Qin and Han · King of Han (韓)

King Cheng of Han 韓王成

Han Wang Cheng

First attested BC 208; died BC 206

Passages: 10
Chapters: 3
Histories: 2

Overview

King Cheng of Han was a king of Han (韓).

Life and dates

Death

BC 206 漢元年正月
Killed · At Pengcheng 彭城 · Authority King of Xiang (項王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 98
BC 206 項籍後殺韓王成
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 124

Attested activity

BC 206 漢元年正月
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 86, 94, 98
BC 207 留守陽翟
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 55
BC 208 項梁之立楚後懷王
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 93, passage 2
BC 206 項籍後殺韓王成
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 42, passage 124

Key source chapters

Career and standing

King of Han 韓王
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 118
marquis 侯
Demoted to · Authority King of Xiang (項王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 98
King of Han 韓王
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 55, 73, 94
Lord Hengyang / Lord of Hengyangcheng 橫陽城君
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 118
Marquis of Rang 穰侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 124
Made marquis
Demoted
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 93, passage 8

Show 1 more source-backed claim

Not sent to domain
Detained · Authority King of Xiang (項王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 94, 98

Places and affiliations

Polity Han 韓 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 55, 94
At Pengcheng 彭城 · Relation Died at
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 98
At Yangzhai 陽翟 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 55

Events and relationships

Left to hold
Military · Garrison commander · At Yangzhai 陽翟
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 55
Taken east
Travel · Forced companion · With King of Xiang (項王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 94

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 55, 94

References in the histories

Search passages

History

10 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 42Volume 33: Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han) · 3 passages

項梁立楚懷王，燕、齊、趙、魏皆已前王，唯韓無有後，故立韓公子橫陽城君為韓王，欲以撫定韓地。 When Xiang Liang installed King Huai of Chu, Yan, Qi, Zhao, and Wei had all already restored kings, but Han alone had no successor. Therefore the Han prince Lord Hengyang was established as king of Han, in order to soothe and settle Han territory.

項梁死定陶，成奔懷王。 After Xiang Liang died at Dingtao, Lord Cheng fled to King Huai.

項籍之封諸王皆就國，韓王成以不從無功，不遣之國，更封為穰侯，後又殺之。 When Xiang Ji enfeoffed the various kings, all of them went to their assigned states. Because King Cheng of Han had not followed Xiang Ji and had no merit, Xiang Ji did not allow him to go to his state, but instead changed his title to Marquis of Rang, and later killed him.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 55House of Marquis of Liu · 4 passages

沛公乃令韓王成留守陽翟，與良俱南，攻下宛，西入武關。 The Duke of Pei ordered the King of Han, Cheng, to remain and hold Yangzhai, then headed south with Liang, stormed Wan, and entered the Wu Pass to the west.

良曰：「臣為韓王送沛公，今事有急，亡去不義。」 Liang said, 'I escorted the Duke of Pei on behalf of the King of Han. Now that crisis is upon us, to flee would be dishonorable.'

良至韓，韓王成以良從漢王故，項王不遣成之國，從與俱東。 When Liang reached Han, the King of Xiang—because Liang had followed the King of Han—refused to let King Cheng of Han return to his domain and instead forced him to travel east in his retinue.

項王竟不肯遣韓王，乃以為侯，又殺之彭城。 In the end, the King of Xiang refused to release the King of Han, demoted him to a mere marquis, and then had him killed at Pengcheng.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 93Biographies of Han Xin (King of Han) and Lu Wan · 3 passages

及項梁之立楚後懷王也，燕、齊、趙、魏皆已前王，唯韓無有後，故立韓諸公子橫陽君成為韓王，欲以撫定韓故地。 When Xiang Liang installed the later King Huai of Chu, the states of Yan, Qi, Zhao, and Wei had all already restored their former royal lines. Only Han had no surviving heir, so they established Cheng, the Lord of Hengyang and a prince of the Han royal house, as King of Han, intending to pacify and settle the former Han territories.

項梁敗死定陶，成奔懷王。 When Xiang Liang was defeated and killed at Dingtao, Cheng fled to King Huai.

項籍之封諸王皆就國，韓王成以不從無功，不遣就國，更以為列侯。 When Xiang Ji enfeoffed all the kings and they went to their domains, King Cheng of Han had not accompanied Xiang Ji and had no merit to his name, so he was not allowed to proceed to his domain. Instead, he was demoted to the rank of marquis.