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Names
	Family name: Sima (司馬); Given name: Yao (繇); Courtesy name: Sixuan (思玄)
Posthumous name
	none

Sima Yao
司馬繇
Sima Yao; 司馬繇
Prince of Dong'an (东安王)
Reign	4–12 May 291; c.November 301 – 18 September 304
Successor	Sima Hun (司马浑)
Born	Unknown
Died	18 September 304; Yecheng, Hebei
Issue	None
Names
Names
	Family name: Sima (司馬); Given name: Yao (繇); Courtesy name: Sixuan (思玄)
Posthumous name
	none
House	House of Sima
Father	Sima Zhou
Mother	Lady Zhuge

Sima Yao (simplified Chinese: 司马繇; traditional Chinese: 司馬繇; died 18 September 304^[4]), courtesy name Sixuan (思玄),^[5] was a son of Sima Zhou, Prince Wu of Langya, and his wife Lady Zhuge (a daughter of Zhuge Dan), and a grandson of Sima Yi, regent of the Cao Wei state during the Three Kingdoms era. Besides his heritage, Sima Yao was best known for his role in the death of Wen Yang, and his further involvement in the War of the Eight Princes during the reign of his cousin's son, Emperor Hui of Jin.

Background and life under Emperor Wu

Sima Yao was born to Sima Zhou and his wife Lady Zhuge in an unknown year after 256, as the third son out of a total of four. When he was young, he was made a teacher who taught the classics to the crown prince Sima Zhong; other such teachers include Yang Miao (杨邈) and his second cousin Sima Yue.^[6] In June 283, Sima Zhou died, and his eldest son Sima Jin succeeded him as Prince of Langya. Yao was made Duke of Dong'an on 22 December 289 during his cousin Emperor Wu's last bestowment of titles to members of the Sima clan;^[7] he was probably in his 20s at the time. Less than three months later, in early March 290, Sima Jin died and was succeeded by his son Sima Rui (the future Emperor Yuan of Jin.)

During Emperor Hui's reign

About two months after Sima Rui inherited his princedom, Emperor Wu died. Emperor Wu's successor, Emperor Hui was developmentally disabled; his reign saw a series of regents who ruled on his behalf. Sima Yao held some minor positions^[8] during the regency of Yang Jun, father of Emperor Wu's second empress Empress Yang Zhi. During the coup to oust Yang Jun on 23 April 291, Sima Yao led a contingent of 400 troops against Yang.^[9] During the trial of Yang Jun's brother Yang Yao (杨珧), others suggested that Yao be treated leniently, as was the case with Zhong Yu's sons when their uncle Zhong Hui rebelled against Sima Zhao; Sima Yao did not heed the advice. The cronies of Empress Jia Nanfeng then tortured Yang Yao, causing him to cry out in agony. Eventually, an executioner cut open Yang Yao's head with a blade. As Zhuge Dan's maternal grandson, Sima Yao was concerned about Wen Yang; he eventually claimed that Wen was part of Yang Jun's rebellion and had him executed. For that night, punishments and rewards arising from the coup were all handled by Sima Yao, and his fame grew. Wang Rong advised, "After such a major incident, it is good to think deeply about future developments."; Sima Yao did not heed Wang's advice.^[10]

On 4 May, due to his contributions, Sima Yao's peerage was promoted to the Prince of Dong'an. However, Jia Nanfeng was wary of him, as he plotted to overthrow her. Sima Yao's elder brother Sima Dan (司马澹) the Duke of Dongwu was on bad terms with him; Sima Dan then repeatedly mentioned to their uncle Sima Liang (who was regent together with Wei Guan) that Yao was monoplising the power to give rewards and punishments, and that he aimed to interfere in court affairs. Sima Liang then relieved Yao of his post on 12 May; Yao was later exiled on grounds of sedition.^[11]

By the time Sima Yao was reappointed Prince of Dong'an in c.November 301, the situation in both the Jin court and the empire itself had changed dramatically. Sima Liang, Wei Guan, Sima Wei, Empress Jia and her clique, and Sima Lun and his clique were all dead; Sima Jiong, the Prince of Qi, was now regent. In the northwest, Qi Wannian's rebellion had been quelled for about two and a half years, but the refugee situation it created continued to simmer. In 301, Li Te declared his rebellion in Yizhou.

During Sima Jiong's regency, Sima Zhou's widow Princess Dowager Zhuge petitioned him, claiming that Sima Dan was unfilial, and requested that Sima Yao be allowed to return from exile. Sima Jiong agreed; Sima Dan was then exiled to Liaodong together with his family.^[12] When he returned to court, Sima Yao also recommended Sima Mao (司马楙), Prince of Dongping and son of Sima Wang,^[13] to the Jin court; Sima Mao was made General who Pacifies the East and Chief Controller of Xuzhou, and sent to garrison Xiapi.^[14]

The next mention of Sima Yao was in August 304, where he was at Yecheng for the funeral of his mother Princess Dowager Zhuge. By then, another two of Emperor Hui's regents were dead: Sima Jiong, who was executed after his defeat in January 303, and Sima Ai, Emperor Hui's half-brother, who was burnt to death in March 304. Sima Ying, also Emperor Hui's half-brother, was now regent. On 20 August 304, Sima Yue, Prince of Donghai, led a coalition of more than 10000 troops to attack Yecheng, which was Sima Ying's stronghold; he also brought Emperor Hui along. With Yecheng in an uproar, Sima Ying met his officials to discuss a strategy. Sima Yao told Ying, "Now that the Son of Heaven is leading the attack, it is best to disarm, don mourning clothing and leave the city to receive him and ask for forgiveness." Sima Ying did not heed Yao, and prepared to resist Yue.^[15]

Sima Ying was successful in fighting off Yue's army. After his victory, he was resentful of Sima Yao for his advice. In September, Sima Yao was arrested and executed. After his death, Sima Jin's son Sima Hun (司马浑) was made Prince of Dong'an, but Hun died shortly after becoming prince, and the princedom of Dong'an was allowed to lapse.^[16]

References

^ ([元康元年]三月...壬寅，...东安公繇为尚书左仆射，进封东安王。...庚戌，免东安王繇及东平王楙，繇徙带方。.....[永宁元年]九月，追东安王繇复其爵。) Jin Shu, vol.04. The 9th month of the 1st year of the Yong'ning era corresponds to 19 Oct to 16 Nov 301 in the Julian calendar.
^ Sima Yao's eldest brother Sima Jin was born in 256, as he died aged 34 in March 290.
^ Jin Shu, vol.38
^ (太弟颖怨东安王繇前议，[永兴元年]八月，戊辰，收繇，杀之。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
^ (东安王繇字思玄。) Jin Shu, vol.38
^ (初以世子为骑都尉，与驸马都尉杨邈及琅邪王伷子繇俱侍讲东宫，...) Jin Shu, vol.59 (biography of Sima Yue). The "eastern palace" was a metonymy referring to the crown prince; Emperor Hui was crown prince from c.February 267 to May 290.
^ ([太康十年]十一月....甲申，以亮为侍中、大司马、假黄钺、大都督、督豫州诸军事，镇许昌；徙南阳王柬为秦王，都督关中诸军事；始平王玮为楚王，都督荆州诸军事；濮阳王允为淮南王，都督扬、江二州诸军事；并假节之国。立皇子乂为长沙王，颖为成都王，晏为吴王，炽为豫章王，演为代王，皇孙遹为广陵王。又封淮南王子迪为汉王，楚王子仪为毘陵王，徙扶风王畅为顺阳王，畅弟歆为新野公。畅，骏之子也。琅邪王觐弟澹为东武公，繇为东安公。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.82
^ (历散骑黄门侍郎，迁散骑常侍。) Jin Shu, vol.38
^ ([元康元年]三月，辛卯，孟观、李肇启帝，夜作诏，诬骏谋反，中外戒严，遣使奉诏废骏，以侯就第。命东安公繇帅殿中四百人讨骏，...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.82
^ (众谓宜依钟毓例为之申理。繇不听，而贾氏族党趣使行刑。珧号叫不已，刑者以刀破其头。繇，诸葛诞之外孙也，故忌文鸯，诬以为骏党而诛之。是夜，诛赏皆自繇出，威振内外。王戎谓繇曰：“大事之后，宜深远权势。”繇不从。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.82.
^ (贾后暴戾日甚，繇密谋废后，贾氏惮之。繇兄东武公澹，素恶繇，屡谮之于太宰亮曰：“繇专行诛赏，欲擅朝政。” [元康元年三月]庚戌，诏免繇官；又坐有悖言，废徙带方。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.82. Sima Yao plotting to overthrow Jia Nanfeng was not recorded in his biography in Book of Jin, but appeared in Jia's biography found in the same work.
^ (齐王冏辅政，澹母诸葛太妃表澹不孝，乞还繇，由是澹与妻子徙辽东。) Jin Shu, vol.38
^ Jin Shu, vol.37
^ ([永宁元年]九月，征其弟东安王繇复旧爵，拜尚书左仆射。繇举东平王楙为平东将军、都督徐州诸军事，镇下邳。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.84. According to Sima Mao's biography in Book of Jin, he was on good terms with Sima Yao and it was because of this friendship that Mao survived Yang Jun's fall as he had been supporting Yang. However, it was also because of this friendship that he was also relieved of his posts in May 291 and sent to his fiefdom (楙善谄谀，曲事杨骏。及骏诛，依法当死，东安公繇与楙善，故得不坐。寻迁大鸿胪，加侍中。繇欲擅朝政，与汝南王亮不平。帝托以繇讨骏顾望，免繇、楙等官，遣楙就国。) Jin Shu, vol.37
^ ([永兴元年]秋，七月，....己亥，越奉帝北征。以越为大都督。....越檄召四方兵，赴者云集，比至安阳，众十馀万，邺中震恐。颖会群僚问计，东安王繇曰：“天子亲征，宜释甲缟素出迎请罪。”颖不从，....) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
^ (后立琅邪王觐子长乐亭侯浑为东安王，以奉繇祀。寻薨，国除。) Jin Shu, vol.38