Background

Liu Yu was born in 439, as Emperor Wen's 11th son. His mother Consort Shen Rongji (沈容姬) was a low-ranked imperial consort with the title Meiren (美人). For reasons unknown, Wen once wanted to put her to death, but she convinced him that killing her would offend the spirit of his deceased wife, Empress Yuan Qigui, and she was spared. In 448, Liu Yu was created the Prince of Huaiyang. In 452, his title was changed to Prince of Xiangdong. Consort Shen died in 453, the same year that Emperor Wen was assassinated by his crown prince Liu Shao, who took over as emperor and subsequently put a number of his brothers, including Liu Yu, under house arrest, but Liu Yu and the other brothers were released when another older brother, Liu Jun the Prince of Wuling, defeated and killed Liu Shao and took the throne himself (as Emperor Xiaowu). Emperor Xiaowu posthumously honored Liu Yu's mother Consort Shen as Princess Dowager of Xiangdong, and Emperor Xiaowu's mother Empress Dowager Lu Huinan took over the duties of raising Liu Yu to adulthood. As he grew, as was customary for Liu Song imperial princes, he was rotated through governorships of commanderies and provinces. Liu Yu was regarded as a kind and open-minded man, with substantial literary abilities. He was also said to be grossly overweight.

During Emperor Qianfeis reign

In 464, Emperor Xiaowu died, and was succeeded by his son Emperor Qianfei. Emperor Qianfei was impulsive and violent, and he, after discovering and brutally suppressing a plot to depose him in favor of his granduncle Liu Yigong the Prince of Jiangxia, suspected his uncles as well, and had them returned to the capital and confined. Of his uncles, he particularly suspected Liu Yu, Liu Xiuren the Prince of Jian'an, and Liu Xiuyou the Prince of Shanyang, since they were the oldest. (Another even older uncle, Liu Hui the Prince of Donghai, was considered so unintelligent that Emperor Qianfei did not view him as much of a threat.) Because these three princes were all overweight, he had them put in cages and weighed as pigs would, and because Liu Yu was the heaviest, he called Liu Yu the Prince of Pigs, Liu Xiuren the Prince of Murderers, and Liu Xiuyou the Prince of Thieves. He often humiliated Liu Yu by putting him in stables and feeding him the way that pigs would be fed. He often wanted to kill Liu Yu, Liu Xiuren, and Liu Xiuyiu, but each time Liu Xiuren flattered him and caused him to change his mind. In one particular incident, he tied Liu Yu up like how a pig would be tied up, and had him delivered to the kitchen, stating, "Today is pig-killing day." Liu Xiuren, however, stated, "This is not the pig-killing day." He angrily asked Liu Xiuren why that was the case, and Liu Xiuren stated, "After your son is born, then kill the pig and take out his entrails!" Emperor Qianfei liked Liu Xiuren's joke and did not kill Liu Yu.

In winter 465, around the time that Emperor Qianfei created his second wife, Lady Lu, empress, the palace eunuchs were of insufficient number to prepare for the ceremony, so Emperor Qianfei had the eunuchs from the princes' mansions conscripted to help, and Liu Yu had his own eunuch, Qian Lansheng (錢藍生), observe Emperor Qianfei's actions and report to him. Meanwhile, some attendants of Emperor Qianfei were plotting to kill him, and when he was carrying out a ghost-shooting ceremony (after dreaming of the spirit of a lady in waiting that he had killed), the attendant Shou Jizhi (壽寂之) killed him. (Traditional historians generally hint that Liu Yu was involved in the plot, but not having conclusive evidence, they did not state so conclusively.) With support from the officials and particularly with his brother Liu Xiuren as a major advocate, Liu Yu was declared emperor (as Emperor Ming).

Early reign: victory over Liu Zixun and loss of northern provinces

Emperor Ming posthumously honored his mother Consort Shen as Empress Dowager Xuan but, because he was raised by Emperor Xiaowu's mother Grand Empress Dowager Lu, he continued to honor her as empress dowager. He also tried to pacify the empire by promoting the various officials, his brothers, and some of his nephews. (However, he forced Emperor Qianfei's oldest younger brother Liu Zishang the Prince of Yuzhang, and his sister Liu Chuyu the Princess Kuaiji, both born also of Empress Wang Xianyuan and both of whom participated in his ill-fated governance, to commit suicide.) He created his wife Princess Wang Zhenfeng empress.

One of the nephews that he tried to promote, Liu Zixun the Prince of Jin'an, whose chief of staff Deng Wan (鄧琬) had just prior to Emperor Qianfei's death declared a rebellion against Emperor Qianfei, refused, and instead declared a rebellion against Emperor Ming, in association with Yuan Yi (袁顗) the governor of Yong Province (雍州, modern northwestern Hubei and southwestern Henan) and Liu Zisui's chief of staff Xun Bianzhi (荀卞之). They accused Emperor Ming of being an usurper and having unduly killed Liu Zishang. Jing Province (荊州, modern central and western Hubei) and Kuaiji Commandery (the southern shore of Hangzhou Bay), governed by Liu Zixun's brothers Liu Zixu the Prince of Linhai and Liu Zifang the Prince of Xunyang, also quickly rose in support. In spring 466, Deng Wan, claiming to have received a secret edict from Liu Zixun's grandmother Empress Dowager Lu Huinan, declared Liu Zixun emperor. Upon the declaration, nearly the entire empire declared for Liu Zixun, with Emperor Ming only in control of the region immediately around the capital Jiankang.

However, Liu Zixun's generals proceeded slowly, believing that Jiankang would collapse on its own due to the lack of food supply. Emperor Ming's general Wu Xi was quickly able to advance east and capture Liu Zifang, taking the commanderies around Kuaiji that had declared for Liu Zixun and securing a food supply. The troops of Liu Zixun and Emperor Ming stalemated for months in the Chaohu region, until Emperor Ming's general Zhang Xingshi built a defense post at Qianxi (錢溪, in modern Chizhou, Anhui), upstream from Liu Zixun's main troops commanded by Yuan Yi and Liu Hu, cutting off their food supplies. As Liu Hu then tried to capture Qianxi to reopen food routes, he was defeated by Zhang and Shen Youzhi, and Liu Hu and Yuan then fled, with their troops collapsing. Liu Hu fled back to Xunyang, but then left under guise that he was going to set up perimeter defenses while instead fleeing. Xunyang was left without a defense, and Deng Wan contemplated killing Liu Zixun to save himself, but instead was killed by another staff member Zhang Yue. Shen then arrived and executed Liu Zixun, ending his rival claim.

However, Emperor Ming then grew arrogant in light of his victory. Instead of his initial policy of pardoning those who had declared for Liu Zixun, he began to deal with those who had not surrendered by this point harshly. In particular, at Liu Xiuren's suggestion, he put to death all of the still living sons of Emperor Xiaowu, accusing them (the oldest of whom was 10) of treason, along with several other officials whom he suspected of covertly supporting Liu Zixun, including Empress Dowager Lu's nephews. (Empress Dowager Lu herself had died during the war under suspicious circumstances. A rumor that the Nan Shi found reliable but indicated was not conclusively proven indicated that she had been secretly pleased about Liu Zixun's rebellion, and had tried to poison Emperor Ming so that Liu Zixun could be successful, but Emperor Ming, realizing her intent, poisoned her instead.) Late in 466, Emperor Ming created his oldest son, Liu Yu (different character than his own name), crown prince.

Emperor Ming's reprisals brought an immediate heavy toll for Liu Song. When Xue Andu (薛安都) the governor of Xu Province (徐州, modern northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui), who had earlier declared for Liu Zixun, tried to surrender to him, Emperor Ming, instead of just pardoning Xue, sent a force toward Xue's defense post at Pengcheng, Xue became fearful that Emperor Ming had no intent of pardoning him. (Indeed, Emperor Ming did not, and was intending to lead Xue into resisting, and then wiping him out.) Instead of simply resisting, however, Xue surrendered Xu Province to rival Northern Wei. He was joined in this action by Bi Zhongjing (畢眾敬) the governor of Yan Province (兗州, modern western Shandong), Shen Wenxiu (沈文秀) the governor of Qing Province (青州, modern central and eastern Shandong), and Cui Daogu (崔道固) the governor of Ji Province (冀州, modern northwestern Shandong), although Shen and Cui soon changed their allegiance back to Emperor Ming. Northern Wei forces quickly joined Xue's, and they took up defense position against the attacking forces sent by Emperor Ming, commanded by the generals Zhang Yong and Shen Youzhi. With Liu Song forces unable to siege Pengcheng effectively, Zhang and Shen Youzhi were forced to withdraw in spring 467, and on their retreat, Northern Wei forces commanded by Yuchi Yuan (尉遲元) sandwiched them with Xue, leading to a major rout. Against Shen Youzhi's protestations, Emperor Ming ordered him to attack Pengcheng again in fall 467, and Yuchi again defeated Shen Youzhi, ending Emperor Ming's efforts at recapturing Xu and Yan Provinces. With Ji and Qing Provinces now completely isolated from the rest of Liu Song, they could not be supplied with fresh troops, and the Northern Wei general Murong Baiyao (慕容白曜) forced Cui's surrender in spring 468 and captured Shen Wenxiu's defense post at Dongyang (東陽, in modern Weifang, Shandong), annexing those provinces for Northern Wei. (While Pengcheng would temporarily be taken by Emperor Wu of Liang, the rest of the territory was lost to Southern Dynasties forever.)

Emperor Ming also began to be suspicious of his brothers, and in 469, when a plot to make Liu Hui emperor was discovered, Emperor Ming had his brother demoted and then forced him to commit suicide. He also became displeased at the increasing authorities of Liu Xiuren, and Liu Xiuren, realizing that he was being suspected, surrendered part of his authorities but could not regain Emperor Ming's trust.

Late reign

Meanwhile, Emperor Ming's own conduct also began to decay. For example, in 470, he ordered officials and governors to offer him gifts, and when Sun Fengbo the governor of Shixing Commandery (始興, roughly modern Shaoguan, Guangdong) only offered guqin and books, and not the treasures that Emperor Ming was hoping for, he sent poison to Sun to order him to commit suicide, although he soon retracted that order. Also on one occasion, he held an imperial feast inside the palace, and ordered his ladies in waiting to strip for the guests. Empress Wang, embarrassed, covered her eyes with a fan. In anger, Emperor Ming said, "Your household is so naïve and unaware of the world. Today everyone is trying to have fun, so why are you covering your eyes?" She responded, "There are many ways to have fun. What kind of a scene is it for aunts and sisters to gather to watch naked ladies in waiting and laugh about it? The fun that our household has is different." He became angrier and chased her away.

Historical accounts, written during the succeeding Southern Qi Dynasty, indicate that Emperor Ming was impotent, and that although he had 12 sons, those were the results of his having seized his brothers' pregnant concubines and kept the children if they bore males, or his having had his concubines have sexual relations with others. (However, the fact that Empress Wang had two daughters, although no sons, may argue against such allegations, because it appeared rather unlikely that Emperor Ming would do this over female children—indeed, the allegations stated that he would only do this if his brothers' concubines bore males—or that the morally upright Empress Wang would engage in sexual relations with others, thus suggesting that the allegations were made to delegitimize Emperor Ming's sons Emperor Houfei and Emperor Shun vis-à-vis Southern Qi.) In addition, Emperor Ming was said to be suspicious, jealous, cruel, and violent. In addition, he was also superstitious, and his officials and attendants were forced to observe a number of taboos in both language and acts. Whoever violated these taboos would be executed, often in cruel manners, including having their hearts cut open or their entrails pulled out.

In 471, Emperor Ming grew ill, and as Crown Prince Yu was only eight, he was fearful that his brothers would seize the throne, and therefore turned against them. His first target was Liu Xiuyou the Prince of Jinping, who was considered arrogant and violent and often offended Emperor Ming. Emperor Ming therefore, when he was out on a hunt with Liu Xiuyou, found an opportunity to have his guards push Liu Xiuyou off his horse and then pounded to death. When this news reached his youngest brother, Liu Xiuruo the Prince of Baling, the governor of Jing Province, Liu Xiuruo's staff members suggest that he start a rebellion, particularly in light of orders for him to return to Jiankang and then take up Liu Xiuyou's old post at governor of South Xu Province (南徐州, modern western central Jiangsu), but the cautious Liu Xiuruo did not rebel, but instead reported to South Xu. Meanwhile, because the public believed that Liu Xiuren would become regent if Emperor Ming died, the mid-level officials were all trying to ingratiate themselves with Liu Xiuren and his staff, drawing Emperor Ming's anger and suspicion, and he forced Liu Xiuren to commit suicide. He then summoned Liu Xiuruo back to Jiankang and forced him to commit suicide as well. The only brother who was spared with Liu Xiufan the Prince of Guiyang, who was considered to be unvirtuous and incompetent, and therefore not viewed as a threat.

Emperor Ming's suspicions soon turned to other officials as well. In order to test the attitude of Xiao Daocheng the governor of South Yan Province (南兗州, modern eastern central Jiangsu), he had his strategist Wu Xi deliver a pot of wine to Xiao. Xiao, believing that wine was poisoned, was about to flee to Northern Wei, when Wu revealed that the wine was not poisonous and that Emperor Ming was merely trying to test him, and Wu drank some of the wine first to show Xiao. Xiao then drank the wine, and Wu returned to the capital and vouched for Xiao's loyalty, but his leaking of the non-poisonous nature of the wine was soon revealed. Emperor Ming, who was already suspicious of Wu's abilities, forced him to commit suicide. In fear, Empress Wang's brother Wang Jingwen (王景文), the commander of the armed forces, tried to resign. Emperor Ming would not let him do so, and then, suspecting that Wang would take power after Emperor Ming's death, forced Wang to commit suicide in spring 472. Emperor Ming himself died in summer 472, and was succeeded by Crown Prince Yu (as Emperor Houfei).

Era names

• Taishi (泰始 tài shǐ) 465-471

• Taiyu (泰豫 tài yù) 472

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Minggong, of the Wang clan of Langya (明恭皇后 琊瑯王氏; 436–479), personal name Zhenfeng (貞風)

　• Princess Jinling (晉陵公主), personal name Bosi (伯姒)

　• Princess Jian'an (建安公主), personal name Boyuan (伯媛)

• Guifei, of the Chen clan (貴妃 陳氏), personal name Miaodeng (妙登)

　• Liu Yu, Prince Cangwu (蒼梧王 劉昱; 463–477), first son

• Zhaohua, of the Chen clan (昭華 陳氏), personal name Farong (法容)

　• Liu Zhun, Emperor Shun (順皇帝 劉準; 467–479), third son

• Xiuhua, of the Du clan (修華 杜氏)

　• Liu Hui, Prince Suiyang (隨陽王 劉翽; 471–479), tenth son

• Xiuyi, of the Xie clan (修儀 謝氏)

　• Liu Faliang, Prince Dezhi (德治王 劉法良), second son

　• Liu Xie, Prince Jinxi (晉熙王 劉燮; 470–479), sixth son

• Xiurong, of the Zheng clan (修容 鄭氏; d. 474)

　• Liu Zhijing, Prince Dongping (東平王 劉智井; d. 470), fifth son

• Jieyu, of the Xu clan (婕妤 徐氏)

　• Fourth son

　• Liu Ji, Prince Jiangxia (江夏王 劉躋; 470–479), eighth son

• Meiren, of the Quan clan (美人 泉氏)

　• Liu You, Prince Shaolingshang (邵陵殤王 劉友; 470–479), seventh son

　• Liu Xi, Prince Shijian (始建王 劉禧; 471–479), 12th son

• Liangren, of the Xu clan (良人 徐氏)

　• Liu Zan, Prince Wuling (武陵王 劉贊; 470–479), ninth son

　• Liu Song, Prince Xinxing (新興王 劉嵩; 471–479), 11th son

• Unknown

　• Princess Yangxian (陽羨公主)

　　• Married Wang Jian of Langya (琊瑯; 452–489) in 469

Ancestry

生平

早年生涯

劉彧生於南朝宋文帝元嘉十六年十月戊寅（439年12月9日），九歲時受封淮陽王，食邑二千戶。452年，改封湘東王。劉彧三哥、宋孝武帝劉駿即位後，歷任郡太守、中護軍、侍中、衛尉、游擊將軍、左衞將軍、都官尚書、領軍將軍等職銜，並獲賜鼓吹一部。453年，劉彧生母沈容姬逝世，劉彧時年十四歲，由路太后撫養於宮中，特受寵愛，時常侍奉路太后醫藥，也因此為劉駿所親愛，不招致猜忌。宋前廢帝劉子業繼位後，任命劉彧為州刺史，都督州郡軍事，並得以本號開府儀同三司。

政變奪位

宋前廢帝劉子業即位後荒淫無道，殺戮群臣，並恐諸叔覬覦皇位，欲加殺盡。劉彧於景和年間入朝，遭拘留宮中，百般毆打凌辱。劉彧與始安王劉休仁、山陽王劉休祐皆體型肥胖，被劉子業封為「豬王」、「殺王」、「賊王」，並將三人用竹籠囚禁。劉子業又命人掘地為坑，灌滿泥水，再以木槽盛飯，並用雜食攪和後置於坑前，命劉彧裸體於泥坑中以口對木槽中就食，戲謔為豬。

劉彧曾因抗拒羞辱而惹怒劉子業，劉子業命將其剝除服裝、使其裸體後，用竹杖綁住四肢、抬付太官，說：「即日屠豬。」劉休仁在旁笑說：「豬今日未應死。」劉子業問何故，劉休仁答說：「待皇太子生，殺豬取其肝肺。」劉子業聽後怒火漸息，命交付廷尉，劉彧這才逃過死劫。

466年，劉子業欲南遊荊州及湘州，決定明日殺害劉彧等諸叔父後，即行出發。劉彧遂與心腹阮佃夫、李道兒等共謀弒君。1月1日夜，阮佃夫與李道兒暗中結交宮中侍臣壽寂之，於華林園將劉子業殺害。劉子業死後，劉休仁隨即奉迎劉彧入宮即位，並令人備皇帝羽儀。由於事起倉促，劉彧半途失落鞋子，跛著走入西堂，仍戴著象徵臣子的烏紗帽，劉休仁讓人給其戴上白紗帽後，便擁劉彧登上御座召見文武百官，接受歡呼禮拜，凡事以「令書」頒布施行。隔天（1月2日），劉彧下令殺掉劉子業的同母次弟劉子尚，以絕後患。

泰始元年十二月丙寅（466年1月9日），劉彧於宮中太極前殿登基為帝，大赦天下。

劉彧即位後下詔：

高祖武皇帝德洞四瀛，化綿九服。太祖文皇帝以大明定基；世祖孝武皇帝以下武寧亂。日月所照，梯山航海；風雨所均，削衽襲帶。所以業固盛漢，聲溢隆周。子業凶嚚自天，忍悖成性，人面獸心，見於齠日，反道敗德，著自比年。其狎侮五常，怠棄三正，矯誣上天，毒流下國，實開闢所未有，書契所未聞。再罹遏密，而無一日之哀；齊斬在躬，方深北里之樂。虎兕難匣，憑河必彰，遂誅滅上宰，窮釁逆之酷，虐害國輔，究孥戮之刑。子鸞同生，以昔憾殄殪。敬猷兄弟，以睚眥殲夷。徵逼義陽，將加屠膾。陵辱戚藩，檟楚妃主。奪立左右，竊子置儲，肆酗于朝，宣淫于國。事穢東陵，行汙飛走。積釁罔極，日月滋深。比遂圖犯玄宮，志窺題湊，將肆梟、鏡之禍，騁商、頓之心。又欲鴆毒崇憲，虐加諸父，事均宮閫，聲遍國都。鴟梟小豎，莫不寵暱，朝廷忠誠，必也戮挫。收掩之旨，虓虎結轍；掠奪之使，白刃相望。百僚危氣，首領無有全地；萬姓崩心，妻子不復相保。所以鬼哭山鳴，星鉤血降，神器殆於馭索，景祚危於綴旒。

朕假寐凝憂，泣血待旦，慮大宋之基，於焉而泯，武、文之業，將墜于淵。賴七廟之靈，藉八百之慶，巨猾斯殄，鴻沴時褰。皇綱絕而復紐，天緯缺而更張。猥以寡薄，屬承乾統，上緝三光之重，俯顧庶民之艱。業業矜矜，若履冰谷，思與億兆，同此維新。可大赦天下，改景和元年為泰始元年。賜民爵二級。鰥寡孤獨不能自存者，人穀五斛。逋租宿債勿復收。犯鄉論清議，贓汙淫盜，並悉洗除。長徒之身，特賜原遣。亡官失爵，禁錮舊勞，一依舊典。其昏制謬封，並皆刊削。

義嘉之難

465年底，宋孝武帝劉駿第三子、晉安王劉子勛為反抗劉子業謀害己命，在鄧琬等人輔佐下，於江州起兵叛亂。劉彧弒君自立後，授姪子劉子勛官爵遭拒。劉子勛甚至在鄧琬的主導下傳檄天下，改討劉彧。466年2月7日，鄧琬、袁顗等奉年僅十歲的劉子勛於尋陽城登極稱帝，年號「義嘉」，另立政府。江州的義嘉政權得到幾乎全國的承認與響應，南朝各州郡皆向劉子勛上表稱臣，改用義嘉年號，並向尋陽奉貢。劉彧所統治區域僅限京師建康（今江蘇省南京市）附近的丹陽、淮南等郡百餘里土地而已，形勢極為嚴峻。

劉彧聞變後隨即任命劉休仁為征討大都督，統帥全軍，王玄謨為副手。任用吳喜、江方興等為東路軍將領，討平會稽、吳、吳興、晉州等東南各州郡，俘虜劉駿第六子、尋陽王劉子房；任用劉勔、張永、蕭道成等為北路軍將領，擊敗殷琰、薛安都等敵對將領，抵擋住北方的攻勢。任命沈攸之、張興世等為西路軍將領討伐劉子勛的尋陽政權，擊敗袁顗、劉胡等人，攻入尋陽，捕斬敵對天子劉子勛，義嘉政權滅亡。隨後宋軍陸續平定江南及淮南各地，「義嘉之難」平息。

由於劉彧登基時，其諸弟（宋文帝劉義隆子嗣）皆在京師，多擁戴兄長劉彧為帝；而劉子勛起兵地方，方鎮都督則多為劉子勛的兄弟（宋孝武帝劉駿子嗣），皆起兵支持劉子勛的義嘉政權。南朝宋即形成文帝系諸王與孝武帝系諸王的內戰局面。劉彧鑑於此，於戰事平定後接受劉休仁的建議，將劉駿在世諸子皆誅殺殆盡，劉駿二十八子自此滅絕。

北魏入侵

劉彧於平定叛亂後欲逞兵威，命張永及沈攸之率領重兵，往迎已於義嘉之難後投降的徐州刺史薛安都。薛安都恐劉彧趁機圖己，便向北魏輸誠，乞師自救，汝南太守常珍奇也舉懸瓠城降魏。467年初，北魏派遣尉元、孔伯恭領兵救徐州，另派拓跋石、張窮奇領兵救懸瓠，兗州刺史畢眾敬望風迎降。魏將尉元隨後於呂梁一帶大敗宋將張永及沈攸之，宋軍幾乎全軍覆沒，張永、沈攸之隻身逃回江南，徐、兗二州淪陷；467年2月，青州刺史沈文秀、冀州刺史崔道固投降北魏，旋即又於4月歸降劉宋。北魏遂派遣長孫陵、慕容白曜往攻青州，劉彧命沈攸之領兵救援，卻於睢清口遭魏將孔伯恭擊敗，退守淮陰。青州與冀州待援不至，被圍攻數年，先後降魏，青、冀二州也淪陷。

南朝宋本地處江南，國狹民脊，自此再失四州，國力更形衰弱；再加上戰亂不斷，劉彧為獎賞有功將士，大肆封賞封官，造成國庫空虛、士族制度嚴重破壞，削弱南朝宋的執政根基，北朝國力從此超越南朝。

晚年殺弟與安排

劉彧晚年害怕諸弟在他死後奪取太子劉昱的皇位，於是接受倖臣王道隆與阮佃夫的建議，大殺立過軍功的諸弟，只有劉休範因為人才凡弱而留下未殺。王道隆與阮佃夫掌權後擅用威權、官以賄成，富逾公室。劉彧同時殺害可能會不利於太子的重要大臣，如功臣武將壽寂之、吳喜與高門名士王景文（皇后王貞風之兄、劉彧的大舅子），結果造成劉昱繼位後中央和地方軍鎮互相猜忌、攻伐的政治亂象，使得武將蕭道成因此崛起，最後篡宋建齊。

472年，宋明帝死，太子劉昱繼立，宋明帝遺詔命蔡興宗、袁粲、褚淵、劉勔、沈攸之五人託孤顧命大臣，分別掌控內外重區，另外命令蕭道成為衛尉，參掌機要。其中遺詔雖任命袁粲、褚淵在中央秉政，但實際上接受宋明帝秘密遺命，就近輔佐新帝劉昱，掌控宮中內外大權的人物，是宋明帝最親信的側近權倖——王道隆與阮佃夫二人。

借腹疑案

史書大多記載，劉彧晚年失去了生育能力，所以他的兒子們都是借腹生子取來的，他把諸弟新生的男嬰抱為自己的兒子，然後殺掉男嬰的生母。但是史家呂思勉認為這是《宋書》作者沈約，為了迎合當時南齊皇帝所捏造的誣蔑之詞，不足採信，而《南史》與《資治通鑑》則是沿用沈約的說法。呂思勉認為宋明帝生前因為猜忌諸弟而狠心殺弟、流放諸姪，不可能殺其父而養其子、流其兄而立其弟。曾懷疑《宋書》等史料的記載，認為宋明帝的皇后王貞風既然有兩個女兒，說明宋明帝可以生育，因此《宋書》應該是為了強化南齊的合法性，故意加工偽造史料，並被後人延用。

評價

• 毛澤東在閱讀南北朝的史書關于劉彧的傳記中，寫下了：（登基）「可謂奇矣」。

• 《宋書》記載劉彧：「少而和令，風姿端雅……好讀書，愛文義……及即大位，四方反叛，以寬仁待物，諸軍帥有父兄子弟同逆者，並授以禁兵，委任不易，故眾為之用，莫不盡力。平定天下，逆黨多被全，其有才能者，並見授用，有如舊臣。才學之士，多蒙引進，參侍文籍，應對左右」、「末年好鬼神，多忌諱，言語文書，有禍敗凶喪及疑似之言應迴避者，數百千品，有犯必加罪戮」、「泰始、泰豫之際，更忍虐好殺，左右失旨忤意，往往有斮刳斷截者。時經略淮、泗，軍旅不息，荒弊積久，府藏空竭。內外百官，並日料祿俸；而上奢費過度，務為彫侈。每所造制，必為正御三十副，御次、副又各三十，須一物輒造九十枚，天下騷然，民不堪命……親近讒慝，剪落皇枝，宋氏之業，自此衰矣」

• 沈約評論劉彧：「太宗因易隙之情，據已行之典，剪落洪枝，願不待慮。既而本根無庇，幼主孤立，神器以勢弱傾移，靈命隨樂推回改。斯蓋履霜有漸，堅冰自至，所從來遠也」

• 北宋的司馬光評論：「（明）帝猜忍奢侈，宋道益衰」、「夫以孝武之驕淫、明帝之猜忍，得保首領以沒於牖下，幸矣，其何後之有？」

• 蕭梁的史家裴子野評論：「景和（劉子業）申之以淫虐，太宗易之以昏縱，師旅薦興，邊鄙蹙迫，人懷苟且，朝無紀綱，內寵方議其安，外物已睹其敗矣。」

家庭

后妃

• 王皇后 王貞風，生公主劉伯姒、劉伯媛

• 陳貴妃 陳妙登，生太子劉昱

• 謝修儀，生劉法良、劉燮

• 陳昭華 陳法容，生劉準

• 徐婕妤，生無名皇子、劉躋

• 鄭修容，生劉智井

• 杜修華，生劉翽

• 泉美人，生劉友

• 泉美人，生劉禧

• 徐良人，生劉贊、劉嵩

子

• 長子 後廢帝劉昱（母貴妃陳妙登），466年立，477年被蕭道成弒殺

• 第2子 劉法良，早夭

• 第3子 安成王 劉準，471年封，477被蕭道成立為帝，479年被篡位的蕭道成殺

• 第4子（無名，早夭）

• 第5子 東平王劉智井，470年封，出繼劉休倩，卒

• 第6子 晉熙王 劉燮，470年封，出繼劉昶，479年被南齊改封為陰安縣公並處死

• 第7子 邵陵殤王 劉友，474年封，479年卒

• 第8子 江夏王 劉躋，470年封臨慶王，474年改江夏，出繼劉休倩、劉義恭，479年被南齊改封為沙陽縣公並處死

• 第9子 武陵王 劉贊，本名劉智隨，470年生、封，出繼已無後的宋孝武帝，479年被蕭道成所殺

• 第10子 隨陽王 劉翽，471年生，476年封南陽王，478年改隨陽，479年被南齊改封為舞陰縣公並處死

• 第11子 新興王 劉嵩，476年封，479年被南齊改封為定襄縣公並處死

• 第12子 始建王 劉禧，476年封，479年被南齊改封為荔封縣公並處死

女

• 晉陵長公主劉伯姒

• 建安長公主劉伯媛

• 陽羨公主

注釋