Dynasties of ChinaEastern HanEastern Han lineage
Reign 125
Emperor An was established by the Queen Mother Yan after his death. He died of illness after more than 200 days in power and had no reign title.
Liu Yi is the grandson of Emperor Zhang and the son of King Hui Liu Shou of Jibei. He was granted the title of Marquis of Beixiang. After Emperor An died in 125, in order to maintain power for a long time, Yanhuanghou and his brother Yan Xian abandoned the deposed Crown Prince Liu Bao and chose the young Liu Yi from the clan as emperor. Less than a year after Liu Yi took the throne, he died of illness in October of that year. He neither had a posthumous title nor was he changed to the Yuan Dynasty. Later historians used his title as Beixiang Hou, or Early Young Emperor.
PoliticsEstablished by Queen Mother Yan
In March, Emperor An died of illness on his way back to Beijing. Empress Dowager Yan came to the court and discussed with Yan Xian to establish another young emperor. Liu Yi, Marquis of Beixiang, son of King Hui of Jibei, was made emperor. The Yan brothers took control of the government.
PoliticsDeath from illness and coup
Liu Yi died of illness in October. Yan Xian and others concealed the news of his death, intending to establish a young master again. Nineteen people including the eunuch Sun Cheng launched a coup, killed the Yan family members, and established the deposed Liu Bao as Emperor Shun.
Yanhuanghou's brother, Emperor An, took power in his later years and participated in the establishment of Beixiang Hou. After Sun Cheng and others launched a coup, the Yan Xian brothers were arrested and the Yan family was liquidated.