘裕急急南返，士卒多有伤病，而建康兵力亦不过千人，面对有十多万人的卢循大军显得实力悬殊，然而刘裕坚决不肯接受诸葛长民及孟昶奉安帝北归广陵避敌的建议，决意死战。

卢循军到后停驻蔡洲（今江苏江宁县西南江中），刘裕就以木栅阻断石头城及淮口，修治越城（今江宁县南）并建查浦、药园、廷尉三个堡垒，分兵戍守以御卢循，卢循曾分疑兵进攻白石及查浦，自率大军进攻丹阳郡，但都没有取胜，而且在各县中都无法抢掠到物资，被逼于七月退兵江州。同年十月，刘裕率刘藩、檀韶、刘敬宣等人进攻卢循，并于十二月以火攻击败卢循船队。卢循败后试图于左里（今鄱阳湖口）挡住刘裕，但刘裕率军奋战，卢循军无法阻挡而大败，卢循因而南逃广州。刘裕早于卢循撤出蔡洲后就已派了孙处及沈田子经海路攻占了卢循根据地番禺，卢循败逃广州后于义熙七年（411年）又于广州败于沈田子等人，终在交州被刺史杜慧度所杀。

诛除异己

刘裕于义熙七年（411年）班师回到建康，并受太尉、中书监职位。次年（412年）四月，刘裕以刘毅为荆州刺史。刘毅自以能力不亚于刘裕，甚不服在刘裕以下，他亦得朝中有名望人士归心交结，故此迁镇荆州时就将大部分豫州府属及江州万多人的军队都带去荆州，到任后又重新调度荆州郡县首长，更以患病为由请堂弟刘藩去做他副手。刘裕知其有异心，于是假意答允其请求，但就乘刘藩自兖州治所广陵入朝时就指称他与谢混图谋不轨，将二人赐死，接著就率军自建康出发讨伐刘毅。刘裕派王镇恶为前锋，沿路声言是刘藩前来去骗倒各戍和民众，直至江陵城外五六里时才被发现，但已赶及在刘毅关闭城门前率兵入城，并在城内作战。城中民众知刘裕在率军前来都十分惊恐，刘毅不敌王镇恶，唯有出逃，并于牛牧寺自杀。刘裕随后来到江陵，诛杀了刘毅亲信郗僧施，消灭了刘毅势力。

刘裕征刘毅时以诸葛长民留守府事，但诸葛长民见刘毅败死，自己亦深感不安，更意图作乱，刘裕回建康时故意拖慢进度，让等待迎接他的诸葛长民及其他官员接连几日都等不到刘裕。刘裕却乘轻舟快快进城，进入了官邸东府。诸葛长民知道刘裕突然回来了，于是拜访，刘裕暗中命壮士丁旿埋伏，故意和诸葛长民闲话家常，乘诸葛长民警觉性下降时命丁旿将其杀死，接著又诛杀了长民弟诸葛黎民等人。刘裕接著就加镇西将军、豫州刺史，接掌诸葛长民的原职。清除京口武将中的异己势力之后，刘裕在412年底发动晋灭谯蜀之战，隔年（413年）西征主将朱龄石成功灭谯蜀，使刘裕加授羽葆、鼓吹及班剑二十人。

412年征讨刘毅时，刘裕以晋宗室司马休之接任荆州刺史。司马休之颇得当地人心，刘裕怀疑他别有用心想自立；在义熙十年（414年），其子司马文思又在建康招集轻侠，令刘裕十分厌恶，司马文思终因被揭发杀害官吏而被捕，刘裕诛杀其党众而免文思死，反送他到司马休之那里，要他亲自教诲他，实质就是要司马休之将其处死。然而，司马休之并没有杀文思，只是上表废掉文思的谯王爵位，并写信向刘裕道歉。这举动令刘裕对其大感不满，立刻就命江州刺史孟怀玉戒备，准备先下手为强。

义熙十一年（415年），刘裕杀了司马休之在建康的次子司马文宝及侄儿司马文祖，并出兵讨伐司马休之，自加黄钺，领荆州刺史。司马休之则上表刘裕罪状，派兵抵抗；当时雍州刺史鲁宗之自感不被刘裕所容，故与司马休之联结。刘裕前锋徐逵之初战败于鲁轨，众将除蒯恩外皆战死，刘裕大怒。然而当他到时，鲁轨及司马文思率军在悬岸峭壁上列阵，令刘裕难以登岸，胡藩当时就冒险攀登，司马文思等竟不能抵挡，刘裕就乘对方后撤的机会登岸进攻，终击溃司马休之的军队，攻下江陵，司马休之及鲁宗之北投后秦。

刘裕在消灭司马休之后获剑履上殿、入朝不趋、赞拜不名的崇礼，次年（416年）正月更获加领平北将军、兖州刺史、都督南秦州诸军事，至此其一人已经都督徐州、南徐、豫、南豫、兖、南兖、青、冀、幽、弁、司、郢、荆、江、湘、雍、梁、益、宁、交、广、南秦共二十二州。

两度北伐

在魏晋十六国时期，东晋虽偏安江南，却始终没有放弃收复中原等汉地北部地区，所以屡次发动北伐战争。后秦、南燕出于内乱而败亡；公元397年北魏军攻下中山，后燕官吏兵投降两万馀人，后燕的疆域被切断为南燕和北燕二部，405年南燕又发生政变；416年姚兴卒，后秦内乱不断，镇守蒲阪和岭北的姚懿、姚恢先后率叛军进攻长安。刘裕趁后秦、南燕内乱之际，乘机出兵，并一举攻灭。这次收复中原的版图之多，是东晋历次北伐中最成功、影响最深远的一次，也是以前的多次北伐都无法与之比拟的。

消灭南燕

义熙五年（409年），南燕皇帝慕容超因为缺乏太乐伎人，派兵侵略淮北的宿豫城（今江苏宿迁县东南），大掠民众北归。及后又派兵进攻淮北，掳去阳平和济南两郡太守，俘掳千多家。

刘裕因此上表北伐，并于同年四月出发。当时刘裕认为燕军短视，不会据守大岘山（今山东临朐县东南）天险并坚壁清野，只会进据临朐（今山东临朐县），退守都城广固（今山东青州市），而当时南燕军的行动亦果然如此。慕容超知晋军过了大岘山就亲自率军到临朐，刘裕前锋先于巨蔑水击退燕军，接著攻临朐城。晋燕两军于临朐以南作战，胡藩献计出奇兵突袭临朐城内，最终成功攻克，慕容超仓皇自城中逃至城南大军那里，而此时刘裕命军队进攻，大败燕军并斩杀其十多名大将，慕容超于是逃回广固。刘裕接著乘胜追击至广固，并成功攻克其外城。慕容超据守小城抵抗，刘裕就筑围围困广固。刘裕围城战争一直维持至次年二月才攻下广固，并俘杀慕容超，灭了南燕。

北伐关中

刘裕在当日平灭南燕后就已经有攻略后秦的打算，只因卢循作乱才逼令他班师建康，而刘裕在消灭了国内主要异己后，又再重拾昔日计划。刘裕在获加督至二十二州后月馀，又获加中外大都督，解徐兖二州刺史而改领司、豫二州刺史，并奉琅琊王司马德文北伐，打著晋朝皇室旗号安抚北方汉人。至五月又加北雍州刺史。终在八月，刘裕正式自建康出兵，进军至彭城（今江苏徐州市）后又加北徐州刺史。十月，刘裕所派的檀道济等进攻洛阳（今河南洛阳市），守将姚洸出降，成功收复洛阳。

次年（417年）正月，刘裕自彭城率水军西进，进入黄河。刘裕一直进军至潼关，命王镇恶率军经渭河进攻后秦都城长安（今陕西西安市），王镇恶于渭桥大败姚丕，姚泓所率的军队亦因遭姚丕败兵践踏而溃乱，最终姚泓于八月出降，后秦灭亡。刘裕于次月到达长安，大赏将士并诛杀归降的后秦宗室姚璞、姚赞及其百多名宗族。

同年十一月，留守建康的刘穆之去世，当时刘裕还想以长安做基地进攻西北北凉等国，只是诸将都思乡，大多都不想留下；刘裕向来倚重的刘穆之去世更令他觉得建康根本之地已空虚无靠，于是下了决心班师东归。刘裕于是留了当时仅得十一岁的次子刘义真镇守长安，并留下王镇恶、王修、沈田子、毛德祖等将领协助他。当地人民知道刘裕要走都向他哭诉，希望他回心转意，然而刘裕去意已决，还是在当年十二月出发离开。

然而，刘裕走后次年，诸将内讧，沈田子杀王镇恶，王修杀沈田子，而刘义真又在诸将唆摆下命人杀害王修，于是关中大乱，夏国乘机进攻关中，刘裕唯有召还刘义真，派朱龄石等代镇长安，更指令若关中不能守下去就可放弃。最终晋军还是撤出长安，关中地区遭夏国占领。

篡晋建宋

义熙十四年（418年），刘裕接受相国、总百揆、扬州牧的官职，以十郡建「宋国」，受封为宋公，并接受九锡的特殊礼待。同年，刘裕命令中书侍郎王韶之与晋安帝左右侍从密谋以毒酒毒杀安帝，王韶之于是乘司马德文因病出宫的机会下手，缢杀安帝。当时刘裕因为相信预言书说：「昌明（晋孝武帝）之后尚有二帝」，于是声称依照遗诏，立了司马德文为皇帝，即晋恭帝。

元熙元年（419年），刘裕进爵为宋王，又加十郡增益宋国，令宋国包括了二十郡。年末刘裕又获加皇帝规格的的十二旒冕、天子旌旗等一系列特殊礼待。元熙二年（420年），刘裕入辅，傅亮知刘裕想要晋恭帝禅让帝位予他但难于啓齿，于是代为向恭帝暗示，恭帝于是在六月禅让帝位给刘裕，东晋灭亡，刘裕即位为帝，改国号为「宋」，改元永初。刘裕在称帝之后，为了斩草除根，还杀掉了恭帝。此行为可谓刘裕一生中一个污点，因为其行为开启了前朝逊位之主不得善终之先（新朝王莽之于西汉孺子婴、曹魏文帝曹丕之于东汉献帝刘协、西晋武帝司马炎之于曹魏元帝曹奂，都没有加害前朝末主），至此，南朝末主除了陈后主陈叔宝其亡国非遭逢篡位外，全都被改朝换代的新主所杀。

永初三年（422年），刘裕患病，五月病重时遗命司空徐羡之、尚书仆射傅亮、领军将军谢晦及护军将军檀道济四人为顾命大臣，辅助太子刘义符。刘裕于五月癸亥日（6月26日）去世，享年六十岁。

刘裕称帝之后，将亡妻臧爱亲神牌供入太庙为天子七庙之一，令其成为中国历史上首个女庙主。刘裕此举因不合礼法受到后世讥讽。王鸣盛指出这是刘裕意在让自己死后得到太祖庙号。但刘裕未能如愿，他最后的庙号为高祖，諡为武皇帝，葬在初宁陵（今江苏南京紫金山）。

为政措施

刘裕自他继王谧以录尚书事掌权起直至其去世，一直掌握著东晋以及南朝宋的军政大权，曾对当时积弊已久的政治、经济状况有所整顿。

• 门阀士族兼并土地的行为令百姓流离失所，无法保护其产业，刘裕则一改东晋以来对这种事宽松的规管，重订规管并展示公众，大大抑制了门阀豪强的兼并行为。及至会稽虞氏的虞亮藏匿一千多名脱离户籍逃亡的人，刘裕将之处死，连时任会稽内史的司马休之也遭免官。另刘裕又针对当时门阀豪强私占山泽，人民去砍柴钓鱼都受限制的问题，禁止豪强这种行为。刁氏一族向来富有，奴客亦多，在其宗族桓玄败死后被诛灭时，刘裕亦将刁家的资产都分发给人民，让人们按己力取用，赈济当时处于饥荒及战乱中的人民。刘裕亦于义熙九年（413年）将临沂、湖熟原属皇后所有，用来资助其化妆品开销的田地分配给穷人。如此削夺了世族以及皇室的私产，用来资济人民。即位为帝后更派大使巡行四方，举善旌贤，访问民间疾苦。

• 刘裕选才用人不重门第而重其才能，故对于寒门出身的刘穆之一直予以重任，在收复建康后让他主持政局，大改官场之风，及至在刘裕领兵在外时更让其主掌中枢重任。刘裕在晋时见州郡推荐的很多秀才、孝廉水平都不合要求，于是上请申明旧制，以策试考核他们。至登位后更曾到延贤堂为各秀才、孝廉作策试。而曾与刘裕起兵讨伐桓玄的魏顺之在卢循之乱时因为不敢救援部将谢宝，反倒退却；魏顺之虽为功臣，亦是魏咏之的弟弟，但刘裕大怒之下仍将其处死，此举亦震慑其他桓玄之役中的功臣，都听籨其命令。

• 刘裕于义熙九年（413年）再度实行土断，各地人民依界土断，只有侨居于晋陵的徐、兖、青三州人民不受影响，而当时很多侨郡侨县都在这次土断中被裁撤，重新整理了全国户籍，便利于统计藏匿人口及增加赋税收入。永初元年（420年），刘裕更下令所有逃避户籍的人只要在限期内自首就能获赦，并免去他们两年的租赋，但凡有黄籍或证明文件的人都可恢复其原籍，再次减少国内藏匿人口。

• 刘裕消灭刘毅后，下令严禁荆、江二州地方官吏滥征租税、徭役，规定租税、徭役，都以现存户口为准。凡是州、郡、县的官吏利用官府之名，占据屯田、园地获利的，皆一律废除。刘裕即位后，下令凡宫府需要的物资都要到市场采购，照价给钱，不得向人民徵调。又下令官员不可徵去人民车牛，亦不能以官威逼迫人民献出车牛，另亦将繁多的交易税项作出减省，便利市场商业交易。

刘裕对政治、经济的整顿，进一步打击了门阀士族的势力，改善了政治和社会状况，对平民百姓的痛苦亦有所减轻。

而刘裕在建立南朝宋后亦削弱强藩，集权中央，于是限制了荆州州府置将和官吏数额，前者不可多于二千人，后者亦不可多于一万人；另其他州府置将及官吏数亦不分别不得多于五百人及五千人。为防止权臣拥兵，他特别下诏命不得再别置军府，宰相领扬州刺史的话可置一千兵。而凡大臣外任要职要需军队防衞，或要出兵讨伐，一律配以朝廷军队，事情完结后军队都需交回朝廷。另刘裕为防外戚乱政，下令有幼主的话都委事宰相，不需太后临朝。

性格特徵

• 刘裕高七尺六寸，气质奇特。

• 刘裕行军法令严明，军队军容齐整，绝不扰民。而他在军事行动的分析亦常常精准无误，例如伐南燕时料定燕军不会据守大岘山抵抗，而慕容德果然否决公孙五楼守大岘的计划。命令朱龄石征伐西蜀时亦预计敌方会猜测晋军循内水进攻，必以重兵守涪城，于是指令要从外水进攻，改派疑兵引诱涪城重兵，以图直取成都。最终亦正如刘裕预计那样，朱龄石成功绕过涪城重兵，直取成都，获得胜利。

• 在生活上刘裕崇节俭，不爱珍宝，不喜豪华，宫中嫔妃也少。宁州地方官曾经奉献琥珀枕，是无价之宝，他不稀罕。在出征后秦时，有人说琥珀能够治疗伤口，他就命人将它砸碎，分给将领作为治伤药。平定关中后，他得到了美女姚氏（后秦天王姚兴的侄女），十分宠爱。臣下谢晦劝谏他不要因女色而荒废政务，他当晚就将姚氏送出宫去。后来刘裕进封宋公，东西堂将要放置以金涂钉钉制的局脚牀，但刘裕以节为由而改用铁钉钉制的直脚牀。又一次广州进贡一匹筒细布，刘裕因其过于精巧瑰丽，制作必定扰民，故此下令弹劾献布那郡的太守，将布匹送还并下令禁止再制作这种布。刘裕因患有热病，常常要有冰冷的物件去降温，于是有人就献上石床。刘裕躺上冰冷的石床，感到十分舒服，但又感木牀已经很耗人力，大石头要磨成牀就更甚了，于是下令将石床砸毁。刘裕更加下令将自己昔日的农具收起，留给后人。其子宋文帝一次看见，得知内情后大感惭愧。而其孙宋孝武帝拆毁刘裕生前的卧室而建玉烛殿，发现牀头上有土帐，墙上挂著葛布制的灯笼及麻制蝇拂，袁顗称许刘裕有俭素之德，但孝武帝没有说甚么，只说：「老农夫有这些东西，已经过于富裕了。」

• 刘裕不擅文才，故刘毅曾在宴会中特地赋诗：「六国多雄士，正始出风流」特意展示其文学造诣胜过刘裕。刘裕书法亦差，曾被刘穆之规劝，并在其指示下改写大字。

• 刘裕不信神祇，登位后更曾下令将民间庙宇拆毁，只有先贤以及以有勋德的人的庙祠才得豁免。刘裕去世前患病，群臣上请刘裕祈求神祇庇佑，但刘裕不接受，只派了谢方明去太庙告知祖先。

• 刘裕重恩恶仇，对其有恩者必有回报，对其有仇者也会毫不留情; 昔日刘裕曾欠下刁逵三万钱，无力偿还，被刁逵抓著，王谧则去见刁逵，并替刘裕偿还欠款，刘裕才得释放；而当时刘裕既无名声亦贫贱，不被其他具名望人士看重，唯有王谧去与他结交。王谧后在桓玄篡位时奉天子玉玺及册文给桓玄，在桓楚任司徒，更获封公爵，甚为礼侍。刘裕义军攻下建康后，王谧仍任司徒，领扬州刺史、录尚书事，但王谧既因在桓楚任高职，甚得宠待，故很不安心，最终出奔。然而刘裕没有向王谧问罪，并念及昔日恩情，请武陵王司马遵追还王谧，并让其官复原职。而昔日为其债主的刁逵，在桓楚任豫州刺史，并为桓玄收捕起义失败的诸葛长民。他在桓玄败后出奔，终被部下抓住，可是刁氏一族接著却遭诛杀，只有刁聘获赦，然而不久刁聘亦因谋反而被诛，令刁氏族灭。

逸事

• 传说刘裕出生时有神光照亮室内，当晚还降甘露。

• 刘裕曾到京口竹林寺，并独自躺卧在寺内讲堂内。一众僧人竟看见他上面有五色龙形物体出现，大感吃惊并告知刘裕，刘裕则十分高兴起说：「僧人是不会说谎的。」

• 有言曲阿、丹徒有天子之气，而刘翘的墓就在丹徒，当时一个叫孔恭的人擅长占卜墓穴吉凶，刘裕一次就在父亲墓前问孔恭，孔恭就言那是不平凡的墓地。刘裕听后更为自负。更刘裕又觉得身边总有两条小龙，连旁人也曾看见过，至刘裕名声渐高时，小龙也变大了。

• 传说刘裕一次去伐木砍柴，射伤了一条大蛇。翌日再去时却听见有杵臼捣药的声音，发现有几个小童正在制药。刘裕于是问他们为何要制药，小童则答：「我们的王被刘寄奴射伤，所以要制药医治。」刘裕追问：「你们的王既有神通，为何不杀了他？」小童却答：「刘寄奴是王者，不可以杀。」刘裕喝跑了小童，拿走他们的药。后来一次到下邳游玩，一个僧人向他说：「江南地区会有动乱，令此地安定的人就是你呀。」僧人又给了刘裕一些伤药，接著就失去了踪影。刘裕手部有伤患，一直都无法痊愈，但用了僧人的药一次后却痊愈了。刘裕于是视剩馀的的伤药及当日在小童那里的药为珍宝，每次受了伤，用那些药都能医好。

• 卢循讥讽刘裕智穷，刘裕则以续命汤反讥卢循命不长。典出艺文类聚·卷八十七：果部下：益智。

后世评论

• 刘裕是两晋南北朝时期最卓越的军事统帅之一。刘裕在不到二十年时间里，对内平息战乱，先后平定孙恩、卢循的叛乱，消灭桓玄、刘毅等军事集团；对外致力于北伐，取谯蜀、灭南燕、破后秦，从一名普通军人成长为名垂青史的军事统帅，取得世人瞩目的成就，更彻底改变晋朝政权对征服汉地北部的塞外各民族一直处于被动的局面。北魏谋臣崔浩在评价刘裕时说：「刘裕奋起寒微，不阶尺土，讨灭桓玄，兴复晋室，北擒慕容超，南枭卢循，所向无前，非其才之过人，安能如是乎！」崔浩亦说：「刘裕之平祸乱，司马德宗之曹操也。」何去非在《备论》中也说：「宋武帝以英特之姿，攘袂而起，平灵宝于旧楚，定刘毅于荆豫，灭南燕于二齐，克谯纵于庸蜀，殄卢循于交广，西执姚泓而灭后秦，盖举无遗策而天下惮服矣。北方之寇，独关东之拓跋，陇北之赫连耳。方其入关，魏人虽强，不敢南指西顾以议其后。」《南史》评论说：「宋武地非齐、晋，众无一旅，曾不浃旬，夷凶翦暴，诛内清外，功格上下。若夫乐推所归，讴歌所集，校之魏、晋，可谓收其实矣。」

• 刘裕的军事生涯，指挥无数次作战，最大特点是以少胜多，而且作战中常身先士卒，所以能够赢得广大将士尊敬。刘裕北伐是中国战争史上最成功的北伐之一，成就不但远较以前东晋各次北伐高，中国历史上仅次于朱元璋，所以辛弃疾用「金戈铁马，气吞万里如虎」的诗句来形容刘裕北伐时的气势。司马光叙述刘裕北伐成功后匆忙东归，关中复失时，大发感叹：「惜乎，百年之寇，千里之土，得之艰难，失之造次，使丰、鄗之都复输寇手。荀子曰：『兼并易能也，坚凝之难。』信哉。」而王夫之直指刘裕是为了急急篡位而放弃关中，说：「刘裕灭姚秦，欲留长安经略西北，不果而归，而中原遂终于沦没。史称将佐思归，裕之饰说也。王、沈、毛、傅之独留，岂繄不有思归之念乎？西征之士，一岁而已，非久役也。新破人国，子女玉帛足系其心，枭雄者岂必故土之安乎？固知欲留经略者，裕之初志，而造次东归者，裕之转念也。夫裕欲归而急于篡，固其情已。」但王夫之仍然肯定了「然使裕据关中，抚雒阳，捍拓拔嗣而营河北，拒屈丐而固秦雍，平沮渠蒙逊而收陇右，勋愈大，威愈张，晋之天下其将安往？曹丕在邺，而汉献遥奉以玺绶，奚必反建康以面受之于晋廷乎？盖裕之北伐，非徒示威以逼主攘夺，而无志于中原者，青泥既败，长安失守，登高北望，慨然流涕，志欲再举，止之者谢晦、郑鲜之也。盖当日之贪佐命以弋利禄者，既无远志，抑无定情，裕欲孤行其志而不得，则急遽以行篡弑，裕之初心亦绌矣。」他还称刘裕「为功于天下，烈于曹操，而其植人才以赞成其大计，不如操远矣。操方举事据兖州，他务未遑，而亟于用人；逮其后而丕与睿犹多得刚直明敏之才，以匡其阙失。」显然也包括了对刘裕北伐成功的肯定。「裕起自寒微，以敢战立功名，而雄侠自喜，与士大夫之臭味不亲，故胡藩言：一谈一咏，搢绅之士辐凑归之、不如刘毅。当时在廷之士，无有为裕心腹者，孤恃一机巧汰纵之刘穆之，而又死矣；傅亮、徐羡之、谢晦，皆轻躁而无定情者也。孤危远处于外，求以制朝廷而遥授以天下也，既不可得，且有反面相距之忧，此裕所以汔济濡尾而仅以偏安草窃终也。当代无才，而裕又无驭才之道也。身殂而弑夺兴，况望其能相佐以成底定之功哉？曹操之所以得志于天下，而待其子始篡者，得人故也。岂徒奸雄为然乎？圣人以仁义取天下，亦视其人而已矣。」

• 吕思勉则认为，刘裕急急篡位的说法只是史家附会王买德的话，说：「宋武代晋，在当日，业已势如振槁，即无关、洛之绩，岂虑无成？苟其急于图，篡平司马休之后，迳篡可矣，何必多伐秦一举？武帝之于异己，虽云肆意翦除，亦特其庸中佼佼者耳，反之子必尚多。刘穆之死，后路无所付托，设有窃发，得不更诒大局之忧？欲攘外者必先安内，则武帝之南归，亦不得訾其专为私计心也。义真虽云年少，留西之精兵良将，不为不多。王镇恶之死，在正月十四日（应为十五），而勃勃之图长安，仍历三时而后克，可见兵力实非不足。长安之陷，其关键，全在王修之死。义真之信谗，庸非始料所及，此尤不容苟责者也。」

• 刘裕在对待刁逵及王谧截然不同的态度，招来了不少批评，南朝梁湘东世子萧方等就曾言：「夫蛟龙潜伏，鱼虾亵之。是以汉高赦雍齿，魏武赦梁鹄，安可以布衣之嫌而成万乘之隙也！今王谧为公，刁逵亡族，醻恩报怨，何其狭哉。」裴子野亦言：「刁逵，玄之爪牙；王谧，楚之上相，论逆则王重，定罪则逵轻。稚远以旧德录万机，长民以宿憾夷七族，以为晋政偏颇甚矣！且神龙伏于罟网，渔者安知其灵化；霸王匿于人庶，庸夫何以悟其英雄！苟在不悟则骄之者，众可胜怨乎？是知宋高祖之非弘亮也，同盟多贰宜乎哉！」

• 刘裕攻下南燕都城广固后，因为怨恨城池久久不下，故此意图将城内人民全部坑杀，并将其妻女赏赐给将士，只因韩范劝止才不实行，但仍然尽杀南燕王公共三千人，并抄没万馀人。此意图亦招来司马光批评：「晋自济江以来，威灵不竞，戎狄横骛，虎噬中原。刘裕始以王师翦平东夏，不于此际旌礼贤俊，忍抚疲民，宣恺悌之风，涤残秽之政，使群士向风，遗黎企踵，而更恣行屠戮以快忿心；迹其施设，曾苻、姚之不如，宜其不能荡壹四海，成美大之业，岂非虽有智勇而无仁义使之然哉！」

• 王夫之在《读通鉴论》评论刘裕：「宋武兴，东灭慕容超，西灭姚泓，拓跋嗣、赫连勃勃敛迹而穴处。自刘渊称乱以来，祖逖、庾翼、桓温、谢安经营百年而无能及此。后乎此者，二萧、陈氏无尺土之展，而浸以削亡。然则永嘉以降，仅延中国生人之气者，唯刘氏耳。举晋人坐失之中原，责宋以不荡平，没其挞伐之功而黜之，亦大不平矣。君天下者，道也，非势也。如以势而已矣，则东周之季，荆、吴、徐、越割土称王，遂将黜周以与之一等；而嬴政统一六寓，贤于五帝、三王也远矣。拓拔氏安得抗宋而与并肩哉？唐臣隋矣，宋臣周矣，其乐推以为正者，一天下尔。以义则假禅之名，以篡而与刘宋奚择焉？中原丧于司马氏之手，且爱其如綫之绪以存之；徒不念中华冠带之区，而忍割南北为华、夷之界乎？半以委匪类而使为君，顾抑挞伐有功之主以不与唐、宋等伦哉？汉之后，唐之前，唯宋室犹可以为中国主也。」

家庭

先祖

• 刘交，汉朝太上皇刘太公之四子，汉高祖刘邦之弟，封楚王，諡号楚元王，汉文帝元年卒

父母

父

• 宋孝帝刘翘，东晋彭城郡功曹

母

• 孝穆皇后赵安宗

• 孝懿皇后萧文寿（继母）

兄弟

• 刘道邻，刘裕二弟，封长沙王，官至太尉

• 刘道规，刘裕三弟，晋南郡公，官至征西大将军，刘裕篡晋前去世，获追封临川王

妻妾

• 妻子

　• 武敬皇后臧爱亲，生刘兴弟，结发之妻，后追赠豫章公夫人、武敬皇后

• 妾室

　• 夫人张阙，生刘义符、刘惠媛，后为皇太后、营阳王太妃

　• 孙修华，生刘义真

　• 章皇太后胡道安，生刘义隆，后追赠婕妤、皇太后

　• 王修容，生刘义康

　• 袁美人，生刘义恭

　• 吕美人，生刘义季

　• 孙美人，生刘义宣

　• 符修仪，生广德公主

　• 姚氏，姚兴从女

子女

子

• 刘义符，宋少帝，晋时为刘裕世子，刘裕篡位后为皇太子，并在其死后继位，不久被辅政的徐羡之等人废黜为营阳王，随后被杀。

• 刘义真，晋封桂阳公，宋时封庐陵王，官至司徒，少帝时被徐羡之等废为庶人，不久被杀。

• 刘义隆，宋文帝，晋时封彭城公，宋时封宜都王，官至镇西将军、荆州刺史。受徐羡之推举为帝。

• 刘义康，封彭城王，官至司徒、录尚书事、领扬州刺史，执掌朝政，但后来被贬处江州，更因范晔谋反之事被废为庶人。后又因胡诞世等人欲奉刘义康谋反而被宋文帝杀害。

• 刘义恭，封江夏王，官至太宰，宋前废帝时与柳元景密谋废帝而被前废帝肢解杀害。

• 刘义宣，封南郡王，曾参与讨平刘劭弑父自立的事件，官至中书监。后任荆湘二州刺史，起兵谋反事败被捕，于狱中自杀。

• 刘义季，封衡阳王，官至征北大将军，刘义康被废后酗酒终日，任徐州刺史时即使北魏南侵仍只饮酒。

女

• 刘兴弟，刘裕长女，会稽长公主，曾封寿阳公主，嫁徐逵之

• 刘荣男，吴兴长公主，嫁王偃

• 广德公主。

• 宣城公主，嫁周峤

• 新安公主，嫁王景深

• 吴郡公主，妹始安公主死后嫁褚湛之为继室

• 富阳公主，嫁徐乔之

• 始安公主，嫁褚湛之

• 刘惠媛，义兴长公主

• 刘欣男，刘裕幼女，豫章长公主，先嫁徐乔，后嫁何瑀

文学作品中的形象

在黄易小说《边荒传说》中，刘裕是书中三位主角之一，与另一主角燕飞交好，而和另一主角拓跋圭亦敌亦友。刘裕出场时为北府兵一名斥候，藉淝水之战中崭露头角，并得谢玄赏识，最后成为南方最有权势的人。虽心爱王淡真，却因王淡真被家族关系羁绊而未能一起。

注释