Sima Yue

Sima Yue (司馬越) (died 23 April 311), courtesy name Yuanchao (元超), formally Prince Xiaoxian of Donghai (東海孝獻王), was a Western Jin imperial prince and regent for Emperor Hui and Emperor Huai. He was the last of eight princes commonly associated with the War of the Eight Princes. A distant relative of Emperor Hui of Jin, Sima Yue entered the conflict after he betrayed the Prince of Changsha, Sima Ai, taking the emperor for himself and waging war against the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying and the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong. By late 306, he was victorious and established himself as paramount authority behind Emperor Hui and then Emperor Huai of Jin. However, due to the repercussions of the civil wars, he presided over an empire rife with rebellions and famines. Sima Yue controlled Emperor Huai and his court with an iron fist while he campaigned for many years against the Han-Zhao dynasty and their rebel allies, but in 311, he became overwhelmed with stress after Emperor Huai's plot to depose him came to light. He soon died of illness, and without his leadership, Han forces annihilated the Jin imperial army before sacking the capital Luoyang and capturing Emperor Huai in the Disaster of Yongjia.