Emperor Ai of Han
| Han Aidi (漢哀帝) | |
|---|---|
| Family name: | Liu (劉 liú) |
| Given name: | Xin (欣, xīn) |
| Posthumous name: (full) | Xiaoai (孝哀, xiào āi) "filial and lamentable" |
| Posthumous name: <center>(short) | Ai (哀, āi) "lamentable" |
Emperor Ai of Han (27 BC–1 BC) was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He ascended the throne when he was 20 and reigned from 7 BC to 1 BC. Under emperor Ai, corruption became even more prevalent and heavy taxes were levied on the people. This quickly led to the demoralization of the people towards the government and the acquisition of power by Wang Mang and his family after Ai died in 1 BC. Emperor Ai was also infamous for being a homosexual emperor of China. Legend has it that the emperor and Dong Xian(董賢) were lovers, in a same sex relationships and their attraction was being called "the passions of the cut sleeve" 斷袖之癖 after a story that one afternoon after falling asleep for a nap embracing each other, Ai cut off his sleeve rather than to disturb the sleeping Dong Xian when he had to vacate the premise.
Era names
Personal information
| Father | Prince Kang of Dingtao, half-brother of Emperor Cheng of Han China |
| Mother | consort Ding |
| Wives |
Empress Ding (deposed 18 BC) |
| Children | none |
| Preceded by: Emperor Cheng of Han | Emperor of the Han Dynasty 7 BC–1 BC | Succeeded by: Emperor Ping of Han |
Categories: Han Dynasty emperors