生平

屡建功勋

吕光得王猛看重，并将他推荐给苻坚，苻坚于是以吕光为美阳令，任内吕光得当地人民爱戴信服。吕光后迁鹰扬将军，以功封关内侯，并于永兴二年（358年）随苻坚等讨伐张平。苻坚与张平于铜壁（今山西忻县西）决战，张平骁勇大力的养子张蚝单骑屡次进出前秦军阵中，吕光于是去袭击张蚝并成功击伤他。张蚝受伤被擒，张平溃败，吕光亦因而声名大噪。

建元四年（368年），吕光与王鉴等因应杨成世讨伐于上邽（今甘肃天水市清水县）叛变的苻双失败而率军再行讨伐，王鉴到后打算与苻双前锋苟兴速战速决，但吕光虑及对方因刚获胜而士气高涨，建议谨慎待敌，让其粮尽退兵时就是进攻的时机。二十日后苟兴退兵，王鉴追击并击败苟兴，随后又大败苻双，终攻下上邽，斩杀苻双。建元六年（370年），吕光随军攻灭前燕，获封都亭侯。后苻重出镇洛阳（今河南洛阳巿），吕光担任其长史。苻重于建元十四年（378年）谋反，苻坚以吕光忠诚正直，不会与苻重连谋，于是下令吕光收捕苻重，吕光听命并以槛车押送苻重回长安。后吕光迁太子右率，颇受敬重。次年吕光又以破虏将军身份率兵击败进攻成都（今四川成都）的李乌，迁步兵校尉。建元十六年（380年）吕光又奉命与左将军窦冲共领四万兵讨伐叛乱的苻重，又将其生擒，战后获授骁骑将军。

威震西域

前秦十八年（382年），吕光受命征讨西域，以使持节都督西讨诸军事身份率领姜飞等将领、七万兵及五千铁骑出发。吕光越过三百多里长的沙漠到达西域，降服焉耆等西域各国，又击破唯一拒守的龟兹，威震西域。苻坚知吕光征服西域，即任命其为使持节、散骑常侍、都督玉门以西诸军事、安西将军、西域校尉，封顺乡侯，但因前秦于淝水之战后国内大乱而道路不通，未能传达。吕光本来想要留在龟兹，但是受到名僧鸠摩罗什劝阻，而且部众们也想回到中原，遂回师。

占据凉州

太安元年（385年），吕光军抵宜禾（今新疆安西南），高昌太守杨翰告诉凉州刺史梁熙，称吕光还军必定别有所图，建议关闭天险要道，拒之于外，但梁熙没有听从。吕光最初知道杨翰的计划时曾打算不再前进，但在杜进劝告下还是继续，杨翰即在吕光到达高昌时向吕光请降。梁熙在吕光到远玉门时传檄指责吕光擅自班师，又派其子梁胤等率军五万往酒泉阻击吕光。吕光也传檄指责梁熙没有为前秦赴国难的忠诚，还阻拦归国军队，并派了姜飞等为前锋进攻梁胤。姜飞等在安弥大破梁胤并生擒他，于是周边外族都纷纷依附吕光，武威太守彭济更将梁熙抓起来叛归吕光。吕光杀死梁熙，入主姑臧，自领凉州刺史、护羌校尉。

386年，吕光收到苻坚死讯，改元太安，并自称使持节、侍中、中外大都督、督陇右河西诸军事、大将军、凉州牧、酒泉公。吕光入主凉州时，因尉佑与彭济共谋抓住梁熙的功劳而宠任他，但吕光却在尉佑中伤下杀了姚皓、尹景等十多个名士，人心见离。当时国内米价也高涨至一斗五百，饥荒中更发生人吃人事件，死了很多人。吕光与群僚在饮宴中谈及为政时用严峻刑法的问题，在参军段业劝言下终下令自省并行宽简之政。

屡见变乱

吕光于太安二年（387年）杀了进逼姑臧的张大豫，但王穆尚据酒泉；西平太守康宁也叛变，阻兵据守，吕光试图讨伐但都不果。及后连吕光部将徐炅及张掖太守彭晃都谋叛，并联结了王穆及康宁。吕光力排众议亲率三万兵速攻彭晃，二十日后攻破张掖，杀了彭晃。不久，吕光乘王穆进攻其将索嘏的机会率二万兵袭破酒泉，王穆率兵东返但部众在途中就溃散，王穆只身逃走但为騂马令郭文所杀。

389年，吕光称三河王，改元麟嘉。396年六月又改称天王，国号大凉，改元龙飞。吕光曾先后多次进攻西秦，其中吕光弟吕延于龙飞二年（397年）的进攻中兵败被杀。吕光听信谗言，怪罪从军的尚书沮渠罗仇及三河太守沮渠麴粥，并杀二人。二人归葬时，因诸部联姻而共计有万多人参与葬礼，罗仇之侄沮渠蒙逊遂反，蒙逊堂兄沮渠男成举兵响应，并推建康太守段业为主，建北凉与后凉对抗，吕光曾派吕纂讨伐，但最终无法消灭北凉。

同年，善于天文术数的太常郭黁与仆射王详认为吕光年老、太子暗弱而吕纂等凶悍，料定吕光死后必会有祸乱，并祸及自己，故图谋攻夺姑臧东西苑城，推王乞基为主。不过王详因事泄而被杀，郭黁遂据东苑叛变，当时民间还有很多人支持郭黁。吕光召吕纂回兵讨伐郭黁，吕纂遂屡破郭黁，令其于龙飞三年（398年）出走西秦，平定乱事。

龙飞四年（399年），吕光病重，立太子吕绍为天王，自号太上皇帝。吕光又让吕纂及吕弘分任太尉及司徒，告诫吕绍要倚重二人，放权让他们处理军政大事才能保国家安稳；另也对吕纂及吕弘说二人要与天王吕绍同心合力才能保全国家，否则祸乱必会来。吕光于不久去世，享年六十三岁，諡懿武皇帝，庙号太祖。

性格特徵

• 吕光年轻时已展现其军事能力，十岁时与其他小童一起玩耍时就创制战争阵法，于是同年的人都推其为主，而吕光处事平允，更令众小童佩服。吕光也不喜欢读书，只好打猎。

• 吕光高八尺四寸，双目重瞳，为人沈著坚毅，凝重且寛大有度量，喜怒不形于色，故王猛赏识他，称：「此非常人。」

逸事

• 吕光出生于枋头（今河南浚县西南），当夜有神光，全家觉得奇怪，遂以光为名。

• 吕光左肘有一肉印，据说在一次战争中肉印隐约显出「巨霸」两字。

家庭

妻

• 石皇后，吕光出征西域时留在前秦，前秦内乱时走到仇池，后到凉州。吕光称三河王时立其为后。

子

• 太原公吕纂，吕光庶长子，后发动政变登位，灵帝

• 常山公吕弘，399年改番禾公，400年被吕纂处死

• 隐王吕绍

• 陇西公吕纬，401年被吕超处死

• 吕覆，都督玉门诸军事、西域大都护

注释

Early life and career as Former Qin general

Lü Guang was ethnically Di (although he claimed ancestry from an ethnically Han man named Lü Wenhe who fled from Pei County (in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu, the same county that Han Dynasty emperors' ancestors came) from a disaster and who settled in Di lands). He was born in 337, when his father Lü Polou was a follower of the Di chieftain and Later Zhao general Pu Hong (蒲洪, who later changed his family name from Pu to Fu). Eventually, after Fu Hong's son Fu Jiàn founded Former Qin, Lü Polou served on the staff of Fu Jiàn's nephew Fu Jiān (notice different tone) the Prince of Donghai. After Fu Jiān overthrew Fu Jiàn's violent and capricious son and successor Fu Sheng in 357, Fu Jiān claimed the throne and made Lü Polou one of his senior advisors. Lü Guang, however, was not well regarded by his father's colleagues, because he did not study much and instead concentrated his efforts on hunting and riding. However, Fu Jiān's prime minister Wang Meng valued him and persuaded Fu Jiān to make him a general. He first received renown when he, while fighting with the army of the warlord Zhang Ping in 358, defeated and captured Zhang Ping's fierce adoptive son Zhang Ci.

When Fu Jiān's cousins Fu Sou (苻廋) the Duke of Wei, Fu Liu (苻柳) the Duke of Jin, Fu Wu (苻武) the Duke of Yan, and brother Fu Shuang (苻双) the Duke of Zhao rebelled together in 367, Lü Guang was one of the generals sent against Fu Shuang and Fu Wu, and he contributed much to defeating the rebellion. Later, after he served under Wang Meng in the campaign destroying rival Former Yan in 370, he was created the Marquess of Duting.

In 378, Lü Guang was serving as the assistant to Fu Jiān's cousin Fu Chong (苻重) the Duke of Beihai, who, as the governor of Yu Province (豫州, modern Henan) was in charge of the important city Luoyang. Fu Chong planned a rebellion, and Fu Jiān learned this and ordered Lü to arrest Fu Chong, which Lü did successfully. (However, Fu Jiān did not execute Fu Chong but only relieved him of his posts and not even his ducal title.)

In 380, inexplicably, Fu Jiān made Fu Chong the defender of Jicheng (modern Beijing), and Fu Chong soon rebelled along with his brother, the powerful general Fu Luo (苻洛) the Duke of Xingtang. Lü Guang was one of the generals in charge of the campaign against Fu Luo and Fu Chong, and he defeated Fu Chong and killed him, resulting in Fu Luo's subsequent defeat and capture.

In 382, in response to requests by the kings of two Xiyu states—Xiumiduo (休密驮) the King of Shanshan and Mitian (弥填) the King of Front Cheshi (roughly modern Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang) -- Fu Jiān commissioned Lü Guang to lead an army of 100,000 infantry soldiers and 5,000 cavalry soldiers to Xiyu, with the intent to, like Han Dynasty did, establish a governor general over Xiyu. The army departed the Former Qin capital Chang'an in spring 383, with the two kings as guides. By early 384, most Xiyu kingdoms had submitted, but Bo Chun (帛纯) the King of Qiuzi (or Kucha, 龟兹, in modern Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang) resisted, and Lü put Qiuzi under siege, forcing Bochun to flee. He made Bo Chun's brother Bo Zhen (帛震) the new king, and he also, in a move to show Former Qin suzerainty over Xiyu, ordered the Xiyu kings to turn over the Han Dynasty imperial rods that they had still possessed and exchanged them for Former Qin ones. By this point, however, Former Qin was disintegrating in light of rebellions that happened after its defeat at the Battle of Fei River against Jin, and although Fu Jiān wanted to make Lü the governor general of Xiyu, he was unable to have the commission delivered to Lü. While at Qiuzi, Lü met the Buddhist monk Kumarajiva, and when he, in 385, considered settling in Qiuzi (after hearing of the unrest Former Qin was suffering from), Kumarajiva advised against it, stating that Qiuzi was a land of misfortune and, if he headed back east, he would find a homeland on the way. Lü therefore started to head back east, carrying the plunder he had gathered in Xiyu.

Former Qin's governor of the rich Liang Province (凉州, modern central and western Gansu and eastern Xinjiang), Liang Xi (梁熙), was weary of Lü's intentions, and he considered sealing the borders and refusing Lü entry. His advisor Yang Han suggested that he cut off the Gaowu Valley (高梧谷, in modern Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang) or Yiwu Passes (伊吾关, in modern Kumul Prefecture, Xinjiang) to defeat Lü by thirst, but Liang refused. Yang then surrendered to Lü, who quickly advanced on the capital of Liang Province, Guzang (姑臧, in modern Wuwei, Gansu), capturing Liang Xi and quickly controlling most of Liang Province. For the next several years, he battled local warlords. In winter 386, upon hearing the news of Fu Jiān's death (Fu Jiān having died in 385), he changed the era name to Tai'an—signifying a declaration of independence, although at this point he claimed no formal regal or imperial titles—and therefore 386 is typically considered the date of Later Liang's founding.

Early reign -- laying Later Liangs foundation

Around the new year 387, Lü Guang claimed the title of Duke of Jiuquan—the first formal title of nobility that he claimed for himself that showed a claim on his territory. He concentrated on consolidating his power in Liang Province, while appearing to ignore the deadlock that what remained of Former Qin (under Fu Deng) and Later Qin (under Yao Chang) were having, to his southeast.

In fall 387, Lü Guang captured and executed Zhang Dayu, the son of Former Liang's last prince Zhang Tianxi, who had tried for several years to reestablish Former Liang.

It appeared that Lü was not a particularly effective governor of his domain, and there were repeated rebellions against his rule. In response, he instituted strict laws. His official Duan Ye tried to speak against such strict laws in 388, and while Lü Guang indicated that he agreed with Duan, it appeared that he did not actually make things easier for his people.

In spring 389, Lü Guang claimed the greater title the Prince of Sanhe. Around this time, his wife Lady Shi, son Lü Shao, and brother Lü Deshi arrived in Guzang after having spent several years in Chouchi. He created Lady Shi princess and Lü Shao heir apparent.

In 391, Lü Guang tried to make a surprise attack against Western Qin while its prince, Qifu Gangui, was attacking the rebel Mo Yigan (没奕干), but Qifu Gangui quickly responded upon hearing about the attack, and so Lü Guang withdrew. This appeared to, however, start a series of battles with Western Qin. In 392, Lü Guang sent his brother Lü Bao against Western Qin and son Lü Zuan against Western Qin's vassal, the Qiang chief Peng Xi'nian (彭奚念), and both Lü Bao and Lü Zuan were defeated, although Lü Guang then personally attacked Peng, capturing Peng's city Fuhan (枹罕, in modern Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu) and forcing him to flee.

In 394, Lü Guang received nominal submission by the powerful Xianbei chief Tufa Wugu, the words of whose advisor Shizhen Ruoliu (石真若留) indirectly showed that Later Liang was in its prime at this point—as Shizhen regarded Later Liang capable of destroying the Tufa tribe at will.

In fall 394, Lü Guang sent his son Lü Fu to take up the defense post at Gaochang (高昌, in modern Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang), and at this point, Later Liang appeared to be in control of a substantial part of Xiyu.

In fall 395, Lü Guang made a major attack against Western Qin, and Qifu Gangui submitted as a vassal, sending his son Qifu Chibo (乞伏敕勃) as a hostage. However, Qifu Gangui soon regretted this arrangement, and executed his officials Mi Guizhou (密贵周) and Mozhe Gudi (莫者羖羝), who suggested it. Presumably, he also repudiated his submission to Lü Guang.

In 396, Lü Guang claimed the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang), signifying a claim to imperial title. He created Lü Shao crown prince, and created 20 of his brothers, sons, and nephews dukes or marquesses, and he bestowed titles on his officials as well. However, when he, as a part of these commissions, he tried to grant titles on Tufa Wugu, Tufa Wugu told Lü Guang's ambassador:

:Heavenly Prince Lü's sons are all corrupt and immoral. His nephews are particularly violent and cruel. People both near and far are angry and ready to rebel. How can I go against the people and accept these unjust titles? I am about to claim a regal title myself.

Tufa therefore rejected the titles, although he kept the musicians and artisans that Lü Guang sent to him as part of the title bestowment. While Tufa's remarks were intended to have a propaganda effect, they were probably not inaccurate, based on later events.

Late reign -- gradual collapse of Later Liang

Later Liang's power appeared to start to fall apart in 397, when Lü Guang, determined to punish Qifu Gangui for his shifting positions, launched a major attack against Western Qin's capital Xicheng (西城, in modern Baiyin, Gansu). This frightened Qifu Gangui's officials enough that they recommended a retreat to Chengji (成纪, in modern Tianshui, Gansu) to the east, but Qifu Gangui, seeing weaknesses in Later Liang's forces despite their numbers, stood his ground. Later Liang forces were initially successful, capturing several major Western Qin cities, but Qifu Gangui tricked Lü Guang's brother and major general Lü Yan the Duke of Tianshui into believing that he was retreating, and Lü Yan fell into a trap Qifu Gangui set and was killed. Lü Guang, in fear, withdrew to Guzang.

Soon after Lü Yan's defeat, Tufa Wugu declared himself independent from Later Liang, establishing Southern Liang and capturing Jincheng (金城, in modern Lanzhou, Gansu), which Later Liang had just captured from Western Qin. Lü Guang sent his general Dou Gou (窦苟) to attack Tufa Wugu, but was defeated.

After Lü Yan's death, Lü Guang believed false accusations against Lü Yan's assistants, the brothers Juqu Luochou and Juqu Quzhou (沮渠麴粥) and executed them. Their nephew Juqu Mengxun escorted their caskets back to their home territory of Zhangye (张掖, in modern Zhangye, Gansu) and then persuaded the various Xiongnu tribes to rebel against Later Liang. Initially, Lü Guang sent Lü Zuan to attack Juqu Mengxun and chased him into the mountains, but Juqu Mengxun's cousin Juqu Nancheng (沮渠男成) also rebelled and sieged the Later Liang city Jiankang (建康, in modern Zhangye, Gansu, not to be confused with Jin's capital of the same name). Juqu Nancheng persuaded the governor of Jiankang Commandery, Duan Ye, who was already fearful that Lü Guang would blame him for the Juqus' rebellion, to join them, and Juqu Nancheng offered the title of Duke of Jiankang to Duan Ye, thus establishing Northern Liang. Lü Zuan attacked the nascent state, but could not destroy it.

At this time, the magician Guo Nen (郭黁), whom Lü Guang and his people had trusted greatly, prophesied that Later Liang was about to be destroyed, and therefore started a rebellion himself within the capital Guzang, capturing even Lü Guang's eight grandsons and executing them cruelly. Guo soon supported the general Yang Gui as the leader of the rebellion. Lü Zuan was forced to abandon his attack against Duan and return to Guzang. Eventually, however, Yang and Guo were defeated by Later Liang forces and forced to flee to and submit to Southern Liang and Western Qin, respectively. From this point on, however, Later Liang, by now highly reduced in size and strength, were subject to constant attacks by Southern Liang, Northern Liang, and Western Qin, causing it to be unable to hold its territory. By 398, the western parts of the Later Liang (including Xiyu holdings) had fallen to Northern Liang as well. In 399, Lü Shao and Lü Zuan launched another attack on Northern Liang, but with Southern Liang coming to Northern Liang's aid, they were forced to withdraw.

Around the new year 400, Lü Guang grew gravely ill, and he ordered Lü Shao to take the throne and the title Heavenly Prince; he himself claimed the title of retired emperor. Realizing that Lü Shao lacked talents and ability, he spoke to Lü Shao and his brothers Lü Zuan the Duke of Taiyuan and Lü Hong the Duke of Changshan, telling Lü Shao to trust his brothers and Lü Zuan and Lü Hong to serve Lü Shao faithfully. He died later that day. Soon, however, Lü Zuan and Lü Hong would turn on Lü Shao, and when they started a coup, Lü Shao committed suicide, and Lü Zuan took the throne, starting a series of destabilizing internal disturbances that, in combination with the attacks by the surrounding states, led to Later Liang's surrender to Later Qin in 403.

Era names

• Tai'an (太安 tài ān) 386–389

• Linjia (麟嘉 lín jiā) 389–396

• Longfei (龙飞 lóng fēi) 396–400

Personal information

• Father

　• Lü Polou, minister during reigns of Fu Jiàn, Fu Sheng, and Fu Jiān of Former Qin

• Wife

　• Princess/Empress Shi (created 389)

• Concubines

　• Consort Zhao, mother of Lü Zuan

• Children

　• Lü Zuan, the Duke of Taiyuan, later Emperor Ling

　• Lü Hong, initially the Duke of Changshan, later the Duke of Fanhe (created 399, executed by Lü Zuan 400)

　• Lü Shao, the Crown Prince (created 396), later emperor

　• Lü Wei, the Duke of Longxi (executed by Lü Chao 401)

　• Lü Fu