Early life

Sun Hao was born in 242 as Sun He's eldest son. Sun He was named crown prince in February or March 242, a few months after the death of Sun Quan's eldest son and first crown prince, Sun Deng, in May or June 241. Sun Hao's mother, Consort He, was a concubine of Sun He.

In 250, after Sun Quan grew tired of the constant disputes between his sons Sun He and Sun Ba, he forced Sun Ba to commit suicide and exiled Sun He to Guzhang (故鄣; in present-day Huzhou, Zhejiang), presumably along with his family and reduced to commoner status. Sun Hao went from the status of eventual presumed heir to being the son of a commoner, albeit a grandson of the emperor.

In 252, Sun He's status was elevated from commoner status as Sun Quan just before his death that year instated Sun He as the Prince of Nanyang and a princedom at Changsha. Indeed, there were rumours, even after Sun He's younger brother Sun Liang took the throne after Sun Quan's death that the regent Zhuge Ke, an uncle of Sun He's wife Princess Zhang, was interested in restoring Sun He and making Sun He emperor instead. After Zhuge Ke's assassination and replacement by Sun Jun in 253, Sun He fell into danger as Sun Jun had been instrumental in having Sun He deposed in the first place and wanted to eliminate any chance of a Sun He comeback. Sun Jun used the rumours as an excuse to have Sun He demoted back to commoner status and exiled to Xindu (新都; in present-day Chun'an County, Zhejiang), and then sent messengers to force Sun He to commit suicide. Princess Zhang also committed suicide. When offered the chance to also commit suicide, Consort He refused, stating that if she died as well, no one would be left to care for Sun He's sons. Thus, she raised Sun Hao and his three brothers born to other consorts — Sun De, Sun Qian, and Sun Jun (孙俊, not the same person as the regent).

After Sun Liang was deposed by Sun Jun's cousin and successor Sun Chen in 258, Sun Xiu, another son of Sun Quan, became emperor. On 10 December 258, Sun Xiu created Sun Hao and his brothers, Sun De and Sun Qian, marquises. Sun Hao's title was the Marquis of Wucheng and he was sent to his marquisate. At some point, he befriended a magistrate of Wucheng County, Wan Yu, who appraised him as intelligent and studious. Also, during his time as Marquis of Wucheng, he took his future empress Lady Teng as a concubine.

In summer 264, Sun Xiu fell ill and was unable to speak but still could write so he wrote an edict summoning the chancellor Puyang Xing to the palace, where he pointed and entrusted his son, crown prince Sun Wan, to Puyang Xing. Sun Xiu died soon thereafter, on 3 September 264. However, Puyang Xing did not follow Sun Xiu's wishes. Rather, after consulting with general Zhang Bu, they believed that the people were, in light of the recent fall of their ally state Shu Han in 263, yearning for a mature emperor. (It is not known how old Sun Wan was at this point, but Sun Xiu himself died at age 29, so it was unlikely that Sun Wan was even a teenager.) At the recommendation of Wan Yu, who was by this point a general, Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu enthroned Sun Hao instead.

Early reign

At first, the people of Wu were impressed with the new emperor as he reduced taxes, gave relief to the poor, and released a large number of ladies in waiting from the palace to let them marry. However, soon that hopefulness was shattered as Sun Hao started to be cruel in his punishments, superstitious, and indulging himself in wine and women. He also demoted Sun Xiu's widow, Empress Dowager Zhu, to the title of "Empress Jing." He honoured his mother Consort He as the empress dowager instead, while posthumously honouring his father Sun He with the title "Emperor Wen". Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu were shocked and disappointed; their disappointment was reported to the emperor who had them arrested and executed along with their clans in late 264. In 264, he also instated his wife Lady Teng as the empress.

In 265, Sun Hao forced the former Empress Dowager Zhu to commit suicide and exiled Sun Xiu's four sons. He soon executed the two eldest, Sun Wan (the former crown prince) and Sun Gong. He then also, believing in a prophecy that the imperial aura had moved from Yang Province to Jing Province and that Jing Province forces would defeat Yang Province forces, undertook a costly move of the capital from Jianye to Wuchang. He also started executing officials who showed disapproval of his wasteful ways regularly. The only major official who was able to speak freely without consequences was Lu Kai, a nephew of Lu Xun and one of the chancellors serving in tandem with Wan Yu, because of the great respect the people had for Lu Kai.

In 266, the Jin dynasty, which newly established itself as the successor to Wu's rival state Cao Wei, after its first emperor, Sima Yan, usurped the Wei throne, sought to establish peace with Wu. Sun Hao instead considered attacking the Jin dynasty, but while he did not do so at that moment, he also did not make peace with the Jin dynasty.

In 266, commoners in present-day Zhejiang unable to withstand Sun Hao's heavy levies (to support his luxuries) rebelled and kidnapped Sun Hao's brother, Sun Qian, as figurehead. They reached Jianye but were eventually defeated by Ding Gu (丁固) and Zhuge Jing, who were responsible for Jianye's defences. Although there was no evidence that Sun Qian was actually involved in the rebellion, Sun Hao not only had Sun Qian but also mother and younger brother, Sun Jun, by the same mother, executed. Sun Hao believed this was a fulfillment of the prophecy that prompted his move of the capital to Wuchang; and later that year, he moved the capital back to Jianye.

In 268, Sun Hao began a policy of periodically attacking Jin border regions; he had his general Zhu Ji (朱继) attack Jiangxia and Wan Yu attack Xiangyang, while he himself postured to attack Hefei. This attack was repelled by Jin forces, as were several later attacks.

In late 269, Lu Kai died and soon there was no one left in the administration who dared to speak out anymore. After Lu Kai's death, Sun Hao exiled Lu Kai's clan to Jian'an. Lu Xun's son Lu Kang, a general who was in charge of defending Wu's western borders, did periodically submit petitions requesting reforms, but Sun Hao generally ignored them, although he did not punish Lu Kang.

Late reign

In early 271, in the middle of winter, Sun Hao personally launched a major attack against the Jin dynasty and he brought his mother Empress Dowager He, his wife Empress Teng, and thousands of women in his harem along which necessitated heavy labour – from soldiers to drag their wagons – causing the soldiers to murmur about possible defection. Only after Sun Hao heard this possibility did he make the decision to withdraw and return to Jianye. Wan Yu and the senior generals Ding Feng and Liu Ping (留平) had already considered returning to Jianye themselves before Sun Hao chose to withdraw and when Sun Hao heard about this he bore grudges against them as generals who might leave him.

Later that year, Wu forces finally recovered Jiao Province from rebels paying allegiance to the Jin dynasty, who had held out ever since 264 (during Sun Xiu's reign). This gave Sun Hao encouragement and he continued to plan military actions against the Jin dynasty in earnest — although, to his credit, he put his general Tao Huang in charge of Jiao Province and Tao Huang managed the province effectively; the province would not rebel again for the duration of Sun Hao's reign.

In 272, Wang Jun, the Jin governor of Yi Province, with Sima Yan's support began building a massive fleet with the plan to eventually use the fleet in conquering Wu. As the wood shavings from the building project floated down the Yangtze River, the Wu general Wu Yan realised what was happening and requested that the northwestern border be fortified, but Sun Hao refused.

Later in 272, Sun Hao would carry out an action that would lead to a major rebellion — summoning Bu Chan, the general in charge of Xiling (in present-day Yichang, Hubei), back to the capital back to Jianye. Fearful that he was about to be punished somehow, Bu Chan rebelled and defected to the Jin dynasty. While Lu Kang was eventually able to defeat Bu Chan and recover Xiling for Wu, the distrust the Wu generals had for their emperor had been thoroughly exposed and Jin generals became emboldened in proposing plans of conquest to their emperor.

In the same year, Sun Hao, still holding grudges against Wan Yu and Liu Ping for their plan to abandon him and return to Jianye on their own, tried to poison the two of them. Neither died, but when they found out that Sun Hao was behind the poisoning they knew they could not do anything about it; Wan Yu committed suicide while Liu Ping died in distress.

Lu Kang died in 274. In his final petition, he requested Sun Hao to strengthen the defences on Wu's western border, but Sun Hao did not do so. Further, he divided Lu Kang's forces into six different commands, although each was led by one of Lu Kang's sons.

In 275, the senior Wu minister He Shao (贺邵; grandson of He Qi) suffered a stroke and was paralysed. Sun Hao suspected that he was pretending and had him arrested and tortured by whipping and by subjecting him to saws and fires. He died under torture and his clan was exiled.

For the next several years, people wishing to flatter Sun Hao often offered him miraculous items (real or manufactured) that purportedly suggest that he would eventually destroy the Jin dynasty and unite China. Sun Hao's superstitious nature became even more aroused and he spent all of his efforts on plans to conquer the Jin dynasty.

Fall of Eastern Wu

In 279, after Sima Yan accepted the advice of Wang Jun and Du Yu, the Jin dynasty finally launched a major attack aiming to conquer Eastern Wu. The attack was in six prongs: with the forces led by Sima Yan's uncle, Sima Zhou; Wang Hun (王浑); Wang Rong; Hu Fen (胡奋); Du; and Wang Jun, with the largest forces under Wang Hun and Wang Jun's command. Each of the Jin forces advanced quickly and captured the border cities that they were targeting with Wang Jun's fleet heading east down the Yangtze and clearing the river of Wu fleets. The Wu imperial chancellor Zhang Ti made a last-ditch attempt to defeat Wang Hun's force, but was defeated and killed. Wang Hun, Wang Jun, and Sima Zhou each headed for Jianye. Sun Hao was forced to surrender in May 280.

Sun Hao and his clan were escorted to the Jin capital Luoyang. Sun Hao, now a captive, humiliated himself by covering himself with mud and having himself bound behind his back. Sima Yan had Sun Hao unbound and had him seated next to him at the next imperial gathering. He remarked, "I have set this seat for you for a long time." Sun Hao responded, "I also had a seat for your imperial majesty in Jianye." When the Jin official Jia Chong, seeking to humiliate Sun Hao, asked, "I heard that you had such cruel punishments as poking out people's eyes and peeling the facial skin off people. What kind of punishment is this?" Sun Hao replied, "If a subordinate planned to murder his emperor or was treacherous, I would use those punishments on him." Jia Chong, who was instrumental in the Wei emperor Cao Mao's death, felt humiliated and did not respond.

Sima Yan pardoned Sun Hao and further granted the latter the title "Marquis Guiming" (literally "the marquis who resigns to his fate") on 9 July 280. Sun Hao's sons were made junior officials in the Jin government. Sun Hao died in early 284.

Family

生平

早期生活

孙皓出生于赤乌六年（243年），是大帝孙权三子孙和的长子。孙皓的嫡母张妃是张承的女儿，生母何姬是孙和的一名庶妃。孙皓刚出生时得到祖父疼爱，为其取幼名「彭祖」。同一年，孙和被立为太子，直到赤乌十三年（250年）因陷入「二宫之争」被孙权废黜，流放到故鄣（今浙江省安吉县）。太元二年（252年）正月，孙权又将孙和封为南阳王，孙和带家眷移居封地长沙（郡治今湖南省长沙县）。不久后，大帝驾崩，由其十岁的幼子少帝孙亮即位。

少帝即位后，张妃的舅舅诸葛恪秉持朝政。建兴二年（253年），宗室孙峻诛杀诸葛恪后，藉故民间有传言称诸葛恪想迎孙和即位，而剥夺了孙和的王位，并将孙和流放到新都（治今浙江省淳安县），随后赐死，张妃也一同死去。此时的孙皓年仅十二岁，还有三个异母弟弟，何姬为了将孙皓等人抚养长大而保全了性命。太平三年（258年），孙亮被继承孙峻权力的孙綝废黜，孙权的六子景帝孙休被立为帝。

景帝即位后，将孙皓封为乌程侯，命孙皓前往封地乌程（今浙江省湖州市）。他的异母弟孙德、孙谦也分别被封为钱塘侯、永安侯。在当乌程侯期间，孙皓与乌程令万彧相识，彼此交好。永安七年（264年，魏咸熙元年）七月，景帝托孤于丞相濮阳兴后驾崩。在景帝死后，濮阳兴并未遵从他的意愿立太子孙为帝。当时吴国的盟国蜀汉已经灭亡，交趾一带又发生了叛乱，大臣们考虑著拥立一位较年长的君主。已升任为左典军的万彧便向濮阳兴和另一位权臣张布推荐孙皓，称孙皓英明果断，有长沙桓王孙策的风范，并且行事遵守法度。濮阳兴与张布被万彧说服，便一起劝朱太后将孙皓迎立为帝。这一年，孙皓23岁。

统治前期（264-268年）

孙皓即位后，采取了一系列的举措来巩固自己的地位。一方面，他大行封赏，将迎立有功的丞相濮阳兴，加封侍中，兼领青州牧，左将军张布升为骠骑将军，加封侍中，又把吴国宿将施绩、丁奉升为左、右大司马，以拉拢臣子。另一方面，他发放粮食，救济穷人，从皇宫放出大量侍女让她们可以婚配，并放归宫中圈养的一些野兽，以一系列惠民政策来争取民心。当时人们都把他称为明主。

但一段时间后，治国有成、志得意满的孙皓便显露出鲁莽暴躁、骄傲自满、迷信以及好酒色的一面。此外，他还将景帝孙休的妻子朱太后贬为景皇后，追谥自己的父亲孙和为文皇帝，将自己的生母何姬奉为太后，妻子滕氏立为皇后，将孙休的太子及其它三个儿子封为王爵，以加强自己继位的合法性。当初拥立他的濮阳兴、张布对孙皓的转变感到震惊和失望，结果被万彧秘密向孙皓揭发，孙皓将两人处斩，并夷三族。此时，距离两人迎立孙皓才过了四个月。之后，孙皓扶植外戚，将滕皇后的父亲滕牧和何太后的弟弟即自己的舅舅们何洪、何蒋、何植都封为侯。甘露元年（265年，魏咸熙二年，晋泰始元年）七月，孙皓迫使前太后朱氏自杀，又软禁了孙休的四个儿子，并杀死了其中较年长的两人。九月，孙皓听信术士之言（「荆州有王气，当破扬州」），又为了防御司马氏军事包夹的迫切需要，决定迁都武昌（今湖北省鄂州市）。这一年十二月，继承司马昭权力的司马炎迫使曹魏禅让，正式建立了晋王朝。

宝鼎元年（266年，晋泰始二年），出使晋国的使臣丁忠回到武昌。孙皓召集群臣宴会，因常侍王蕃酒醉失态而大怒，虽然有滕牧、留平等重臣出面为王蕃求情，但孙皓依然下令将王蕃斩首。孙皓的这一举动令大臣们感到震惊遗憾，贺邵、陆抗后来在270年代上疏劝谏时，都有举此事为例来指责孙皓，重臣陆凯（同年任左丞相）更是在上疏中将王蕃比为吴国的关龙逢，隐含有将孙皓比为暴君夏桀之意。当时，晋国因为才吞并蜀地不久，有意与吴国暂时维持和平。但使臣丁忠发现晋国战备有其漏洞，劝说孙皓攻取弋阳郡（郡治今河南省潢川县西），遭到时任镇西大将军的陆凯坚决反对，孙皓表面上赞同了陆凯的意见，并未出兵，但最后还是与晋国绝交了。八月，孙皓分置左、右丞相，左丞相由陆凯担任，右丞相则安排自己的亲信万彧担任。

起初，孙皓迁都武昌后，因土地贫乏，而孙皓施政不当处渐多，所需的供给大多要从长江下游运上来，使江东百姓颇有不满，儿童再度传唱孙权定都武昌时的歌谣：「宁饮建业水，不食武昌鱼，宁还建业死，不止武昌居」。十月，永安山民施旦聚众数千人起义，劫持孙皓的异母弟永安侯孙谦后向吴故都建业（今江苏省南京市）进发，一路上不断有人加入，到建业城外时已有数万人之多，但还是被吴将丁固、诸葛靓击溃，孙谦被救回。孙皓当初听说施旦谋反的消息后，不仅不担忧，反倒觉得这是应验了之前术士说的「荆州有王气，当破扬州」一事，肯定了自己迁都的决断，命令数百人到建业城大喊「天子使荆州兵来破扬州贼」，来压制之前的晦气。丁固请示皓如何处理孙谦，孙皓下令将孙谦母子一起毒杀，后来他还杀了亡父孙和的嫡子即自己的另一个异母弟孙俊。十二月时，孙皓将都城迁回了建业。

宝鼎二年（267年，晋泰始三年）夏六月，孙皓下令新建更大的宫殿──昭明宫。为了昭明宫的修建，吕秩二千石以下的官吏都被派往山中督伐木料，昭明宫的修建历时半年，工程耗资巨大，而且耽误了农时。当时陆凯、华核等人上疏劝止，孙皓拒绝听从。

统治中期（268-272年）

宝鼎三年（268年，晋泰始四年），孙皓开始向晋国发起攻击。这一年，他亲率大军屯驻东关（今安徽省含山县西南），令左大司马施绩攻江夏（今湖北省云梦县南），右丞相万彧攻襄阳（今湖北省襄阳市），右大司马丁奉、右将军诸葛靓进攻合肥（今安徽省合肥市西），交州刺史刘俊、前部督修则、将军顾容等率攻击投降晋国的交址（郡治今越南北宁市）叛军，但都没有取得成功。北伐大军被司马望大军所拒，两路主力施绩、丁奉分别为晋将胡烈、司马骏所败，而南征交址军队更是被晋将杨稷大败，刘俊、修则战死，顾容率残军退守合浦（郡治今广西省合浦县东北）。

建衡元年（269年，晋泰始五年），孙皓派监军虞汜、威南将军薛珝、苍梧太守陶璜从荆州出发，监军李勖、督军徐存从建安海路出发，令两军在合浦会合共同剿灭交址叛军。此外，还派遣右大司马丁奉再次北征，攻打谷阳（今安徽省灵壁县）。但到了建衡二年（270年，晋泰始六年），丁奉部在涡口（今安徽省怀远县）一带被晋将牵弘击退，李勖部以道路不通为由，杀死向导冯斐后率军无功而返。孙皓为此大怒，丁奉的向导被处死，李勖更是在被何定揭发后，同徐存被全家诛杀。不久后，何定率领五千人马到夏口（今湖北省武汉市）打猎，吴宗室前将军、夏口督孙秀害怕是孙皓令何定来抓自己，提前带领家送眷数百人投奔晋国。晋武帝拜孙秀为骠骑将军，仪同三司，封会稽公，礼遇备至。

建衡三年（271年，晋泰始七年）正月，孙皓听信刁玄增改的谶文（「黄旗紫盖，见于东南，终有天下者，荆、扬之君！」），认为自己是天命所归，不顾众人反对，用车载著自己的母亲、妻子、孩子以及后宫上千人，亲率大军从牛渚（今安徽省当涂县）西进伐晋。晋军派司马望率军驻屯在寿春（今安徽省寿县）作为防备。结果孙皓的军队途中被大雪所阻，士兵忍受天寒地冻的同时还要负责拉孙皓的车队，都难以忍受这样的劳苦，军中渐渐出现倒戈的传言，因此孙皓只好下令还师。孙皓还师前，右丞相万彧与右大司马丁奉、左将军留平曾私下商议先自行回去，后被孙皓得知，虽然心怀不满，但介于三人都是老臣并没有马上处置。当年，丁奉病逝。翌年，孙皓试图用毒酒毒死万彧和留平，二人却都幸免未死，但不久后，万彧自杀，留平愁闷而死。

在这两年间里，孙吴在军事上接连取得了重大胜利，使得孙皓的自傲心大幅膨胀。先是在建衡三年（271年，晋泰始七年），南征的薛珝、虞汜、陶璜攻破交址，擒杀晋军守将，并收复了九真（郡治今越南清化市）、日南（郡治今越南洞海市南）两郡，后又平定了扶严夷，使持续多年的交址之乱暂告停歇。接著于凤凰元年（272年，晋泰始八年）秋八月，陆抗成功讨伐了因担心被孙皓加害而叛投西晋的西陵督步阐，不仅成功收复了战略要地西陵（今湖北省宜昌市），将步阐等人夷三族，并且击退了由名将羊祜率领的五万大军，围歼晋将杨肇的三万援军。西陵大捷之后，孙皓因为两年内成功收复失土及大败西晋，越发自志得意满，更加相信自己是有上天相助，还召术士尚广为他占卜看是否能取得天下，占卜的结果显示他将在庚子年「青盖入洛阳」。孙皓非常高兴，从此专门谋划统一大业，频繁派遣军队袭击晋国边境，但都劳而无功。陆抗上疏反对孙皓的穷兵黩武，希望孙皓看清晋强吴弱的事实，建议「蹔息进取小规，以畜士民之力，观衅伺隙」，又上疏指出西陵、建平战略地位的重要，请求加强两地的兵力。建平太守吾彦也凭借从长江上游漂下的大量木屑，断定晋国将从巴蜀由水路大举伐吴，上书孙皓请求加强防备。但孙皓不仅没有重视这些意见，反而在凤凰三年（274年，晋泰始十年）陆抗病逝后，将他的兵马一分为五，交给陆抗的五个儿子分别统领。

统治后期（272-279年）

军事上取得耀人成果的同时，吴国内部却越发不稳定。

自建衡元年（269年，晋泰始五年）左丞相陆凯病逝后，左大司马施绩、右大司马丁奉、司空孟仁、右丞相万彧、左将军留平、太尉范慎、司徒丁固、大司马陆抗等重臣在六年时间里先后逝世，吴国有名望的旧臣死亡殆尽。当孙皓忌惮、尊重的重臣都不复存在之后，他的施政也更加残暴，对于其他忠臣的劝谏也就不再接纳容忍。大约从272年开始，他每次召集群臣宴会，都要故意让每个人都喝得大醉，让人在边上专门检举他们的过失。甚至剥人脸皮，挖人眼珠。272年后孙皓对劝谏忠臣的容忍度也大幅下降，不惜痛下杀手以杜绝烦人的谏言：大司农楼玄因为多次直谏忤逆孙皓，被流放广州，服毒而死；中书令贺邵也因直谏而使孙皓痛恨，当贺邵因中风不能说话，被孙皓怀疑是装病，拷打致死；侍中韦昭因多次坚持己见，被以不听从诏命为由处死；东观令华核多次上书劝谏，结果为了一些小事被免官遣返；豫章太守张俊因为给孙奋的母亲扫墓，而被孙皓处以车裂极刑，并夷三族；会稽太守车浚因为开仓赈济饥民，被怀疑收买人心而处斩；湘东太守张咏因为征税不足，被孙皓派人斩杀；尚书熊睦对孙皓稍加劝阻，就被孙皓派人用刀环生生打死；甚至连他曾经宠信的何定、陈声、张俶也被他处决，其中张俶受车裂之刑，陈声更是被锯断头颅而死。

相比于272年后孙皓残暴的高压政策，晋国都督荆州诸军事的羊祜则对吴国展开怀柔政策。天玺元年（276年，晋泰始十二年），继孙秀、步阐之后，吴国又一位重要将领——吴国宗室武卫将军、京下督孙楷叛投晋国，在此前后，平虏将军孟泰、偏将军王嗣、威北将军严聪、扬威将军严整、偏将军朱买、邵凯、夏祥、昭武将军刘翻、厉武将军祖始也都纷纷向晋军投降。但孙皓丝毫没有感受到危机的来临。在吴国在接下来的几年里，各地奉承他的人争相献上有吉祥象徵的事物，让迷信的孙皓始终坚信自己将一统天下。

东吴灭亡

天纪三年（279年，晋泰始五年），郭马攻杀广州督虞授，在广州发起叛乱。孙皓派遣滕修、陶浚、陶璜率军剿灭郭马叛军。冬十一月，晋武帝司马炎依羊祜生前拟制的计划，令镇军将军司马伷、安东将军王浑、建威将军王戎、平南将军胡奋、镇南大将军杜预、龙骧将军王浚、巴东监军唐彬等分六路大举伐吴。天纪四年（280年，晋泰始六年）正月，杜预、王浑两军分别向江陵（今湖北省荆州市）、横江（今安徽省和县）进军，接连进克吴军要塞。王浑部率先攻克寻阳（今湖北省黄梅县西南）、赖乡等城，屯兵横江，距建业仅百里之遥。二月，在王浚、唐彬部和杜预部、胡奋部、王戎部的攻击下，荆州的军事重镇丹阳（今湖北省秭归县）、西陵、荆门（今湖北省宜昌市东南）、夷道（今湖北省宜都市）、乐乡（今湖北省松滋县东）、江陵、江安（今湖北省公安县）、夏口、武昌等先后失守，吴军仅战死或投降的都督、监军就有十四人，牙门将、郡守一级的将领更是有一百二十多人，荆南各郡望风而降。

三月，由丞相张悌率领的吴军精锐在版桥（今安徽省和县）被王浑部击溃，张悌、孙震、沈莹全部战死。孙皓自知灭亡在即，在给舅舅何植的信中自责道：「天匪亡吴，孤所招也。瞑目黄壤，当复何颜见四帝乎！」不久后，何植也向王浑军投降。这时，王浚率水军从武昌顺流而下，直取建业。吴主孙皓派遣张象率水军一万馀人前往抵挡，但王浚大军一到，张象便立即投降。孙皓又另遣陶浚率军两万迎敌，结果士兵全部连夜逃窜。孙皓周围数百人又请求他杀死宠臣岑昬，他不得以而被迫答应。后来，孙皓听从光禄勋薛莹和中书令胡冲的计策，分别遣送使节向王浚、司马伷、王浑请降，试图分化晋军，未能奏效。三月壬寅日（280年5月1日），王浚率大军进入石头城，孙皓率太子孙瑾、鲁王孙虔等二十一人出降，全家被遣送至洛阳。吴国至此灭亡。晋武帝下诏封孙皓为归命侯。孙皓决定投降后，为了让晋军顺利接收各地，广发劝降书信给臣僚，信中写道：

五月，孙皓到达洛阳后，得到了晋武帝较为优厚的待遇。后来晋武帝大会群臣时，召孙皓进见，孙皓上前叩首请罪，晋武帝指著坐席上的最末座对孙皓说：「朕设此座以待卿久矣。」孙皓回应道：「臣于南方，亦设此座以待陛下。」贾充故意刁难他说：「闻君在南方，每凿人眼目，剥人面皮，此何等刑耶？」孙皓回答说：「人臣弑君及奸佞不忠者，则加此刑耳。」贾充曾指使手下杀害魏帝曹髦，听了孙皓的话后羞愧不已，而孙皓本人则面不改色。晋武帝曾与王济下棋，孙皓在旁边，晋武帝对孙皓说：「何以好剥人面皮？」孙皓回应道：「见无礼于君者则剥之。」王济当时把脚伸到了棋盘下，因而孙皓讥讽王济。晋武帝有一次问孙皓：「闻南人好作《尔汝歌》，颇能为不？」孙皓正饮酒，于是举羽觞吟诵：「昔与汝为邻，今为汝做臣；上汝一杯酒，令汝寿万春！」。尔汝歌原为南人市井小调，「尔」「汝」皆为同辈间带有轻视意义的不敬称呼，孙皓直呼晋武帝为汝，晋武帝因此感到后悔。太康四年十二月（284年初），孙皓在洛阳逝世，享年四十二岁，葬于河南县界的邙山。

人物

性格

孙皓是中国历史上有名的暴君，生性多疑且残暴，设立诸多酷刑。他曾杀死或流放多名重要宗室，如杀害再从兄弟孙奉，流放从兄弟孙基、孙壹，诛杀五叔孙奋及其五子，杀死异母弟孙谦、孙俊等。对大臣，他也常常施以重刑，仅丞相一级的官员为例：除张悌在亡国之际战死外，濮阳兴被流放处死，夷三族，万彧被谴自杀，全家遭流放；陆凯死后数年，全家被处以流放。此外，孙皓非常迷信，常凭借运历、望气、卜筮、谶纬之类的原因来决定如迁都、用兵、皇后废立等重大事件，并因此一直坚信自己将统一天下。

逸闻

孙皓富有才气，有一定书法造诣，还能吟诗唱歌，一次陪侍晋武帝，武帝说：「听说你擅长唱歌，给朕唱一首《尔汝歌》吧」。孙皓应声唱道：「昔与汝为邻，今为汝作臣。劝汝一杯酒，愿汝寿千春。」

家庭

• 兄弟

　• 孙德，孙皓异母弟，孙休时封为钱塘侯。

　• 孙谦，孙皓异母弟，孙休时封为永安侯，孙皓时被山民施旦劫持谋反，后为孙皓所杀。

　• 孙俊，孙皓异母弟，生母为孙和嫡妃张氏，孙休时封为骑都尉，后为孙皓所杀。

• 姊妹

　• 孙氏，孙皓异母妹，生母为孙和嫡妃张氏，嫁陆景为妻。

• 妃嫔

　• 滕皇后，与太常滕胤同族，滕牧之女，吴亡后随孙皓内迁洛阳。

　• 张美人，张布女，受孙皓宠爱，后因讽刺孙皓而被棒杀。

　• 左夫人，一说为王氏，一说为张氏（张美人姊），受孙皓宠爱，死后孙皓日夜思念，数月不临朝政。

• 子

　• 孙瑾，孙皓子，建衡元年（269年）立为太子，吴亡后随孙皓内迁洛阳，被封为中郎。

　• 孙虔，孙皓子，先封为淮阳王，后改为鲁王，吴亡后随孙皓内迁洛阳，被封为郎中。

　• 孙充，孙皓子，晋永嘉四年（310年）被钱璯拥立为吴王，后又为钱璯所杀。

　• 孙璠，孙皓子，晋太兴元年（318年）谋反，失败被杀。

　• 孙希祖，孙皓子，后死于家乡富春县。

　• 其他：孙皓先后封三十三人为王，除鲁王孙虔外，其馀人的名字都没有记载。

历史评价

同绝大多数亡国之君一样，对孙皓的评价以负面评价为主。从孙皓受到的各种评价来看，他是一个典型的暴君形象，吴国重臣陆凯、陆抗在给孙皓的上疏中，曾多次暗示他堪比夏桀、商纣。曾担任吴国光禄勋的薛莹称在孙皓当政时「昵近小人，刑罚妄加，大臣大将无所亲信，人人忧恐，各不自安」。而孙皓被晋军俘虏后，也批判自己「虐毒横流，忠顺被害。暗昧不觉，寻其壅蔽」，要求未降的吴军尽快投降。此外，有些吴国人士曾对孙皓做出正面评价，如吴将吾彦在归降西晋之后，在晋武帝面前力赞孙皓的英明：「吴主英俊，宰辅贤明」；而孙皓早期的好友万彧也称赞孙皓好学不倦、英明果断，有孙策的风范。

在敌国眼中，272年后孙皓因残暴所导致的吴国内部不安，已经促成了进攻吴国的最佳时机，晋臣张华曾对晋武帝说：「吴主荒淫骄虐，诛杀贤能，当今讨之，可不劳而定」。晋将羊祜更是在上疏中称：「孙皓暴虐已甚，于今可不战而克。若皓不幸而没，吴人更立令主，虽有百万之众，长江未可窥也，将为后患矣！」认为如果孙皓死掉，伐吴的难度将会大大增加。晋代史臣陈寿、孙盛在批评孙皓的暴虐以外，还指责晋武帝对孙皓的处置太过宽厚，认为像孙皓这样的「肆行残暴，忠谏者诛，谗谀者进，虐用其民，穷淫极侈」的祸国殃民之君，「枭首素旗，犹不足以谢冤魂」，「宜腰首分离，以谢百姓」。

同时，关于孙皓也有一些其它方面的评价，如晋臣秦秀在为灭吴的王浚请功时，曾言及孙皓对晋国用兵给晋国带来的心理威胁，称「以孙皓之虚名，足以惊动诸夏，每一小出，虽圣心知其垂亡，然中国辄怀惶怖。」后世的李世民则从另一个角度出发，将孙皓前期「权施恩惠之风」与王莽称帝前「伪行仁义之道」相提并论，认为两人的失败就在于「有始无终」，以此得出二人都迅速覆亡的结论。唐代的朱敬则在批评孙皓的同时，还对他的权谋和才华予以一定程度的肯定。

孙皓的书迹流传到唐代，庾肩吾在他所著《书品》中则把孙皓评为「中中」，与曹操杜预并列，称「魏帝（曹操）笔墨雄赡、吴主（孙皓）体裁绵密」，书法家韦续则把他的行隶，评为「下中」品。

臣僚

• 丞相

　• 濮阳兴（264年）

　• 陆凯（266年－269年，左丞相）

　• 万彧（266年－272年，右丞相）

　• 许沇（276年前后）

　• 张悌（279年－280年）

• 大司马

　• 朱绩（264年－270年，左大司马）

　• 丁奉（264年－271年，右大司马）

　• 陆抗（273年－274年）

• 太尉

　• 范慎（271年－273年）

• 司徒

　• 丁固（268年－273年）

　• 何植（279年－280年）

• 司空

　• 孟仁（268年－271年）

• 骠骑将军

　• 张布（264年）

　• 朱宣（？－？）

• 车骑将军

　• 刘纂（？－？）

• 卫将军

　• 滕牧（264年－？）

• 其他

　• 太常张夔，光禄勋薛莹，大鸿胪张俨，少府李勖，大司农楼玄，中书令纪陟、贺邵、弘璆、董朝、张尚、胡冲

　• 选曹尚书陆喜，侍中韦昭、虞昺、李仁，中常侍王蕃，东观令华核，五官中郎将丁忠

　• 前将军锺离牧、孙秀，左将军留平，右将军诸葛靓，镇西将军朱琬，护军将军孙震，抚军将军步协，建威将军孙晏，游击将军张象

　• 丹阳太守沈莹，会稽太守郭诞、车浚，临海太守奚熙，京下督孙楷，徐陵督陶浚，无难督周处

　• 宜都太守虞忠，建平太守吾彦，江陵督伍延，西陵督步阐、张政、留宪，乐乡督孙歆，公安督孙遵，夏口督孙慎，中夏督陆景，丹阳监盛纪，夷道监陆晏

　• 威南将军薛珝，广州牧滕修，广州刺史熊睦、徐旗、闾丰，交州刺史刘俊、虞汜、陶璜，南海太守留略，桂林太守修允

　• 尚书岑昬，殿中列将何定，司市中郎将陈声，司直中郎将张俶，奉禁都尉陈训，侍芝郎黄耇，平虑郎吴平

• 尚广，术士，为孙晧占卜看是否能取得天下，占卜的结果显示他将在庚子年「青盖入洛阳」。

注释