Helian Bobo

Helian Bobo (Chinese: 赫連勃勃; Middle Chinese Guangyun: [xɐk-li̯ɛn˩ bʰuət-bʰuət]; 381 – c. September 425), né Liu Bobo (劉勃勃), epithet Qujie (屈孑), posthumous name Emperor Wulie of Hu Xia, was the founder of the Hu Xia dynasty, one of the Sixteen Kingdoms of China. He belonged to the Tiefu (鐵弗) branch of the Xiongnu, was a descendant of the southern chanyu Liu Qubei, and the son of Liu Weichen, its chieftain. After his father was killed by Northern Wei and the tribe collapsed, Liu Bobo sought refuge with Moyigan, a Xianbei chieftain of Later Qin, and married Moyigan's daughter. As an adult, noted for his imposing stature, eloquence, and intelligence, he won the favor of Emperor Yao Xing of Later Qin, who appointed him a general and placed more than thirty thousand men from the Tiefu and other tribes under his command.

In 407, after Later Qin made peace with Northern Wei, Liu Bobo rebelled. Claiming descent from the Xia dynasty royal line, he styled himself Heavenly King of Great Xia and Grand Chanyu and adopted the era name Longsheng (龍昇), marking the establishment of the Xia state. He spent the following years roaming the northern steppe, deploying cavalry offensives against Later Qin and Southern Liang in the Shuofang region.

In 413, after a series of successful campaigns against Later Qin and Southern Liang, he considered his position secure. He mobilized one hundred thousand people to build a new capital at Tongwan on the steppe along the Wuding River, took the surname Helian, and adopted the era name Fengxiang (鳳翔).

In 417, after the Jin dynasty chancellor Liu Yu led the imperial forces of Jin north, they captured Chang'an (長安), the capital of Later Qin, seized its last ruler Yao Hong, and brought the state to an end. Liu Yu then withdrew south, leaving his generals to hold the capital. Helian Bobo took the opportunity, struck the garrison amid infighting among the Jin commanders, drove out the Jin forces, occupied Chang'an, enthroned himself as emperor of Great Xia, and adopted the era name Changwu (昌武). He designated Chang'an the southern capital and Tongwan the northern capital, then returned to Tongwan. The following year, upon completion of the palaces at Tongwan, he introduced a new era name, Zhenxing (真興). Contemporary sources portray his rule as severe and often cruel.

In 425, Helian Bobo died in the Yong'an Hall (永安殿) at Tongwan at the age of forty five. He was posthumously honored as Emperor Wulie of Xia (夏武烈帝).