Sima Mo
| Sima Mo 司馬模 | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Nanyang (南阳王) | |
| Tenure | c.November 306[1] – c.October 311 |
| Successor | Sima Bao |
| Born | Unknown[2] |
| Died | c.October 311[3] |
| Issue | Sima Bao |
| House | Jin dynasty |
| Father | Sima Tai |
Sima Mo (司馬模) (died c.October 311), courtesy name Yuanbiao (元表)[4], was a Western Jin imperial prince. He was the youngest brother of Sima Yue, Prince Xiaoxian of Donghai, a regent for Emperor Hui and Emperor Huai. He was also the father of Sima Bao, who briefly contended for the position of emperor after Emperor Min was captured by Han-Zhao forces.
Background
[edit]Sima Mo was the youngest son of Sima Tai (司馬泰; posthumously known as Prince Wenxian of Gaomi (高密文献王)[5]), who was a son of Sima Yi's brother Sima Kui (司馬馗), making Mo a cousin of Jin's founding emperor Emperor Wu.
When Sima Mo was young, he was noted to be studious. Among members of the Sima clan, he, his cousin Sima Xiao[6] (Prince of Fanyang), and Sima Rui (the future Emperor Yuan) were praised. Sima Mo's first title was Duke of Changping.[7] Despite their distant relationship to the emperor's family, Mo and his brothers, Sima Yue, Sima Teng and Sima Lue were all renowned members of the imperial clan.
War of the Eight Princes
[edit]In 4 February 305, as part of the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong's plan to reconcile with Sima Yue and end the civil war, he appointed Sima Mo as General Who Stabilizes The North and Chief Controller of Ji province, tasked with guarding the city of Ye. Ye had just been sacked and abandoned by the Inspector of You province, Wang Jun, so Sima Yue was able to send his brother to the city.[8]
Despite Sima Yong's efforts, war eventually broke out in late 305 when Sima Yue began a coalition against him. Sima Mo sided with his brother, but early in the campaign, his base was threatened by a popular revolt led by Gongshi Fan. Many of Mo's followers intended to join the revolt, causing him to panic, but the Administrator of Guangping, Ding Shao (丁邵) led his army to assist him, as did Sima Xiao's general, Gou Xi. The Jin army forced the rebels to retreat, and Mo was so grateful for Ding Shao that he erected a monument at Ding Shao's hometown to commemorate his deeds.
With Gongshi Fan away, Sima Mo sent his general, Song Zhou (宋冑) to attack Heqiao (河穚; southwest of present-day Mengzhou, Henan). Song Zhou led a brutal campaign against Sima Yong's general, Lou Bao (樓褒), and after defeating him, Mo sent another general, Feng Song (馮嵩) to join Song Zhou in his march on Luoyang. The two generals then joined Sima Yue in his final push against Sima Yong's base in Chang'an, helping him return Emperor Hui of Jin back to Luoyang.
Fall of Western Jin
[edit]For his merits in the war, Sima Mo was appointed Grand General Who Guards the East and transferred to Xuchang. His peerage was also promoted to the Prince of Nanyang. In early 307, Sima Yue offered a government position to Sima Yong, who was able to reclaim Chang'an and hole up in the city. Yong, believing he had been pardoned, left his city for Luoyang, but when he got to Xin'an (新安, near Luoyang), he was intercepted by Sima Mo's general Liang Chen (梁臣) and strangled to death.[9] On 18 May 307, after Sima Yue moved his base to Xuchang, he also repositioned his brothers to guard strategic locations. Sima Mo was appointed Grand General who Conquers the West and Chief Controller of Qin, Yong, Liáng and Yi provinces, and was garrisoned at Chang'an to replace Sima Yong in guarding the Guanzhong region.[10]
During his tenure, the Guanzhong suffered from great famine and disease. Many of Guanzhong's inhabitants began eating each other as bandits ran rampant in the region. Sima Yue thought that Sima Mo was not capable in the role he was in, and attempted to recall him to Luoyang, where he would serve in a different office. However, Mo's advisor, Chunyu Ding (淳于定) persuaded his prince to stay, so Mo ignored Yue's order and remained at Chang'an.
In 311, Mo recommended for his son, Sima Bao to be appointed General of the Household Gentlemen of the West and Colonel of Eastern Qiang Tribes and had him stationed at Shanggui. The Inspector of Qin province, Pei Bao (裴苞), opposed the decision, so Mo sent his general, Chen An to attack him. Pei Bao fled to the administrator of Anding Commandery, Jia Ya, who sheltered him, and in response, Bao sent another general, Xie Ban (謝班), to campaign against him.
Death
[edit]In April 311, Sima Yue died. With his death, the Western Jin court became leaderless, and Han increased the intensity of its attacks. In July, Emperor Huai was captured by Han after the fall of the capital Luoyang (Disaster of Yongjia). In c.October, Sima Mo, who was defending Chang'an, was captured by the Han general Zhao Ran (趙染; who formerly served under Sima Mo) and executed by Liu Can.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ ([光熙元年]九月，....平昌公模为南阳王。) Jin Shu, vol.04. The month corresponds to 24 Oct to 21 Nov 306 in the Julian calendar.
- ^ Sima Mo's eldest son Sima Bao was born in 294. Thus, Sima Mo's birth year should be in 280 or before.
- ^ ([永嘉五年]九月，粲杀模。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.87. The month corresponds to 29 Sep to 28 Oct 311 in the Julian calendar.
- ^ (南阳王模，字元表) Jin Shu, vol.37
- ^ (泰四子：越、腾、略、模。) Jin Shu, vol.37
- ^ Sima Mo and Sima Xiao were both grandsons of Sima Kui, per vol.37 of Book of Jin. As Sima Xiao was sonless when he died in c.December 306, Sima Mo's son Sima Li was made Prince of Fanyang. Sima Li was later killed with Sima Mo at Chang'an. (无子，养模子黎为嗣，黎随模就国，于长安遇害。) Jin Shu, vol.37.
- ^ (少好学，与元帝及范阳王虓俱有称于宗室。初封平昌公。) Jin Shu, vol.37. It is unknown if Sima Mo was made Duke of Changping during the reign of Emperor Wu or Emperor Hui.
- ^ ([永兴元年]十二月，丁亥，诏太弟颖以成都王还第；更立豫章王炽为皇太弟。帝兄弟二十五人，时存者惟颖、炽及吴王晏。晏材质庸下；炽冲素好学，故太宰颙立之。诏以司空越为太傅，与颙夹辅帝室，王戎参录朝政。又以光禄大夫王衍为尚书左仆射。高密王略为镇南将军，领司隶校尉，权镇洛阳。东中郎将模为宁北将军，都督冀州诸军事，镇邺。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85. On the same day, Sima Ying was removed as crown prince and replaced by Sima Chi (the future Emperor Huai). Sima Mo's elder brother Sima Lüe, who inherited their father's title of Prince of Gaomi, was appointed as General who Pacifies the South.
- ^ (太傅越以诏书徴河间王颙为司徒，颙乃就徴。南阳王模遣其将梁臣邀之於新安，车上扼杀之，並杀其三子。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86
- ^ ([永嘉元年三月]庚辰，东海王越出镇许昌。以征东将军、高密王简为征南大将军、都督荆州诸军事，镇襄阳；改封安北将军、东燕王腾为新蔡王、都督司冀二州诸军事，镇邺；以征南将军、南阳王模为征西大将军、都督秦雍梁益四州诸军事，镇长安。) Jin Shu, vol.05. At the same occasion, Sima Yue sent himself to garrison Xuchang. His third brother Sima Lüe (referred to here as "Jian" as his courtesy name was "Yuanjian") retained his previous title of General who Pacifies the South. He was made Chief Controller of Jing Province and was garrisoned at Xiangyang. Sima Yue's second brother Sima Teng was made Prince of Xincai, and took over Sima Mo's previous position of Chief Controller of Ji Province, while being garrisoned at Ye. He was also made Chief Controller of Si Province.
- ^ (南阳王模使牙门赵染戍薄板，染求冯翊太守不得而怒，帅众降汉，汉主聪以染为平西将军。[永嘉五年]八月，聪遣染与安西将军刘雅帅骑二万攻模于长安，河内王粲、始安王曜帅大众继之。染败模兵于潼关，长驱至下邽。凉州将北宫纯自长安帅其众降汉。汉兵围长安，模遣淳于定出战而败。模仓库虚竭，士卒离散，遂降于汉。赵染送模于河内王粲；九月，粲杀模。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.87.
- Fang, Xuanling: Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
- Sima, Guang: Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance (Zizhi Tongjian)