Murong De

Who was Murong De?

Murong De, name changed in 400 to Murong Beide, courtesy name Xuanming, formally Emperor Xianwu of Yan, was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Southern Yan. He was the son of Former Yan's founding prince Murong Huang and younger brother to both Former Yan emperor Murong Jun and Later Yan emperor Murong Chui, and therefore was an imperial prince and general during the times of both states. After Murong Chui's son Murong Bao lost most of Later Yan's territory to Northern Wei, Murong De took troops under his own command south and established Southern Yan, which secured modern Shandong, but failed to expand further, and was destroyed by Jin Dynasty after Murong De's death and succession by his nephew Murong Chao.