Emperor Yin of Later Han

Liu Chengyou (28 March 931 – 2 January 951), also known by his posthumous name as the Emperor Yin of Later Han, was the second and last emperor of the Later Han dynasty of China, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He reigned from 948 until his death in 951. Liu Chengyou was only 16 years old when he succeeded his father Liu Zhiyuan (Emperor Gaozu), who died abruptly. His reign was marked by the arbitrary killing of his important ministers, which eventually led to his downfall. When he killed the entire family of general Guo Wei without Guo in 951, Guo's army attacked the capital, and Liu Chengyou was killed in the chaos. There is a reference to Liu Chengyou as "Liu Chenghan" in the epitaph of Liu Jiwen, son of his cousin Liu Yun. Liu Chengyou may thus have changed his name on his accession as emperor. Background Liu Chengyou was born in 931 at Yedu (鄴都, in modern Handan, Hebei), at the house of his father Liu Zhiyuan. His father was a trusted officer under the general Shi Jingtang, son-in-law of then-reigning emperor Li Siyuan (Emperor Mingzong) of Later Tang. His mother was Liu Zhiyuan's wife, Lady Li. He had two brothers, Liu Chengxùn, who was nine years older than him, and Liu Chengxūn (劉承勳, note different tones), who was younger. It is not known whether his brothers were Lady Li's sons. He also had an adoptive brother, Liu Yun, the biological son of his uncle Liu Chong, whom Liu Zhiyuan favored and adopted as a son.