Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Prince of Zhao; usurper

Sima Lun 司馬倫

First attested AD 299; died AD 301

Passages: 14
Chapters: 3
Histories: 1

Overview

Sima Lun was a prince of Zhao; usurper.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Zhao Lun	趙倫	Zhao Lun

Life and dates

Death

AD 301 倫賜死
Ordered to die
Directly stated · Book of Jin 41, passage 336

Attested activity

AD 301 to AD 301 narrative
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 127, passage 101
AD 299 十二月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 53, passage 63
AD 301 趙王倫篡逆
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 41, passages 335-336

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Acting Grand Tutor to Imperial Grandson-Heir 行太孫太傅
AD 300 永康元年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Jin 53, passage 179
Prince of Zhao 趙王
Held
Directly stated · Book of Jin 41, passage 335

Places and affiliations

Polity Western Jin 西晉 · Relation Member of ruling house
Directly stated · Book of Jin 41, passage 335

Events and relationships

Usurped the throne
AD 301 趙王倫篡逆 · Political · Usurper
Directly stated · Book of Jin 41, passage 335
Usurped throne
AD 301 永甯元年正月 · Political · Usurper
Directly stated · Book of Jin 53, passage 183

Source notes

Value historical
Directly stated · Book of Jin 41, passage 335

References in the histories

Search passages

History

14 passages

Book of Jin, Chapter 41Volume 41 Biographies 11: Wei Shu; Li Xi; Liu Shi; Gao Guang · 2 passages

時趙王倫篡逆，光於其際，守道全貞。 When Sima Lun, prince of Zhao, usurped the throne, Guang held to principle and kept his integrity intact.

及倫賜死，齊王冏輔政，復以光為廷尉，遷尚書，加奉車都尉。 After Lun was forced to take his life and Prince Jiong of Qi directed the government, Guang was again named director of justice, then minister of the masters of writing with the added title colonel who conducts the carriage.

Book of Jin, Chapter 53Volume 53 Biographies 23: Crown Prince Minhuai · 11 passages

於是使尚書和郁持節，解結為副，及大將軍梁王肜、鎮東將軍淮南王允、前將軍東武公澹、趙王倫、太保何劭詣東宮，廢太子為庶人。 Thereupon Minister Director He Yu was dispatched with insignia, with Xie Jie as deputy, together with General-in-Chief Sima Tong, Prince of Liang; Eastern Garrison General Sima Yun, Prince of Huainan; Forward General Sima Dan, Eastern Martial Duke; Sima Lun, Prince of Zhao; and Grand Tutor He Shao. They went to the Eastern Palace to depose the Crown Prince as a commoner.

右衛督司馬雅，宗室之疏屬也，與常從督許超並有寵于太子，二人深傷之，說趙王倫謀臣孫秀曰：「國無適嗣，社稷將危，大臣之禍必起。 Right Guard Commandant Sima Ya and Attendant Commandant Xu Chao, both favorites of the crown prince, grieved deeply; they told Sun Xiu, stratagemist to Prince Zhao of Lun: "The state has no true heir—altar and grain will be imperiled; great ministers' disaster is sure to rise.

秀言于趙王倫，倫深納焉。 Sun Xiu sold the plot to Sima Lun.

計既定，而秀說倫曰：「太子為人剛猛，若得志之日，必肆其情性矣。 With the plan set, Xiu said to Lun, "The crown prince is by nature rigid and fierce; if he gains his will he will certainly give free rein to his temper.

明公素事賈后，街談巷議，皆以公為賈氏之黨。 Lun was branded Jia's man.

今雖欲建大功于太子，太子雖將含忍宿忿，必不能加賞於公，當謂公逼百姓之望，翻覆以免罪耳。 Yu would not thank Lun for a late defection.

若有瑕釁，猶不免誅。 One slip and Lun's head would roll.

倫然之。 Lun assented.

趙王倫行太孫太傅。」 Prince Zhao of Lun acted Grand Tutor to the imperial grandson-heir."

五月，倫與太孫俱之東宮，太孫自西掖門出，車服侍從皆湣懷之舊也。 May procession exited the west palace gate in Yu's old livery.

永甯元年正月，趙王倫篡位，廢為濮陽王，與帝俱遷金墉，尋被害。 Yongning coup demoted Zang—murdered at Jinyong.

Book of Jin, Chapter 127Volume 12 Records 27: Murong De · 1 passage

殿下親則叔父，位則上臺，不能率先群後以匡王室，而幸根本之傾為趙倫之事。 Your Highness, in kinship, is the emperor’s uncle, and in rank you stand among the highest ministers, yet you cannot lead the lords in aiding the royal house, but instead rejoice in the collapse of the root and foundation and act like Zhao Lun.