During Juqu Mengxuns reign

It is not known when Juqu Mujian was born, nor who his mother was—the historical records seem to indicate that his mother was not Juqu Mengxun's wife Princess Meng, although do not completely preclude that possibility. He was Juqu Mengxun's third son. The first reference to him in history was in 420, after Juqu Mengxun had destroyed rival Western Liang and captured its capital Jiuquan (酒泉, in modern Jiuquan, Gansu), as Juqu Mengxun made him the governor of Jiuquan Commandery and gave him the deceased Western Liang duke Li Xin's Li Jingshou as his wife.

Juqu Mujian was never named heir by his father's will, as his father initially created Juqu Zhengde (沮渠政德), probably his oldest brother, as heir apparent, in 413. After Juqu Zhengde was killed in battle against Rouran forces in 423, Juqu Mengxun created another brother of Juqu Mujian's, Juqu Xingguo (沮渠興國), as heir apparent. After Juqu Xingguo was captured and detained by the Western Qin prince Qifu Mumo in 429, and Juqu Mengxun failed in his attempt to ransom Juqu Xingguo back from Western Qin, he created a younger brother of Juqu Mujian's, said to be of the same mother as Juqu Xingguo's, Juqu Puti (沮渠菩提), as heir apparent. However, as Juqu Mengxun was ill in 433, the nobles and the officials considered Juqu Puti too young to govern, so they deposed Juqu Puti and made Juqu Mujian, who was considered studious and kind, heir apparent instead. Juqu Mengxun soon died, and Juqu Mujian succeeded to the throne. He created his son Juqu Fengtan (沮渠封壇) as heir apparent.

Reign

Juqu Mujian's initial policy was one of careful supplication to the powerful Northern Wei and its Emperor Taiwu, and, as Juqu Mengxun had already agreed to do, he sent his younger sister Princess Xingping to Emperor Taiwu, who created her an imperial consort, and created Juqu Mujian the Prince of Hexi. Juqu Mujian, however, also carefully cultivated relationships with Northern Wei's rivals Liu Song and Rouran, and in 434, after he sent messengers to Liu Song to show submission as well, Emperor Wen of Liu Song also created him the Prince of Hexi.

In 436, after Emperor Taiwu had destroyed Northern Yan and seized its territory, he began to consider conquering Northern Liang. Still, in 437, he sent his sister Princess Wuwei to be married to Juqu Mujian. Juqu Mujian, although he was already married to Princess Li, felt compelled to accept, and Princess Wuwei became his princess. At the same time, Emperor Taiwu also ordered that Juqu Mujian's mother be honored as the Princess Dowager of Hexi. Juqu Mujian was forced to divorce Princess Li, who was exiled to Jiuquan from the Northern Liang capital Guzang (姑臧, in modern Wuwei, Gansu), and died soon thereafter. By Northern Wei demands, Juqu Mujian also sent Juqu Fengtan to the Northern Wei capital Pingcheng (平城, in modern Datong, Shanxi) as a hostage. However, he also continued to send messengers to Liu Song, offering tributes of books while requesting supplies of other books, and Emperor Wen granted them without question. (Despite the marriage, Emperor Taiwu considered launching a campaign against Northern Liang, but at the urging of Li Shun (李順), who had previously advocated military action as well but by this point was against such actions, arguing that the army was still tired from conquering Northern Yan and Xia as well as fighting Liu Song and needed rest, Emperor Taiwu postponed the plans.)

In 439, Juqu Mujian was entangled in a scandal that adversely affected his relationship with Northern Wei. He and his two brothers were all having affairs with the wife of another brother, Lady Li, and Lady Li then plotted, with a sister of Juqu Mujian, to poison Princess Wuwei. Emperor Taiwu sent doctors, who were able to save Princess Wuwei's life, and he then demanded that Juqu Mujian turn over Lady Li. Juqu Mujian refused, and only sent Lady Li to Jiuquan. Meanwhile, the Northern Wei messengers to the Xiyu kingdoms, who were going through Northern Liang frequently, were alleging that Juqu Mujian had informed Xiyu kingdoms that they should not submit to Northern Wei and should submit to Rouran instead. At the encouragement of the prime minister Cui Hao, Emperor Taiwu again prepared military action. With Yuan He, the son of Southern Liang's last prince Tufa Rutan, as guide, he launched a speedy attack and arrived at Guzang quickly. Juqu Mujian, in shock, refused to surrender, defending the city against a siege, while seeking immediate military assistance from Rouran's Chilian Khan, Yujiulü Wuti. Yujiulü Wuti did launch a surprise attack on Pingcheng to try to force Emperor Taiwu to give up the campaign, but after initial successes, he failed to capture Pingcheng, and his brother Yujiulü Qiliegui (郁久閭乞列歸) was captured by Northern Wei forces. After nearly two months of siege, Juqu Mujian's nephew Juqu Wannian (沮渠萬年) surrendered to Northern Wei forces, and Guzang collapsed. Juqu Mujian tied his own arms as sign of submission and surrendered. Emperor Taiwu took the city, but continued to treat Juqu Mujian with respect, as a brother-in-law, and while he took Juqu Mujian to Pingcheng, he continued to allow him to carry the title of Prince of Hexi. (Allegedly, as he surrendered, he opened up the royal treasury to let it be pillaged—an action that would have detrimental consequences to him later on.)

After capture by Northern Wei

While Juqu Mujian's brothers Juqu Wuhui, Juqu Yide (沮渠宜得), and Juqu Anzhou and cousin Juqu Tang'er (沮渠唐兒) would continue to hold out at various Northern Liang cities and later flee and try to establish a permanent present at Gaochang, Juqu Mujian himself appeared to have had no ability to participate in those events. It was around this time that his mother died, and she was buried with honors due a princess dowager.

In 447, however, accusations were made that when Juqu Mujian opened up the royal treasury when Guzang fell, that the treasures ended up back in his possession. Treasures allegedly from the Northern Liang treasury were then found in Juqu Mujian's possession, as were many kinds of poisons and magical items that Juqu Mujian, Juqu Mengxun, and Juqu Mujian's sisters were said to use. In anger, Emperor Taiwu ordered Consort Juqu to commit suicide, and executed many members of the Juqu clan. Later that year, accusations were made that Juqu Mujian was communicating with his former subjects and planning a rebellion. Emperor Taiwu sent Cui Hao to the residence that Juqu Mujian shared with Princess Wuwei, and there forced Juqu Mujian to commit suicide.

Era name

• Yonghe (永和 yǒng hé) 433–439

Personal information

• Father

　• Juqu Mengxun (Prince Wuxuan)

• Wives

　• Princess Li Jingshou (divorced 437), daughter of Li Gao, prince of Western Liang

　• Princess Tuoba (married 437), Princess Wuwei of Northern Wei, daughter of Emperor Mingyuan of Northern Wei

• Children

　• Juqu Fengtan (沮渠封壇), the Heir Apparent (created 433)

　• Princess Wuwei

When the Eastern Jin dynasty ended Northern Wei received the Han Chinese Jin prince Sima Chuzhi 司馬楚之 as a refugee. A Northern Wei Princess married Sima Chuzhi, giving birth to Sima Jinlong 司馬金龍. Northern Liang King Juqu Mujian's daughter married Sima Jinlong.

Another daughter of Juqu Mujian became a concubine of Emperor Wencheng of Northern Wei.

生平

沮渠牧犍歷任酒泉太守及敦煌太守，北涼義和三年（433年）沮渠蒙遜去世，因繼承人沮渠菩提尚幼，眾臣在蒙遜病重時就推較年長的沮渠牧犍為世子，加中外都督、大將軍、錄尚書事。牧犍在蒙遜死後即襲河西王位，改元永和。牧犍隨後向北魏請求任命，獲授都督涼河沙三州西域諸羌戎諸軍事、車騎將軍、開府儀同三司、涼州刺史、河西王。又以父親遺願為由，將妹妹興平公主嫁給魏太武帝拓跋燾。另一方面，牧犍亦向南朝宋上表告知繼位一事，又獲授持節、散騎常侍、都督涼秦河沙四州諸軍事、征西大將軍、領護匈奴中郎將、西夷校尉、涼州刺史、河西王。

永和五年（437年），拓跋燾將其妹武威公主嫁予牧犍，牧犍與嫂子李氏偷情，李氏既得寵，竟與牧犍之姊共毒殺武威公主，幸得解藥不死。拓跋燾要求押解李氏至北魏，牧犍不肯，把李氏安置到酒泉。另北魏西域使者從北涼官員口中得知柔然可汗宣稱他們擊敗了北魏及牧犍聞言大喜並向國內宣傳的事，並向拓跋燾報告，拓跋燾特意派尚書賀多羅去探聽北涼國內的情況，賀多羅回來時亦稱牧犍表面上臣服於魏，實質上並不服從。拓跋燾遂於永和七年（439年）下詔列牧犍十二項罪狀並大舉進攻北涼，詔中亦勸導牧犍自動請降。牧犍聞訊大驚，聽從左丞姚定國計謀不出城迎降，反向柔然求援並命弟弟沮渠董來率兵在城南抗擊魏軍，可是董來軍卻望風潰敗。魏軍兵臨姑臧，牧犍當時聽聞柔然會進攻北魏，於是期望魏軍會因而東還，故此決意固守不降。不過，當時牧犍侄沮渠祖出降並將牧犍的想法告知拓跋燾，拓跋壽遂分兵圍困姑臧，又派源賀招撫北涼諸部，以專心攻城。姑臧最終失守，沮渠牧犍率領文武百官五千人面縛請降，北涼亡，北魏遂統一北方。

拓跋燾將沮渠牧犍及其宗族官民共三萬戶遷至魏都平城，仍以妹婿身份對待他，仍任征西大將軍及河西王爵。北魏太平真君八年（447年），牧犍親族及守護國庫者告發牧犍在姑臧城陷前將國庫中的金銀財寶都拿走，其餘則任由平民搶奪，最終魏人在牧犍家中果然搜得那些財寶；牧犍父子又被指曾毒死數以百計的無辜者，同時在他家找到毒藥，姐妹又習曇無讖之術，行為放蕩無愧色；還有指牧犍與北涼舊臣聯絡，意圖謀反，太武帝派遣太常卿崔浩至牧犍家中，將其賜死，諡哀王，其他宗族除沮渠祖外亦被處死。

性格特徵

自西晉末年大亂，不少中原文士都去河西一帶避亂，前涼張氏主政時亦禮遇他們，故涼州文士傳承，號稱「多士」。牧犍亦喜好文學，任用不少文士。任內又曾獻書南朝，亦向南朝求晉、趙《起居注》等書。

家庭

妻

• 李王后，西涼武昭王李暠女。

• 拓跋王后，北魏武威公主

子女

• 沮渠封壇，433年立為繼承人

• 武威公主，沮渠牧犍與拓跋後所生之女，以國甥之位得寵，襲母位。

• 沮渠夫人，北魏文成帝夫人

• 沮渠氏，拓跋後所生，嫁司馬金龍

注釋