Early life

Liu Yilong was born at Jingkou (京口, in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) in 407, to Liu Yu and his concubine Hu Dao'an (胡道安), as Liu Yu's third son; at that time, Liu Yu was already the paramount general for Jin, and so Liu Yilong was born into a household of power and wealth. For reasons lost to history, Liu Yu put Consort Hu to death in 409. Liu Yilong's maternal grandmother Lady Su was involved in his upbringing, and he was particularly close to her as he grew up. In 410, while the Jin capital Jiankang was under attack by the warlord Lu Xun (盧循), Liu Yu had his assistant Liu Cui accompany the three-year-old Liu Yilong to serve as the defender of Jingkou. In 415, he was created the Duke of Pengcheng. In 417, while Liu Yu was attacking Later Qin, he had Liu Yilong, again assisted by his staff, remain at Pengcheng to serve as the governor of Xu Province (徐州, modern northern Jiangsu and Anhui), to guard his rear. In 418, after Liu Yu conquered Later Qin, Liu Yilong was made the governor of the important Jing Province (荊州, modern Hubei and Hunan), and commander of armed forces of the western empire. Those who served on his staff included Dao Yanzhi (到彥之), Zhang Shao, Wang Tanshou (王曇首), Wang Hua, and Shen Linzi (沈林子), with Zhang actually in charge of headquarters due to Liu Yilong's young age. After Liu Yu seized the Jin throne in 420, establishing Liu Song (as Emperor Wu), he created a number of his sons princes, and Liu Yilong was created the Prince of Yidu at that time. Around this time, he became known as studious in the Confucian classics and histories, and was also a good calligrapher.

In 424, believing Liu Yilong's older brother Emperor Shao (who had succeeded Emperor Wu after Emperor Wu's death in 422) to be frivolous and incapable of governing the empire, the high-level officials Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, and Xie Hui deposed and subsequently killed him, as well as another older brother of Liu Yilong's, Liu Yizhen the Prince of Luling, since they believed Liu Yizhen to be even less suitable than Emperor Shao. Believing Liu Yilong to be capable and lenient, they offered the throne to Liu Yilong, with Fu personally arriving with other officials at Liu Yilong's headquarters at Jiangling. Liu Yilong's associates, hearing of Emperor Shao's and Liu Yizhen's deaths, were largely suspicious and suggested that he not head east to the capital Jiankang to accept the throne. However, Wang Hua pointed out that the coup leaders were in a collective leadership, and the balance of power ensured that they could not commit treason. Wang Tanshou and Dao also agreed, and Liu Yilong decided to accept the throne, taking the throne later that year as Emperor Wen.

Early reign

Initially, Emperor Wen pacified the high-level officials who were involved in deposing Emperor Shao (including not only Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, Xie Hui, but also Wang Tanshou's brother Wang Hong and Tan Daoji) by leaving them in power and further giving them higher offices. Indeed, he initially left most affairs of state in the hands of Xu and Fu, but gradually acquainted himself in those matters. He also hinted at disapproval of their actions by recalling the wives and mothers of Emperor Shao and Liu Yizhen to the capital and treating them with honor. He posthumously honored his mother Consort Hu as an empress dowager, and created his wife Princess Yuan Qigui as empress.

In 425, Xu and Fu offered to resign, and Emperor Wen approved and began to handle important matters of state himself. However, Xu's nephew Xu Peizhi (徐佩之) and his associates Cheng and Wang Shaozhi (王韶之) persuaded him to reconsider, and thereafter he reassumed his post. (While it was not explicitly stated in history, it appeared that Fu then did so as well.) However, Emperor Wen was resentful that Xu, Fu, and Xie had killed his two older brothers, and in late 425 planned to destroy them, particularly at the urging of Wang Hua and the general Kong Ningzi (孔寧子). He therefore mobilized troops and publicly declared that he was going to attack rival Northern Wei, but was privately preparing to arrest Xu and Fu while engaging in a military campaign against Xie, then the governor of Jing Province. In spring 426, rumors had leaked of such a plan, and so Xie began to prepare for armed resistance. Soon, Emperor Wen publicly issued an edict ordering that Xu, Fu, and Xie be arrested and killed, while issuing a separate edict summoning Xu and Fu to the palace.

Believing that Wang Hong and Tan had not been involved initially in the plot against Emperor Shao, he recalled them to the capital, and put Tan in charge of the army against Xie and Wang Hong in charge of the imperial government. Meanwhile, Xie Hui publicly mourned Xu and Fu and declared that all they did was for the empire, blaming Wang Hong, Wang Tanshou, and Wang Hua for falsely accusing them, and demanding their execution. Xie Hui had a powerful army, but while he thought that several other provincial governors would join him, they refused. He was initially able to defeat Dao's army, but soon Tan arrived, and Xie, fearful of Tan, did not know what to do. Tan quickly attacked him and defeated his fleet, and Xie fled back to Jiangling, and then fled with his brother Xie Dun, but Xie Dun was so overweight that he could not ride a horse, and so they slowed down and were captured. He was then delivered to Jiankang and executed with Xie Jiao and Xie Dun, along with all of his nephews and major associates, although many of his associates were spared.

Emperor Wen became quickly known for his diligence in governing the state and his frugality, as well as his caring for the welfare of the people. He set up a system where officials, both at the capital and in provinces, were given relatively long office terms, but carefully monitored for their progress. He was particularly attentive to his brothers' ability to govern, offering them much advice while carefully fostering proper experience for them. One of them, Liu Yikang the Prince of Pengcheng, soon became known for his skills at governing Jing Province after replacing Xie, and in 428, Wang Hong, who was fearful of drawing attacks for having been prime minister for too long, offered to resign and give his authority to Liu Yikang. Emperor Wen declined at this point, but did transfer most of Wang Hong's authorities to Liu Yikang in 429. Also in 429, Emperor Wen created his oldest son by Empress Yuan, Liu Shao, crown prince. That year, Emperor Wen's maternal grandmother Lady Su died, and he mourned her greatly, wanting to posthumously create her titles, but because of opposition by the key official Yin Jingren (殷景仁), he did not do so.

Around this time, Emperor Wen also started preparing for a campaign against rival Northern Wei, seeking to recover several provinces lost to Northern Wei during the reign of Emperor Shao. In spring 430, he put Dao Yanzhi in command of a 50,000-man army to attack Northern Wei. Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, when informed by Emperor Wen's messengers that all Emperor Wen was interested in was to recover the provinces south of the Yellow River, retorted angrily that he would withdraw but return in the winter once the Yellow River froze, and that was what he initially did—withdrawing his armies south of the Yellow River to areas north, allowing Liu Song to recover the four key cities of Luoyang, Hulao, Huatai (滑台, in modern Anyang, Hunan), and Qiao'ao (碻磝, in modern Liaocheng, Shandong) without a fight. Instead of advancing further north into Northern Wei proper, however, Emperor Wen stopped and placed his troops along the Yellow River, even though he had entered into an alliance with Xia's emperor Helian Ding to conquer and divide Northern Wei. With Emperor Wen's forces immobile, Northern Wei was able to attack Helian Ding and greatly damage Xia (eventually leading to its destruction in 431) absence. Afterwards, Northern Wei prepared to attack the south. In winter 430, Emperor Wen's general Du Ji (杜驥), unable to defend Luoyang, abandoned it. Hulao soon also fell. Upon hearing this, Dao retreated, leaving the general Zhu Xiuzhi (朱脩之) defending Huatai alone. In spring 431, Emperor Wen sent Tan north to try to relieve Zhu at Huatai, but with Northern Wei forces cutting Tan's supply route off, Tan was unable to reach Huatai and forced to withdraw as well. Zhu, without support, was soon captured when Huatai fell. Emperor Wen's first attempt to regain the provinces south of the Yellow River had resulted in failure.

In 432, Wang Hong died, and Liu Yikang was, alone, prime minister after that point.

Also in 432, angry over the misgovernance of Liu Daoji the governor of Yi Province (modern Sichuan and Chongqing), the people of Yi Province rose, under the command of Xu Muzhi (許穆之), who changed his name to Sima Feilong and claimed to be a descendant of the Jin imperial clan. Liu quickly defeated and killed Sima Feilong, but the Buddhist monk Cheng Daoyang (程道養) soon rose in succession and claimed to be the real Sima Feilong, threatening Chengdu the capital of Yi Province, and while the general Pei Fangming (裴方明) was able to repel the siege, Cheng remained a threat for several years, carrying the title of the Prince of Shu. While the campaign was ongoing, Yang Nandang the ruler of Chouchi, who had been a nominal vassal to both Liu Song and Northern Wei, also attacked and occupied Liang Province (梁州, modern southern Shaanxi) in 433.

Middle reign

In spring 434, Emperor Wen's general Xiao Sihua was able to defeat Yang Nandang's forces and recapture Liang Province. Yang Nandang soon apologized, and not willing to lose a potential ally against Northern Wei, Emperor Wen accepted his apology.

In 435, Feng Hong the emperor of Northern Yan, under constant Northern Wei attack, offered to be a vassal to Liu Song to try to obtain assistance, and Emperor Wen created Feng Hong the Prince of Yan. However, Emperor Wen was unable to provide actual assistance, and Feng Hong evacuated his state and fled to Goguryeo in 436.

Around that time, a severe political infighting began to develop within Emperor Wen's administration. Jealous of Emperor Wen's bestowing of great powers to Yin Jingren, Liu Zhan became to try to defame Yin Jingren, and he ingratiated himself with Liu Yikang to try to use the prime minister's powers to expel Yin from government. Yin, not willing to fight Liu Zhan, offered to resign under the excuse he was ill, and while Emperor Wen refused, he permitted Yin to take an extended sick leave. The imperial government, however, became divided into a Liu Zhan-led pro-Liu Yikang faction and an anti-Liu Yikang faction.

In 436, Emperor Wen grew extremely ill. In his illness, Liu Zhan persuaded Liu Yikang that if Emperor Wen died, no one would be able to control Tan Daoji, and therefore recalled Tan to the capital from his post at Jiang Province (江州, modern Jiangxi and Fujian). After Tan arrived at Jiankang, Emperor Wen became better in his conditions and was ready to return Tan to his post, when he suddenly turned ill again. At that time, Tan was already on the dock ready to depart for Jiang Province, and Liu Yikang summoned him back to Jiankang and arrested him. Emperor Wen then issued an edict falsely accusing Tan of preparing treason and executed him with his sons, but spared his grandsons. (When Tan was arrested, he angrily threw his scarf on the ground and stated bitterly, "You have destroyed your Great Wall." When Northern Wei officials heard of Tan's death, they celebrated. The traditional account appeared to minimize Emperor Wen's involvement in Tan's death, but subsequent events appear to show that Liu Yikang acted with Emperor Wen's full approval in this matter.)

In spring 437, Emperor Wen seriously considered the proposal that Northern Wei's Emperor Taiwu had made, initially in 431 and then in 433, that the two imperial clans enter into a marital relationship—specifically, to marry one of his daughters to Emperor Taiwu's crown prince Tuoba Huang, and he sent his official Liu Xibo to Northern Wei to negotiate the terms of the marriage. However, soon thereafter, the daughter who was to marry Tuoba Huang died, and the proposal died with her.

Later in 437, the long-term rebel Cheng Daoyang the Prince of Shu was finally captured and killed, ending a seven-year rebellion.

In 438, Emperor Wen built a university to encourage students to study famous works. He set up four disciplines at the university:

• Mysticism, taught by the official He Shangzhi (何尚之)

• History, taught by the official He Chengtian (何承天)

• Literature, taught by the official Xie Yuan

• Confucianism, taught by the hermit Lei Cizong (雷次宗)

The historian Sima Guang, author of Zizhi Tongjian, made the following commentary about Emperor Wen with regard to the status of his state at this time:

Emperor Wen's attention to imperial officials' abilities could be seen partly in 439, when, according to an edict that Emperor Wu had left that his sons were to serve as the governor of Jing Province in rotation by age, he was supposed to make his brother Liu Yixuan the Prince of Nanqiao the governor of Jing Province. However, because he believed Liu Yixuan to be incompetent, he refused, skipping him and giving the post to the more capable brother Liu Yiji the Prince of Hengyang, the governor of Jing Province. (Several years later, after Liu Yiji's death, and with much urging from his older sister Liu Xingdi the Princess Kuaiji, he finally did make Liu Yixuan the governor of Jing Province, but only after much advice on how to properly govern the province.)

By 440, however, Liu Yikang, a major part of the success of Emperor Wen's government due to his diligence and abilities, had become so flattered by Liu Zhan that he appeared to blur the distinction between himself, as a subject, and the emperor. When Emperor Wen grew ill again, Liu Zhan and Liu Yikang's associates Liu Bin, Wang Lü (王履), Liu Jingwen, and Kong Yinxiu (孔胤秀) secretly plotted to have Liu Yikang succeed Emperor Wen, against Emperor Wen's wishes to have Crown Prince Shao be emperor and Liu Yikang serve as regent. When Emperor Wen grew better, he began to suspect Liu Yikang of wanting to usurp the throne. In winter 440, he put Liu Yikang under house arrest, while arresting and executing Liu Zhan and a number of other associates of Liu Yikang. He then removed Liu Yikang from his prime minister post and made him the governor of Jiang Province, while restoring Yin Jingren to power. He replaced Liu Yikang with another younger brother, Liu Yigong the Prince of Jiangxia, but Liu Yigong, realizing the danger in wielding too much power, did not involve himself much in actual decision-making. Later that year, Yin Jingren died, and the important responsibilities became split between several officials.

In 441, Yang Nandang, not willing to give up his grandiose designs on Liang and Yi Provinces, attacked Liu Song. Emperor Wen sent Pei Fangming and another general, Liu Zhendao, to attack Chouchi, and in the only instance at which a southern dynasty army occupied Chouchi, took it over in 442, forcing Yang Nandang to flee to Northern Wei. However, by 443, Chouchi had fallen to Northern Wei forces, and Pei and Liu Zhendao were executed for having embezzled treasures and horses from Chouchi during the 441 to 442 campaign.

Late reign

In 445, in a famous incident, while waiting to send his brother Liu Yiji off to his new post as governor of Southern Yan Province (南兗州, modern central Jiangsu), Emperor Wen ordered his sons not to eat until dinner is served at the sendoff, but then intentionally had dinner served late, so that his sons would suffer from hunger, and then telling them, "You grew up in a rich household and do not see the people being poor. I intended that you understand the pain from hunger so that you would learn to be frugal and caring for the people." However, while this incident general drew praise from historians, some historians, including Pei Ziye (裴子野), a commentator to the Song Shu, found it hypocritical in that he was putting his sons in high offices at young ages without being properly trained.

After that feast, an alleged plot involving the official (and compiler of Book of the Later Han) Fan Ye was exposed—as it was alleged that Fan had plotted with his nephew Xie Zong and the deposed prime minister Li Yikang's associate Kong Xixian (孔熙先) to assassinate Emperor Wen at the feast for Liu Yiji and then making Liu Yikang emperor. One of the coconspirators, Emperor Wen's nephew Xu Danzhi (徐湛之), after the assassination failed to occur at the feast, informed on his co-conspirators, and other than Xu, the conspirators were all executed. (The historian Wang Mingsheng (王鳴盛) found the alleged plot far-fetched, and believed instead that Fan had been the victim of false accusations by Xu, Yu Bingzhi (庾炳之), and He Shangzhi.) In the aftermaths of the plot, Liu Yikang, whose connection to the plot appeared tenuous at best, was stripped of his title, demoted to commoner rank, and put under house arrest. There would be repeated plots by others to put Liu Yikang on the throne, and by 451, fearful that such a plot would again develop during the midst of a Northern Wei invasion, Emperor Wen would, against promises he made to his older sister Liu Xingdi the Princess Kuaiji, have Liu Yikang killed.

In 446, when Northern Wei was facing a rebellion from the ethnically-Lushuihu Gai Wu, Emperor Wen commissioned Gai as a duke and a general, although he provided no actual military support for Gai. This, however, aggravated Northern Wei's Emperor Taiwu, and after Emperor Taiwu put down Gai's rebellion, the relationship between the two states turned sour, particularly in light of a horrific raid that Northern Wei troops carried out against Liu Song's Qing (青州, modern central and eastern Shandong), Ji (冀州, modern northwestern Shandong), and Yan (兗州, modern western Shandong) Provinces later that year.

By 449, Emperor Wen was preparing a second campaign to recover the provinces south of the Yellow River, and many generals and officials, in response, submitted battle plans, and the general Wang Xuanmo (王玄謨) submitted plans that Emperor Wen particularly liked. In preparation, Emperor Wen moved the troops stationed and supplies stored in the internal provinces to the boundary provinces. Meanwhile, however, before he could launch the campaign, Northern Wei's Emperor Taiwu invaded first in spring 450, putting Xuanhu (懸瓠, in modern Zhumadian, Henan) under siege for 42 days, and after much loss on both sides, Emperor Taiwu withdrew without having captured Xuanhu. This made Emperor Wen believe that Northern Wei's military power was waning, and he decided to launch his attack late in 450, despite oppositions by the generals Liu Kangzu, who believed that the campaign should begin in spring 451, Shen Qingzhi (沈慶之), who opined that Liu Song was not in shape to fight a war against Northern Wei, Xiao Sihua, and Crown Prince Shao.

The Liu Song forces, under the commands of Xiao Bin (蕭斌) and Wang Xuanmo, quickly took Qiao'ao and Le'an (樂安, in modern Tangshan, Hebei), as Northern Wei forces abandoned those two cities quickly, and then put Huatai under siege. The Han people around Huatai were initially gladly supporting the Liu Song campaign, but Wang ordered them to submit a large number of pears, causing them to be angry and turn against Liu Song. Liu Song forces, as a consequence, could not capture Huatai quickly, and in winter 450, Emperor Taiwu crossed the Yellow River, and Wang's forces collapsed, forcing him to flee back to Qiao'ao. Xiao considered defending Qiao'ao against the coming Northern Wei assault, but Shen persuaded him that doing so was futile, and despite orders from Emperor Wen to defend Qiao'ao, Xiao led the main forces back to Licheng (歷城, in modern Jinan, Shandong) to preserve the strength of the army. Meanwhile, due to Wang's defeat at Huatai, although the general Liu Wenjing (柳文景) was able to capture Tong Pass in the west and threaten Northern Wei's Guanzhong region, Emperor Wen chose to recall Liu and abandon the western advances as well.

In retaliation for the Liu Song attack, Emperor Taiwu launched an all-out attack against Liu Song's northern provinces. Emperor Taiwu's nephew Tuoba Ren (拓拔仁) quickly captured Xuanhu and Xiangcheng (項城, in modern Zhoukou, Henan) and pillaging his way to Shouyang. Emperor Taiwu himself advanced on Pengcheng, but did not put that heavily fortified city under siege; rather, he advanced south, claiming that he would cross the Yangtze River and destroy the Liu Song capital Jiankang. Both his main army and the other branch armies that he sent out carried out heavy slaughters and arsons, laying Liu Song's Huai River region to waste. Around the new year 451, Emperor Taiwu had reached Guabu (瓜步, in modern Nanjing, Jiangsu), across the river from Jiankang, but at this point he reproposed the marriage-peace proposal he made earlier—that if Emperor Wen married a daughter to one of his grandsons, he would be willing to marry a daughter to Emperor Wen's son, Liu Jun (who was then defending Pengcheng), to establish long-term peace. Crown Prince Shao favored the proposal, but Jiang Dan (江湛) opposed, and the marital proposal was not accepted. In spring 451, worried that his forces were being overstretched and would be attacked in the rear by the Liu Song forces garrisoned at Pengcheng and Shouyang, Emperor Taiwu began a withdraw, and on the way, insulted by the Liu Song general Zang Zhi (臧質), he put Xuyi (盱眙, in modern Huai'an, Jiangsu) under siege, and, after both sides suffered heavy losses but with the defense holding, quickly withdrew. This campaign appeared to heavily wear out both empires and demonstrated the cruel parts of Emperor Taiwu's personality well, as Sima Guang described it in this manner:

Sima Guang further attributed Emperor Wen's military failures to his command style:

As another historian, Shen Yue, pointed out, Emperor Wen modelled his military planning on those of Emperor Guangwu of Han, but lacked Emperor Guangwu's military command abilities, and therefore could not draft proper military plans the way that Emperor Guangwu did. Under Emperor Wen of Song, Zhang Chang helped defeat the Northern Wei invasion of Pengcheng.

In 452, after hearing that Northern Wei's Emperor Taiwu had been assassinated by his eunuch Zong Ai, Emperor Wen prepared another campaign, with his army commanded by Xiao Xihua—but not realizing that his micromanaging had greatly contributed to the failure of the prior campaign, he made the micromanaging even more complete. After Xiao's assisting general Zhang Yong was defeated at Qiao'ao, however, he abandoned the campaign.

Meanwhile, though, Emperor Wen himself was facing a crisis within his household. It had been discovered that Crown Prince Shao and another son of Emperor Wen's, Liu Jun the Prince of Shixing (a different son than the Liu Jun referred to above), had secretly retained the witch Yan Daoyu (嚴道育) to curse Emperor Wen to death so that Crown Prince Shao could become emperor. Emperor Wen, while angry, only strongly rebuked his sons and was unwilling to take further punitive actions against them. By 453, however, Emperor Wen's hopes that his sons had reformed themselves was shattered—as he found evidence that they continued to associate with Yan even after the rebukes. He therefore discussed with his high-level officials Xu Danzhi, Jiang Dan, and Wang Sengchuo (王僧綽) his planned punishment of deposing Crown Prince Shao and ordering Liu Jun to commit suicide. However, he made the mistakes of discussing the plans with Liu Jun's mother, Consort Pan, and Consort Pan quickly informed Liu Jun, who then informed Crown Prince Shao. In spring 453, Crown Prince Shao carried out a coup, sending his own guards to secure the palace while sending his close associate Zhang Chaozhi into the palace to assassinate Emperor Wen. When Zhang entered Emperor Wen's bedchambers with a sword, Emperor Wen's guards were asleep, and Emperor Wen tried to hold a small desk to hold off Zhang's attack. Zhang's first swing, however, cut off Emperor Wen's fingers, and he then swung again, killing Emperor Wen. After some confusion, Liu Shao killed Xu and Jiang as well, and then falsely declared that Xu and Jiang had assassinated Emperor Wen; he then took the throne himself, although later that year he was defeated and killed by another brother of his, Liu Jun the Prince of Wuling (different character than the Liu Jun who was Liu Shao's confederate), who took the throne as Emperor Xiaowu.

Liu Shao initially gave his father the posthumous name Emperor Jing (景皇帝) with the temple name Zhongzong (中宗). After Emperor Xiaowu took the throne, he changed the posthumous name to Emperor Wen and the temple name to Taizu (太祖).

Family

Consorts and issue

• Empress Wenyuan, of the Yuan clan of Chen (文元皇后 陳郡袁氏; 405–440), personal name Qigui (齊媯)

　• Liu Shao, Emperor (皇帝 劉劭; 424–453), first son

　• Princess Xian of Dongyang (東陽獻公主), personal name Ying'e (英娥)

　　• Married Wang Sengchuo of Langya (瑯琊 王僧綽; 423–453), and had issue (Wang Jian)

• Empress Dowager Zhao, of the Lu clan (昭皇太后 路氏; 412–466), personal name Huinan (惠男)

　• Liu Jun, Emperor Xiaowu (孝武皇帝 劉駿; 430–464), third son

• Empress Dowager Xuan, of the Shen clan (宣皇太后 沈氏; 414–453), personal name Rongji (容姬)

　• Liu Yu, Emperor Ming (明皇帝 劉彧; 439–472), 11th son

• Shufei, of the Pan clan (淑妃 潘氏; d. 453)

　• Liu Jun, Prince of Shixing (始興王 劉浚; 429–453), second son

• Shuyi, of the Wu clan (淑儀 吳氏)

　• Liu Shuo, Prince Mu of Nanping (南平穆王 劉鑠; 431–453), fourth son

• Xiuhua, of the Yin clan (修華 殷氏; d. 459)

　• Liu Dan, Prince of Jingling (竟陵王 劉誕; 433–459), sixth son

• Xiurong, of the Chen clan (修容 陳氏)

　• Liu Hui, Prince of Lujiang (廬江王 劉褘; 436–470), eighth son

• Xiuyi, of the Gao clan (修儀 高氏)

　• Liu Shao, Prince Zhao of Luling (廬陵昭王 劉紹; 432–452), fifth son

• Xiuyi, of the Jiang clan (修儀 江氏)

　• Liu Hun, Prince of Wuchang (武昌王 劉渾; 439–455), tenth son

• Xiuyi, of the Yang clan (修儀 楊氏)

　• Liu Xiuren, Prince of Jian'an (建安王 劉休仁; 443–471), 12th son

• Jieyu, of the Cao clan (婕妤 曹氏)

　• Liu Hong, Prince Xuanjian of Jianping (建平宣簡王 劉宏; 434–458), seventh son

• Ronghua, of the Xie clan (容華 謝氏)

　• Liu Chang, Prince of Yiyang (義陽王 劉昶; 436–497), ninth son

• Meiren, of the Jiang clan (美人 蔣氏; d. 446)

　• Princess Haiyan (海鹽公主), fourth daughter

　　• Married Zhao Qian (趙倩)

• Meiren, of the Xing clan (美人 邢氏)

　• Liu Xiuyou, Prince La of Jinping (晉平剌王 劉休佑; 445–471), 13th son

• Meiren, of the Cai clan (美人 蔡氏; d. 458)

　• Liu Xiumao, Prince of Hailing (海陵王 劉休茂; 445–461), 14th son

• Meiren, of the Dong clan (美人 董氏)

　• Liu Xiuye, Prince Ai of Poyang (鄱陽哀王 劉休業; 445–456), 15th son

• Meiren, of the Yan clan (美人 顏氏)

　• Liu Xiuqian, Prince Chong of Linqing (臨慶衝王 劉休倩; 446–454), 16th son

• Meiren, of the Chen clan (美人 陳氏)

　• Liu Yifu, Prince Huai of Xinye (新野懷王 劉夷父; 447–452), 17th son

• Meiren, of the Xun clan (美人 荀氏)

　• Liu Xiufan, Prince of Guiyang (桂陽王 劉休範; 448–474), 18th son

• Meiren, of the Luo clan (美人 羅氏)

　• Liu Xiuruo, Prince Ai of Baling (巴陵哀王 劉休若; 448–471), 19th son

• Unknown

　• Princess Changcheng (長城公主), fifth daughter

　　• Married Xie Wei of Chen (陳郡 謝緯), and had issue (Xie Tiao)

　• Princess Linchuan (臨川公主), personal name Yingyuan (英媛), sixth daughter

　　• Married Wang Zao of Langya (瑯琊 王藻; d. 465)

　• Princess Huaiyang (淮陽公主), ninth daughter

　　• Married Jiang Nen of Jiyang (濟陽 江恁), and had issue (one son)

　• Princess Xincai (新蔡公主), personal name Yingmei (英媚), tenth daughter

　　• Married He Mai of Lujiang (廬江 何邁; d. 465)

　　• Married Liu Ziye, Emperor (449–466)

　• Princess Nanyang (南陽公主), 15th daughter

　　• Married Xu Hengzhi of Donghai, Marquis Zhijiang (東海 徐恆之)

　• Princess Langyazhen (琅邪貞公主), sixth daughter

　　• Married Chu Ai of Henan (河南 褚曖), and had issue (one son)

　• Princess Nanxian (南獻公主), 16th daughter

　　• Married Meng Shao (孟劭)

　　• Married Chu Yuan of Henan (河南; 435–482)

　• Princess Xunyang (尋陽公主)

　　• Married Xi Ye of Gaoping (高平 郗燁), and had issue (one son, one daughter)

　• Princess Lujiang (廬江公主)

　　• Married Chu Cheng of Henan (河南 褚澄; d. 483), and had issue (Lady Chu Lingqu)

Ancestry

生平

早年生活

劉義隆於東晉義熙三年（407年）生於京口（今江蘇省鎮江市）。義熙六年（410年），時值盧循之亂，盧循叛軍逼近建康，劉裕因應京口位置重要，遂命劉粹輔佐年僅四歲的劉義隆鎮守京口。義熙十一年（415年），因前年劉裕指令朱齡石成功滅亡譙蜀，收復蜀地，晉廷封劉義隆彭城縣公。義熙十三年（417年），劉裕北伐，率水軍自彭城（今江蘇省徐州市）兵向關中，令劉義隆行冠軍將軍留守，東晉朝廷加封其為使持節、監徐兗青冀四州諸軍事、徐州刺史。義熙十四年（418年），劉裕收復關中、還軍彭城，原本想讓世子劉義符出鎮荊州，遂授劉義隆為監司州豫州之淮西兗州之陳留諸軍事、前將軍、司州刺史，並命其鎮守洛陽（今河南省洛陽市），然而因張邵諫止劉裕讓世子外任，劉裕遂改義隆為都督荊益寧雍梁秦六州豫州之河南廣平揚州之義成松滋四郡諸軍事、西中郎將、荊州刺史，鎮守江陵（今湖北省荊州市）。不過，由於劉義隆年紀尚輕，州府事皆由司馬張邵處理。

永初元年（420年），宋武帝劉裕篡晉登位，封劉義隆為宜都王，食邑三千戶。不久加號鎮西將軍，並先後獲進督北秦州及湘州。

擁立為帝

劉裕於永初三年（422年）死後，宋少帝劉義符即位，但因為居喪無禮，有多過失，在景平二年（424年）即因顧命大臣徐羨之、傅亮及謝晦為首發動的政變廢黜，將其幽禁並派人殺害。因義符無子，義符次弟劉義真應當繼位，然因為徐羨之認為他不宜為君，故在廢帝以前就先廢義真為庶人，後更派人殺害。廢帝後，侍中程道惠曾請改立武帝五子劉義恭，然而徐羨之屬意劉義隆，百官於是上表迎作為武帝三子劉義隆為皇帝。

時傅亮率行臺到江陵迎劉義隆入京。當時已時是七月中，江陵已聽聞少帝遇害的消息，劉義隆及一些官員都對來迎隊伍有所懷疑，不敢東下，但在王華、王曇首及到彥之的勸告下決定出發並在八月八日（八月丙申日，424年9月16日）到達建康，次日即位為帝，改元「元嘉」。

翦除權臣

宋文帝自江陵東下起一直在提防徐羨之等人，即在東下行程上，隨行的荊州州府官員都嚴兵自衞，行臺百官都無法接近，中兵參軍朱容子更在行程數十日內一直抱刀在船艙外守衞。即位後又將親信王華及王曇首召進京內任官，更拒絕徐羨之讓當時暫鎮襄陽（今湖北襄陽市）的到彥之出任雍州刺史的建議，堅持要召其入京為中領軍，統領軍事。傅亮及謝晦亦試圖和王華等人交結，以圖安心。徐羨之及謝晦亦在元嘉二年（425年）上表歸政，讓劉義隆正式親政。不過，王華及孔甯子其時多次向劉義隆中傷徐羨之等人，劉義隆亦有了誅殺權臣的意圖，慮及謝晦當時以荊州刺史坐鎮荊州重地，於是託辭北伐及拜謁陵墓以修建船艦，其時朝廷行事異常，圖謀差點就洩露了。

元嘉三年（426年），劉義隆宣布徐羨之、傅亮及謝晦擅殺少帝及劉義真的罪行，要將徐羨之及傅亮治罪，並決定親征謝晦，命雍州刺史劉粹、南兗州刺史檀道濟及中領軍到彥之先行出兵。徐羨之聞訊自殺，傅亮被捕處死，謝晦則出兵反抗，但知檀道濟協助劉義隆討伐即惶恐不已，無計可施，最終檀道濟到後朝廷軍隊軍勢強盛，謝晦軍隊潰散，謝晦試圖逃走但被擒處死，遂消滅了三個權臣的勢力。

主相之爭

劉義隆殺徐羨之後，揚州刺史一職由司徒王弘出任，不過王弘卻一直試圖讓彭城王劉義康入朝他共掌朝政，以收斂當時琅邪王氏人物掌握朝廷要職的鋒芒。最終劉義康於元嘉六年（429年）得以司徒、錄尚書事身份和王弘共輔朝政，然而當時王弘常因患病而將政事推給義康處理，遂令義康漸得專掌朝政。元嘉九年（432年）王弘去世後，劉義隆更授義康揚州刺史，義康獨掌政事。

時劉義隆常常患病，政事其實都由劉義康處理，而且劉義康更衣不解帶去照料劉義隆，內廷和外朝事遂由義康所掌握。乃至元嘉十三年（436年），因應劉義隆病重，劉義康擔心一旦劉義隆去世，無人能駕馭功高才大的司空檀道濟，於是假作詔書，並在宋文帝的同意下誅殺檀道濟一家及其親將。不過，劉義康自以皇帝是至親，率性而行，行事都不避嫌，沒有君臣之禮。其時劉義康親信劉湛等人更力圖想將義康推上帝位，趁義隆病重時稱應以長君繼位，甚至去儀曹處拿去東晉時晉康帝兄終弟及的資料，更去誣陷一些忠於國家，不和劉湛一夥的大臣。劉義隆病癒後知道這些事，即令兄弟之間產生嫌隙，最終劉義隆在元嘉十七年（440年）誅殺劉湛等人，並應劉義康上表求退，將他外調江州。隨後劉義隆將司徒、錄尚書事及揚州刺史分別授予江夏王劉義恭及尚書僕射殷景仁，然劉義恭鑑於義康被貶，雖然擔當實質宰相，行事小心謹慎，只奉行文書，卻得劉義隆安心，主相之爭以權力歸回劉義隆手中結束。

三度北伐

北魏在永初三年十月曾乘劉裕去世大舉南侵，奪取包括虎牢（今河南滎陽汜水鎮）、洛陽及滑臺（今河南滑縣）等黃河以南土地，故劉義隆自即位以來便有收復黃河以南土地的志向。元嘉七年（430年）三月，劉義隆以到彥之為主帥，率領王仲德及兗州刺史竺靈秀率水軍至黃河，另遣段宏率八千精騎攻虎牢。到彥之軍一日只行軍約十里，到七月才到須昌（今山東東平縣西北），其時北魏以碻磝（今山東荏平西南）、滑臺、虎牢、及洛陽四鎮兵少，先後讓守將棄城北退，宋軍遂輕易奪回四鎮。然而到十月，北魏反攻，魏將安頡進攻洛陽金鏞城，守將杜驥因城池殘破且無糧食而棄守南撤；另一方面虎牢亦失陷。接著，魏將叔孫建及長孫道生等於十一月渡過黃河，到彥之見諸軍相繼敗陣，不理垣護之支援青州的諫言，南退至歷城（今山東濟南歷城區）後就燒船率軍直奔彭城，守須昌的竺靈秀於是也退，更在湖陸大敗給叔孫建。魏軍亦進攻滑臺，檀道濟雖然在十一月率軍北上救援，但次年正月起因叔孫建等人的幹擾而無法支援滑臺，滑臺遂於二月失陷，檀道濟全軍撤返。北伐以失敗告終。不過後來王玄謨常常都進獻北伐策略，劉義隆聽後心動，曾對殷景仁說：「聽王玄謨說的話，令人也想在狼居胥山祭天呀。」。

元嘉二十七年（450年）-二月，北魏以步騎十萬南侵，並強攻不滿千兵的懸瓠（今河南汝南縣），守將陳憲苦戰力保不失，劉義隆遣臧質與劉康祖救援，逼退魏軍。當時義隆也命令徐兗二州刺史劉駿派兵進攻攻佔汝陽郡的魏軍，但所派的劉泰之軍卻慘敗予魏軍，泰之更戰死。魏軍在四月撤兵後，劉義隆即欲伐魏。他得到親信徐湛之、江湛及王玄謨支持，然沈慶之進諫：「步兵對陣騎兵向來處於劣勢，請放棄出征之事，而且之前檀道濟再戰無功而返，到彥之更是失利敗還。現在看王玄謨等人都比不上這兩位將軍，軍隊戰力也不及當時，這恐怕會再度戰敗，難以得志。」然劉義隆卻說：「我軍戰敗自有別的原因，這是因為檀道濟放任著敵人以圖鞏固自己地位，到彥之行軍中途病發。北虜恃著的就只是馬，夏天多雨水，河流暢通，只要派船進攻北方，那碻磝敵軍肯定會退走，滑臺守軍亦很易攻破。攻取了這兩城後送糧食慰問人民，那虎牢、洛陽人心自然不穩。等到冬天做好城間防守，待北虜騎兵過河，那就一網成擒。」

於是劉義隆堅持不聽沈慶之、太子劉劭及蕭思話勸阻，於當年（450年）七月下詔北伐，以青冀二州刺史蕭斌為六萬軍主帥，節下的王玄謨（先鋒）率沈慶之和申坦領主力進入黃河，更別遣其他四軍東西並進，大舉伐魏。不久北魏碻磝守軍就棄城，王玄謨遂攻滑臺，但強攻數月仍不能攻下，等到十月號稱百萬的北魏援軍渡過黃河，他才撤退，卻在追擊中大敗，死了萬多人。劉義隆見玄謨戰敗，魏軍一直深入，於是召還正在攻魏的各路軍隊，最終魏軍南攻至瓜步（今江蘇南京六合區瓜埠鎮），一度威脅渡江攻打建康，劉義隆唯有答應議和息兵。魏軍遂於次年自瓜步退軍，當時在彭城坐鎮的太尉劉義恭，認為碻磝不可守，就命一直守城的王玄謨退回歷城，碻磝遂失。此戰不但無功而還，且更被魏軍攻至長江，大肆燒殺擄掠，《資治通鑑》所謂「丁壯者即加斬截，嬰兒貫於槊上，盤舞以為戲。所過郡縣，赤地無餘，春燕歸，巢於林木」、「自是邑里蕭條，元嘉之政衰矣」。

元嘉二十九年（452年），劉義隆以北魏太武帝去世，命蕭思話督冀州刺史張永攻碻磝，可是自七月開始攻城起一直都無法攻破，至八月更被魏軍燒了攻城器具和軍營，蕭思話即使率兵增援，攻了十多日都沒法攻下，眼見兵糧不足，只有退兵。另一邊在攻虎牢的魯爽等知蕭思話退兵後亦撤走，北伐結束。

晚年內亂

元嘉二十二年（445年），左衞將軍、太子詹事范曄與員外散騎侍郎孔熙先等人被揭發圖以劉義康造反，皆被誅殺，劉義隆亦因而廢劉義康為庶人。劉義隆第二次北伐失敗，令魏軍兵至瓜步，此時他憂心有人會借機擁被廢為庶人的劉義康作亂，遂於元嘉二十八年（451年）正月賜死劉義康。同時，太子劉劭將北伐失敗的罪責歸咎於當日一力支持並與持反對意見的沈慶之論戰的徐湛之及江湛，雖然劉義隆將責任歸於自己，但劉劭已經和二人極度不和。

後來，劉劭與始興王劉濬聽信女巫嚴道育，為了不再讓劉義隆知道他們做過的過失而責罵他們，就施以巫蠱，在含章殿前埋下代表劉義隆的玉雕人像。此事黃門慶國亦有參與，後來為了自保就報告給劉義隆知道。劉義隆知道後既驚訝又嘆惜，下令收捕另一同謀王鸚鵡，在其家中找到了劉劭和劉濬寫的數百張寫有咒詛之言的紙，又將那人像找到出來。劉義隆詰責二人，二人恐懼無言，只能一直道歉。劉義隆於是有了廢太子和賜死劉濬的打算，就與江湛、徐湛之及王僧綽商量；他想立建平王劉宏，徐湛之就支持女婿隨王劉誕，江湛就支持妹夫南平王劉鑠，可是久久都沒決定。王僧綽慮及機密可能洩露，勸劉義隆快作決定，但還是作不了決定。

元嘉三十年（453年）二月，劉義隆得知劉劭和劉濬還與嚴道育來往，決定廢劉劭的太子之位以及賜死劉濬。劉義隆將此事告訴了劉濬生母潘淑妃，潘淑妃則告訴劉濬，劉劭再從劉濬口中得知，遂決定發動政變。二月二十日（3月15日）夜晚，劉劭召蕭斌及袁淑入宮，告知其計劃並表示翌日天亮就行事，蕭斌在劉劭威嚇下決定加入，堅拒的袁淑遂被殺。劉劭與蕭斌率軍在明早（3月16日）天亮時聲言受了敕命，帶著軍隊從萬春門入禁宮。那一晚，劉義隆又與徐湛之整夜討論事情，至劉劭軍隊攻入時蠟燭還亮著。劉劭齋帥張超之持刀入殿，企圖砍殺劉義隆，劉義隆舉起桌子抵抗，被砍斷五根手指，接著被張超之一刀刺中腹部，隨後倒地身亡，享年四十七歲。而一旁的徐湛之試圖經向北方的窗戶逃走，但還未開窗就被殺害。江湛也被殺害。

劉劭隨後登位，並為劉義隆上諡號景皇帝，廟號中宗，並於三月二十日（三月癸巳日，4月14日），葬劉義隆於長寧陵。同年宋孝武帝劉駿起兵殺劉劭即位，改諡號文皇帝，廟號太祖。

為政措施

政治經濟

劉義隆在消滅徐羨之等權臣後下詔派大使巡行四方，奏報地方官員的表現優劣，整頓吏治；又宣布一些年老、喪偶、年幼喪父及患重疾而生活困難者可向郡縣求助獲得支援，更廣開言路，歡迎人民進納有益意見和謀策。劉義隆亦多次去延賢堂聽審刑訟。元嘉十七年更下令開放禁止平民使用的山澤地區，又禁止徵老弱當兵的這些傷治害民的措施，要求各官依從法令行事。另在歷次天災時都會賑施或減免當年賦稅以撫慰人民。

劉義隆亦鼓勵農桑，元嘉八年即下詔命郡縣獎勵勤於耕作養蠶的農戶和教導正確農作方法，並將一些特別優秀的農戶上報。元嘉十七年又下令酌量減免農民欠下政府的「諸逋債」，後更於元嘉二十一年悉數免除元嘉十九年以前的欠「諸逋債」，又下令租借種子口糧給一些想參與農耕但物資缺乏的人，更賜布帛獎勵營治千畝田地的官民；元嘉二十一年夏季因連續下雨而出現水災，影響農業，劉義隆除了下令賑濟外，還在秋季命官員大力勵農民耕作米麥，又令開墾田地以備來年耕作，並於元嘉二十二年重新開墾湖熟的千頃廢田。

文化

劉義隆重視文化建設，元嘉十五年（438年）召雷次宗在京城雞籠山（今南京市北極閣）開設「儒學館」講學，使儒學與玄學、文學、史學合稱「四學」；又於元嘉十九年（442年）下詔建國子學，待一眾冑子集合後於次年復立國子學，並於二十三年至國子學策試學生。不過，因北伐原因，劉義隆在在元嘉二十七（450年）年又廢止國子學。因陳壽所著《三國志》過於精簡，劉義隆便詔命裴松之為其作注，並於完成後親自御覽，讚道：「此為不朽矣！」。

性格特徵

• 劉義隆身高七尺五寸，博涉經史，亦擅長隸書。他喜好文儒，對文士亦十分禮待，或加以親任，甚至得劉義隆寛免罪過。

• 劉義隆生於京口，對京口亦留有特別感情，元嘉二十六年曾下詔以原本僑置於京口的州治北遷原地令當地不復當年繁華，從各州人民中招募數千戶人充實京口，並賜予田宅。又因懷念當時生活，命找尋當年在京口生活的官民並一一上報，去世者則酌情賞賜其子孫。

• 史載劉義隆儉約，不好奢侈，既曾在元嘉八年下詔「直存簡約，以應事實。內外可通共詳思，務令節儉」，他本人亦曾經因老舊的乘輦蓬蓋未壞和紫色輦席貴為由拒絕車庫令更換的建議。但他卻在元嘉二十三年修築北堤建玄武湖，甚至想在湖中建方丈、蓬萊及瀛洲三座仙山，惟因何尚之反對而作罷；同年他又在華林園修築景陽山，何尚之亦諫，認為應該給工人在盛暑休息一下，但義隆不肯，反稱他們常常曝曬，在盛暑烈日下工作不叫辛勞。

• 會稽長公主劉興弟是義隆嫡姐，義隆亦十分尊敬她，尤其怕她號哭，如就曾經帶著武敬皇后為劉裕造的納衣去哭罵義隆，終讓義隆不殺徐湛之。劉義康被奪相權，外調江州時，會稽長公主亦曾要求義隆不要加害義康，當時義隆亦答應，並將二人對飲中的那壺酒賜給義康。然而劉義隆於瓜步之戰後仍違背諾言賜死劉義康。

影視形象

• 2010年電視劇《大宋疑雲》：盧奇飾宋文帝

評價

• 南齊的史家沈約評論宋文帝：「太祖幼年特秀，顧無保傅之嚴，而天授和敏之姿，自稟君人之德。及正位南面，歷年長久，綱維備舉，條禁明密，罰有恆科，爵無濫品。故能內清外晏，四海謐如也。昔漢氏東京常稱建武、永平故事，自茲厥後，亦每以元嘉為言，斯固盛矣。授將遣帥，乖分閫之命，才謝光武，而遙制兵略，至於攻日戰時，莫不仰聽成旨。雖覆師喪旅，將非韓、白，而延寇慼境，抑此之由。及至言漏衾衽，難結商豎，雖禍生非慮，蓋亦有以而然也。嗚呼哀哉！」

• 蕭梁的史家裴子野評述文帝：「太祖寬肅宣惠，大臣光表，超越二昆，來應寶命，沈明內斷，不欲政由寧氏，克滅權逼，不使芒刺在躬，親臨朝事，率尊恭德，斟酌先王之典，強宣當時之宜，吏久其職，育孫長子，民樂其生，鮮陷刑闢，仁厚之化，既已播流，率土忻欣，無思不服……上亦蘊籍義文，思弘儒術，庠序建於國都，四學聞乎家巷，天子乃移蹕下輦以從之，束帛宴語以勸之，士莫不敦悅詩書，沐浴禮義，淑慎規矩，斐然向方……然值北虜方強，周、韓歲擾，金墉、虎牢，代失其禦，二十七年，偏師克復河南，橫挑強胡百萬之眾，匈奴遂跨彭、沛，航淮浦，設穹廬於瓜步……于時精兵猛將，嬰城而不敢鬥，謀臣智士，折撓而無可稱……我守既嚴，胡兵亦怠，且知大川所以限南北也，疲老而退，我追奔之師，橐弓裹足，系虜之民，流離道路，江淮以北蕭然矣。重以含章巫盅，始自二逆，弒帝合殿，史籍未聞，仲尼以為非一朝一夕之故，其所由來者漸矣，辨之不早辨也。元嘉之禍，其有以焉。」

• 唐朝的虞世南：「夫立人之道，曰仁曰義，仁有愛育之功，義有斷割之用，寬猛相濟，然後為善。文帝沈吟於廢立之際，淪溺於嬖寵之間，當斷不斷，自貽其禍。孽由自作，豈命也哉。」

• 北宋的司馬光評論：「文帝勤於為治，子惠庶民，足為承平之良主；而不量其力，橫挑強胡，使師徒殲於河南，戎馬飲於江津。及其末路，狐疑不決，卒成子禍，豈非文有餘而武不足耶？」

• 南宋的辛棄疾於〈永遇樂·京口北固亭懷古〉一詞中諷喻文帝北伐：「元嘉草草，封狼居胥，贏得倉皇北顧。四十三年，望中猶記、烽火揚州路。可堪回首，佛貍祠下，一片神鴉社鼓!憑誰問：廉頗老矣，尚能飯否?」，暗喻當時南宋權臣韓侂冑的北伐失敗。

• 清代初期的王夫之評430年北伐：「元嘉之北伐也，文帝誅權奸，修內治，息民六年而用之，不可謂無其具；拓跋氏伐赫連，伐蠕蠕，擊高車，兵疲于西北，備弛于東南，不可謂無其時；然而得地不守，瓦解蝟縮，兵殲甲棄，並淮右之地而失之，何也？將非其人也。到彥之、蕭思話大潰于青、徐，(南宋孝宗之)邵弘淵、李顯忠大潰于符離，一也，皆將非其人，以卒與敵者也。文帝、孝宗皆圖治之英君，大有為于天下者，其命將也，非信左右佞幸之推引，如燕之任騎劫、趙之任趙蔥也；所任之將，亦當時人望所歸，小試有效，非若曹之任公孫彊、蜀漢之任陳祗也；意者當代有將才而莫之能用邪？然自是以後，未見有人焉，愈于彥之、思話而當時不用者，將天之吝于生材乎？非也。天生之，人主必有以鼓舞而培養之，當世之士，以人主之意指為趨，而文帝、孝宗之所信任推崇以風示天下者，皆拘葸異謹之人，謂可信以無疑，而不知其適以召敗也。道不足以消逆叛之萌，智不足以馭梟雄之士，于是乎摧抑英尤而登進柔輭；則天下相戒以果敢機謀，而生人之氣為之坐痿；故舉世無可用之才，以保國而不足，況欲與猾虜爭生死于中原乎！」

家族

註釋

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