Background

Gao Zhan was born in 537, as the fourth of six sons of Eastern Wei's paramount general Gao Huan and his wife Lou Zhaojun (and Gao Huan's ninth son overall). He was greatly favoured by his father due to his exceptionally good looks. In 544, Gao Huan, in order to try to form an alliance with Rouran, took, as a wife for Gao Zhan, a daughter of Rouran's Khan Yujiulü Anluochen, who carried the title of Princess Linhe. At their public wedding ceremony, Gao Zhan was said to be appropriate in his actions despite his young age, surprising the guests. He was later created the Duke of Changguang. After the deaths of Gao Huan and Gao Zhan's oldest brother Gao Cheng, another brother Gao Yang became regent, and in 550, he had Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei yield the throne to him, ending Eastern Wei and establishing Northern Qi as its Emperor Wenxuan. Gao Zhan, as a younger brother to the emperor, was created the Prince of Changguang.

During Emperor Wenxuans reign

Emperor Wenxuan's reign was initially a diligent one, but eventually turned violent and degenerate. When he was drunk, he was accustomed to battering his brothers, including Gao Zhan, and two of his brothers, Gao Jun (高浚) the Prince of Yong'an and Gao Huan (高渙, note different character than their father) the Prince of Shangdang, were imprisoned and later killed cruelly. (It was said that Gao Zhan had a hand in their deaths, as Emperor Wenxuan considered releasing them around the year 559, but Gao Zhan, who had a hateful relationship with Gao Jun, told Emperor Wenxuan, "How can you let fierce tigers out of their cages?" Emperor Wenxuan agreed and had them killed.) During this period, Gao Zhan closely associated with He Shikai and Zu Ting, even calling them brothers—and both of them would eventually have key roles in his administration.

During Emperor Feis and Xiaozhaos reigns

In late 559, Emperor Wenxuan died and was succeeded by his son Gao Yin (as Emperor Fei). Pursuant to Emperor Wenxuan's will, the government was in the hands of several of his trusted officials -- Yang Yin the Prince of Kaifeng, Gao Guiyan (高歸彥) the Prince of Pingqin, Yan Zixian (燕子獻), and Zheng Yi (鄭頤). These officials (except for Gao Guiyan) were distrustful of Gao Zhan and his older brother Gao Yan the Prince of Changshan, believing that, as the young emperor's honored uncles, they posed a threat to the emperor. Meanwhile, the ambitious Yang was carrying out a governmental reorganization scheme to trim unnecessary offices and titles and to remove incompetent officials. The officials who were hurt by Yang's actions became disaffected and largely hoped that Gao Yan and Gao Zhan would take action and began to encourage them to do so. Yang considered sending Gao Yan and Gao Zhan outside the capital to be provincial governors, but Emperor Fei initially disagreed. Yang wrote a submission to Emperor Fei's mother Empress Dowager Li to ask her to consider, and she consulted her lady in waiting Li Changyi (李昌儀), who leaked the news to Grand Empress Dowager Lou. She informed the two princes, and in summer 560, they set up an ambush, with Gao Guiyan and the generals Heba Ren (賀拔仁) and Hulü Jin (斛律金), at a ceremony where Gao Yan was to be named to a ceremonial post. Yang, Kezhuhun, Yan, Zheng, and Song Qindao (宋欽道) were all seized and severely battered (at Gao Zhan's order). Gao Yan and Gao Zhan then entered the palace and publicly accused Yang and his associates of crimes; Yang and his associates were executed, and Gao Yan took control of the government. He soon went to take up post at the secondary capital Jinyang (晉陽, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), controlling the government remotely, leaving the capital Yecheng in Gao Zhan's control.

Later in 560, Gao Yan, after his advisors persuaded him that if he allowed Emperor Fei to remain emperor, his relationship with the young emperor would never be healed and he would be in danger, persuaded Grand Empress Dowager Lou of the same. She issued an edict deposing Emperor Fei and making Gao Yan emperor (as Emperor Xiaozhao). Emperor Xiaozhao continued to take up residence at Jinyang, again leaving Gao Zhan in control at Yecheng.

The relationship between the brothers began to sour, however, because while Emperor Xiaozhao had promised Gao Zhan that he would be made crown prince, soon created his own son Gao Bainian crown prince instead. In 561, Emperor Xiaozhao tried to transfer some of Gao Zhan's authorities at Yecheng to Hulü Jin's son Hulü Xian (斛律羨), but Gao Zhan refused to transfer that authority. Meanwhile, sorcerers informed Emperor Xiaozhao that the imperial aura was still at Yecheng, making Emperor Xiaozhao concerned. Gao Guiyan, who was concerned that Gao Yin would one day take the throne again and retaliate against him, persuaded Emperor Xiaozhao that his nephew had to be removed, and so Emperor Xiaozhao issued an edict to summon the Prince of Ji'nan to Jinyang. Gao Zhan, was disappointed at Emperor Xiaozhao not created him crown prince, briefly considered redeclaring Gao Yin emperor and starting a rebellion against Emperor Xiaozhao, but ultimately chose not to do it, as his own sorcerers informed him that they believed that he would become emperor one day anyway. He therefore sent Gao Yin to Jinyang, and soon, Emperor Xiaozhao had Gao Yin killed.

Emperor Xiaozhao himself did not live long after. In winter 561, while hunting, Emperor Xiaozhao's horse was spooked by a rabbit, and he fell off the horse and suffered broken ribs. Soon, believing himself to be near death, he issued an edict stating that Gao Bainian was too young to take the throne, and that the throne was instead to be passed to Gao Zhan. He also wrote a letter to Gao Zhan, stating, "Bainian is innocent. You can do anything with him, but please do not kill him!" He died later that day. Gao Zhan, after first sending close associates to make sure that Emperor Xiaozhao was in fact dead, soon arrived at Jinyang and took the throne (as Emperor Wucheng).

Reign as emperor

In spring 562, Emperor Wucheng created his wife Princess Hu empress and her son Gao Wei crown prince.

Also in spring 562, Emperor Wucheng, agreeing with his officials Gao Yuanhai (高元海), Bi Yiyun (畢義雲), and Gao Qianhe (高乾和) that Gao Guiyan was unreliable, removed Gao Guiyan from his position and made him the governor of Ji Province (冀州, roughly modern Hengshui, Hebei). When Gao Guiyan got to Ji Province, his subordinate Lü Sili (呂思禮) reported him as planning a rebellion, and Emperor Wucheng sent the senior generals Duan Shao (段韶) and Lou Rui (婁叡) against him; they quickly defeated him, and he was executed along with his sons and grandsons.

In summer 562, Empress Dowager Lou died, but Emperor Wucheng refused to wear white mourning clothes and continued to wear his red robe and continued to feast and play music. When He Shikai advised him to stop the music, Emperor Wucheng was angry enough that he slapped He Shikai, normally a close confidant.

Sometime after Emperor Wucheng assumed the throne, he began to force Empress Li to have a sexual relationship with him—threatening her that he would kill her son Gao Shaode (高紹德) the Prince of Taiyuan if she did not agree. Eventually, she became pregnant, and in shame, she began to refuse seeing Gao Shaode. Gao Shaode found out that she was pregnant and became indignant. In shame, when she bore a daughter around the new year 563, she threw the infant away, causing the child's death. When Emperor Wucheng found out, he became angry, and he stated, "Because you killed my daughter, I will kill your son." He summoned Gao Shaode and, in her presence, beat him to death with the hilt of a sword. She cried bitterly, and Emperor Wucheng, in anger, stripped her and pounded her. She suffered severe injuries, but eventually recovered, and Emperor Wucheng expelled her from the palace to be a Buddhist nun.

By 563, He Shikai had become so favored and trusted by Emperor Wucheng that Emperor Wucheng could not bear not seeing him, often requiring him to stay at the palace. Whenever He Shikai would go home, Emperor Wucheng would soon summon him to the palace again, and he rewarded He Shikai with great wealth. They participated in what were described as "immoral games" together, lacking boundaries between emperor and subject. He Shikai thereafter started an affair with Empress Hu. He Shikai stated to Emperor Wucheng:

:Ever since ancient times, all kings and emperors have turned to dust. What difference is there between Emperors Yao and Shun mythical kind emperors and Jie of Xia and King Zhou of Shang legendary cruel kings? your Imperial Majesty should, while you are still young and strong, enjoy life as much as possible and do whatever you wish. One day of extraordinary happiness is as great as one thousand years of ordinary living. Entrust the affairs of the state to the high level officials, and do not worry that they would not be done. Do not mistreat yourself and make yourself unable to do anything.

Emperor Wucheng, persuaded, entrusted the civil service system to Zhao Yanshen (趙彥深), financial matters to Gao Wenyao (高文遙), the civilian administration over military affairs to Tang Yong (唐邕), and the education of Crown Prince Wei to Empress Hu's brother-in-law Feng Zicong (馮子琮) and cousin Hu Changcan (胡長璨). He himself only attended meetings with his ministers every three to four days, and he would often make short appearances and make several quick approvals and then end the meeting. When Gao Cheng's son Gao Xiaoyu (高孝瑜) tried to get him to look into He Shikai's relationship with Empress Hu, He Shikai and Gao Rui (高叡) the Prince of Zhao Commandery (Emperor Wucheng's cousin) -- whom Gao Xiaoyu had also advised Emperor Wucheng to distance himself from since Gao Rui's father Gao Chen (高琛) had died from Gao Huan's caning after he had an affair with Gao Huan's concubine Lady Erzhu—jointly accused Gao Xiaoyu falsely of plotting rebellion. In summer 563, when Emperor Wucheng received report that Gao Xiaoyu had a secret conversation with Emperor Wucheng's concubine Consort Erzhu, he poisoned Gao Xiaoyu to death.

In winter 563, rival Northern Zhou launched a major two-prong attack on Northern Qi, with the southern prong, commanded by Daxi Wu (達奚武), attacking Pingyang (平陽, in modern Linfen, Shanxi) and the northern prong, commanded by Yang Zhong (楊忠), attacking Northern Qi from the north, in alliance with Tujue. Emperor Wucheng sent the general Hulü Guang (Hulü Jin's son) to resist the southern prong of the Northern Zhou attack, and personally went to Jinyang to resist the northern prong, but when he got to Jinyang, he was surprised by how strong the Northern Zhou and Tujue forces were, and he considered fleeing, stopping his flight only after opposition by Gao Rui and Gao Xiaowan (高孝琬) the Prince of Hejian. In spring 564, however, Duan Shao was able to defeat Yang, forcing him to flee, and the Tujue forces and Daxi soon withdrew. Still, the Northern Qi territory north of Jinyang had been pillaged by Tujue.

Also in spring 564, the one major accomplishment of Emperor Wucheng's reign—a revision of Northern Wei's criminal code—was completed, allowing greater fairness in the application of laws. Further, Emperor Wucheng was interested in greater promulgation of the laws, and he ordered the children of officials' households to study them, leading to a wider base of legal knowledge than previously had been the case. He further formalized the tax code as well, not only trying to make the tax burden fairer, but also created a system where adults without land ownership were distributed lands to farm on, to encourage food production.

In summer 564, there were astrological signs that portended ill fortune for the emperor, and Emperor Wucheng thought of deflecting that ill fortune on his nephew Gao Bainian. At that same time, Gao Bainian's teacher Jia Dezhou (賈德冑) submitted several instances of the character chi (敕) -- a character that meant "imperial edict," and which only the emperor was supposed to use—that Gao Bainian had written, to Emperor Wucheng. Emperor Wucheng summoned Gao Bainian to the palace, and, after ordering him to write chi to make certain that the handwriting fit what Jia submitted, had his guards batter Gao Bainian severely, beheading him after he was already severely injured.

Meanwhile, the Northern Zhou regent Yuwen Hu had sent the official Yin Gongzheng (尹公正) to offer peace in return for his mother Lady Yan and his aunt (the younger sister of his father Yuwen Hao (宇文顥) and uncle Yuwen Tai). Emperor Wucheng, fearful that Northern Zhou and Tujue would launch another attack, agreed, and first sent Lady Yuwen to Northern Zhou. However, he initially detained Lady Yan and had her and Yuwen Hu exchange letters, trying to extract promises from Yuwen Hu. Despite Duan's suggestion that he negotiate formal concessions, Emperor Wucheng, in fear of Yuwen Hu's anger, released Lady Yan in fall 564. However, in winter 564, when Tujue launched an attack on Northern Qi's northern provinces, Yuwen Hu, fearful that Tujue would believe that he was duplicitous, launched an attack on Northern Qi anyway, against the key city Luoyang. Around the new year 565, Duan and Gao Changgong (高長恭) the Prince of Lanling defeated Northern Zhou forces sieging Luoyang, and Northern Zhou forces withdrew.

Around this time, Zu Ting had been persuading He Shikai that his fortunes were tied to the emperor's -- and that if the emperor shall die, he would be in a desperate situation—and that he could solve this by suggesting Emperor Wucheng to pass the throne to Crown Prince Wei, so that both the crown prince and Empress Hu would be grateful to him as well. He Shikai agreed, and both he and Zu offered the suggestion to Emperor Wucheng—stating to him that astrological signs indicating that the imperial position would be changed was a sign that he should pass the throne, particularly because it would be even more honored to be the father of an emperor than to be an emperor. Emperor Wucheng agreed, and in summer 565, he passed the throne to the eight-year-old Crown Prince Wei, creating Gao Wei's wife Crown Princess Hulü (Hulü Guang's daughter) empress. Emperor Wucheng took the title Taishang Huang (retired emperor).

As retired emperor

Due to Gao Wei's young age, Emperor Wucheng continued to be in control of major decisions, despite his "retirement." Favoring another son of his and Empress Hu's, Gao Yan (note different character than Emperor Xiaozhao) the Prince of Dongping greatly, even though Gao Yan was even younger than Gao Wei, he piled many honors and titles on Gao Yan, and Gao Yan, who was considered more intelligent and resolute than Gao Wei, at times questioned why Gao Wei was the emperor. Emperor Wucheng and Empress Hu considered deposing Gao Wei and replacing him with Gao Yan, but ultimately did not do so.

In 566, with He Shikai and Zu Ting falsely accusing Gao Xiaowan (his nephew, through Gao Cheng) of plotting rebellion, Emperor Wucheng arrested Gao Xiaowan and tortured him, eventually breaking his legs. Gao Xiaowan died from the injuries, and when Gao Xiaowan's younger brother Gao Yanzong mourned Gao Xiaowan, Emperor Wucheng arrested and tortured Gao Yanzong as well, but did not kill him.

In 567, Zu, hungry for greater power, accused Zhao Yanshen, Gao Wenhao, and He Shikai of corruption and factionalism, but Zhao, Gao, and He Shikai received word of this prior to Zu's submission and make defenses of themselves first. Emperor Wucheng arrested Zu and interrogated him. During the interrogation, Zu offended Emperor Wucheng by pointing out that he should not be hoarding as many ladies in waiting as he had been and by comparing him to Xiang Yu—although as Zu then pointed out, Emperor Wucheng's accomplishments paled in comparison to Xiang's. Emperor Wucheng, angry, whipped Zu 200 times and had him imprisoned in a dungeon—and during that imprisonment, Zu's eyes, smoked by smoke from the lamp (which was burning Chinese cabbage seed as the light source) went blind.

In spring 568, Emperor Wucheng suffered a major illness, and the official Xu Zhicai (徐之才), who was an accomplished physician, treated him back to health. After Emperor Wucheng recovered, however, He Shikai, whose position was lower than Xu's, wanted to be promoted, and so had Xu sent out to Yan Province (兗州, roughly modern Jining, Shandong) to be governor. In winter 568, Emperor Wucheng suddenly fell ill again, and he summoned Xu. Before Xu could arrive, however, around the new year 569, he died, while holding He Shikai's hands and entrusting the important matters to him.

Era names

• Taining (太寧 tài níng) 561-562

• Heqing (河清 hé qīng) 562-565

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Princess Linhe, of the Yujiulü clan (鄰和公主 鬱久閭氏; 538–550), personal name Chidelian (叱地連), buried in the Tomb of Princess Linhe

• Empress Wucheng, of the Hu clan of Anding (武成皇后 安定胡氏)

　• Gao Wei, Emperor (皇帝 高緯; 556–577), second son

　• Gao Yan, Emperor Chugong'ai (楚恭哀皇帝 高儼; 557–571), third son

• Furen, of the Li clan of Zhao (弘德夫人 趙郡李氏; d. 574)

　• Gao Chuo, Prince Nanyang (南陽王 高綽; 556–574), first son

• Lady, of the Ren clan (任氏)

　• Gao Renzhi, Prince Danyang (丹陽王 高仁直; d. 577), 12th son

• Lady, of the Li clan of Zhao (趙郡李氏), personal name Zu'e (祖娥)

　• A daughter (562)

• Unknown

　• Gao Kuo, Prince Qi'an (齊安王 高廓; d. 577), fourth son

　• Gao Zhen, Prince Beiping (北平王 高貞; d. 577), fifth son

　• Gao Renying, Prince Gaoping (高平王 高仁英; d. 594), sixth son

　• Gao Renguang, Prince Huainan (淮南王 高仁光; d. 577), seventh son

　• Gao Renji, Prince Xihe (西河王 高仁幾; d. 577), eighth son

　• Gao Renyong, Prince Leping (樂平王 高仁邕; d. 577), ninth son

　• Gao Renjian, Prince Yingchuan (潁川王 高仁儉; d. 577), tenth son

　• Gao Renya, Prince Anle (安樂王 高仁雅), 11th son

　• Gao Renqian, Prince Donghai (東海王 高仁謙; d. 577), 13th son

　• Princess Yongchang (永昌公主; d. 562)

　• Princess Dong'an (東安公主)

　　• Married Duan Shen of Wuwei, Prince Jibei (武威 段深) in 564

Ancestry

生平

高湛少有英姿，幼時極得父親高歡喜愛。北齊建國後，被齊文宣帝封為長廣王。高湛協助其兄高演發動政變廢黜了侄兒高殷。高演本答應高湛事成後立其為皇太弟，繼位後，則轉立高百年為太子，令高湛心懷憤恨。高演登基後，迅速開始削弱高湛的權力，使其立刻警惕起來，計劃謀反，但最終沒有舉事。後高演傷病兼身，臨終時為了不讓自己的兒子高百年落得與高殷一樣的命運，決定傳位於弟。561年，高湛繼位，改元太寧，是為武成帝。

武成帝在位時，重用段韶、斛律光、高長恭等名將，曾數次大破北周、突厥入侵，武功赫赫。

齊文宣帝生前，曾命百官勘定北魏《麟趾格》為《齊律》，過了很久也沒有成書。文宣帝一朝，軍事國事很少有依法律條文行事的，被粉飾為「變法從事」。高湛即位後，意圖改革這等弊端，《齊律》便在武成一朝修成，之後的官吏方才開始遵守法令而行；武成帝又命官宦子弟時常講習諸法，于是北齊人知曉法律者便很多了。。

565年，傳位於太子高緯，自任太上皇，繼續在幕後主政。天統四年十二月崩于鄴宮，年三十二歲。年號太寧、河清，謚號武成帝，廟號世祖，葬於永平陵。

性格

高湛為人冷酷無情。高洋在位時，異母兄高浚、高渙被誣下獄，關押地牢一年後，高洋在地穴邊命令他們和歌，由于恐懼，出聲顫慄。文宣帝有所觸動，本意赦免二人，不料高湛素與高浚有仇，說道：「猛獸安可出穴？」高洋便沉默不言了。高浚、高渙聽聞，高喊高湛小字道：「步落稽，皇天見汝！」左右手下沒有不流淚的。高浚、高渙二人後被高洋、劉桃枝用槊亂刺，哭號不止；又被投火燒身而死，狀甚悽慘，天下為二人痛惜不已。。

其人亦非常多疑謹慎，即使高演已死，也不輕信王松年所宣布的遺詔。趕往晉陽之前，先遣親信河南王高孝瑜改換了宮中禁衛，方肯入城。。

其母婁昭君皇太后去世時，宮女獻上白袍，但高湛飲酒作樂如故，拒絕為母親批孝服喪。

高洋皇后李祖娥其子高殷即位，但只有一年便被其叔高演所篡。高演即位為孝昭帝後，將她由皇太后降為昭信皇后，居於昭信宮。後高湛繼位為武成帝後，逼李皇后與之相姦。高湛恐嚇她：「如果妳敢不從，我就殺妳兒子。」李皇后因害怕而答應他，從此頗受寵愛。她懷孕的時候，兒子太原王高紹德到她的宮殿，她避不見面，高紹德便怒言：「兒子難道不知道嗎？您是因為肚子大了，所以不見兒子。」李皇后非常慚愧，等到生下一個女兒，就不養育她。

高湛見女兒被害，怒不可遏，將高紹德捉到宮里，舉刀怒喝：「妳殺我的女兒，我就殺妳的兒子！」高紹德驚慌求饒，高湛又罵高紹德：「想當年我被你父親毒打，你也沒來救過我！」當場將高紹德殺死。李皇后大哭起來，高湛更是憤怒，將她衣服脫光，胡亂鞭打她，讓她哭天喊地不已。最後將她裝在絹袋裡，不顧她鮮血淋漓，就丟到渠道裡，任水漂流，許久才甦醒。用牛車送到妙勝寺出家為尼。北齊滅亡後入關內，隋朝時才得以送還故鄉。

後世評價

齊武成帝高湛能駕馭群臣，有帝王之量。其戰北周雖有武功，為君也有長遠的謀略，但由于親近小人，作風腐敗，素無私德，對北齊國力造成損害也是不爭的事實。

家庭

妻妾

正室

• 閭叱地連，柔然鄰和公主

• 胡皇后

妾室

• 弘德夫人李氏

• 夫人彭氏，彭榮女，齊安王高廓養母

• 嬪王氏，原為高洋妃嬪

• 嬪盧氏，盧勒叉妹妹，淮南王高仁光養母

• 嬪馬氏，被胡皇后所妒，自縊死

• 可朱渾氏，北魏儀同三司、朔夏二州諸軍事、朔州刺史可朱渾買奴孫女，北齊假黃鉞、太宰、太師、司空公、司徒公、并州刺史、扶風王可朱渾道元之女，北齊儀同三司、右衛大將軍、扶風王可朱渾孝裕姐妹

• 御女爾朱摩女，先前侍奉太后婁昭君時，與河南王高孝瑜通姦

• 任氏，任祥女，生丹楊王高仁直。

• 陸氏，陸令萱，高緯奶娘無子女

子女

• 後主高緯

• 南陽王高綽（庶長子）

• 琅邪王、楚恭哀帝高儼

• 齊安王高廓

• 北平王高貞

• 高平王高仁英

• 淮南王高仁光

• 西河王高仁機

• 樂平王高仁邕（高約）

• 潁川王高仁儉

• 安樂王高仁雅

• 丹陽王高仁直（高統）

• 東海王高仁讓

• 永昌公主

• 東安公主

• 一女，李祖娥所生

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