Sun Hao (孫皓, Sūn Háo) was the son of Sun He, who was a son of Sun Quan, making him a grandson of Sun Quan. He was the fourth and last emperor of Wu.
Biography[]
Sun hao was born 243 AD with the original name of Sun Pengzu. Sun He was named crown prince either before or after the death of Sun Quan's eldest son and first crown prince, Sun Deng, in 241. Sun Hao's mother, Consort He, was a concubine of Sun He.
In 250, after Sun Quan grew tired of the constant disputes between his sons Sun He and Sun Ba, he forced Sun Ba to commit suicide and exiled Sun He to Guzhang (故鄣; in present-day Huzhou, Zhejiang), presumably along with his family and reduced to commoner status. Sun Hao went from the status of eventual presumed heir to being the son of a commoner, albeit the grandson of the emperor.
In 252, Sun He's status was elevated from commoner status as Sun Quan just before his death that year instated Sun He as the Prince of Nanyang and a princedom at Changsha. There were rumors that even after Sun He's younger brother Sun Liang took the throne after Sun Quan's death, the regent Zhuge Ke, an uncle of Sun He's wife Princess Zhang, was interested in restoring Sun He and making Sun He emperor instead. After Zhuge Ke's assassination and replacement by Sun Jun in 253, Sun He fell into danger as Sun Jun had been instrumental in having Sun He deposed in the first place and wanted to eliminate any chance of Sun He's comeback. Sun Jun used the rumors as an excuse to have Sun He demoted back to commoner status and exiled to Xindu (新都; in present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang), and then sent messengers to force Sun He to commit suicide. Princess Zhang also committed suicide. When offered the chance to also commit suicide, Consort He refused stating that if she died as well no one would be left to care for Sun He's sons, thus she raised Sun Hao and his three brothers born to other consorts — Sun De (孫德), Sun Qian (孫謙), and Sun Jun (孫俊, not the same person as the regent). Two emperors (his uncles Sun Liang and Sun Xiu) came and went,but during Sun Xiu's reign,Sun Hao and his brothers became marquises.In AD 264,Sun Xiu died and Sun Hao came to the throne although Sun Xiu made his eldest son the heir. Sun Hao's early reign was not bad,as he reduced taxes,gave relief to the poor, and released a large number of ladies in waiting from the palace to let them marry.However this hopefulness was soon shattered as Sun Hao started to be cruel in his punishments and indulged in wine and women. About 15 years after Sun Hao first had his bum on the throne, Emperor Wu of Jin, who usurped the Wei throne in AD 266,invaded Wu, conquered it, and Sun Hao was escorted as a captive to the Jin capital Luoyang. Sun Hao who was now a captive humiliated himself by covering himself with mud and having himself bound behind his back.Emperor Wu ordered Sun Hao to be unbound and sit next to him during the next imperial gathering.He remarked,"I have had this seat for you a long time."Sun Hao then replied,"Funny,I also had one for your imperial majesty in Jianye!"When the Jin official Jia Chong,seeking him to humiliate Sun Hao,asked,"I heard that you had such cruel punishments such as poking out people's eyes and peeling the facial skin off people.What kind of punishment is this?"Sun Hao replied"If a subordinate planned to murder his emperor,I would use those punishments on him!"Emperor Wu gave Sun Hao the title of Marquis Guiming. He died in AD 283.