生平

早年

高歡六世祖高隱，西晉玄菟太守。高隱之子高慶，高慶之子高泰，高泰之子高湖，三世仕慕容氏。高湖的兒子高謐被流放懷朔鎮（今固陽縣），後世居于此，因為「累世北邊，故習其俗，遵同鮮卑」，令家族後來鮮卑化。俄裔美籍漢學家卜弼德認為，高歡的鮮卑名「賀六渾」即混血兒（arɣun）之意。北京大學中國古代史研究中心教授羅新認為，高歡的本名賀六渾與陸叡的本名賀鹿渾是同一個詞，與庫傉官、骨利幹一樣，都是Küliqan的漢語音譯形式。

《北齊書·神武上》記載他「目有精光、長頭高顴、齒白如玉，少有人傑表。深沉有大度、輕財重士、廣結士人、為豪俠所宗。」高歡的母親韓期姬是高樹生的正室，在他出生後不久即去世，高樹生將他交給高歡姐姐高婁斤和姐夫尉景撫養長大。在六鎮之亂爆發後，先後投靠杜洛周、葛榮，後來投奔爾朱榮。他向爾朱榮提出討伐胡太后親信鄭儼、徐紇而清君側，受爾朱榮賞識。在河陰之變後，爾朱榮掌握朝政，高歡被封為晉州刺史。

創業

後來北魏孝莊帝殺死爾朱榮，爾朱家族起兵討伐孝莊帝，孝莊帝戰敗被殺。爾朱家族立長廣王元曄為帝。高歡卻沒有參與這次行動。後來他設法說服爾朱兆派他統帥鎮壓六鎮之亂所得到的降兵，並帶領他們前往河北。

爾朱家族殘暴不仁，高歡遂有討伐爾朱家族的想法。在此期間，爾朱兆考慮慕容紹宗的建議，有意一舉解決高歡。但高歡深藏不露，使得爾朱兆與他結為兄弟，不設防備。爾朱度律罷元曄，立元恭（節閔帝），封高歡為「渤海王」，徵其入朝。高歡明瞭其中有詐，婉拒不受。不久之後，高歡在信都起兵，擁立自己轄區的宗室勃海太守元朗為帝，號令天下，並討伐爾朱氏。經過一年的戰事，尤以韓陵之戰，擊敗爾朱兆、爾朱世隆、爾朱彥伯、爾朱天光、爾朱度律、爾朱仲遠等，掌握政權。慕容紹宗歸降，為高歡所重用。

高歡以元朗世系疏遠、不是皇帝之選，有心另立皇帝。最初有意奉戴魏節閔帝，派僕射魏蘭根觀察魏節閔帝的為人。但魏蘭根回報魏節閔帝神採高明，恐怕日後難制，于是與高乾兄弟及黃門侍郎崔㥄以魏節閔帝系爾朱氏所立，奉戴則起兵無名為由，說服高歡廢帝。高歡又因汝南王元悅是魏孝文帝子，認為他可以繼位，于是告知元悅自己有意擁立，但元悅其後性行輕狂，舉止多有過失，高歡也放棄了擁立他的打算，立魏孝文帝之孫元修為皇帝，而將魏節閔帝囚禁于佛寺。高歡被授大丞相、天柱大將軍、太師、世襲定州刺史，增封並前十五萬戶，辭天柱大將軍，減戶五萬。高歡獨攬大權，使孝武帝非常不滿。孝武帝聯合賀拔岳試圖牽制高歡的勢力。高歡親信司空高乾密奏高歡孝武帝有二心，結果被孝武帝殺掉。高歡哭著說：「天子枉害司空！」兩人關係迅速惡化（亦有說高乾代表的漢人豪族勢力本非高歡嫡系，其死亦有被高歡故意出賣借刀殺人的成分）。高歡命令侯莫陳悅幹掉賀拔岳，並派侯景去接收賀拔岳的部隊。不料，賀拔岳的部下奉戴宇文泰為主，侯景無功而返。宇文泰用為賀拔岳報仇的名義起兵，並發檄文討伐高歡。

孝武帝終於在534年逃往關中投靠宇文泰，而高歡另立元善見為孝靜帝，遷都鄴（今河北臨漳西南），史稱東魏，由高歡任相。當年12月，宇文泰殺孝武帝，立元寶炬為帝，定都長安，史稱西魏。東西魏對峙的局面形成。

與西魏之戰

天平四年（537年）春，高歡、高昂、竇泰分三路進攻西魏。先鋒竇泰疾攻潼關，宇文泰故意示弱，率精銳出潼關左面的小關，以強勢兵力攻其不備，東魏軍潰敗，大將竇泰自殺。高歡被迫撤軍。

十月，高歡率兵二十萬至蒲津（今山西永濟縣一帶）攻打西魏，志在為竇泰復仇，高歡命令高昂領兵三萬出河南。時關中大饑，宇文泰所將不滿萬人。東魏右長史薛琡提議堅守糧道，不可渡河野戰；侯景也勸高歡分成二軍，相繼而進，但高歡不接受建議。後高歡渡河至馮翊城下，西魏華州刺史王羆有備，不可攖其鋒，乃涉洛水，軍於許原西。宇文泰至渭南，徵諸州兵馬，諸將認為眾寡不敵，請求緩進，不許。宇文泰令造浮橋於渭河，軍隊備有三日糧食，以輕騎渡渭河，至沙苑（今陝西大荔南，洛、渭之間）距東魏軍僅六十里。宇文泰採用李弼的計謀，列陣於渭曲，又命將士將武器藏在蘆葦中，候聞鼓聲而起。不久，高歡遣東魏兵至，見西魏兵少人乏，於是兵馬輕敵冒進，一時行伍亂次。宇文泰遂鳴鼓擊之，于謹等六軍與之合戰，李弼率鐵騎橫擊，東魏兵潰散敗北，喪兵七萬。這時李穆獻計：「高歡膽破矣，逐之可獲。」宇文泰不聽，還軍渭南，這時所徵諸州之兵剛到前線，宇文泰命令士兵每人種樹一株，以旌武功。李弼等十二大將，以功進爵，史稱「沙苑之戰」。

公元538年，高歡部將侯景奪回洛陽金墉城，宇文泰率軍救援，一開始東魏氣勢如虹，宇文泰戰馬中箭，把宇文泰甩在地上，結果宇文泰差點被俘虜。但不久後西魏軍重整旗鼓，侯景被擊敗，高昂率軍追擊宇文泰，戰敗被斬。此戰雙方打平，但高歡痛失一員大將。

公元543年，高昂的哥哥高仲密以北豫州投降西魏，高歡率十萬大軍討伐，宇文泰率軍救援。高歡大將彭樂以數千騎兵衝入西魏北軍，取得很大勝利，高歡鳴鼓進擊，斬首三萬餘級。高歡派彭樂追擊宇文泰。宇文泰狼狽不堪，向彭樂哀求：「彭將軍你太傻了！今天你殺掉我，明天你還有用嗎？何不還營，把我丟下的金銀寶物取走呢？」彭樂聞訊便不再追擊，回去跟高歡報告：「宇文泰僥倖逃跑，已經心驚膽戰！」高歡聽說彭樂放走大敵，氣得要命，卻無可奈何。

隔日，雙方重整旗鼓再戰。這一次西魏占了上風，東魏戰敗，高歡被迫撤退。宇文泰命令賀拔勝率三千兵馬追擊高歡，賀拔勝的兵器幾乎都擊到了高歡，賀拔勝邊追邊喊：「賀六渾，我賀拔破胡（賀拔勝的表字）今天一定宰了你！」所幸高歡部下射死賀拔勝坐騎，這才順利脫險。高歡回軍後，下令把賀拔勝留在東魏的幾個兒子統統殺掉，賀拔勝鬱郁而終。

武定四年（546年），高歡率十萬大軍在玉璧（山西稷山）與宇文泰交戰，西魏守將韋孝寬積極防守，高歡無懈可擊。東魏苦攻玉壁五十多天，戰死病死七萬多人，高歡因憂憤生病，被迫撤退。西魏造謠高歡中箭病危，高歡回師途中帶病召集群臣，請斛律金高歌〈敕勒歌〉一首：「敕勒川，陰山下，天似穹廬，籠蓋四野。天蒼蒼，野茫茫，風吹草低見牛羊。」曲中高歡親自和唱，哀慟流淚。

侯景向來瞧不起高澄，曾經對司馬子如說：「高王在，我不敢有異心，高王不在了，我不能和鮮卑小子高澄共事。」司馬子如捂住侯景的嘴巴。高歡病重後，高澄以高歡的名義寫信召侯景，侯景先前與高歡約定，書信背面有微小黑點才來。這次書信送到，背面沒有黑點，侯景就沒有去。侯景又聽說高歡生病，于是聚集軍隊堅守。高歡召見世子高澄，對高澄說：「我雖然患病，你臉上有更多的憂慮神色，為什麼？」高澄沒有回答，高歡說：「難道是擔心侯景反叛嗎？」高澄回答：「是的。」高歡說：「侯景在黃河以南地區獨斷專行十四年了，經常有驕橫放肆的志向，不過我能夠馴養，怎麼能被你控制呢！現在四方沒有平定，不要急于為我舉行哀悼儀式。厙狄幹是鮮卑老前輩，斛律金是勑勒老前輩，他們都性情剛強正直，始終不會背叛你。可朱渾道元、劉豐生遠道來投奔我，一定不會有異心。賀拔焉過兒淳樸誠實沒有過錯，潘相樂本來是道德很高的人，心地溫和厚道，你們兄弟一定會得到他的幫助。韓軌稍微戇直，應該寬容他。彭相樂是難得的親信，應該保護他。略微能抵擋侯景的只有慕容紹宗，我故意不重視他，把他留下來交給你，應該給以特殊的禮遇，委任他謀劃大事。」

武定五年春正月朔（547年2月6日），發生了日食，高歡說：「日食難道是為了我嗎？那我死了又有什麼遺憾？」正月丙午（547年2月13日），高歡向魏孝靜帝啟稟陳說，當日，高歡在晉陽去世，虛歲五十二，葬于義平陵（不過據《資治通鑑》記載，義平陵是高歡的衣冠塚，實陵潛葬于鼓山石窟）。

高歡之子高洋篡魏登基後，追尊高歡為太祖獻武皇帝，後主時，又改為高祖神武皇帝。

出身爭論

高歡家族出身自漢族門閥渤海高氏的認識在古代並未受到質疑，日本學者濱口重國是最早對史書所載高歡家世族屬提出質疑的現代學者，他于1938年發表《高齊出自考———高歡の制霸と河北の豪族高乾兄弟の活躍》一文，認為高歡家族原本並非出身渤海高氏，史書中把高歡曾祖父高湖作為渤海高氏一族中最有名的高允之父韜之弟乃出自偽造。在當時重門閥的風潮下，出身無名之家的高歡很有必要通過詐稱渤海高氏以提高其家族地位，他在打起反爾朱氏旗號後為了得到冀州境內豪族特別是高乾兄弟的支持，借用渤海高氏一族的世系並以其祖父高湖作為北魏有數的名臣高允之父高韜之弟。濱口重國強烈懷疑高歡家族出自漢族，認為高湖子孫大多有著鮮卑特色的名字，包括高謐在內的高湖子孫的居住地與河州關係密切，高謐很可能是從河州遷居懷朔鎮的，但濱口重國的主張只是出於推測。

中國已故著名學者姚薇元、周一良、繆鉞等均曾論及北齊皇室世系族屬問題，並對歷史文獻的記載提出了質疑。姚薇元是史學界研究北朝胡姓問題最具權威的學者，他認為高歡先世應源出鮮卑是樓氏。

在20世紀中葉以後的有關論著中，對高氏世系族屬問題亦多所涉及，且有對之作重新探討的專文。王仲犖的《魏晉南北朝史》對高歡族屬問題有了敘述，他一方面認為高歡家族為鮮卑族，同時又並未完全否定史籍關于高歡為「坐法徙居北鎮」的高謐之孫的記載，但同時代亦有其他學者如岡崎文夫、陳寅恪、錢穆等認同高歡家族出身自漢族。

有關質疑及主張鮮卑出身論的推測受到現代學者張金龍的否定，其研究認為北魏及北周統治者並不諱言出身胡人，高歡並沒有偽造家譜的必要，指出高歡的確出身漢族，但受到鮮卑文化很深的影響

評價

高歡善於玩弄權術，足智多謀，精通權宜之計。從他替爾朱榮出謀劃策，到後來擊破掌權的爾朱家族都顯示了這一點。另外，高歡臨終前囑咐兒子高澄，指出侯景必然造反，但只要用慕容紹宗為將就可討平。結果不出高歡所料。高澄用人惟才是用，為北齊立國打下了堅固的基礎。

然而，高歡野心太大，未能處理好與孝武帝的關係，致使孝武帝出奔宇文泰，最終造成東西魏對峙之局。而且，高歡控制的東魏實力雖遠強于西魏，但他在戰術不及宇文泰，導致他終其一生未能統一北方。高歡亦教子無方，他身後的北齊政權暴君和昏君輩出，朝政混亂，最終被宇文氏的北周消滅。

爾朱榮認識高歡時，對高歡能讓馬乖乖站著讓他清洗，十分驚訝，高歡表示強硬手段才是唯一方法，爾朱榮對他記憶十分深刻，開始拔擢他。後來，高歡幾個兒子有次面對一團繩索難解，其中次子高洋一刀砍斷，高歡十分高興。此為「快刀斬亂麻」一語由來。

家族

父母

• 高樹生

• 韓期姬

兄弟姐妹

• 高婁斤，常山君，嫁東魏驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、長樂王尉景

• 高琛，東魏驃騎大將軍、御史中尉、趙郡貞平王

• 高惠寶，陳留文恭王

• 樂陵公主，嫁北齊太宰、章武景烈王厙狄幹

妻妾

正室

• 武明皇后婁昭君

• 蠕蠕公主鬱久閭氏 阿那瓌之女

妾室

• 大爾朱氏，原為北魏孝莊帝元子攸皇后

• 小爾朱氏，原為北魏元曄皇后

• 鄭大車，馮翊太妃，生馮翊王高潤

• 韓智輝，上黨太妃

• 游娘，父游京之

• 馮娘，馮子昂妹，初為魏任城王妃，再嫁爾朱世隆，後為高歡所娶，生漢陽敬懷王、浮陽公主

• 李娘，李延實侄女。初為魏城陽王妃。

• 王娘，生永安王高浚

• 穆法藏，生平陽王高淹

• 馬氏

• 元氏，元暉女

子女

兒子

• 長子：高澄，北齊文襄帝，母武明皇后

• 次子：高洋，北齊文宣帝，母武明皇后

• 三子：高浚，永安簡平王，母王氏

• 四子：高淹，平陽靖翼王，母穆法藏

• 五子：高浟，彭城景思王，母大爾朱氏

• 六子：高演，常山王 北齊孝昭帝，母為武明皇后

• 七子：高渙，上黨剛肅王，母韓智輝

• 八子：高淯，襄城景烈王，母武明皇后

• 九子：高湛，長廣王 北齊武成帝，母武明皇后

• 十子：高湝，任城王，母小爾朱氏

• 十一子：高湜，高陽康穆王，母游氏

• 十二子：高濟，博陵文簡王，母武明皇后

• 十三子：高𤁒，華山王，母大爾朱氏

• 十四子：高潤，馮翊文昭王，母鄭大車

• 十五子：高洽，漢陽敬懷王，母馮娘

女兒

• 高皇后，長女，生母婁昭君，北魏元修皇后，再嫁元韶

• 太原長公主，次女，生母婁昭君，東魏元善見皇后，再嫁楊愔

• 高阿難，第三女，封長樂長公主，嫁東魏敷城縣開國公，北齊平梁王劉洪徽

• 高那耶，第六女，封東海長公主，嫁司馬消難

• 潁川公主

• 義寧公主

• 浮陽公主，母馮娘

• 東平公主

• 陽翟公主，養女，生父韓賢

部下

• 竇泰

• 斛律金

• 高乾

• 高昂

• 高岳

• 劉貴

• 孫騰

• 高隆之

• 司馬子如

• 賈顯智

• 段榮

• 段韶

• 尉景

• 侯景

• 慕容紹宗

• 薛孤延

• 叱列平

• 庫狄幹

• 万俟洛

• 可朱渾元

• 斛律羌舉

• 莫多婁貸文

• 厙狄回洛

• 慕容儼

• 步大汗薩

• 劉豐生

• 婁昭

• 婁睿

• 封隆之

• 李元忠

• 彭樂

• 潘樂

• 張保洛

• 皮景和

• 薛琡

延伸閱讀

Background

Gao Huan was born in 496, at Northern Wei's northern garrison town Huaishuo (懷朔鎮, near Guyang in modern Baotou, Inner Mongolia). He was ethnically Han, but his family, having resided at Huaishuo ever since his grandfather Gao Mi (高謐) was exiled there for faults while serving as a Northern Wei official, had largely been acculturated in the Xianbei ways. (Gao Huan's nickname Heliuhun was a Xianbei name.) His father was Gao Shusheng (高樹生), and his mother was Han Qiji (韩期姬), Gao Shusheng's wife, died soon after his birth, and he was raised at the house of his older sister Gao Loujin (高娄斤) with her husband, Wei Jing (尉景). In his young days, his family was poor, and he became a servant at the old Northern Wei capital Pingcheng (平城, in modern Datong, Shanxi). While serving at Pingcheng, Lou Zhaojun an ethnic Xianbei, and the daughter of a wealthy house, saw him and was impressed with his appearance and behavior, and she married him despite her parents' opposition. It was only after this marriage that Gao had sufficient money to buy a horse, and he became a courier for the Pingcheng defense headquarters, often delivering official mail to and from the capital Luoyang.

In 519, Gao happened to be at Luoyang when a mob of soldiers, angry over the minister Zhang Yi (張彝)'s new policy of excluding soldiers from civil service, sieged Zhang's house and then killed him. The regent Empress Dowager Hu (Emperor Xiaoming's mother) did not dare to punish them, but largely pardoned them except for eight leaders. Gao was unimpressed by Empress Dowager Hu's actions and believed that Northern Wei was on the verge of collapse. When he returned to Pingcheng, he sold his properties and used the funds to gather associates around him, stating that if disturbances occurred, the property might not be his any more anyway. His associates around this time included people from diverse ethnic backgrounds such as Xianbei, Chinese and Xiongnu, in addition to his brother-in-law Wei Jing, Sima Ziru (司馬子如), Liu Gui (劉貴), Jia Xianzhi (賈顯智), Sun Teng (孫騰), Hou Jing (侯景), and Cai Jun (蔡儁). Together they were often in the countryside, and when they saw injustices, they would seek to correct them.

In 525, in the midst of the Rebellion of the Six Frontier Towns against Northern Wei's rule, Gao and his associates joined one of the major Xianbei and Turkic rebel leaders, Du Luozhou (杜洛周). However, Gao soon became unimpressed with Du's behavior, and he escaped from Du's army. He then joined another rebel leader, Ge Rong (葛榮), but eventually went to the Northern Wei general and Xiongnu tribal leader Erzhu Rong. By this time, Liu Gui, a Xiongnu descendant and close friend of Gao Huan was already serving under Erzhu, and he often praised Gao's talent, but when Erzhu met Gao, he was not initially impressed as Gao was poor, and looked haggard and unconfident. However, when Gao was able to tame a very wild horse, Erzhu became impressed, and they became closer and closer, with Gao pointing out that with the empire in disarray, it would be a good opportunity for Erzhu to seize power.

Ethnic identity

Gao Huan was descended from a Han Chinese family, at least paternally. However, at the same time he maintained a very public culturally Xianbei appearance. He claimed the Bohai Chinese Gao clan (渤海高氏) as his ancestors and Bohai his ancestral land, but had become de-Sinicized. It was recorded that he would make speech to his soldiers only in the Xianbei language instead of Chinese, unless one of his most fiercest generals - Gao Aocao (高敖曹) was at the scene, he would then switch his use of language from Xianbei to Chinese, Gao Aocao was one of the few ethnic Chinese whom had earned respect from Gao Huan. Gao Huan was also reported as having frequently said to his soldiers in Xianbei language that the native Chinese "are your slaves," "they bring you supplies and clothing", while simultaneously telling the native Chinese that the Xianbei "are your clients" and "they fight for you and enable you to have peace and order". He had become Xianbeified as his clan had lived in Xianbei cultural region for some time after being relocated from what is now modern Hebei (Bohai). The Eastern Wei enfeoffed the land of Bohai to Gao Huan, and he became "Prince of Bohai" or "King of Bohai". Before Gao's death, he sang the "Song of the Chile" (敕勒歌; considered by many scholars as a military song for all Xianbeified soldiers) together with his trusted Chile general Hulü Jin (斛律金) in front of most of his major Xianbei, as well as Xianbeified Xiongnu, Chile and Chinese generals, and wept bitterly. He also pointed out that his powerful Chinese general Hou Jing was capricious, cunning and could not be trusted, who will rebel after his death, he then appointed several Xianbei and Chile generals whom he considered to be both upright and talented to be on guard of Hou Jing. In the end Hou did rebel against Gao Huan's son Gao Cheng, but the rebellion was successfully put down by Eastern Wei's senior general Murong Shaozong (慕容紹宗).

Under the Erzhus

Erzhu Rong was impressed with Gao Huan's talents, and he made Gao one of his military commanders. In 528, Emperor Xiaoming, displeased at the hold on power that Empress Dowager Hu's lover Zheng Yan (鄭儼) and Zheng's associate Xu Ge (徐紇) had, entered into a conspiracy with Erzhu to have Erzhu advance on the capital to force Empress Dowager Hu to kill Zheng and Xu. Erzhu therefore began to march on the capital, and he made Gao his forward commander. On the way, however, Emperor Xiaoming ordered him to stop, but the news of the conspiracy still leaked, and Empress Dowager Hu poisoned Emperor Xiaoming to death and declared his distant toddler nephew Yuan Zhao emperor.

Erzhu refused to recognize Yuan Zhao as emperor, and he continued his march on Luoyang, declaring Yuan Ziyou the Prince of Changle emperor (as Emperor Xiaozhuang). Luoyang's defenses collapsed, and Erzhu arrested and threw Empress Dowager Hu and Yuan Zhao into the Yellow River to drown. Believing that the imperial officials would never obey him, he massacred a large number of them (including Emperor Xiaozhuang's brothers), and Emperor Xiaozhuang, fearing what would come next, offered to yield the throne to Erzhu. Gao suggested that Erzhu accept the offer, but Erzhu hesitated and ultimately ruled against it. His general Heba Yue (賀拔岳), who opposed Erzhu's taking of the throne, suggested Erzhu that Gao should be executed to show his good faith, but Erzhu ruled against it. In fact, for Gao's contributions to the campaign, Emperor Xiaozhuang created him the Count of Tongdi.

Erzhu subsequently carried out a number of campaigns against agrarian rebels to try to reunify the empire. Gao thereafter participated in the campaigns against Ge Rong and Xing Gao (邢杲), as well as the rebel general Yang Kan (羊侃), serving with distinction. On one occasion, when Erzhu Rong was asking his commanders for opinions on who could succeed him as the commanding general of the army if he were no longer there, most opined that Erzhu Zhao could, but Erzhu Rong himself opined that Gao Huan was the only one capable of doing so, and he warned Erzhu Zhao, "You are no match for Gao Huan, and one day he will surely pierce through your nose." Erzhu Rong thereafter made Gao the governor of Jin Province (晉州, roughly modern Linfen, Shanxi), and while governor, Gao gathered much wealth, intending for use later.

In 530, Emperor Xiaozhuang, believing that Erzhu would eventually seize the throne, ambushed and killed him in the palace. The Erzhus, led by Erzhu Zhao and Erzhu Rong's cousin Erzhu Shilong, fought against Emperor Xiaozhuang, and Erzhu Zhao was thereafter marching on Luoyang, declaring Erzhu Rong's wife the Princess Beixiang's nephew Yuan Ye emperor. Erzhu Zhao summoned Gao to aid him, but Gao declined, using the excuse that he needed to fight against local agrarian rebels. Erzhu Zhao was displeased, but for the time being did not act against Gao. Later in the year, Erzhu Zhao captured Luoyang and arrested Emperor Xiaozhuang, delivering Emperor Xiaozhuang to his headquarters at Jinyang (晉陽, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi). Gao wrote a letter to Erzhu Zhao urging him not to harm the emperor, but Erzhu Zhao refused to answer, and subsequently strangled Emperor Xiaozhuang to death.

Despite this, Gao remained nominally under the Erzhus' command structure, and when, around the new year, the general Gedouling Bufan (紇豆陵步番), loyal to Emperor Xiaozhuang, attacked Erzhu Zhao and initially defeated him, approaching Jinyang, Gao came to Erzhu Zhao's aid, and together they defeated and killed Gedouling. After the battle, Erzhu Zhao and Gao swore themselves to be brothers. Erzhu Zhao, trusting Gao, commissioned him with Ge Rong's former troops (largely Xianbei) and, accepting his suggestion, allowed him to take his new troops east of the Taihang Mountains to seek food.

In spring 531, Gao Huan was posturing to attack his distant relative Gao Gan (高乾), who had declared a rebellion at Xindu (信都, in modern Hengshui, Hebei), against the Erzhus. However, Gao Gan and Li Yuanzhong (李元忠) were able to persuade him that the Erzhus, because of their corruption, were hated by the people, and he could overthrow them. Gao Huan thereafter stirred his troops by forging orders from Erzhu Zhao that indicated that Erzhu Zhao was about to turn them into servants for his own troops. Gao Huan's troops believed the forged orders, and when he declared a rebellion in summer 531, they supported him.

Rebellion against the Erzhus

Initially, Gao Huan's rebellion formally continued to recognize Emperor Jiemin, whom Erzhu Shilong had made emperor in spring 531 to replace Yuan Ye (whose distant imperial lineage made him appear inappropriate as emperor). However, at Sun Teng's urging, in fall 531, Gao declared another distant member of the imperial Yuan clan, Yuan Lang, emperor.

Despite Gao's reputation for being a capable soldier, his army was still weak, and initially, most key members of the Erzhu clan did not take him seriously, except Erzhu Shilong. Soon, Erzhu Shilong's brothers Erzhu Zhongyuan (爾朱仲遠) and Erzhu Dulü (爾朱度律), as well as Erzhu Zhao, converged against Gao, but Gao successfully spread rumors to make the Erzhus suspicious of each other, due to existing conflicts that Erzhu Zhao and Erzhu Shilong already had, and Erzhu Zhongyuan and Erzhu Dulü subsequently withdrew. Gao then defeated Erzhu Zhao in battle in winter 531, forcing Erzhu Zhao to withdraw as well. In spring 532, Gao captured the important city Yecheng, and used it as a base for subsequent operations.

The Erzhus soon reconciled, and soon, Erzhu Zhao, Erzhu Zhongyuan, Erzhu Dulü, and Erzhu Tianguang converged on Yecheng. However, despite the Erzhus' numerical superiority, Gao defeated them, forcing Erzhu Zhao to flee back to Jinyang and Erzhu Zhongyuan back to his base Dong Commandery (東郡, in modern Anyang, Henan). Erzhu Tianguang and Erzhu Dulü tried to retreat to Luoyang, but at this time, the general Husi Chun rebelled against the Erzhus in Luoyang itself, killing Erzhu Shilong and another brother of Erzhu Shilong, Erzhu Yanbo (爾朱彥伯), and he also captured Erzhu Dulü and Erzhu Tianguang in battle, delivering them to Gao. Erzhu Zhongyuan soon abandoned Dong Commandery and fled to rival Liang Dynasty, leaving Erzhu Zhao as the only major surviving member of the Erzhu clan. Gao marched toward Luoyang, then controlled by Husi, with Yuan Lang.

However, Gao was beginning to believe that Yuan Lang, due to his lineage's being distant from recent emperors, to be an inappropriate choice to be emperor as well. He toyed with the idea of allowing Emperor Jiemin to remain emperor, but decided against it after his generals Wei Lan'gen (魏蘭根) and Cui Ling (name not in Unicode) advised him that Emperor Jiemin would be difficult to control in the future. He also considered Emperor Xiaowen's son Yuan Yue (元悅) the Prince of Huai'nan, and he welcomed Yuan Yue back from Liang, but he subsequently heard that Yuan Yue was arbitrary in his actions, and so decided against it as well. Instead, he offered the throne to Emperor Xiaowen's grandson Yuan Xiu the Prince of Pingyang, and Yuan Xiu accepted, taking the throne as Emperor Xiaowu. Gao became the paramount general of the empire, although the imperial government became largely run by Husi Chun and Emperor Xiaowu's associate Wang Sizheng (王思政).

During Emperor Xiaowus reign

Emperor Xiaowu initially deferred to Gao Huan, who continued to command the largest army of the state and took over Erzhu Rong's old headquarters at Jinyang as his own, on most decisions, and Emperor Xiaowu married Gao's daughter as his empress in late 532. He also created Gao the Prince of Bohai, a title that Yuan Lang had initially created Gao in 531 but Gao continuously declined until winter 533. However, the relationship between Emperor Xiaowu and Gao soon deteriorated, over Emperor Xiaowu's suspicions that Gao had designs on the throne, and over Emperor Xiaowu's desires to reassert imperial authority. Emperor Xiaowu therefore tried to align himself with independent generals, the brothers Heba Yue (賀拔岳), who controlled the western provinces, and Heba Sheng (賀拔勝), who controlled the southern provinces. Gao tried to remain deferential to Emperor Xiaowu outwardly, but was becoming increasingly displeased with the emperor's independence.

Gao tried to undermine Emperor Xiaowu's allies. In winter 533, he sent his associate Zhai Song (翟嵩) to persuade Heba Yue's lieutenant Houmochen Yue (侯莫陳悅) to betray Heba, while in spring 534 ambushing a major tribal leader, Gedouling Yili (紇豆陵依利), whom Emperor Xiaowu had also made overtures to, taking over Gedouling's troops. Soon thereafter, Homouchen assassinated Heba Yue, but Homouchen missed an opportunity to take over Heba Yue's troops. Subsequently, those troops supported Heba Yue's assistant Yuwen Tai as their leader, and Yuwen soon defeated Houmochen, who committed suicide. Emperor Xiaowu subsequently entered into an alliance with Yuwen. When Gao tried to make overtures to Yuwen, Yuwen arrested his messengers and delivered them to Emperor Xiaowu.

Emperor Xiaowu soon prepared a campaign against Gao, and he, trying to catch Gao by surprise, issued a secret edict to Gao claiming to be actually planning to attack Yuwen and Heba Sheng. Gao, however, saw through Emperor Xiaowu's plot, and marched toward Luoyang. Wang Sizheng, believing that the imperial troops were not strong enough to resist Gao's, suggested Emperor Xiaowu to flee to Yuwen's territory, and Emperor Xiaowu decided to do so, rejecting Husi Chun's offer to take one final stand at Luoyang, particularly when Heba Sheng failed to come to the emperor's aid and when Yuwen's troops failed to arrive quickly. It took Gao only a month to reach Luoyang, and Emperor Xiaowu fled west, encountering Yuwen's troops on the way, and had them escort him back to Yuwen's headquarters at Chang'an, where he reestablished the imperial government and made Yuwen prime minister.

Meanwhile, Gao Huan took over the Luoyang region, and soon also defeated Heba Sheng, taking over his territory and forcing him to flee to Liang. Gao then wrote repeated petitions to Emperor Xiaowu, requesting that he return to Luoyang and indicating that he was willing to return to the status quo ante. Emperor Xiaowu did not respond to any of Gao's overtures. Gao therefore made Yuan Shanjian, the son and heir apparent of Emperor Xiaowu's cousin Yuan Dan (元亶) the Prince of Qinghe emperor (as Emperor Xiaojing) and moving the capital from Luoyang to Yecheng, thus formally dividing the empire into two (Eastern Wei under Emperor Xiaojing and Western Wei under Emperor Xiaowu), albeit with each claiming to be the rightful one.

During Emperor Xiaojings reign

Eastern Wei's territorial size and military strength was far stronger than Western Wei's, and Gao made a number of attempts to try to end the division by conquering Western Wei, but the battles largely proved to be inconclusive, allowing Western Wei to stand. Periodically, Western Wei generals who had prior relationships with Gao would defect to Eastern Wei, and Gao at times carried out campaigns deep within Western Wei territory. However, Western Wei was able to portray Gao as a renegade general who expelled the emperor, and often during campaigns, local populace would assist Western Wei troops because they believed Western Wei's characterization. During this period, Gao also tried to foster harmony between the ethnic Xianbei and Chinese, persuading the Xianbei that they needed the Chinese to practice agriculture to be fed, and persuading the Chinese that they needed the Xianbei's military aptitude to protect them. He saw Emperor Xiaowu's flight as a blot on his personal history, so he treated Emperor Xiaojing with great formal respect, deferring to Emperor Xiaojing in all public occasions.

in spring 535, Gao Huan learned that around the new year 535, Emperor Xiaowu, who had a falling out with Yuwen Tai over Yuwen's refusal to condone his incestuous relationships with his cousins, had been poisoned to death by Yuwen. Gao suggested that an official mourning period be held for Emperor Xiaowu, and while there were disagreements, eventually a mourning period was held.

Also in spring 535, a sex scandal affected Gao's household. Gao's heir apparent Gao Cheng, born of his wife Princess Lou, had an affair with Gao Huan's concubine Zheng Dache (鄭大車), and the affair was discovered. Gao Huan caned Gao Cheng and put him under house arrest, and refused to meet with Gao Cheng's mother Princess Lou. He also considered replacing Gao Cheng as heir apparent with Gao You (高浟), the son of his concubine Erzhu Ying'e, the daughter of Erzhu Rong who had previously been Emperor Xiaozhuang's empress. After intercession by Gao Huan's friend Sima Ziru, who reminded him how much Princess Lou had done for him before he had accomplished great things and who used violent methods to force the servant girls who were witnesses to the affair to recant, Gao Huan calmed down and did not replace Gao Cheng.

Around the new year 536, Gao Huan tried to make an alliance with Rouran against Western Wei, by marrying a princess to Rouran's Chiliantoubingdoufa Khan Yujiulü Anagui. However, Yujiulü Anagui soon took a Western Wei princess as consort as well, and the alliance did not materialize.

In spring 536, Gao made a deep incursion into Western Wei territory, capturing Xia Province (夏州, roughly modern Yulin, Shaanxi), while also rescuing his ally Cao Ni (曹泥) the governor of Ling Province (靈州, roughly modern Yinchuan, Ningxia), who had been trapped behind Western Wei lines. The Western Wei general Moqi Pu (万俟普), his son Moqi Shouluogan (万俟受洛干), and other generals Chigan Baole (叱干寶樂) and Poliuhan Chang (破六韓常), who were stationed in the western Western Wei territory, also joined Gao and returned to Eastern Wei with him.

Also in spring 536, Gao Huan, at Gao Cheng's request, made Gao Cheng the Eastern Wei prime minister, despite the fact that Gao Cheng was only 14 at this point. Gao Cheng was sent to Yecheng, and he took over actual reign of the Eastern Wei imperial government.

In spring 537, Gao Huan launched a major attack three-pronged on Western Wei, commanded by himself and his key generals Dou Tai (竇泰) and Gao Aocao (高敖曹), intending to draw Yuwen's troops to himself while having Dou advance deep into Western Wei territory. Yuwen, pretending to be ready to abandon Chang'an to withdraw to modern eastern Gansu, instead launched a surprise attack on Dou's troops, slaughtering most of them. Dou committed suicide. Gao Huan and Gao Aocao were forced to withdraw. In counterattacks, Western Wei took modern western Henan and southwestern Shanxi.

In winter 537, after hearing news that the Guanzhong region (the heart of the Western Wei state) was suffering from a major famine, Gao Huan launched another major attack on Western Wei. He encountered Yuwen at the Battle of Shayuan (沙苑, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi), and, believing that he had overwhelming numerical advantage, rejected the strategy of Hulü Qiangju (斛律羌舉) to bypass Yuwen and make a direct attack on Chang'an, and his own initial inclination to set fire to the grass fields at Shayuan to have it burn Yuwen's troops, instead directly engaging Yuwen in battle. Yuwen's troops, however, fought hard, one of Yuwen's key generals Li Bi (李弼), led about 600 elite cavalry, charged through Gao's 200,000 soldiers and broke their formation. They defeated Gao's troops, forcing Gao to withdraw. In light of his defeat, the southern provinces and Luoyang area largely rebelled and declared allegiance to Western Wei, but in spring 538 Gao sent Hou Jing against the southern provinces, recapturing them.

In 538, after Emperor Wen of Western Wei married Yujiulü Anagui's daughter as his empress, Yujiulü Anagui cut off relations between Rouran and Eastern Wei.

In fall 538, Gao Huan, assisted by Hou Jing and Gao Aocao, put Luoyang under siege. Yuwen and Emperor Wen led the Western Wei troops to aid Luoyang's defender, the general Dugu Xin, and a largely inconclusive battle with heavy losses on both sides occurred—with Western Wei being able to kill Gao Aocao, and Yuwen nearly killed in the battle as well. However, eventually Western Wei troops were forced to abandon Luoyang and withdraw, and at the same time, the Eastern Wei general Zhao Qingque (趙青雀), who had been captured by Western Wei in the Battle of Shayuan, rebelled against Western Wei at Chang'an, forcing the Western Wei officials who remained in Chang'an to escort the crown prince Yuan Qin out of Chang'an. However, Gao Huan was unable to take advantage of the disturbance that Zhao caused, and Yuwen was able to return to Chang'an to suppress Zhao's rebellion. Meanwhile, Western Wei also recaptured some of the southern provinces. For the next few years, while there continued to be border battles, no major campaigns was initiated by either Eastern Wei or Western Wei.

In summer 539, Gao Huan gave his second daughter to Emperor Xiaojing in marriage as Emperor Xiaojing's wife and empress.

In winter 541, Gao Huan had Emperor Xiaojing issue an edict standardizing measurement units for cloth, to avoid the populace's being unfairly taxed.

In winter 542, Gao Huan launched a major attack on the Western Wei border city of Yubi (玉壁, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), but the Western Wei defence was held successfully and Gao was forced to withdraw.

In spring 543, another sexual wrongdoing by Gao Cheng would lead to a new campaign between Eastern Wei and Western Wei. The official Gao Zhongmi (高仲密, Gao Aocao's brother), already fearful over his situation because one of Gao Cheng's major assistants, Cui Xian (崔暹), had tried to pick his faults after he divorced Cui Xian's sister, was further aggravated when Gao Cheng tried to rape his second wife, Li Changyi (李昌儀). He therefore surrendered the important garrison of Hulao (虎牢, in modern Zhengzhou, Henan) to Western Wei. Yuwen led his troops to try to come to Gao Zhongmi's aid and further again seize the entire Luoyang region, but was repelled in a major battle near Luoyang, during which both Yuwen and Gao Huan were nearly killed in battle, with Heba Sheng, then a Western Wei general, nearly killing Gao with a spear. (In retaliation, Gao Huan later had all of Heba's sons who remained in Eastern Wei territory executed.) By summer 543, the Western Wei forces had withdrawn, and the entire Luoyang region was again under Eastern Wei control.

in 544, with Gao Huan believing that four key officials who were close to him—Sun Teng, Sima Ziru, his cousin Gao Yue (高岳), and his sworn "brother" Gao Longzhi (高隆之) -- were wielding too much power, he gave the 22-year-old Gao Cheng additional authorities, and Gao Cheng increasingly asserted authorities over these officials and others. For example, once when Sun visited Gao Cheng but was acting insufficiently deferentially, Gao Cheng had his attendants throw Sun on the ground and pound him with the sword hilts. Gao Cheng also made one of his close assistants, Cui Jishu (崔季舒, Cui Xian's uncle) an assistant to Emperor Xiaojing, in order to keep a closer eye on Emperor Xiaojing. Gao Cheng soon greatly enhanced the authorities of both Cui Xian and Song Youdao (宋遊道) and charged them with the responsibilities of stamping out corruption among officials—which Gao Huan himself had been reluctant to do so. Based on Cui Xian's and Song's recommendations, Sima was arrested and reduced to commoner rank, while Yuan Tan (元坦) the Prince of Xianyang was relieved of all governmental posts.

In spring 545, Erzhu Ying'e's brother Erzhu Wenchang (爾朱文暢) and Zheng Dache's brother Zheng Zhongli (鄭仲禮), along with Ren Zhou (任冑), conspired to assassinate Gao Huan and support Erzhu Wenchang as leader, but the conspiracy was discovered, and the conspirators were put to death, along with their families. However, because of Gao Huan's favors for Erzhu Ying'e and Zheng Dache, he spared their brothers.

Lou Zhaojun supported and assisted Gao Huan when he married more women, wanting to expand his power.

In fall 545, due to an alliance between Western Wei and Rouran to attack Eastern Wei, Gao Huan sued for peace with Rouran by requesting a marriage between a daughter of Yujiulü Anagui and Gao Cheng. Yujiulü Anagui refused, stating that it would only be sufficient if Gao Huan himself married her. Gao Huan himself initially refused, but Princess Lou, Gao Cheng, and Wei Jing all persuaded him otherwise, and he married Yujiulü Anagui's daughter, referring to her as the Princess Ruru (蠕蠕公主). To facilitate this marriage, Princess Lou moved out of the mansion, but Gao Huan and Princess Lou were not formally divorced.

In fall 546, Gao Huan launched another major attack on Western Wei, apparently to make one final attempt to destroy it. He put Yubi under siege, intending to attract Western Wei forces to Yubi in order to destroy it, but Western Wei did not respond. Yuwen' Chinese general in charge of defending Yubi, Wei Xiaokuan, however, defended against all kinds of siege tactics that Gao Huan tried, for 50 days, and Eastern Wei forces suffered 70,000 deaths from the battle and the illnesses. Gao Huan himself was physically and emotionally drained, and he became ill, and he was forced to withdraw. Western Wei subsequently declared that Wei had killed Gao Huan with a powerful crossbow, and Gao Huan, in order to dispel the rumor, appeared before his army to sing the "Song of the Chile" with Hulü Jin in front of his generals. As he did, he wept bitterly.

Gao's illness continued to progress once he returned to Jinyang, and he recalled Gao Cheng to Jinyang to give him final instructions. Gao Cheng became increasingly concerned that the powerful Chinese general Hou Jing, who was then defending Luoyang and in charge of the provinces south of the Yellow River, would rebel, particularly after Hou refused a recall order. Gao Huan left Gao Cheng instructions not to announce his death, gave a list of ethnic Xianbei, Xiongnu and Chile generals that he could depend on such as Kudi Gan (厙狄干) and Hulü Jin (斛律金), and orders to put Murong Shaozong (慕容紹宗) -- a capable general that Gao Huan had intentionally not promoted in order to allow Gao Cheng to do so—in charge of an army against Hou. He died in spring 547, and while a false casket was buried publicly, he was buried at a secret location in Cheng'an (成安, in modern Handan, Hebei).

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Wuming, of the Lou clan (武明皇后 婁氏; 501–562), personal name Zhaojun (昭君)

　• Gao Cheng, Emperor Wenxiang (文襄皇帝 高澄; 521–549), first son

　• First daughter

　　• Married Yuan Xiu of Henan (河南; 510–535) in 532

　　• Married Yuan Shao of Henan, Duke of Pengcheng (河南 元韶; d. 559) in 535

　• Princess Taiyuan (太原公主), second daughter

　　• Married Yuan Shanjian of Henan, Prince Zhongshan (河南; 524–552) in 539

　　• Married Yang Yin (511–560) in 551

　• Gao Yang, Emperor Wenxuan (文宣皇帝 高洋; 526–559), second son

　• Gao Yan, Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭皇帝 高演; 535–561), sixth son

　• Gao Yu, Prince Jing of Xiangcheng (襄城景王 高淯; 536–551), eighth son

　• Gao Zhan, Emperor Wucheng (武成皇帝 高湛; 538–569), ninth son

　• Gao Ji, Prince Wenjian of Boling (博陵文簡王 高濟; d. 569), 12th son

• Princess Ruru, of the Yujiulü clan (蠕蠕公主 鬱久閭氏; 530–548)

• Lady, of the Erzhu clan (爾朱氏; d. 556), personal name Ying'e (英娥)

　• Gao You, Prince Jingsi of Pengcheng (彭城景思王 高浟; 533–564), fifth son

　• Gao Ning, Prince Huashan (華山王 高凝), 13th son

• Lady, of the Han clan (韓氏; 504–551), personal name Zhihui (智輝)

　• Gao Huan, Prince Gangsu of Shangdang (上黨剛肅王 高渙; 533–558), seventh son

• Lady, of the Erzhu clan (爾朱氏)

　• Gao Jie, Prince of Rencheng (任城王 高湝; 538–577), tenth son

• Lady, of the You clan (遊氏)

　• Gao Shi, Prince Kangmu of Gaoyang (高陽康穆王 高湜; 538–560), 11th son

• Lady, of the Zheng clan of Xingyang (滎陽鄭氏), personal name Dache (大車)

　• Gao Run, Prince Fengyi (馮翊王 高潤; 543–575), 14th son

• Lady, of the Wang clan (王氏)

　• Gao Jun, Prince Jianping of Yong'an (永安簡平王 高浚; d. 558), third son

• Lady, of the Mu clan (穆氏)

　• Gao Yan, Prince Jingyi of Pingyang (平陽靖翼王 高淹; 531–564), fourth son

• Lady, of the Feng clan (馮氏)

　• Gao Qia, Prince Jinghuai of Hanyang (漢陽敬懷王 高洽; 542–554), 15th son

　• Princess Fuyang (浮陽公主)

• Unknown

　• Princess Zhaoshun of Changle (長樂昭順公主; 525–557), personal name Zheng (徵), third daughter

　　• Married Liu Honghui, Prince Pingliang(劉洪徽) in 533

　• Princess Yingchuan (潁川公主)

　　• Married Duan Yi of Wuwei, Prince of Pingyuan (武威 段懿)

　• Princess Dongping (東平公主)

　　• Married Kezhuhun Tianhe, Duke of Boling (可朱渾 天和; d. 560)

　• A daughter who married Sima Xiaonan of Henei (河內 司馬消難)

Ancestry