Background

It is not known when Yuwen Huaji was born. He was the oldest son of the Sui dynasty official Yuwen Shu, a close associate of Yang Guang the Prince of Jin, the son of Sui's founder Emperor Wen, and played a large role in helping Yang Guang displacing his older brother Yang Yong as Emperor Wen's crown prince in 600. Thereafter, Yuwen Huaji served as a guard commander for Yang Guang's palace. It was said that he often rode strong horses at a high speed through the streets of the capital Chang'an, holding a sling and shooting stones from the sling, and several times, he was removed from his post for receiving bribes, but each time Yang Guang persuaded Emperor Wen to restore him, and Yang Guang gave a daughter (the Princess Nanyang) to Yuwen Huaji's brother Yuwen Shiji in marriage.

In 604, Emperor Wen died—a death that traditional historians generally believed to be a murder ordered by Yang Guang, although they admitted a lack of direct evidence—and Yang Guang took the throne as Emperor Yang. He made Yuwen Huaji the deputy minister of husbandry. In 607, Emperor Yang visited Yulin Commandery (榆林, roughly modern Yulin, Shaanxi), and Yuwen Huaji and another brother, Yuwen Zhiji (宇文智及) engaged in forbidden trade with Tujue. Emperor Yang was incensed and ordered that they be executed, but at the last minute spared them, formally awarding them to their father Yuwen Shu as slaves.

In 616, with the northern empire engulfed in agrarian rebellions, Emperor Yang, at Yuwen Shu's suggestion, went to Jiangdu (江都, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu). Yuwen Shu and his sons followed Emperor Yang there, and in winter 616, Yuwen Shu died. Emperor Yang, remembering Yuwen Shu's contributions to him, made Yuwen Huaji a general and returned his brother Yuwen Zhiji to office as well. He also allowed Yuwen Huaji to inherit Yuwen Shu's title of Duke of Xu.

Coup against Emperor Yang

Emperor Yang, believing that he was well-protected by the elite Xiaoguo Army and not wanting to return to the turbulent north, considered moving the capital to Danyang (丹陽, in modern Nanjing, Jiangsu). Meanwhile, Xiaoguo soldiers were largely from Guanzhong (i.e., the region around the capital Chang'an), and they missed their home. Once they saw that Emperor Yang was not intending to return, they considered fleeing. Several Xiaoguo officers—the chief among whom were Sima Dekan (司馬德戡), Pei Qiantong (裴虔通), and Yuan Li (元禮)—planned an organized plot to flee. When two of the officers involved in the plot, Yuwen Zhiji's friend Zhao Xinshu (趙行樞) and Yuwen Zhiji's nephew Yang Shilan (楊士覽), discussed the plan with Yuwen Zhiji, Yuwen Zhiji opined that if the Xiaoguo soldiers fled, they would surely be chased down and executed; rather, he suggested that they carry out a coup instead. At the suggestion of Zhao and Xue Shiliang (薛世良), they decided to invite Yuwen Huaji to be their leader. Yuwen Huaji, who was described as cowardly, initially panicked when offered the leadership, but eventually accepted.

In late spring 618, the Xiaoguo officers carried out their plot, and as they were trusted officers, they were able to quickly gain access to the palace. They quickly entered the palace, initially declaring that they were only intending to ask Emperor Yang to return to Chang'an, but soon showed that they intended more by starting to denounce Emperor Yang for his crimes, as well as killing his youngest son Yang Gao, the Prince of Zhao. Emperor Yang offered to commit suicide by poison, but poison could not be found quickly, and so one of the officers, Linghu Xingda (令狐行達), strangled him with his scarf as he requested.

Yuwen Huaji briefly considered declaring Emperor Yang's brother, the former Prince of Shu Yang Xiu, emperor, but the other coup leaders opposed the idea, and so Yang Xiu and his sons were put to death, as were Emperor Yang's son Yang Jian the Prince of Qi, Emperor Yang's grandson Yang Tan (楊倓) the Prince of Yan, and other members of the imperial Yang clan. A number of high level officials, including the prime minister Yu Shiji, Pei Yun (裴蘊), Lai Hu'er (來護兒), Yuan Chong (袁充), Yuwen Xie (宇文協), Yuwen Jiong (宇文皛), and Xiao Ju (蕭矩) the Duke of Liang (the nephew of Emperor Yang's wife Empress Xiao), were also put to death. However, as Emperor Yang's nephew Yang Hao, the Prince of Qin, was a friend of Yuwen Zhiji, Yuwen Zhiji protected him, and Yang Hao was not killed. Yuwen Huaji also spared two other key officials—Pei Ju (on the basis that Pei had treated the Xiaoguo soldiers well) and Su Wei (on the basis that Su had largely been ignored by Emperor Yang late in his reign).

As regent over Yang Hao

Yuwen Huaji declared himself grand chancellor and effectively served as regent. He issued an edict in Empress Xiao's name, declaring Yang Hao emperor, but did not allow Yang Hao to actually exercise any imperial authorities. He soon gathered Emperor Yang's court, including his concubines and ladies in waiting, as well as officials, and began heading back northwest, toward the eastern capital Luoyang, leaving the general Chen Leng (陳稜) in charge at Jiangdu. On the way, the Xiaoguo officers Mai Mengcai (麥孟才), Qian Jie (錢傑), and Shen Guang (沈光) tried to carry out a counter-coup to overthrow Yuwen Huaji and to avenge Emperor Yang, but they only succeeded in killing the co-conspirator Yuan Min (元敏) before they were surrounded and killed.

Meanwhile, Yuwen Huaji began to live in luxury, using items and ceremonies only appropriate for emperors. Not willing to abandon Emperor Yang's treasures, he carried them along, at great expense in manpower. Shocked at Yuwen Huaji's conduct, Sima Dekan, Zhao Xingshu, along with several other officers, plotted against Yuwen Huaji, planning to support Sima as leader instead. However, when they secretly asked for support from the nearby agrarian rebel leader Meng Haigong (孟海公), Meng did not respond quickly, and the plot leaked. Yuwen Huaji sent Yuwen Shiji to arrest Sima. He rebuked Sima:

:"We have together tried to pacify the empire, and it can be said that we have survived 10,000 deaths. Now that we have accomplished it, it is time for us to share our honors. Why were you plotting against me?"

Sima responded:

:"We executed the tyrant Emperor Yang because we could not endure his immorality and cruelty, and we supported you. You, instead, are even worse than the tyrant. I was forced into this."

Yuwen Huaji then had Sima executed.

As Yuwen Huaji approached Luoyang, the rebel leader Li Mi, who controlled the region, resisted him. Yuwen Huaji initially could not get past Li, and therefore went to and took over Dong Commandery (東郡, roughly modern Anyang, Henan). Both Li Mi and the Sui officials at Luoyang (who had, after hearing of Emperor Yang's death, declared Emperor Yang's grandson Yang Tong the Prince of Yue emperor) were apprehensive of Yuwen Huaji's next move, and they, previously enemies, entered into an alliance where Li, previously showing imperial ambitions of his own, accepted a Sui-bestowed title of Duke of Wei and nominally submitted to Yang Tong. Yuwen Huaji made several attacks on Li Mi but could not prevail. Li, knowing that Yuwen Huaji's food supplies were running out, pretended to offer peace to Yuwen, agreeing to supply Yuwen's army with food, but instead planning to withhold food and, once Yuwen's food supplies did run out, attack. Li's plans, however, became known by Yuwen, and he in turn made a surprise attack on Li, nearly killing Li, but Li's general Qin Shubao protected Li from death, and eventually Yuwen was repelled. Yuwen, unable to gain food, headed north away from Li, and Li did not trail him. Many of his soldiers surrendered to Li, but he still had some 20,000 men by this point.

After Yuwen Huaji reached Wei (魏縣, in modern Handan, Hebei), his close associate Zhang Kai (張愷), who had previously helped him suppress Sima's plot, plotted against him. Yuwen Huaji discovered the plot and executed Zhang and his co-conspirators, but by this point was growing increasingly despondent over the increasing desertions from his rank. He and his brothers often feasted and wept at the feast, and he and Yuwen Zhiji blamed each other for the plot. Yuwen Huaji, believing that defeat was near, wanted to take imperial title. In fall 618, he therefore poisoned Yang Hao to death and declared himself emperor of the state of Xu.

As emperor

In spring 619, Yuwen Huaji attacked Yuan Baozang (元寶藏), a general previously under Li Mi. (Li Mi had been defeated by the Sui general Wang Shichong in fall 618 and subsequently fled to the newly established Tang dynasty, although he then tried to rebel against Tang in winter 618 and was killed around the new year 619.) Yuan surrendered to Tang, and subsequently, the Tang general Li Shentong (李神通, a cousin of the Tang emperor Emperor Gaozu), in turn attacked Yuwen Huaji. Yuwen Huaji could not resist Li Shentong's attacks and fled east to Liaocheng. Li Shentong trailed him and put Liaocheng under siege.

Yuwen Huaji then tried to use the treasures he carried to entice other rebel generals into assisting him. Wang Bo (王薄) accepted, and entered Liaocheng to help defend it. Soon, however, Yuwen Huaji ran out of food and offered to surrender to Li Shentong. Li Shentong's assistant Cui Min'gan (崔民幹) suggested that Li Shentong accept the surrender, but Li Shentong, wanting to show off his power and also to seize Yuwen's treasures to award to his soldiers, refused. Meanwhile, Yuwen Huaji had sent Yuwen Shiji out of the city to seek food, and Yuwen Shiji was able to deliver some food supplies to Liaocheng, allowing Yuwen Huaji to recover somewhat, and therefore he withdrew his surrender offer and continued to resist. Li Shentong could not capture the city.

However, Dou Jiande the Prince of Xia, another rebel leader intent on attacking Yuwen Huaji, soon arrived, forcing Li Shentong to withdraw. Dou put Liaocheng under siege as well, and Wang Bo opened the city gates to welcome Xia forces in. Dou captured Yuwen Huaji and, referring to himself as "your subject" when greeting Empress Xiao, declared a mourning period for Emperor Yang and comforted the Sui officials. He arrested Yuwen Zhiji, Yang Shilan, and several other associates of Yuwen Huaji, executing them publicly. He then delivered Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Huaji's sons Yuwen Chengji (宇文承基) and Yuwen Chengzhi (宇文承阯) to his base Xiangguo (襄國, in modern Xingtai, Hebei) and had them beheaded in public. Before Yuwen Huaji was executed, the only thing he stated was, "I have never done any harm to the Prince of Xia!"

Yuwen Huaji's brother, Yuwen Shiji, survived and later became an important official of the new Tang dynasty.

Family

• Father

　• Yuwen Shu(宇文述), Sui dynasty general

• Children

　• Yuwen Chengji (宇文承基) (executed by Dou Jiande 619)

　• Yuwen Chengzhi (宇文承趾) (executed by Dou Jiande 619)

　• At least one more son

Note: In the novel Shuo Tang Yanyi (Tales of Tang dynasty), he has a son named Yuwen Chengdu (宇文成都), who is said the strongest warrior of Sui dynasty, and other two sons named Yuwen Chenglong (宇文成龙) and Yuwen Chenghu (宇文成虎).

• Brothers

　• Yuwen Zhiji (宇文智及), general of Sui dynasty (executed by Dou Jiande)

　• Yuwen Shiji (宇文士及), general of Sui dynasty, but he accepted the advice from his friend Yang Yichen (general of Sui dynasty, garrisoned in Fort Dongling) and surrendered to Li Yuan (the founder of the Tang dynasty) before Yuwen Huaji claimed to be the emperor. He was the only person in his family that survived after 619 and eventually he became a prime minister of the Tang dynasty.

　• Yuwen Huiji (宇文惠及), general of Sui dynasty. Died in early years.

生平

背景

祖上是匈奴人，姓破野頭，後歸化鮮卑宇文部，改姓宇文。其父宇文述為北周和隋朝官員。宇文化及是家中長子。隋朝滅南陳後，宇文述平定蕭瓛、蕭岩之亂有功，宇文化及得授開府。

宇文述曾助隋文帝次子晉王楊廣奪嫡取代皇太子楊勇。楊廣立為皇太子後，宇文化及以門蔭入仕，起家千牛備身，經常領著千牛衛出入太子臥室，累遷為太子僕。青年時就備受寵信，惟品德不端，經常騎高頭大馬挾弓持彈在長安道上疾馳，被京城百姓呼為輕薄公子，還多次因受賄而被罷免官職，每次都因楊廣說服文帝而複職。楊廣還把女兒南陽公主嫁給宇文化及的三弟宇文士及。宇文化及經常保護二弟宇文智及免遭宇文述怒殺，所以兄弟之間很親密。宇文化及仗著弟弟娶了公主，愈發驕橫，在公卿之間言辭不遜，多有侮辱，每看到想要的男女、狗馬、珍玩，必請託索取，又常與屠販者交往牟利。

楊廣繼位為隋煬帝後，宇文化及獲任太僕少卿。他仗著自己是煬帝為太子時的寵臣，十分貪婪。大業三年（607年），煬帝幸榆林，宇文化及在宇文智及唆使下違反禁令與突厥做生意。煬帝大怒，囚禁他們數月，回京到青門外時，想先斬了他們再入城，已經脫了他們的衣服將頭髮梳成辮子，但因女兒南陽公主是他們的弟媳，宇文述又為宇文化及求情，久後還是釋放了他們，把他們賜給他們的父親宇文述為奴。

大業十二年（616年），華北民變蜂起，宇文述建議煬帝駕幸江都宮，與兒子們隨駕。十月，宇文述病重，煬帝遣司宮魏氏問遺言，宇文述說希望哀憐宇文化及。魏氏卻謊稱宇文述只是回憶煬帝。宇文述去世後，煬帝追憶交情，起用宇文化及為右屯衛將軍，宇文智及為將作少監，並讓宇文化及襲宇文述的許國公爵位。

弒殺煬帝

煬帝自認為有精銳的驍果軍保護，不想回到混亂的華北，想遷都丹陽。但驍果軍士兵大多來自關中，思鄉，見煬帝無意北還，就想逃跑。大業十四年（618年）三月，以虎賁郎將司馬德戡、裴虔通和直閣元禮為首的一些將領也想逃跑，宇文智及的朋友虎牙郎將趙行樞和外甥勛侍楊士覽也參與其中，與宇文智及商議。宇文智及指出如果驍果軍逃跑，會被追上處決，故建議發動政變。在趙行樞和直長薛世良建議下，他們決定請宇文化及為首。宇文化及性格原本駑鈍怯懦，聞訊害怕得變了臉色且流汗，最後同意。江陽長張惠紹聞訊，騎馬告訴御史大夫裴蘊，同謀矯詔調動郭下軍隊交給左翊衛大將軍來護兒指揮，收捕宇文化及等，扣門救駕，派人告訴內史侍郎虞世基；虞世基懷疑不實，不許。宇文化及顧慮宇文士及是煬帝女婿，所以沒有告知他政變的事。也有一說宇文化及兄弟得知逃跑之謀後大喜，提出弒君的是宇文士及，因後來宇文士及官至唐朝宰相，故其惡行被唐朝史官轉嫁給宇文智及。

驍果軍發動政變。因為發起政變者都是受到信任的軍官，他們很容易就找到道路殺入了江都宮。宇文化及等結交司宮魏氏為內應，政變之際，魏氏矯詔讓煬帝在玄武門安排的給使數百人出外，讓他們無法救駕。天亮後，鷹揚郎將孟秉以甲騎迎接宇文化及，宇文化及不知道政變是否成功，戰慄不能說話，有人來謁見，他只是俯首據鞍，口稱罪過。宇文化及到城門，司馬德戡迎謁，帶他入朝堂，號為丞相。他們起初稱只想奉煬帝回京。裴虔通持刀劫持煬帝，宇文化及命他收刀。但政變者很快暴露真實意圖，宇文化及派內史舍人封德彞譴責煬帝的罪行，裴虔通殺死皇子趙王楊杲。煬帝請求服毒自殺，不獲准，最後解下白色頭巾給參與政變的校尉令狐行達，令狐行達用頭巾將他縊死。《隋書》卷二十一〈天文志下〉指宇文化及作亂有天象為徵兆。

宇文化及打算擁立被軟禁在驍果營的煬帝弟廢蜀王楊秀為帝，眾人以為不行，便又殺楊秀及其七子（其中可能包括楊楷）；之後陸續殺掉煬帝嫡子齊王楊暕及其二子、煬帝孫燕王楊倓、煬帝侄楊顥，隋朝的宗室、外戚、忠心的大臣如滕王楊詵、虞世基、裴蘊、來護兒、秘書監袁充、右翊衛將軍宇文協、千牛宇文皛、蕭皇后侄梁國公蕭鉅和他們的一些兒子如散騎郎、朝散大夫來楷、果毅郎將、金紫光祿大夫來弘、虎賁郎將、右光祿大夫來整、符璽郎虞熙、宣義郎虞柔、虞晦、尚輦直長裴愔以及千牛左右張幼琮等都被殺死。楊暕因為失寵，至死都以為是煬帝要殺他。虞世基弟起居舍人虞世南抱著虞世基號泣，請求代死，宇文化及不許，虞世南哀傷得形銷骨立，與兄弟三人都死于國難的張幼琮都得到當時的稱讚。煬帝侄秦王楊浩因是宇文智及的朋友，在宇文智及保護下得免。宇文化及念及黃門侍郎裴世矩善待驍果軍還建議讓他們在本地娶妻、政變時迎拜馬首，老臣蘇威已失帝寵，也沒有殺他們；蘇威去參見宇文化及，宇文化及聚眾相見，加以殊禮。百官到朝堂致賀，只有給事郎許善心不到，也不聽其侄直長許弘仁勸說。宇文化及遣人去他家抓他到朝堂再釋放，許善心出門時沒有行蹈舞之禮，宇文化及怒，又命擒回來殺了。其母範氏時年九十二歲，絕食十餘天而死。宇文化及將楊楷妃元氏賜給同謀校尉元武達，元氏絕食而死。此外，宇文化及一夥也沒有殺力戰被擒的千牛獨孤開遠（煬帝的表兄弟），以及來護兒年幼的兒子來恆、來濟。許善心子許敬宗求饒，也得以不死。

政變時，宇文化及派遣驍果席德方抓來右候衛大將軍趙才，趙才一言不發，宇文化及想殺他，但三日後還是放了他並官複原職。一次宇文化及設宴，趙才請求勸其同謀楊士覽十八人等喝酒，宇文化及答應。趙才執杯說：「十八人這件事只能做一次，不要到別處再做。」眾人默然無語。

始安郡丞李襲志得知宇文化及弒君，集合士庶舉哀三日。交趾太守丘和得知煬帝遇弒，投靠梁帝蕭銑。南陳末代皇后沈婺華從廣陵過江回鄉。光州人得知煬帝遇弒，推盧祖尚為刺史，盧祖尚登壇歃血，哭著誓師。

大權獨攬

宇文化及自稱大丞相、總百揆，為事實上的攝政；他以蕭皇后名義下詔立楊浩為帝，但並不讓楊浩實際行使皇權，令他住在別宮，重兵看守，只讓他給敕書籤字；以宇文智及為左僕射，領十二衛大將軍，宇文士及為內史令，裴世矩為右僕射，裴虔通為光祿大夫、莒國公，蘇威為光祿大夫、開府儀同三司，崔賾為著作郎，崔賾稱病不起。宇文化及出行的儀仗都與帝王乘輿相當。他很快召集煬帝的妃嬪宮女和官員們領兵沿西北方向朝東都洛陽進發，留左武衛將軍陳稜為江都太守；奪取江都人舟楫，預備走彭城水路西歸。著作佐郎庾自直在途中激憤發病去世。宇文化及認為折衝郎將沈光驍勇，命沈光率給使在宮中駐紮。到顯福宮時，虎賁郎將宿國公麥孟才、虎牙郎錢傑、沈光等聚集數千人想發起反政變推翻宇文化及，為煬帝報仇，但事洩，宇文化及害怕麥孟才和沈光的勇名，夜間與心腹出營，派人命司馬德戡鎮壓。沈光聽到營寨喧譁，知道事洩，不及披甲就襲擊宇文化及大營，發現是空營，一無所獲，僅殺了宇文化及的同謀內史侍郎元敏，就被圍殲。同時，吳興太守沈法興也以討伐宇文化及為由起兵。

四月，宇文化及擁兵十餘萬，入據六宮，奢靡一如煬帝；每日在帳中南面端坐，有人奏事，他就默然不回答，後來才收取奏疏，與城門郎唐奉義、符璽郎牛方裕、薛世良、醫正張愷等參決。同時將楊浩軟禁在尚書省，令衛士十餘人看守，派令史取他寫的詔書，不讓他接受百官上朝參拜。宇文化及行至徐州，崔賾病逝。因為水路不通，宇文化及就奪了百姓的車牛二千輛用于裝載宮人珍寶，盔甲和兵器都令軍士背負，路途遙遠，疲倦的三軍開始怨恨。宇文化及首先封司馬德戡為溫國公，邑三千戶，加光祿大夫，仍統本兵，其實很猜忌他，數日後，署諸將分配士卒，以司馬德戡為禮部尚書，表面上遷為顯官，其實是奪其兵權，司馬德戡賄賂宇文智及，才得以統率後軍萬餘人。司馬德戡懷恨，私下裡對趙行樞說宇文化及沒才能又糊塗，又有一群小人在身邊，肯定要壞事，怎麼辦？趙行樞說就靠他們數人就能廢黜宇文化及。于是司馬德戡與趙行樞和將領李本、尹正卿、宇文導師等圖謀襲擊宇文化及，遣人求助于附近的農民變軍首領孟海公希望他為外援。因孟海公沒有很快回複，司馬德戡為了等待回複而沒有行動。許弘仁和張愷知道後告訴宇文化及，宇文化及于是派宇文士及裝作遊獵到後軍，司馬德戡不知事洩，出營參謁，于是和黨羽都被擒。宇文化及責問他：我們在萬死之餘已經成事了，正要同守富貴，為什麼要背叛我？司馬德戡說宇文化及比昏君隋煬帝更甚，所以是情勢所迫。宇文化及不回答，命送到幕下縊死，並殺死趙行樞等十九名同黨。孟海公害怕宇文化及，率眾準備牛酒迎接。

宇文化及到洛陽，遭圍攻洛陽、占據鞏洛地區的叛首李密抵抗，無法通過李密的轄區西進，于是進軍東郡，通守王軌獻城投降。煬帝訃聞傳來，守洛陽的隋朝官員擁立留守洛陽的皇孫越王楊侗為帝。六月，宇文化及把輜重留在滑台，以王軌為刑部尚書守衛，引兵北上黎陽，李密遣徐世勣占據黎陽，徐世勣畏懼宇文化及兵鋒，退守黎陽倉。宇文化及渡河，據守黎陽縣，分兵圍徐世勣。太史丞耿詢對妻子說宇文化及必敗，李氏當稱王，想逃離宇文化及，被宇文化及所殺。李密、徐世勣深溝高壘，不和宇文化及交戰，宇文化及每次攻倉，李密就引兵相救攻打宇文化及的後方。李密與宇文化及隔水對話，李密罵宇文化及一家受隋朝恩惠卻不死諫失德的皇帝反而弒君謀篡，如果投降，尚可保全後嗣。宇文化及默然俯視良久，回答說這是交戰的事，何必書生之語。李密對隨從說宇文化及如此庸愚，卻突然想當帝王，只不過是趙高、劉玄之流，自己應該折杖驅趕他。宇文化及大修攻城器械進逼倉城，徐世勣于城外掘深溝固守，宇文化及為護城河所阻不能到城下。徐世勣從護城河中挖地道，出兵攻擊，宇文化及大敗，攻城器械被焚燒。宇文化及數戰不利，雄武郎將于洪建（一作于弘達）被李密生擒。

李密與宇文化及交戰時，擔心被洛陽隋軍襲擊。洛陽政權也擔心宇文化及前來，有個叫蓋琮的人上疏請求說服李密一同對抗宇文化及。內史令元文都、盧楚等同意赦免李密，命他攻打宇文化及，讓他們互鬥，等打敗宇文化及，李密也疲倦了，可坐漁翁之利。于是以蓋琮為通直散騎常侍，賜李密詔書，授徐世勣右武候大將軍，也命他討伐宇文化及。李密見到蓋琮大喜，上表請求歸順楊侗，請求討滅宇文化及以贖罪，派使者向楊侗報捷，將于洪建交楊侗處死，受冊拜為太尉、尚書令、東南道大行台行軍元帥、魏國公，楊侗令他先平定宇文化及，然後入朝輔政。納言王世充不同意招撫李密，元文都等也懷疑王世充想獻城給宇文化及，因此彼此生疑，僅表面仍彼此友善。七月，李密受詔，因為再無後顧之憂，出動全部精兵東向攻打宇文化及。李密得知宇文化及的糧食要吃完了，裝作求和、同意提供糧食，其實不想給，想等糧盡就進攻。宇文化及信以為真，放開吃飯，等著李密供糧。李密手下有人獲罪，逃奔宇文化及，說了李密的計劃，宇文化及已經糧盡，大怒，渡過永濟渠，突襲李密，決戰于童山下，李密中箭落馬，幾乎被殺，得帳內驃騎秦叔寶救護得免，秦叔寶收攏軍隊力戰擊退宇文化及。宇文化及繞開李密，李密沒有追殺，他就進入汲郡尋求軍糧，又遣使拷掠東郡吏民，責令他們給自己米粟。王軌怨恨，以城歸順李密。宇文化及得知王軌背叛，大懼，準備從汲郡率眾攻打北方各州。其將陳智略率嶺南驍果萬餘人、樊文超率江淮軍、張童兒率江東驍果數千人叛投李密，蘇威也投奔李密。宇文化及率餘部二萬向北到魏縣（今河北大名西南），以吏部尚書楊恭仁守魏縣。李密知道他再不可能有作為，回軍鞏洛，只留下徐世勣防備他。李密每次取勝都向楊侗報捷，引起王世充不悅，並與元文都、盧楚矛盾激化，最後發兵殺死元文都、盧楚，奪取洛陽政權的大權，李密聞訊放棄入朝。

八月，陳棱求得煬帝靈柩，取宇文化及所留輦輅鼓吹，粗略以皇帝規格改葬于江都宮西吳公台下。宇文化及任為歷陽太守的民變首領杜伏威不接受官職，與沈法興都向楊侗稱臣。齊郡民變首領樂伯通據丹陽效力于宇文化及，被沈法興攻陷。九月，李密因剛打敗宇文化及，勁兵良馬多戰死，軍隊疲倦，卻又因獲勝而輕視王世充，不設壁壘，結果被王世充大敗。王世充的家屬先前在江都，被宇文化及劫持到滑台，又因王軌投降而被李密所獲，這時候也獲救。李密投降唐朝，後來謀叛被殺。

張愷等與將領陳伯想逃跑，事洩，為宇文化及所殺。宇文化及心腹都跑了，軍力也衰微，兄弟們都無計可施，只是相聚酣宴奏女樂，喝醉後宇文化及就責怪宇文智及指使他弒君，招來滅族之禍，抱著兩個兒子哭泣。宇文智及也不服，怒答：「成功的時候不歸功，失敗了卻歸罪，為什麼不殺了我投降竇建德？」兄弟之間彼此鬥嘴，酒醒了也繼續喝。宇文化及見部下多逃散，自知必敗，嘆道：「人生固當死，豈不一日為帝乎！」宇文士及勸他投奔唐朝，他不肯。九月，鴆殺楊浩，並殺楊浩弟濟北侯楊湛，自立為帝，國號「許」，年號天壽，設置百官，封宇文智及為齊王，宇文士及為蜀王，以大理卿鄭善果為民部尚書，裴世矩為尚書右僕射，加光祿大夫，封蔡國公，為河北道宣撫大使。

稱帝後

宇文化及派使者招降自稱幽州總管的羅藝，羅藝殺使者，說自己不會追隨弒君逆臣。西突厥曷娑那可汗先前投奔煬帝，煬帝死後追隨宇文化及，十二月，投奔唐朝。

唐武德二年（619年）正月，宇文化及攻打李密舊部魏州總管元寶藏，四十天不能攻克魏州，反為所敗，逃走千餘人。元寶藏投降唐朝，俘獲楊恭仁交給唐朝。唐朝派山東安撫大使淮安王李神通攻討宇文化及，化及被迫東走聊城，李神通攻破魏縣，斬獲二千餘人，追殺宇文化及，圍攻聊城。

閏二月，宇文化及想以財物誘導其他叛首相助。齊州叛首王薄聽聞宇文化及有很多寶物，假裝來相助，宇文化及相信他，和他一起守城。隨即叛首夏王竇建德也稱自己是隋朝子民，應該討伐弒君者，並得到納言宋正本、內史侍郎孔德紹的贊同，也聚眾前來攻打宇文化及。

宇文化及糧盡，想投降。李神通手下安撫副使崔民幹建議接受。但李神通認為早晚可以破城，想以破城展示國威和用宇文化及的財物賞賜將士，拒絕了。崔民幹說如果不能在竇建德趕來前平定宇文化及，則遭到雙方夾攻必敗，李神通憤而囚禁了他。宇文士及以到濟北尋找糧食為由離開宇文化及，因此得到一些糧食，宇文化及軍力有所恢復，便又拒絕投降，繼續抵抗，李神通攻城十餘天不能攻克。

竇建德軍到後，李神通被迫退兵。竇建德連續大破宇文化及，宇文化及退守聊城，竇建德縱兵用撞車、機石四面急攻，鄭善果為宇文化及督戰，中流矢。王薄開門放夏軍入城，宇文化及及其部眾都被俘。竇建德對蕭皇后稱臣，為煬帝發喪，安撫隋朝官員，當眾誅殺宇文智及、元武達、孟秉、楊士覽、許弘仁，以檻車押解化及，與其子宇文承基、宇文承趾至夏國都城襄國郡（今河北省邢台市），責問弒君之罪，在大陸縣一併當眾斬首。宇文化及臨終說：「我沒有做對不起夏王的事！」宇文化及所任內史令封德彞早就知道宇文化及必敗，所以隨宇文士及出外保護糧道，這時也就一同從濟北投降唐朝。竇建德下屬瀛州刺史王琮責罵鄭善果效力弒君之賊，鄭善果羞愧自殺未果，後來也逃奔唐朝。留鎮徐州的裴虔通以及宇文化及所任的太常卿陳政、江都郡丞趙元楷也投奔唐朝。趙才、虞世南、工部尚書何稠、門下錄事李桐客、起居舍人蔡允恭被竇建德俘虜，趙才鬱悶而死。竇建德遣虎賁郎將于士証對南陽公主說宇文化及罪當滅族，公主子宇文禪師也該被殺，如公主不忍，可以赦免，公主不求情，宇文禪師被殺。竇建德告訴楊侗自己誅殺了宇文化及，楊侗封他為夏王。此後竇建德愈發強大，山東多歸附。四月，竇建德趁聯合突厥，將宇文化及的首級與蕭皇后及楊暕遺腹子楊政道一起交給和親突厥的隋朝義成公主。

大業年間，有童謠說「誰道許」，果然宇文化及建立了許國而且很快滅亡了。

貞觀二年（628年）六月，唐太宗認為裴虔通等人弒君不可取，將裴虔通除名削爵流放。七月，又追究萊州刺史牛方裕、絳州刺史薛世良、廣州都督府長史唐奉義、原隋朝虎牙郎將高元禮協同宇文化及弒君之罪，也都除名流放到嶺南。七年（633年）正月，又下令宇文化及一黨的子孫不予錄用。

評價

• 《隋書》評價宇文化及平庸下材，世代受恩，有幸成為貴臣卻不能效力國家乃至弒君，天地不容，人神同憤，最終伏誅，應為人臣之戒。

• 後來許敬宗對唐高宗彈劾皇舅長孫無忌謀反時，舉了宇文化及身為宰相之子、駙馬之兄仍然謀反弒君的例子。

• 武則天年間，宇文化及的兒子向肅機（即尚書左右丞）楊昉喊冤，請求為宇文化及平反，讓自己享受隋朝的蔭官待遇，楊昉取牒文寫道：「父親殺了隋朝皇帝，兒子卻請求隋朝的蔭官，可以嗎？」

家庭

兄弟

• 同母弟：齊王宇文智及

• 異母弟：宇文士及

姊妹

• 宇文氏，楊士覽母

• 宇文昭儀

子女

• 宇文承基

• 宇文承趾

• 其他兒子

影視作品

注釋

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