生平

逸群之量

索綝年輕時就有超凡的才能，受父親索靖讚賞。後舉秀才、任郎中。先後任太宰長史、好畤縣令、黃門侍郎、征西參軍及長安縣令，任內都稱職。

永安元年（304年），司馬越號令全國討伐成都王司馬穎，並帶晉惠帝親征。然而，軍隊於蕩陰被司馬穎部隊擊敗，晉惠帝亦被俘。不久，安北將軍王浚聯結司馬騰和段部鮮卑及烏桓軍隊進攻司馬穎，司馬穎不敵並與惠帝一起逃離根據地鄴城，奔赴洛陽。當時河間王司馬顒部將張方控制洛陽，但部眾都想返回關中，於是挾持惠帝西遷長安。索綝亦參與護送惠帝西遷，故此事後被加號鷹揚將軍。

胡晉嚮附

光熙元年（306年），司馬越擊敗司馬顒並迎惠帝回洛陽，索綝轉任鎮守許昌的南陽王司馬模的從事中郎，曾以奮威將軍抵禦漢國前來進攻關東地區的軍隊，擊斬漢將呂逸和攻破劉豐。永嘉元年（307年），司馬模改鎮長安，索綝亦遷任新平太守，後又擊敗前來進攻三輔的漢國將領蘇鐵及劉五斗等人。索綝升安西將軍、馮翊太守。因其在地方有威嚴和恩德，故不論胡漢都服從他，不敢侵犯其轄區。

圖興晉室

永嘉五年（311年），洛陽和長安先後被漢國軍隊攻佔，司馬模亦被殺。索綝聞訊後哭著說：「與其這此死去，不如當個伍子胥。」於是與安夷護軍麴允等人一同出赴安定投奔安定太守賈疋，在路上遇上賈疋派往漢國的人質並與人質一同到安定，與賈疋共謀復興晉室，並舉兵五萬進攻長安。及後索綝領兵營救響應他們的新平太守竺恢，經過數百次大小戰事後生擒敵將李羌並擊退漢軍，而同時賈疋等亦大敗漢軍，進圍長安。同時豫州刺史閻鼎護送秦王司馬鄴入關中，並在次年漢軍隊撤出長安後迎司馬鄴入城，與賈疋等奉司馬鄴為皇太子，建立行臺。但在當年，以太子詹事總掌行臺事的閻鼎與梁綜爭權並將對方殺害，索綝與麴允等人亦欲專權，於是稱閻鼎有無君之心，擅殺大臣，並組成聯軍討伐閻鼎，並將其趕走。閻鼎及後被殺。

建興元年（313年），司馬鄴即位為晉愍帝，以索綝為侍中、太僕，並以迎帝到長安，奉璽登位之功封弋居伯。不久，遷任前將軍、尚書右僕射、領吏部、京兆尹。後加平東將軍，又再進號征東將軍，不久再授予索綝衞將軍、領太尉，位特進，將軍國之事都交給索綝處理。但在當年，漢國將領劉曜就率喬智明和趙染等進攻長安，受詔抵禦的麴允屢戰皆敗，逼近長安，索綝於是獲授征東大將軍，持節領兵助麴允抵抗。在戰事中，索綝打敗漢將呼延莫，麴允最終亦擊敗劉曜，解除危機。索綝因功封上洛郡公，食邑達萬戶。

建興二年（314年），劉曜再與趙染等來攻，索綝領兵抵抗，在新豐對抗趙染。當時趙染輕視索綝，只以數百名輕騎兵攻擊索綝，終被索綝所敗，趙染單騎逃走。及後麴允再度擊敗劉曜，趙染更中流矢而死。索綝因功再加驃騎大將軍、尚書左僕射、錄尚書，承制行事。

不忠被殺

建興三年（315年），劉曜再度進攻長安，先攻北地郡，晉愍帝於是派麴允抵禦，以索綝為尚書僕射、都督宮城諸軍事。但麴允面對一直進攻的劉曜卻不敢前進；而另一方面，當時麴允打算奉愍帝到司馬保那裏，但索綝認為司馬保有晉愍帝在手後就會因其私心為所欲為，在其反對之下就沒有實行。次年，劉曜進圍長安，附近諸郡都有派軍救援但皆不敢前進，而晉愍帝屢次向其借兵的南陽王司馬保就派了胡崧領兵救援，並在靈臺擊敗劉曜。可是胡崧隨後就怕一旦助愍帝擊敗劉曜後，反會助長了麴允和索綝的威勢，故此就退兵不再進攻。而劉曜亦進佔長安外城，逼愍帝與索綝和麴允等退守長安小城自保。在劉曜的圍困下，小城內鬧了飢荒，人吃人，死亡和逃走的人很多，只有一千涼州義兵仍堅守。但當時連愍帝亦缺乏糧食，於是唯有派侍中宗敞向劉曜投降。索綝卻暗中將宗敞留下，命兒子向劉曜說：「現在城中糧食足夠支持一年，你未能輕易攻佔的了。但若果你答應讓索綝為車騎將軍、儀同三司和食邑萬戶的郡公，那就會以城向你投降。」劉曜聽後殺了索綝兒子並送還給索綝，傳話給索綝：「帝王之師以義行軍，我統領軍隊十五年來，沒有試過以假消息和詭計擊敗對手，而會用軍事力量完全壓倒對方。現在索綝託人所說的是天下首惡，我就為你們殺了傳話人。若覺得糧食未盡，就勉強守著吧；但若缺糧而兵力薄弱，那就早早順應天命吧。我怕我威嚴一振，玉石俱摧。」不久愍帝出降，索綝亦與麴允隨愍帝被押至平陽，漢國皇帝劉聰認為索綝以獻城出降條件請求敵國高位的行為是不忠於晉朝，於是在平陽東市處死索綝。

家庭

父母

• 索靖，索綝父，西晉官員，遊擊將軍，八王之亂中戰死。

• 荀氏，索綝母，封新豐君

子女

• 索石元，索綝子，被立為上洛郡公世子。

Early life and career

Suo Chen was from Dunhuang in Gansu province. His father Suo Jing, was an official of Jin and distinguished calligrapher who often commended his son's talents. Suo Chen saw his first role in the government as an Abundant Talent candidate and Household Gentlemen. One time, it was said that Suo personally killed 37 men to avenge his elder brother. This feat earned him the reverence of the populace, and he soon found himself appointed to a succession of posts, all of which he served with distinction, with his most notable being Prefect of Chang'an.

During the War of the Eight Princes in 304, the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong ordered Suo Chen and Zhang Fang to retrieve the emperor at Luoyang to move him to his base in Chang'an. After successfully doing so, Suo was appointed General of Hawkish Display. Following the victory of the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue over Sima Yong in 306, Suo Chen was transferred to serve the Prince of Nanyang, Sima Mo in Xuchang.

In 306, Sima Mo's territory was invaded by the Han Zhao prince, Liu Cong but Suo Chen repelled him. When Sima Mo was transferred to Chang'an in 307, Suo Chen followed him and became Administrator of Xinping (新平县, in present-day Henan). That same year, Liu Cong attacked Sima Mo again, so Suo was appointed General Who Maintains The West and Administrator of Pingyi. Suo was successful in maintaining the people's support, dissuading Han from attacking his domain.

Restoring imperial authority in the north

Eventually, in 311, Luoyang fell to Han and Emperor Huai of Jin was captured by Liu Cong (who by now was Emperor of Han). Shortly after, Sima Mo surrendered Chang'an after some resistance, and was subsequently executed by Liu Can. Having lost both the emperor and his superior, Suo Chen fled to Anding together with his colleagues Qu Yun and Liang Su (梁肅) to join its administrator, Jia Ya. Along the way, Suo Chen and the others encountered the sons of Jia Ya's officials and those from the Qiang and Di tribes in Anding being transported to Han to serve as hostages. Suo Chen freed them and brought them back to Jia Ya.

When the group arrived at Anding, they conspired with Jia to restore the Jin dynasty in northern China. Jia Ya agreed with their plan and was acclaimed General Who Pacifies the West. Jia Ya then led the group and their armies to capture Chang'an. The Inspector of Yongzhou, Qu Te (麴特), the Administrator of Fufeng, Liang Zong (梁綜) and Administrator of Xinping, Zhu Hui (竺恢) defected back to Jin when they heard that Jia's forces were coming. Liu Can sent his generals Zhao Ran (趙染) and Liu Ya (劉雅) to attack Xinping, but Suo Chen managed to defeat both of them. After Jia Ya defeated Liu Yao at Huangqiu (黃丘, in present-day Tai'erzhuang District, Shandong) and Liu Can was driven back from Xinfeng (新豐县, in Jingzhao, modern-day Shaanxi), many people around the Chang'an region surrendered to Jia Ya, and the city was reclaimed. Hearing that Chang'an was in the process of liberation, a man named Yan Ding brought Emperor Huai's nephew, Sima Ye to Chang'an and Ye was declared the new Crown Prince.

Despite the group's initial success, they soon suffered a major setback the following year. Jia Ya was captured and killed during a skirmish against Han. Furthermore, Yan Ding and the Administrator of Jingzhao, Liang Zong fought with one another over authority which led to Yan Ding killing Liang Zong. Both Suo Chen and Qu Yun feared that Yan Ding had grown too powerful, so they used Liang Zong's death as a pretext to attack him. Yan Ding was defeated and fled to Yongzhou, where he was killed by the Di tribesman Dou Shou (竇首), who then sent his head back to Chang'an. Suo Chen took up Liang Zong's position as Administrator of Jingzhao.

During Emperor Mins reign

In 313, Emperor Huai of Jin was executed by Liu Cong. When news of his death reached Chang'an, Sima Ye mourned for him and soon assumed the imperial title for himself, becoming Emperor Min of Jin. He gave a number of his officials new appointments. Suo Chen was appointed Deputy Director of the Left of the Masters of Writing, acting Director of the Ministry of Personnel, and Intendant of Jingzhao. He was then also appointed as Guard General and as acting Grand Commandant, handling all national military affairs.

The same year, Han's general Liu Yao began his attack on Emperor Min's territory. With Zhao Ran, he attacked Qu Yun at his base in Huangbai (黃白城, in present-day Xianyang, Shaanxi) defeating him several times. Emperor Min ordered Suo Chen to aid Qu Yun and Suo managed to rout Liu Yao's general Huyan Mo (呼延莫). Soon, Qu Yun was able to fend off the attackers but not before Chang'an was devastated by Zhao Ran's raid. For Suo Chen's feats, he was made Duke of Shangluo commandary with a fief of ten thousand households. His wife Lady Xun (荀氏) was made Lady of Xinfeng and his son Suo Shiyuan (索石元) became his heir.

Liu Yao and Zhao Ran attacked Chang'an again in 314 and this time Suo Chen was sent to oppose Zhao Ran. Zhao did not think much of Suo but his advisor Lu Hui (魯徽) warned him not to underestimate him. Zhao Ran refused to heed his advice and fought Suo Chen west of Chang'an but was defeated. For repelling Zhao Ran, Suo was further promoted to Grand General of the Agile Cavalry and Supervisor of the Left of the Masters of Writing. He was granted authority over the Masters of Writing, allowing him to be in control of most of the government's affairs.

The next year, Suo Chen received the position of Supervisor of the Masters of Writing and as Chief Controller in and around Chang'an itself. Around the same time, Liu Yao was invading Beidi (北地, in present-day Qingyang, Gansu) and Qu Yun struggled to oppose him. Even worse, Chang'an and the region was suffering from a terrible famine at the time. Qu Yun wished to bring Emperor Min over to Sima Bao in Qinzhou who had a stronger army and base to oppose Han. Suo Chen turned down his suggestion, stating that Sima Bao would surely use the emperor for himself if they were to do that, so Qu no longer asked.

Downfall and death

In 316, Liu Yao would besiege Chang'an for the last time. Emperor Min called his generals back to defend Chang'an but none of them dared to face Liu Yao. Sima Bao sent Hu Song (胡崧) to reinforce Chang'an but even though Hu had defeated Liu Yao along the way, he decided to turn back as he did not trust both Qu Yun and Suo Chen with their control over the emperor. Chang'an had not recovered from the famine, and with the ongoing siege, the people were cut off from supplies outside the city. Prices of food rose, and the citizens either resorted to cannibalism or abandoned their posts. Qu Yun and Suo Chen were pushed back into the inner city by Liu Yao. With no hope of winning, Emperor Min decided to surrender, lamenting, "It is Lord Qu and Lord Suo who have so mismanaged our affairs!"

Emperor Min sent his Palace Attendant, Zong Chang (宗敞) to present his letter of surrender to Liu Yao. Suo Chen secretly detained Zong and instead sent his son to advise Liu Yao. His son told Liu Yao that Chang'an can still hold out for a year, but if he were to give his father a high position in Han's government, he will surrender the city. However, Liu Yao rejected his proposal and executed him before sending his head to Suo. Emperor Min and his officials eventually surrendered to Han and was sent to Pingyang. For his act of disloyalty, Suo Chen was executed in the marketplace of Pingyang.