生平

自比乐毅

刘曜年幼丧父，于是由刘渊抚养。年幼聪慧，有非凡气度。八岁时随刘渊到西山狩猎，其间因天雨而在一棵树下避雨，突然一下雷电令该树震动，旁边的人都吓得跌倒，但刘曜却神色自若，因而得到刘渊欣赏。刘曜喜欢看书，但志在广泛涉猎而非精读文句，尤其喜爱兵书，大致都熟读。刘曜亦擅长写作和书法，习草书和隶书。另一方面刘曜亦雄健威武，箭术娴熟，能一箭射穿寸余厚的铁板，号称神射。刘曜亦时常自比乐毅、萧何和曹参，当时人们都不认同，唯刘聪知道其才能。

二十岁时到洛阳游历，但期间就被定罪而要被诛杀，于是逃亡到朝鲜，后来遇到朝廷大赦才敢回来。刘曜亦觉得自己外表异于常人，怕不被世人所接纳，于是在管涔山隐居。

为国征战

晋永兴元年（304年），刘渊自称汉王，国号汉，改元元熙任命刘曜为建武将军。刘曜当年就被派往进攻并州郡县以开拓疆土。汉永凤元年（晋永嘉二年，308年），刘渊称帝，拜刘曜为龙骧大将军。后封为始安王。汉河瑞元年（晋永嘉三年，309年），刘曜与刘聪等进攻洛阳，但被晋军乘虚击败。河瑞二年（310年），刘渊患病，命刘曜为征讨大都督、领单于左辅。不久刘渊逝世，太子刘和继位。刘和后又被刘聪所杀，刘聪及后登位为帝。

刘聪登位后，不久就命刘曜与河内王刘粲等进攻洛阳，并击败晋将裴邈，在梁、陈、汝南、颍川之间大肆抢掠。次年，刘聪命呼延晏领兵攻洛阳，刘曜奉命领兵与其会合，并于六月壬辰日（7月8日）抵达西明门。五日后，刘曜等便攻入洛阳大肆抢掠和杀害大臣，并掳晋怀帝等人，将他们送到平阳（今山西临汾市）。史称「永嘉之乱」。当时王弥认为洛阳城池和宫室都完好，建议刘曜向刘聪建议迁都洛阳，但刘曜认为天下未定而洛阳四面受敌，并不可守，于是焚毁洛阳宫殿。

永嘉之乱后，镇守长安的南阳王司马模命牙门赵染领兵在蒲阪（今山西省永济市）守备，但赵染因请求冯翊太守一职被拒绝而投降汉国，刘聪于是在八月命赵染攻取长安，又命刘曜和刘粲领兵跟随。司马模兵败投降，并于九月被刘粲所杀，刘曜则获任命为车骑大将军、雍州牧，并改封中山王，镇守长安。

刘曜取得长安后，司马模的从事中郎索綝投靠安定太守贾疋，并与贾疋等人图谋复兴晋室，于是推举贾疋为平西将军，率五万兵攻向长安。当时拒降汉国的晋雍州刺史麴特等人亦领兵与贾疋会合。刘曜于是领兵在黄丘与贾疋大战，但被击败。梁州刺史彭荡仲和驻守新丰（今陕西西安市临潼区）的刘粲都先后被贾疋等人所击败，彭荡仲死而刘粲北归平阳，贾疋等人于是声势大振，关西胡人和汉人都响应。刘曜只得据守长安。嘉平二年（晋永嘉六年，312年），刘曜因贾疋围困长安经已数月，且连续战败，于是掠长安八万多名平民弃守长安，逃奔平阳。刘曜及后因长安失守而被贬为龙骧大将军，行大司马。

同年，晋并州刺史刘琨部下令狐泥叛归汉国，刘聪于是命令狐泥作向导，以刘粲和刘曜领兵进攻并州治所晋阳（今山西太原市）。二人最终乘虚攻陷晋阳，夺取刘琨的根据地。因此功绩，刘曜复任车骑大将军。但两个月后，刘琨即与拓跋猗卢联手反攻晋阳，刘曜在汾河以东与拓跋六修交战，但兵败坠马并受重伤，因讨虏将军傅虎协助才得以逃回晋阳。刘曜及后掠晋阳城中人民逃归平阳，但遭拓跋猗卢追及，在蓝谷交战但惨败。但仍成功回到平阳。

嘉平三年（晋建兴元年，313年），刘曜与司隶校尉乔智明等进攻长安，但遭麴允击败。次年又与赵染和殷凯进攻长安，但殷凯被麴允击杀。刘曜于是转攻河内太守郭默但不能攻破，后更被鲜卑骑兵所吓退。建元元年（晋建兴三年，315年），刘曜一度转战并州，虽曾获胜，但不久又再回到蒲阪准备再次进攻长安。及后刘曜即被派往进攻北地，先攻冯翊而再攻上郡，前去抵抗的麴允不敢进击。

驻镇长安

建元二年（316年），刘曜围困并攻陷北地，并逼近长安。九月，刘曜虽被司马保将领胡崧所败，但胡崧并没有进一步攻击，反而退守槐里，而其他援军亦因惧怕汉国军而不敢进逼，刘曜于是成功攻陷长安外城，逼得麴允和索綝只好据守城内小城。终于在十一月，因为城内被围困三个月而食粮严重困乏，晋愍帝被逼向刘曜投降。刘曜受降并于随后迁晋愍帝和众官员到平阳，西晋正式灭亡。刘曜因此功而获任命以假黄钺、大都督、督陕西诸军事、太宰。并被改封为秦王，再度镇守长安。

麒嘉三年（晋太兴元年，318年），刘聪患病，徵召刘曜为丞相，录尚书事，与石勒一同受遗诏辅政。但刘曜和石勒都辞让。刘聪于是任命刘曜为丞相、领雍州牧。同年刘聪死，太子刘粲登位。八月升刘曜为相国、都督中外诸军事，仍旧镇守长安。但当月大将军靳准就叛变，杀害刘粲和大杀刘氏，并自称汉天王，向东晋称藩。刘曜知道靳准作乱，于是进兵平阳。

平乱称帝

十月，刘曜进占赤壁（今山西河津县西北赤石川），太保呼延晏等人从平阳前来归附，并兴早前因靳准诛杀王公而逃至长安的太傅朱纪等共推刘曜为帝。刘曜称帝后，派征北将军刘雅和镇北将军刘策进屯汾阴（今山西万荣），与石勒有掎角之势，共同讨伐靳准。

靳准先前已败于石勒，见刘曜和石勒现在共同讨伐自己，于是在十一月派侍中卜泰向石勒请和，但石勒将卜泰囚禁被送交刘曜。刘曜于是向卜泰说：「先帝刘粲在位时确实乱了伦常，司空靳准你执行伊尹和霍光废立之权，令我得以登位，实在是很大的功勋。若你早早迎接我入平阳，我就要将朝政大事都全部委托给你了，何止免死？你就为我人入城传话吧。」于是将卜泰送返平阳。靳准听到卜泰的传话后，因为自知当日夺权时杀了刘曜母亲胡氏和刘曜兄长，于是犹豫不决。十二月，靳康联结乔泰和王腾等人杀死靳准，共推尚书令靳明为主，又命卜泰带六颗传国玺向刘曜投降。此举令石勒十分愤怒，领兵进攻靳明，靳明大败而只得退入平阳，婴城固守。随后石勒与石虎一同进攻平阳，靳明于是向刘曜求救，刘曜于是派刘雅和刘策迎接，靳明于是带著一万五千名平阳人民逃出平阳。刘曜及后却大杀靳氏，一如靳准杀刘氏一样。在其欲纳靳康女为妾时，靳女说及家族被灭，号泣请死，刘曜出于哀怜才放过了靳康的一个儿子。

汉国分裂

石勒在靳明逃离后亦攻入平阳，留兵戍守后东归，并于光初元年（晋太兴二年，319年）年初命左长史王修献捷报给刘曜。刘曜于是派司徒郭汜授予他赵王和太宰、领大将军的职位，并加如同曹操辅东汉时的特殊礼待。但留仕刘曜的王修舍人曹平乐却向刘曜称王修此行其实是要来探听刘曜虚实，以让石勒趁机袭击刘曜。刘曜眼见其军队疲惫不堪，于是听信曹平乐之言，追还郭汜并处斩王修。石勒及后从逃亡回来的王修副手刘茂口中得知王修被杀，因此大怒，开始与刘曜交恶。

刘曜回到长安后，即迁都长安，并设立宗庙、社稷坛和祭天地的南北郊。又改国号为「赵」，史称「前赵」。同年，石勒自称赵王，正式建立「后赵」。汉国就此一分为二。

安定西戎

及后，黄石屠各人路松多在新平郡和扶风郡起兵，依附南阳王司马保。司马保又让雍州刺史杨曼及扶风太守王连据守陈仓（今陕西宝鸡市东），路松多据守草壁。刘曜派刘雅等人进攻但不能攻下。光初二年（320年），刘曜亲自率军进攻陈仓，击杀王连并逼杨曼投奔氐族。接著接连攻下草壁和安定，令司马保恐惧而迁守桑城（今甘肃临洮县东）。不久司马保被部下张春所杀，已向刘曜投降的司马保部将陈安则请求进攻张春等，刘曜于是任命陈安为大将军，进攻张春。陈安最终令张春逃至枹罕（今甘肃临夏），并杀死张春同党杨次，消灭司马保残馀势力。

不久，前赵将领解虎和长水校尉尹车与巴氐酋长句徐和库彭等联结，意图谋反。但事败露，刘曜于是诛杀解虎和尹车，并囚禁句徐和库彭等五十多人，打算诛杀。光禄大夫游子远极力劝阻，但刘曜都不听，游子远一直叩头至流血，更惹怒刘曜而将他囚禁；刘曜后尽杀句徐等人，更在长安市内将曝尸十日，然后丢进河中。此举终令巴氐悉数反叛，自称大秦，并得其他少数民族共三十多万人响应，于是关中大乱，城门都日夜紧闭。在狱中的游子远再度上书劝谏刘曜，刘曜看后大怒，命人要立刻杀害游子远，幸得刘雅等人劝止刘曜，游子远才得被赦免。刘曜下令内外戒严，打算亲自讨伐叛乱首领句渠知。但此时游子远向刘曜进言献策，认为出兵强行镇压会耗费太多时间和资源，建议刘曜大赦叛民，让他们重回正常生活，让他们自动归降。又请给兵五千人让他讨伐可能不肯归降的句渠知。刘曜听从。随著大赦令下达，游子远所到之都有大批人归降，游子远又于阴密平定不肯投降的句氏宗族党众。及后游子远更进兵陇右，击败自号秦王的虚除权渠，并令他归降。由于虚除权渠一部是西戎中力量最强的，故此其他西戎部族都相继归降前赵。

平定陇右

光初五年（322年），刘曜亲征仇池，仇池首领杨难敌率兵迎击但被击败，被逼退保仇池城。此时仇池辖下的氐羌部落大多都向前赵投降。及后刘曜转攻杨韬，杨韬因畏惧而与陇西太守梁勋等人投降。刘曜于是再攻仇池，但此时刘曜患病，而且军中有疫症，被逼退兵。刘曜因怕杨难敌乘机追击，于是派光国中郎将王犷游说杨难敌，最终令杨难敌投降。刘曜于是臣服仇池，并领兵撤回长安。

此时，秦州刺史陈安请求朝见刘曜，但刘曜以患病为由推辞，陈安于是大怒，以为刘曜已死，于是决心反叛。刘曜此时病情却愈来愈严重，改乘马舆先回长安，而命呼延寔在后守护辎重。但陈安却领骑兵邀截，俘获呼延寔并夺取辎重，后更将呼延寔杀害。陈安又派其弟陈集等领骑兵三万追刘曜车驾，刘曜则派呼延瑜击杀陈集并尽俘部众。陈安见此感到恐惧，退还上邽（今甘肃天水市），但随后又占领汧城，并得到陇上少数民族的归附，于是自称凉王。次年，陈安围攻前赵征西将军刘贡，但被归附前赵的休屠王石武与刘贡的联军击败，只得收拾兵众退保陇城（今秦安县东北）。不久刘曜亲自率军围困陇城，并派别军进攻陈安根据地上邽和平襄。陈安于是出城，试图领上邽和平襄的军队解围，当知道上邽被围而平襄被攻破后，改为南逃陕中，最终被前赵将领呼延清追及并杀害。上邽和陇城都先后投降，原本归附陈安的陇上部落都归降前赵。

平定陈安后，刘曜于当年即进攻前凉，亲自率兵临西河并命二十八万兵众沿黄河立营，延绵百多里，军中钟鼓之声震动河水和大地，吓得前凉沿河的军旅都望风奔退。刘曜又声言让军队分百道一同渡河进攻前凉都城姑臧，令前凉震动。前凉君主张茂于是向前赵称藩。刘曜亦达成目的，领兵退还。

二赵争战

光初七年（324年），后赵司州刺史石生在新安击斩前赵河南太守尹平，并掠五千多户东归。自此前赵和后赵在河东、弘农之间就常有战事。光初八年（325年），后赵将领石佗攻前赵北羌王盆句徐，大掠而归。刘曜因而大怒，派中山王刘岳追击，自己更移屯富平作为声援，终大败后赵军并斩杀石佗。不久后赵西夷中郎将王腾以并州投降前赵。

五月，晋司州刺史李矩等因多次被后赵石生所攻，投靠前赵。刘曜于是派刘岳和呼延谟领兵与李矩等人共同进攻石生。但刘岳围困石生于金镛城时，被救援石生的石虎击败，退保石梁，更反被石虎所围；呼延谟亦被石虎所杀。刘曜于是亲自率兵救援刘岳，但及后却因军中夜惊而被逼退回长安。刘岳因无援而且物资缺乏，终被石虎所俘并送往后赵都城襄国（今河北邢台）。王腾亦为石虎击败并杀害，郭默和李矩亦被逼南归东晋，李矩长史崔宣则向后赵投降。此战令后赵尽得司州。

光初十一年（328年），石虎领四万人进攻河东，获五十多县反叛响应，于是进攻蒲阪。因杨难敌先于光初八年（325年）反攻前赵于光初六年（323年）所占领的仇池；又成功抵抗前赵于光初十年（327年）的攻击。另一方面前凉于光初十年知道前赵光初八年被后赵击败后，即恢复其晋朝的官爵，并侵略前赵。刘曜于是派河间王刘述领氐族和羌族兵众守备秦州以防仇池和前凉从后偷袭，自己则亲率全国精锐救援蒲阪。石虎恐惧退军，刘曜追击并在高候大败石虎，斩杀石曕。后刘曜又进攻石生所驻的金镛城，以千金堨之水灌城，又派兵攻汲郡和河内，令后赵荥阳太守尹矩和野王太守张进等投降。这次大败震动后赵人心。而刘曜此时却不安抚士众，只与宠臣饮酒博戏。

三个月后，石勒亲率大军救援石生，并命石堪等人在荥阳与石勒会师。刘曜在得悉石勒已渡黄河，才建议增加荥阳守戍和封锁黄马关以阻后赵军。不久洛水斥候与石勒前锋交战，刘曜从俘获的羯人口中得知石勒来攻的军队强盛才感惧怕，于是解金镛之围，在洛水以西布阵。石勒则领兵进入洛阳城。

后前赵前锋在西阳门与后赵军大战，刘曜亲自出战，但未出战就已饮酒数斗；出战后再饮酒一斗多。后赵将石堪乘其酒醉大败赵军，刘曜在昏醉中退走，期间堕马重伤，被石堪俘获。

被俘遇害

刘曜被俘后被送往襄国，途中石勒派李永医治刘曜。到襄国后，石勒让他住在永丰小城，给予侍姬，更命令刘岳等人去探望刘曜。石勒后来命刘曜写信劝留守长安的太子刘熙尽快投降，但刘曜却在信中命令刘熙和大臣们匡正和维护国家，不要因为自己而放弃。石勒看见后感到厌恶，后来刘曜还是被石勒所杀。

墓葬

刘曜在霸陵西南建寿陵，侍中乔豫、和苞上疏进谏，刘曜对规谏还听得进去。但是刘曜身死国灭，他的实际墓葬地不详。

性格特徵

• 刘曜高九尺三寸（2.2米以上），垂手过膝，目有赤光，眉色发白，须髯虽长却相当稀疏。

• 刘曜自少就酗酒，及至后来就更加严重。在其在洛阳兵败被俘一战中临阵昏醉，可谓其战败的其中一个原因。

• 刘曜亦好杀，如靳准之乱中报复性尽诛靳氏和诛杀句徐等人等都可见。对大臣亦时见杀戮，差点杀了游子远；又以毒酒杀害进言劝谏的大臣郝述和支当。

评价

• 刘渊：「此吾家千里驹也，从兄为不亡矣。」

• 刘聪：「永明，世祖、魏武之流，何数公足道哉！」

• 晋书评：「曜则天资虓勇，运偶时艰，用兵则王翦之伦，好杀亦董公之亚。而承基丑类，或有可称。」

• 张茂：「曜可方吕布、关羽，而云孟德不及，岂不过哉。」（《十六国春秋》）

家庭

后妃

• 卜王妃，刘曜即位前就去世，后追谥为元悼皇后，生刘胤。

• 献文皇后羊献容，原为晋惠帝皇后，永嘉之乱后被刘曜所纳。刘曜即位后次年被立为皇后。

• 皇后刘氏

• 皇后刘芳，刘皑女。

子女

子

• 太子 刘熙，献文皇后羊献容所生。刘曜被俘后领导前赵，但被石虎所杀。

• 临海王 刘俭，刘曜长子，元悼皇后卜氏所生。

• 南阳王 刘胤，刘曜次子，元悼皇后卜氏所生。

• 长乐王 刘袭，献文皇后羊献容所生。

• 太原王 刘阐，献文皇后羊献容所生。

• 淮南王 刘冲

• 齐王 刘敞

• 鲁王 刘高

• 楚王 刘徽

女

• 安定公主，与后赵君主石虎生下石世。

注释

Early life

Liu Yao's father Liu Lü (刘绿) died early, and he was raised by Liu Lü's cousin Liu Yuan. When he was young, Liu Yuan became impressed with his intelligence and strength. As he grew, he became known for his archery skills and his studiousness—although his studies were described to be surveys rather than careful readings, except for books on military strategy, which he spent much of his time on. He often deprecated Wu Han and Deng Yu, instead comparing himself to the great Warring States general Le Yi, the great Han Dynasty prime minister Xiao He, and the Han general Cao Can (曹参). When people heard these remarks, they often criticized him for being overly arrogant, but Liu Yuan's son Liu Cong respected him and remarked, "Yongming should be compared to Shizu (the temple name of Emperor Guangwu of Han) and Emperor Wu of Wei (Cao Cao); Le, Xiao, and Cao Can cannot be compared to him."

When Liu Yao was young, he, along with his cousin Liu Cong, were studying in the Jin capital Luoyang, when on one occasion he committed an unspecified crime punishable by death. He therefore fled to Chaoxian (朝鲜, near modern Pyeongyang, North Korea—not, in this case, a generic geographic term for Korea). Later, after a general pardon, he returned, but decided to live in the mountains away from trouble.

During Liu Yuans reign

After Liu Yuan declared himself the Prince of Han in 304, creating Han Zhao state and effectively declaring independence and war on Jin, he made Liu Yao a major general. During Liu Yuan's reign, Liu Yao engaged in many campaigns against Jin forces and often was victorious, although he, like other Han Zhao generals, had difficulty permanently holding cities that he captured. In 307, along with his cousin Liu Cong and Wang Mi, he attacked Luoyang, but was repelled. They were again foiled in 309. Liu Yao was probably created the Prince of Shi'an in 309, when Liu Yuan declared himself the emperor.

During Liu Congs and Liu Cans reigns

After Liu Yuan's death in 310, Liu Cong overthrew his older brother and Liu Yuan's successor Liu He (after Liu He had tried to have him and the other brothers killed and successfully killed two) and succeeded to the throne himself as Emperor Zhaowu. He trusted Liu Yao greatly and commissioned him with a large force, and Liu Yao served his cousin faithfully.

In 311, Liu Yao, in conjunction with Wang, Shi Le, and Huyan Yan, captured Luoyang and Emperor Huai of Jin. He took Emperor Huai's sister-in-law, the deceased Emperor Hui's wife, Yang Xianrong, as his own wife.

Later that year, after Liu Cong's son Liu Can captured Chang'an, Liu Yao was put in charge of the Chang'an region, although he subsequently lost that city to Jin forces under Qu Yun (麴允), allowing the Jin prince Sima Ye (Emperor Huai's nephew) to occupy that city and subsequently declare himself emperor (as Emperor Min of Jin) in 313 after Liu Cong executed the former Jin emperor. In 312, while fighting Liu Kun the Jin governor of Bing Province (并州, modern central and northern Shanxi) and his ally Tuoba Yilu the Duke of Dai in conjunction with Liu Can, Liu Yao suffered a serious injury and was almost captured or killed by Jin forces, but was able to escape after the general Fu Hu (傅虎) yielded his own horse and sacrificed his own life in doing so.

For the next few years, Liu Yao fought largely inconclusive battles against Jin forces, both those directly under Emperor Min and those under Sima Bao the Prince of Nanyang. However, in 316, after Emperor Min's forces collapsed and Sima Bao failed to come to his aid, Liu Yao captured Chang'an and Emperor Min (whom Liu Cong subsequently executed in 318). For this accomplishment, Liu Cong created him the greater title of Prince of Qin.

Late in Liu Cong's reign, Liu Cong grew increasingly cruel and extravagant, as well as increasingly trusting eunuchs and the treacherous official Jin Zhun. In 318, as Liu Cong grew ill, he summoned Liu Yao and Shi Le to be regents for his son Liu Can, but both Liu Yao and Shi declined, perhaps not wishing to contest the authorities of Jin Zhun, whose daughters had sway with Liu Cong and Liu Can as their wives. Subsequently, when Liu Cong died later that year and Liu Can succeeded to the throne, Jin Zhun became powerful and overthrew Liu Can, slaughtering all members of the imperial Liu clan in the capital Pingyang (平阳, in modern Linfen, Shanxi). In the massacre, Liu Yao lost his mother Lady Hu, brother, and (he thought at the time) his son and heir Liu Yin. (However, unknown to his father, Liu Yin fled but was captured by or sold to a tribe named Heiniyuju (黑匿郁鞠) as a slave.)

Upon hearing news of Jin Zhun's coup, Liu Yao and Shi each led their armies against Jin, catching him trapped between their forces. Meanwhile, senior Han Zhao princes and officials who escaped the Pingyang massacre offered the throne to Liu Yao, who accepted. He offered to not only spare Jin Zhun's life but continue to grant him power if Jin would surrender. However, when Jin Zhun was subsequently assassinated and succeeded by his cousin Jin Ming (靳明), who then surrendered to Liu Yao, Liu Yao massacred the Jin clan. As Pingyang was in ruins after the coup and the subsequent war, Liu Yao moved the capital to Chang'an.

Early reign

As emperor, Liu Yao showed flashes of brilliance, both at governance and military matters, at times, as well as willingness to listen to contrary opinions. However, he was also often impulsive and quick to anger, and toward the end of his reign appeared to develop alcoholism, which impaired his judgment.

His first sign of impulsiveness might have contributed to the formal division of Han Zhao into two. In 319, when Shi Le sent messengers to offer tribute to Liu Yao, Liu Yao was initially very happy, as Shi was effectively the master of the eastern half of the empire and his submission therefore showed that his throne was secure. He created Shi the Prince of Zhao and granted him a number of imperial privileges. However, when one junior member of Shi's delegation, who wished to stay in Chang'an, thereafter submitted a report that Shi was in fact plotting an attack, Liu became angry and slaughtered Shi's delegation. When Shi received the news, he became angry and was resolved to declare himself independent of Han Zhao.

Later in 319, Liu Yao created Princess Yang—the former Jin empress—empress, making her the only person in Chinese history to serve as empress for two emperors and two empires. He created her son Liu Xi crown prince. He also changed the name of the state from Han to Zhao. (Liu Yuan had declared the empire's name Han to create a linkage with Han Dynasty—to which he claimed he was a descendant, through a princess, but Liu Yao felt that it was time to end the linkage with Han and explicitly restore the linkage to the great Xiongnu chanyu Maodun, and therefore decided to change the name of the state. However, this was not a break from Liu Yuan, as he continued to honor Liu Yuan and Liu Cong posthumously.)

In winter 319, Shi declared himself the Prince of Zhao, thus establishing Later Zhao and officially breaking from Han Zhao.

Liu Yao's impulsiveness led to a major Di and Qiang rebellion in 320. After a conspiracy involving two Di chiefs, Ju Xu (句徐) and Ku Peng (库彭) was discovered, Liu Yao executed not only Ju and Ku but also 50 other Di chiefs, throwing their bodies into the Wei River. When his official You Ziyuan (游子远) tried to persuaded him against these actions, he threw You into jail. Aggravated, Di and Qiang tribes declared independence in a state named Qin (秦). Subsequently, he released You and commissioned You with a force to suppression the rebellion, and You was able to persuade most of the rebels to surrender and defeat the rest.

In 322, while on a campaign against the Di chief of Chouchi, Yang Nandi, Liu Yao was stricken by a communicable disease, and while he was still able to force Yang to submit, his general Chen An, a former subordinate of Sima Bao, mistakenly thought that Liu Yao had already died, and therefore declared independence as the Prince of Liang, controlling most of Qin Province (秦州, modern eastern Gansu). In 323, Liu Yao, having recovered, personally attacked Chen's headquarters at Shanggui (上邽, in modern Tianshui, Gansu). Chen fled but was eventually captured and killed. Qin Province was once again Han Zhao domain.

After his victory over Chen, Liu Yao continued west and attacked the Jin vassal Former Liang, crushing all bases that Former Liang had east of the Yellow River. He declared that he would next cross the Yellow River and head for the Former Liang capital Guzang (姑臧, in modern Wuwei, Gansu), but instead was intending to intimidate the Former Liang leader Zhang Mao (then carrying the Jin-created title Duke of Xiping) into submission. Zhang was indeed intimidated and submitted to Han Zhao suzerainty. Liu Yao created him the Prince of Liang.

Later that year, Liu Yao's son Liu Yin, who had been a slave with the Heiniyuju tribe, because Chen had been defeated, revealed his identity to the chief, who was surprised and respectfully delivered Liu Yin back to Liu Yao. (It is not clear where Heiniyuju was or why Liu Yin waited until Chen's defeat to reveal his identity to the chief; it could have been that Heiniyuju was initially a Chen ally, and while Chen was, prior to his rebellion, nominally a Han Zhao general, Liu Yin might have been concerned about being detained by Chen as a bargaining chip.) Liu Yao considered making Liu Yin his crown prince instead (since Liu Yin had previously been his heir), but, not having the heart to depose Liu Xi, the son of Empress Yang (who died earlier that year), and particularly because Liu Yin personally declined and did not wish to replace his brother, Liu Yao left Liu Xi as crown prince and created Liu Yin the Prince of Yong'an with special honors.

Late reign

In 324, the first real battle between Later Zhao and Han Zhao occurred at Xin'an (新安, in modern Luoyang, Henan), ushering an era in which Later Zhao and Han Zhao would continuously battle for years. In 325, their armies fought a major battle near Luoyang (which the two, as well as Jin, had fought over for months), and after some initial Han Zhao successes, Later Zhao's general Shi Hu decisively defeated and captured Han Zhao's general Liu Yue (刘岳), after Liu Yao himself encountered difficulties with his army discipline and could not come to Liu Yue's aid. Later Zhao took this opportunity to effectively take the modern central Henan, northern Jiangsu, and western Shandong under its control.

Later in 325, Liu Yao created Liu Yin the Prince of Nanyang and further bestowed on him the title of Grand Chanyu, putting Wu Hu tribal forces under his command. He also created a second empress, Empress Liu.

In 326, Empress Liu died, and according to her wishes, Liu Yao married her cousin Liu Fang as empress.

In 327, believing that Han Zhao had been weakened by its defeat at Later Zhao's hands, Zhang Jun, Zhang Mao's nephew and successor as the head of Former Liang, declared himself again a Jin vassal and pillaged Han Zhao's Qin Province. Liu Yin led an army and defeated Former Liang's forces, even crossing the Yellow River, but eventually settling for capturing Former Liang's remaining territory east of the Yellow River.

In fall 328, Shi Hu attacked Han Zhao's Hedong Commandery (roughly modern Yuncheng, Shanxi). Liu Yao personally led an army and defeated Shi Hu, and then headed south and surrounded Luoyang, capturing several commanderies around it. This greatly shocked Shi Le, as he was worried that Liu Yao would next attack his capital Xiangguo (襄国, in modern Xintai, Hebei). In winter 328, Shi Le personally led a relief force to Luoyang. Meanwhile, during the siege of Luoyang, Liu Yao took no precautious to cut off Chenggao Pass (in modern Zhengzhou, Henan), and Shi was able to pass through it and arrive at Luoyang. In connection with this war by Shi Le against Liu Yao in 328 CE was uttered the only phrase in the Jie language which has survived to modern times, recorded phonetically in the Chinese annals, glossed with a Chinese translation. The phrase has since been analyzed and translated in numerous publications.

Around the new year 329, the armies engaged in battle. Before the battle, Liu Yao, who had taken to drinking in his late reign, drank a large amount of liquor. His usual horse had suffered leg spasms, and so he had to ride a smaller horse, and during battle Shi made a surprise attack, and the horse, unable to bear his weight, fell, and he was thrown off the horse. Later Zhao soldiers inflicted many wounds on him before capturing him and taking them to the general Shi Kan (石堪). Shi Le then ordered his army to stop engagement and allow the Han Zhao forces to retreat.

Shi Kan delivered Liu Yao to Shi Le. Shi ordered that Liu's wounds be treated, and he then took Liu Yao to Xiangguo. He put Liu Yao under heavy guard but supplied him with women, and also permitted his previously captured generals Liu Yue and Liu Zhen (刘震) to visit him. Shi then ordered Liu Yao to write a letter to Liu Xi and Liu Yin, ordering them to surrender. Instead, Liu Yao wrote a letter that stated: "Protect the empire with your officials. Do not care about me." Shi saw the letter and grew angry, and eventually executed Liu Yao. Late in 329, Shi Hu would capture and execute Liu Xi and Liu Yin, ending Han Zhao.

Era name

• Guangchu (光初 guāng chū) 318–329

Physical Appearance

In the Book of Jin, Liu Yao was described as a tall man (approximately 2.28 metres) and that he had greyish eyebrows and a sparse long beard.

Personal information

• Father

　• Liu Lü (刘绿), posthumously honored as Emperor Xuancheng

• Mother

　• Lady Hu (killed by Jin Zhun 318), posthumously honored as Empress Dowager Xuanming

• Wives

　• Princess Bu, mother of Prince Yin, posthumously honored as Empress Yuandao

　• Yang Xianrong, mother of Princes Xī, Xí, and Chan (created empress in 319, d. 322)

　• Empress Liu (Liu Yao's second empress) (created 325, d. 326)

　• Liu Fang (created empress in 326)

• Major Concubines

　• Consort Jin, daughter of Jin Kang (靳康) the cousin of Jin Zhun

• Children

　• Liu Jian (刘俭), the Prince of Linhai

　• Liu Yin (刘胤), initially the Heir Apparent to Prince of Qin, later the Prince of Yong'an (created 323), later the Prince of Nanyang (created 325, killed by Later Zhao 329)

　• Liu Xī (刘熙, note different tone than his brother), the Crown Prince (created 319, killed by Later Zhao 329)

　• Liu Xí (刘袭, note different tone than his brother), the Prince of Changle (created 319)

　• Liu Chan (刘阐), the Prince of Taiyuan (created 319)

　• Liu Chong (刘冲), the Prince of Huai'nan (created 319)

　• Liu Chang (刘敞), the Prince of Qi (created 319)

　• Liu Gao (刘高), the Prince of Lu (created 319)

　• Liu Hui (刘徽), the Prince of Chu (created 319)

　• A daughter who later became Later Zhao emperor Shi Hu's empress (b. 318)