Early life

Murong Huang's father Murong Hui had initially been a Xianbei chief who fought Jin forces during the late reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, Jin's founding emperor, but he submitted as a Jin vassal in 289. Under constant attack by fellow Xianbei chief Duan Jie (段階) of the Duan tribe, he humbly sought peace with the Duan and married one of Duan Jie's daughters. From this union came Murong Huang (in 297) and two of his younger brothers, Murong Ren (慕容仁) and Murong Zhao (慕容昭).

During Murong Hui's rule as tribal chief, the Jin dynasty's central government was in constant turmoil and eventually collapsed due to infighting and agrarian rebellions, the strongest of which was the Xiongnu state Han Zhao. As a result, many refugees arrived in the relatively safe domain of Murong Hui's, and as he treated the ethnically Han refugees with kindness, most chose to stay, greatly strengthening his power, and as Jin forces in the north gradually fell to Han Zhao's capable general Shi Le (who later established his own independent state Later Zhao), Murong Hui became the only domain in northern China still under titular Jin rule, carrying the Jin-bestowed title of the Duke of Liaodong. He entrusted Murong Huang with many important military tasks. These included fighting the powerful fellow Xianbei Yuwen tribe in 320 and 325. In early 322, Murong Hui named Murong Huang heir apparent. However, Murong Hui also greatly favored Murong Huang's brothers Murong Ren, Murong Zhao, and particularly Murong Han (慕容翰), who was regarded very highly as a general. Murong Huang became jealous and suspicious of these brothers, feelings which became known to them and which would sow the seeds of future troubles.

As Duke of Liaodong

In 333, Murong Hui died. Murong Huang took over his administration under the Jin-bestowed office of General Pingbei (平北將軍) and sent messengers to report his father's death to Emperor Cheng of Jin and request commission official for himself. Soon after, with Jin commission expected but not yet arrived, he claimed the title of Duke of Liaodong, which his father had carried.

Murong Huang carried out strict and harsh enforcement of laws and regulations, which unsettled some of his subordinates. His suspicions of Murong Han, Murong Ren, and Murong Zhao also became clear. Murong Han, in fear, fled to the Duan tribe (Dukedom of Liaoxi) and became a general for the Duan chief Duan Liao (段遼). Murong Ren and Murong Zhao conspired to have Murong Ren attack the capital Jicheng (棘城, in modern Jinzhou, Liaoning) from his defense post of Pingguo (平郭, in modern Yingkou, Liaoning) and for Murong Zhao to rise within Jicheng to join him, ready to divide the dukedom if they succeeded. Murong Ren soon launched a surprise attack, but scouts by Murong Huang discovered the attack and readied for the attack, so Murong Ren instead captured the cities in the eastern dukedom (Liaodong Peninsula). Forces that Murong Huang sent to attack him were repelled, and Murong Ren claimed for himself the Duke of Liaodong title as well. Jin messengers sent to bestow on Murong Huang the same titles his father had were intercepted and detained by Murong Ren.

Also in 334, Duan forces, under the commands of Murong Han and Duan Liao's brother Duan Lan (段蘭) attacked Liucheng (柳城, in modern Zhaoyang, Liaoning), and Murong Huang's forces sent to relieve Liucheng suffered a great defeat at Duan forces' hands. Duan Lan wanted to further advance on Jicheng, but Murong Han, fearful that his own tribe would be destroyed, ordered a withdrawal. (While his comments were intended to force Duan Lan to agree to a withdrawal, Murong Han's comments at this time stating that Murong Huang was "false and treacherous" may indicate what his true feelings about Murong Huang were.)

In early 336, Murong Huang made a daring surprise attack, personally leading his army by a route that Murong Ren did not expect—over the frozen Bohai—arriving at Pingguo. Murong Ren, not realizing that it was a major attack, came out of the city to fight Murong Huang, who defeated and captured him, forcing him to commit suicide.

As Prince of Yan

In 337, Murong Huang claimed for himself the title of Prince of Yan—a title that Jin had previously considered but declined to confer on his father Murong Hui. This is commonly viewed as the founding of Former Yan, particularly because he also set up a governmental structure mirroring Jin's imperial government, albeit with different office titles intentionally showing inferiority to Jin.

That same year, Murong Huang, countering his father's prior policy of having no contact at all with Jin's rival Later Zhao, sent messengers to Later Zhao promising to be a vassal and requesting a joint attack against the Duan. Later Zhao's emperor Shi Hu was very pleased, and they agreed on an attack in 338. In the spring, they launched the attacks. Murong Huang quickly attacked and pillaged the Duan cities north of its capital Lingzhi (令支, in modern Tangshan, Hebei), defeating Duan Lan's forces. He then withdrew, and when Later Zhao forces arrived, Duan Liao no longer dared to face them but instead abandoned Lingzhi and fled. Lingzhi surrendered to Later Zhao. Shi Hu was happy about the victory but angry that Murong Huang withdrew before the armies could meet, and he decided to turn his armies against Murong Huang instead. With Later Zhao's massive armies arriving in Former Yan territory, nearly all of the cities submitted to Later Zhao except the capital Jicheng. Murong Huang considered fleeing, but under advice of his general Muyu Gen, he stayed and defended the city for nearly 20 days, and Later Zhao forces were forced to withdraw; Murong Huang then sent his son Murong Ke to attack the retreating Later Zhao troops, scoring a great victory, and the only Later Zhao force remaining intact was that of Shi Min, Shi Hu's adopted grandson. After Later Zhao's withdrawal, Murong Huang recaptured the cities that had rebelled. He also took over cities formerly ruled by the Duan, extending into modern northern Hebei. In early 339, after Duan Liao sent conflicting requests to Later Zhao and Former Yan, requesting surrender, the Later Zhao and Former Yan forces engaged, and Murong Ke again won a great victory over Later Zhao. Murong Huang honored Duan Liao as a guest and merged Duan's remaining forces into his own. Later that year, however, Duan planned a rebellion and was killed by Murong Huang. (However, the Duan clan was not wiped out, and many members of the Duan clan later served as generals, officials, and imperial consorts of the Murongs.) From this point on, Former Yan forces would conduct yearly raids against Later Zhao's border region. They would also periodically attack the Yuwen tribe and Goguryeo.

Also in 339, Murong Huang married his sister to Tuoba Shiyijian, the Prince of Dai, cementing an alliance between the two Xianbei powers. (The two would, however, engage in occasional battles after Princess Murong's death in 342.) He also sent messengers to the Jin capital to formally request from Emperor Cheng the Prince of Yan title—explaining that he needed it to increase his authority over the people but that he was still loyal to Jin. In 341, after several months of debate, Emperor Cheng decided to grant Murong Huang the princely title.

In 340, Murong Han, who had fled to the Yuwen after the Duan were defeated but who had subsequently been mistrusted and mistreated by the Yuwen, agreed to return under Murong Huang's command, and he fled back to Liaodong. Murong Huang gave him a military command.

In 341, Murong Huang moved his capital from Jicheng to a newly built city, Longcheng (龍城, in modern Zhaoyang, Liaoning).

In 344, Murong Huang, with Murong Han as his deputy, attacked Yuwen, greatly defeating it and forcing its chief Yuwen Yidougui (宇文逸豆歸) to flee. The Former Yan forces forcibly moved the Yuwen tribe south and merged them into Former Yan's own population. Later that year, Murong Huang, still apprehensive of Murong Han's abilities, forced him to commit suicide.

In 345, Murong Huang stopped using Jin's era names—which is viewed by some as the sign of Former Yan's formal independence.

In 348, Murong Huang grew ill and died. He was succeeded by his son Murong Jun.

Era name

• Yanwang ("Prince of Yan") (燕王 yàn wáng) 337–348

Personal information

• Father

　• Murong Hui (慕容廆), Xianbei chief and Duke Xiang of Liaodong, posthumously honored as Prince Wuxuan of Yan

• Mother

　• Duchess Duan, Murong Hui's wife, daughter of the Duan chief Duan Jie (段階)

• Wife

　• Princess Duan (created 337)

• Major Concubines

　• Consort Gao, mother of Prince Ke

　• Consort Lan, mother of Prince Ba

　• Consort Gongsun, mother of Princes Na and De

• Children

　• Murong Jun (慕容儁), the heir apparent, later Emperor Jingzhao

　• Murong Ke (慕容恪), Prince Huan of Taiyuan (created 354)

　• Murong Ba (慕容霸), later renamed Murong Chui (慕容垂), the Prince of Wu (created 354), later Emperor Chengwu of Later Yan

　• Murong You (慕容友), the Prince of Fanyang (created 354)

　• Murong Li (慕容厲), the Prince of Xiapei (created 354)

　• Murong Du (慕容度), the Prince of Lelang (created 354)

　• Murong Yi (慕容宜), the Prince of Lujiang (created 354)

　• Murong Huan (慕容桓), the Prince of Yidu (created 354, killed by Former Qin forces 370)

　• Murong Dai (慕容逮), the Prince of Linhe (created 354)

　• Murong Hui (慕容徽), the Prince of Hejian (created 354)

　• Murong Long (慕容龍), the Prince of Liyang (created 354)

　• Murong Na (慕容納), the Prince of Beihai (created 354)

　• Murong Xiu (慕容秀), the Prince of Lanling (created 354)

　• Murong Yue (慕容岳), the Prince of Anfeng (created 354)

　• Murong De (慕容德), initially the Duke of Liang (created 354), later the Prince of Fanyang, later Emperor Xianwu of Southern Yan

　• Murong Mo (慕容默), the Duke of Shi'an (created 354)

　• Murong Lou (慕容僂), the Duke of Nankang (created 354)

　• Murong Yu (慕容宇)

　• Murong Zhou (慕容宙), Prince of Zhangwu, later Prince Wei of Lelang, killed by rebels led by Duan Sugu 398

　• Princess Murong, married Tuoba Shiyijian, posthumously honored as Empress Zhaocheng

生平

慕容皝勇武剛毅且多有謀略，崇尚經學，熟悉天文。建武初年拜冠軍將軍、左賢王、封望平侯。太興四年（321年）十二月，慕容廆封遼東郡公，立身為嫡子的慕容皝為世子。其曾率眾出征，累有戰功，如於永昌元年（322年）率眾入侵段末柸的都城令支（今河北遷安縣西）。太寧末年，慕容皝拜平北將軍，封朝鮮公。咸和八年五月甲寅（333年6月4日），慕容廆去世。六月，慕容皝嗣遼東郡公，以平北將軍行平州刺史，督攝部內，統治遼東。

平定叛弟

同年，宇文乞得歸被宇文逸豆歸逼逐而在外去世，慕容皝出兵討伐，令宇文逸豆歸畏懼請和，慕容皝於是修築了榆陰和安晉二城後回軍。慕容皝弟征虜將軍慕容仁和廣武將軍慕容昭很得慕容廆寵愛，惹來慕容皝不滿，而二人在慕容皝登位後怕慕容皝不能接納自己，於是在慕容仁在平郭（今遼寧熊岳城）舉兵西行至棘城以攻慕容皝，並以慕容昭為內應。不過，慕容仁尚在途中，其計劃就被揭發，慕容昭被慕容皝賜死，慕容仁唯有回軍據守平郭。慕容皝於是派兵討伐，卻大敗于汶城以北。及後孫機更以遼東郡嚮慕容仁投降，令其盡得遼東之地，而且獲得段部鮮卑首領段遼和鮮卑諸部的支持，遙遙相援。

咸和九年（334年），慕容皝接連派兵攻殺鮮卑木堤和烏丸悉羅侯。段遼亦攻徒何，不能攻破後更派段蘭和在上一年因懼慕容皝猜忌而出奔段部的慕容翰進攻柳城（今遼寧朝陽市），守將石琮死守，終於退軍。同年，派往東晉報喪的隊伍回遼東，慕容皝獲東晉授予鎮軍大將軍、平州刺史、大單于、遼東公，持節，並因以往慕容廆之事，都督幽、平二州及東夷諸軍事並承制置百官，但皆被慕容仁所留，慕容皝一直至次年隊伍被放回棘城才獲受命。慕容皝亦於同年率軍討遼東，成功奪取襄平（今遼寧遼陽市），居就、新昌兩縣亦歸降，慕容皝置和陽、武次和西樂三縣就撤軍，又將遼東大姓分徒於棘城。

咸康二年（336年）正月，慕容皝堅持趁海面結冰而從海路進攻慕容仁，於是在壬午日（2月17日）自昌黎東出發，經結冰海面走三百多里，至歷林口就放下輜重輕兵直取平郭。慕容皝軍行至平郭七里以外時，慕容仁斥候才嚮慕容仁報告，令慕容仁狼狽到城西北迎戰。當時慕容軍率部嚮慕容皝投降，震動慕容仁軍心，慕容皝於是趁機進攻，大敗對方，慕容仁亦被擒和被賜死。

消滅段部

平定慕容仁後，至六月，段遼又派兵進攻慕容皝，分別攻擊武興以及柳城，當時宇文逸豆歸亦攻進安晉以作聲援，慕容皝別將擊破攻武興之軍，而自己率兵增援柳城，逼走屯於城西的段蘭後轉攻安晉，並派封奕大敗逃走的宇文逸豆歸部眾。及後慕容皝預料二部會再來，於是命封奕在馬兜山設伏，成攻大敗下月來攻的段遼。其後又命世子慕容儁和封奕分別進攻段部和宇文部，皆大勝。慕容又下令在乙連東築好城並置戍，又建曲水城作好城之援，以威逼乙連。當時乙連大饑，段遼命人輸送糧食，但就被戍守好城的蘭勃所敗。後段遼部將段屈雲進攻興國，又被慕容皝將慕容遵擊敗並盡俘其部眾。

咸康三年十月丁卯（337年11月23日），慕容皝聽從封奕的勸告，自稱燕王，建前燕，追慕容廆為武宣王，夫人段氏為武宣后，立世子慕容儁為王太子。當年又因段部鮮卑多番入侵，於是派宋回向後趙稱藩，以其弟慕容汗為人質，請求後趙與其聯兵進攻段部鮮卑。後趙天王石虎大悅，答允並送還慕容汗，約定明年進攻。隨後在咸康四年（338年），石虎率眾進攻段部鮮卑，慕容皝則出兵進掠令支以北諸城，並大敗追擊的段蘭，大掠而還。而因石虎一直進攻，四十多座城被石虎所得，段遼於是棄守令支而逃至密雲山。石虎入令支後，不滿慕容皝自掠人民牲畜後回軍，不與其會師，於是下令進攻慕容皝。後趙軍一直進攻，至五月戊子日（6月12日）攻至棘城時，慕容皝打算逃亡，但被慕輿根勸阻，當時玄菟太守劉佩更率敢死隊數百騎出城衝擊後趙軍，所向披靡，令城中士氣大增；封奕亦勸慕容皝堅守，終令慕容皝安心不降。兩軍相持十多日後，後趙軍引兵退還，慕容皝派慕容恪率二千騎進攻後趙軍，驚擾敵軍而令其棄甲潰散，殺三萬餘人。及後慕容皝分兵收復原本叛歸後趙的各個郡縣，並擴境至凡城，置戍而還。十二月，段遼降後趙，不久又悔而轉投慕容皝，而後趙已派麻秋支援段遼，慕容皝於是命慕容恪設伏於密雲山，大敗麻秋，並帶著段遼和其部眾撤還。

受封燕王

咸康五年（339年），慕容皝守將擊退來攻凡城的後趙軍隊，又因自稱燕王未受東晉朝命，於是命長史劉翔向建康獻捷，兼求假燕王璽綬，又請大舉出兵平定中原。不過當時朝廷議論未肯容讓慕容皝稱王。此時慕容皝得知庾亮去世，其弟庾冰及庾翼分掌朝廷中樞及荊州要地，於是上書要晉成帝以史為鑑，親近賢達，不要親信外戚。又寫信給庾冰，指責他掌握朝權，卻未能為國雪恥，只「安枕逍遙，雅談卒歲」。庾冰知道慕容皝的上表和書信後十分恐懼，自以道遠而不能控制他，於是奏請順應慕容皝的請求。咸康七年（341年），慕容皝獲東晉任命為使持節、大將軍、都督河北諸軍事、幽州牧、大單于，封燕王。

消除後憂

在受封燕王的同一年，慕容皝下令在柳城以北，龍山以西修建龍城，並改柳城為龍城。至次年（342年）正式遷入龍城。遷都後，慕容皝聽從早前歸國的慕容翰建議，先襲破高句麗，後才再攻取宇文鮮卑，以解後顧之憂，專心圖取中原土地。慕容皝並自率精兵四萬從險狹的南道進攻高句麗，以慕容翰及慕容垂為前鋒，以王寓領偏師五千走平廣開闊的北道引誘敵軍，終出其不意，成功攻陷高句麗都城丸都（今吉林集安），高句麗王高釗出逃，慕容皝招引不出，且因王寓敗沒而沒有追擊，於是挖出高釗父高乙弗利的屍體，連同丸都城中府庫收藏的珍寶、高釗母親和妻子及擄掠的五萬多人一同西還，更毀丸都。高句麗因而於翌年（343年）嚮慕容皝稱臣，慕容皝於是送還其父親屍體，留其母為人質。

高句麗稱臣於慕容皝後，慕容皝又擊敗了宇文逸豆歸派來進攻的國相莫淺渾。建元二年（344年），慕容皝親自率二萬騎兵討伐宇文鮮卑，又派慕容翰為前鋒，慕容軍、慕容恪、慕容垂及慕輿根兵分三路一同進攻。慕容翰與宇文逸豆歸大將涉奕于大戰，涉奕于戰死，宇文部軍心瓦解，被慕容皝所敗，都城紫蒙川陷落，宇文逸豆歸敗死漠北，宇文鮮卑至此被慕容皝所併。

此戰後慕容皝終究不能對慕容翰放心，將其賜死。

永和元年（345年），慕容皝又派慕容恪攻高句麗，攻克南蘇並置戍而還。永和二年（346年）又命慕容儁與慕容軍、慕容恪及慕輿根率一萬七千兵東襲夫餘，成功俘虜夫餘王餘玄等五萬多人回國。

而早在咸康六年（340年），後趙已大舉徵兵，大行屯田，並收集戰馬，準備進攻慕容皝。當時慕容皝認為薊城因樂安得重兵駐守而防禦空虛，突襲薊城，守城的石光驚懼而不出擊，慕容皝攻陷高陽並焚毀積聚的軍糧，更掠奪了三萬餘戶。此舉打亂了後趙進攻計劃，而慕容皝平定高句麗和宇文部等主要對手後，前燕就能更集中對抗後趙，終令前燕得以專心在永和六年（350年）乘後趙內亂出兵中原。

永和四年九月丙申日（348年10月25日），慕容皝去世，時年五十二，諡為文明王。

政治措施

• 永和元年（345年），慕容皝自以古時諸侯即位皆稱元年，故此不再用晉朝年號，追咸和八年（333年）登位起計，改稱十二年。

• 慕容皝漢化較深，崇尚儒學，設東庠（學校），以大臣子弟為官學生，號高門生。親臨講授，每月考試優劣。

• 慕容皝鼓勵農耕，例如就曾在朝陽門東設籍田，置官主理。後又親自巡行各郡縣，鼓勵和督察農業活動。更加罷園林供沒有土地的農民耕種，更贈送一頭耕牛給沒有牛的農民。

• 慕容皝曾樹立納諫之木，以示他願意接受正直諫言。

性格特徵

• 史載慕容皝身長七尺八寸（約191厘米）。

• 慕容皝好文學典籍，故他勸於到東庠講授，學生多達千餘人。慕容皝更親作《太上章》以取代《急就篇》作學生識字的書籍，又寫了《典誡》共十五篇，皆用來教授學生。

逸事

• 《晉書》載慕容皝一次在國境西邊畋獵，將渡河時見一個騎白馬，穿紅衣的老人，舉手指揮著慕容皝，說該處不是狩獵場，要慕容皝離開。不過慕容皝沒有將事件說出來，更渡河狩獵，接連幾日大有收獲。慕容皝及後見到一隻白兔，於是策馬追射，但馬匹卻跌倒，慕容皝亦墮馬受傷，這時才說出他看見老人一事。慕容皝回龍城後將後事託付給世子慕容儁，後就死去了。王隱《晉書》亦有相近記載，不過是老人說話後就不見了，而後追獵白兔時墮馬撼石，當場死亡。

家庭

妻妾

• 段王后

• 拓跋氏，代王拓跋翳槐之女。慕容皝的女兒嫁給代王拓跋什翼犍後，于同年（344年）九月所娶，後事不詳

• 蘭淑儀，慕容垂生母

• 公孫氏，慕容納、慕容德生母

• 高氏，慕容恪生母

子女

• 慕容儁，前燕景昭帝

• 太原王慕容恪

• 吳王慕容霸，後來改名為慕容垂，後為後燕成武皇帝

• 范陽王慕容友

• 廬江王慕容宜

• 宜都王慕容桓，370年被殺

• 臨賀王慕容遵

• 河間王慕容徽

• 歷陽王慕容龍

• 北海王慕容納，南燕穆帝

• 蘭陵王慕容秀

• 安豐王慕容嶽

• 梁公慕容德，後為范陽王、南燕獻武皇帝

• 始安公慕容默

• 南康公慕容僂

• 慕容氏，代王拓跋什翼犍妻

• 慕容氏，嫁夫餘玄王

• 慕容氏，宇文輸的母親

• 新城公主，嫁後燕侍中、頓丘王蘭審

相關人物

• 慕容評

• 慕容軍

• 慕容彪

相關作品

• 近肖古王 (電視劇)中由宋龍台（）飾演慕容皝。

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