Background

Xiao Ni was born in 444 as the second son of Xiao Daocheng and his wife Liu Zhirong (劉智容), four years younger than his older brother Xiao Ze. Because Xiao Daocheng was a Liu Song general who contributed in military campaigns, Xiao Ni served in a number of low level government posts early in his life, including as a county magistrate and as an administrator in the census bureau. Around 466, when his father was given a greater title for his contributions in Emperor Ming of Liu Song's war for the throne with Liu Zixun, Xiao Ni was given his father's old title of Marquess of Jinshou. He later served as a general under his father during the rebellion of Emperor Ming's brother Liu Xiufan (劉休範) the Prince of Guiyang in 474, early in the reign of Emperor Ming's son Emperor Houfei.

By 477, the young but violent and arbitrary Emperor Houfei was universally feared by officials and the people, for he was in the habit of roving outside the palace with his guards, killing all humans or animals that they came in contact with. One night, Emperor Houfei and his guards descended on the Xiaos' old house in Qingxi (青溪), a suburb of the capital Jiankang, where Xiao Ni was residing. Xiao Ni had his guards perform a sword dance in the courtyard, and as Emperor Houfei saw it, he assumed that Xiao Ni would be ready for any attacks, and so left. Meanwhile, Xiao Ni's father Xiao Daocheng was fearful for his own life and, as suggested by his distant cousin and associate Xiao Shunzhi (蕭順之), considered going to Guangling (廣陵, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) to start a rebellion there; Xiao Ni, however, opposed, reasoning that rebellions from afar rarely succeeded, and that because of Emperor Houfei's arbitrary behavior, it would be easier to act against him from within the capital. Xiao Daocheng agreed, and soon was able to conspire with Emperor Houfei's attendant Yang Yufu (楊玉夫) to assassinate Emperor Houfei and effectively take over the Liu Song, making Emperor Houfei's brother Liu Zhun emperor (as Emperor Shun), but in actuality his puppet. During this period, as Xiao Daocheng prepared to take over the throne, Xiao Ni carried the title of Duke of Yong'an, and in 478 (after Xiao Daocheng defeated Shen Youzhi, who opposed his seizure of power) was made the governor of the key Jing Province (荊州, modern central and western Hubei). In 479, Xiao Daocheng had Emperor Shun yield the throne to him, ending Liu Song and starting Southern Qi. He created Xiao Ni the Prince of Yuzhang.

Under Emperor Gao

Soon after the establishment of Southern Qi, Emperor Gao recalled Xiao Ni back to Jiankang to serve as the governor of the capital region, Yang Province (揚州, modern Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu), a highly important post, and a post that he would retain for the rest of his life.

Xiao Ni was very close to his older brother Xiao Ze, who was created the crown prince after Emperor Gao took the throne. In one incident when Emperor Gao got exceedingly angry at Xiao Ze after being informed (while Xiao Ze was outside the capital) that both Crown Prince Ze and his jester Zhang Jingzhen (張景真) were being overly wasteful and using items that were only appropriate for emperors, it was Xiao Ni who rode on a horse to warn Xiao Ze what the situation was, allowing Xiao Ze to quickly return to Jiankang to react to the incident. Emperor Gao at one point considered replacing Xiao Ze with Xiao Ni, but because Xiao Ni served his brother carefully, their relationship was not affected.

In 482, Emperor Gao died. Xiao Ni was said to be mourning so bitterly that his eyes and ears bled. Crown Prince Ze succeeded Emperor Gao, as Emperor Wu.

Under Emperor Wu

Emperor Wu conferred a number of honorific titles on Xiao Ni, and while publicly, Xiao Ni did not participate in policy decisions, in private they often discussed important matters of state, and Emperor Wu almost always listened to Xiao Ni's suggestions. He also frequently visited Xiao Ni's mansion, where both he and Xiao Ni would wear informal wear that brothers would wear while meeting with each other, rather than the formal clothing of an emperor and his subject. As a special honor, Emperor Wu also made Xiao Ni's wife Princess Yu be in charge of the ancestral worship of their parents and grandparents. Xiao Ni was said to be tall and attentive to his appearance, but careful in his actions. Several times he sought to transfer the powerful governorship of Yang Province to Emperor Wu's son Xiao Ziliang (蕭子良) the Prince of Jingling, who was also a trusted advisor of Emperor Wu, but Emperor Wu refused, telling Xiao Ni that the post was his for life.

Initially, Xiao Ni did not have any sons, and probably sometime during Emperor Gao's reign, he adopted Emperor Wu's son Xiao Zixiang (蕭子響) as his heir apparent -- a status that Xiao Zixiang, by Xiao Ni's request, continued to hold even after Xiao Ni had his own sons. However, in 488, after an incident where Xiao Zixiang threw a temper tantrum over not being able to wear the same style as his brothers (because his brothers were princes, while he was just the heir apparent of a prince), the adoption was rescinded, and Xiao Zixiang was returned to Emperor Wu's line and created the Prince of Badong. (Xiao Zixiang was subsequently executed in 490 after he killed a number of his advisors.)

In 492, Xiao Ni died and was buried with great honors. In words that he left his five sons, he stated:

:As for ability, some are capable and some are less capable. As for official posts, some are fortunate to be promoted while some are blocked. As for fortune, some are rich and some are poor. These are all natural phenomena, and you should not use your position to bully others.

The high praise that Xiao Ni received in official histories might be related to the fact that his son Xiao Zixian (蕭子顯) was the official who was later, in the succeeding Liang Dynasty, commissioned to author the official history of Southern Qi, the Book of Qi.

生平

劉宋時期

蕭嶷為人寬仁弘雅，有大成之量，蕭道成特別鍾愛他。起家為太學博士、長城令，入朝為尚書左民郎、錢唐令。蕭道成擊破薛索兒時，改蕭嶷封邑至西陽，以先爵賜為晉壽縣侯。除通直散騎侍郎，但以偏憂而去官。蕭道成在桂陽之役出頓新亭壘，蕭嶷為甯朔將軍，領兵衛從。劉休範率士卒攻壘南，蕭嶷手執白虎幡督戰，屢次摧卻劉休範軍的攻擊。事件平息後，遷中書郎。尋為安遠護軍、武陵內史。

當沈攸之責賧，率軍討伐荊州界內的蠻族，遂至五溪，禁斷魚、鹽交易。各蠻族大怒，酉溪蠻王田頭擬殺沈攸之使者，沈攸之責賧千萬，田頭擬輸五百萬因而被氣死。其弟田婁侯篡位而立，田頭擬之子田都出走入獠中。於是蠻部大亂，抄掠平民，至郡城之下。蕭嶷遣隊主張莫兒率將吏擊破蠻軍。田都自獠中請求繼立，而田婁侯亦因懼怕而歸附。蕭嶷誅田婁侯於郡獄，命田都繼其父之位，蠻眾才安定。入朝為宋順帝車騎諮議參軍、府掾，後轉為驃騎將軍，仍遷從事中郎。見司徒袁粲時，袁粲謂人曰：「後來佳器也。」

蕭道成在領軍府時，蕭嶷居於青溪宅。宋廢帝劉昱夜中微行，意欲掩襲蕭嶷宅內時，蕭嶷命令左右舞刀戟於中庭，劉昱從牆間窺見，以為他有所防備所以散去。蕭道成領南兗州時，鎮軍府長史蕭順之在鎮，憂危既切，期渡江北起兵。蕭嶷諫曰：「主上狂凶，人下不自保，單行道路，易以立功。外州起兵，鮮有克勝。物情疑惑，必先人受禍。今於此立計，萬不可失。」宋廢帝殞後，蕭道成通報蕭嶷曰：「大事已判，汝明可早入。」宋順帝即位，轉任侍中，總管宮內直衛。

沈攸之叛亂作難時，蕭道成入朝堂，蕭嶷代蕭道成出鎮東府，加冠軍將軍。袁粲舉兵當晚，丹陽丞王遜報告叛變消息，先至東府，蕭嶷遣帳內軍主戴元孫二千人隨薛道淵等俱至石頭城，焚門之功，戴元孫是一早預謀的。先是王蘊薦部曲六十人助城防之務，其實為內應。蕭嶷素知王蘊懷有貳心，所以不給其車仗，遣散至外省。沈攸之叛亂時搜檢王蘊等人，皆已逃亡而去。遷中領軍，加散騎常侍。長江上游平定後，蕭賾自尋陽回來，蕭嶷出為使持節、都督江州、豫州之新蔡、晉熙二郡軍事、左將軍、江州刺史，常侍如故。給鼓吹一部。以出謀獻策之功，改封永安縣公，食邑千五百戶。仍遷徙都督荊、湘、雍、益、梁、甯、南北秦八州諸軍事、鎮西將軍、荊州刺史，持節、常侍如同往時。

當時蕭道成輔政，蕭嶷以省約為首務，停止府州迎物儀式。當初沈攸之意欲聚眾，開民相告，士庶坐執役者甚眾。蕭嶷至鎮，一日遣散三千餘人。見囚五歲刑以下不連台者，皆原地遣返。以市稅重濫，更定樢格，以稅款歸還民眾。禁諸市調及苗籍。二千石官長不得與人為市，諸曹吏聽分番假。百姓對他的仁政甚為喜悅。順帝禪讓之時，蕭賾意欲速定大業，蕭嶷卻對篡改之事，沈默無所言。建元元年（479年），蕭道成即位，赦詔未至，蕭嶷先下令免除部內升明二年以前拖欠金額。遷侍中，尚書令，都督揚、南徐二州諸軍事，驃騎大將軍，開府儀同三司，揚州刺史，持節如故。受封為豫章郡王，邑三千戶。僕射王儉箋曰：「舊楚蕭條，仍歲多故，荒民散亡，實須緝理。公臨蒞甫爾，英風惟穆，江、漢來蘇，八州慕義。自庾亮以來，荊楚無複如此美政。古人期月有成，而公旬日致治，豈不休哉！」

齊高帝時期

當時北魏有異動，齊高帝以蕭嶷為都督荊、湘、雍、益、梁、甯、南、北秦八州諸軍事，南蠻校尉，荊、湘二州刺史，持節、侍中、將軍、開府如故。晉宋之際，刺史多不領南蠻，另以重要的大臣居此位，至是有二府二州。荊州資費歲錢三千萬，布萬匹，米六萬斛，又以江、湘二州米十萬斛給鎮府；湘州資費歲七百萬，布三千匹，米五萬斛；南蠻資費每年三百萬，布萬匹，綿千斤，絹三百匹，米千斛，近代不能與之相比。尋給油絡俠望車。

建元二年（480年）春，北魏入侵司、豫二州，蕭嶷表遣南蠻司馬崔慧景北上討伐，又分遣中兵參軍蕭惠朗救援司州，屯西關。北魏軍從濟淮攻取壽春，分騎兵當出隨、鄧二地，眾人皆因此憂慮。蕭嶷曰：「虜入春夏，非動眾時，令豫、司強守，遏其津要；彼見堅嚴，自當潰散，必不敢越二鎮而南也。」是時纂嚴，蕭嶷以荊州鄰接蠻、蜑之地，顧慮當地生謀反之心，令鎮內皆緩服。既而中北魏軍竟不出樊、鄧，於壽春被打敗逃走。再給班劍二十人。其夏，蕭嶷於南蠻園東南開館立學，齊高帝表言狀。

義陽大盜張群結寨於三溪，依據深險，侵襲義陽、武陵、天門、南平四郡界。蕭嶷遣中兵參軍虞欣祖為義陽太守，以納降意誘張群，以厚禮示好，當他留下時在座上斬首，其黨數百人皆散去，四郡獲得平安。

入朝為都督揚南徐二州諸軍事、中書監、司空、揚州刺史，持節、侍中如故。加兵置佐。蕭嶷由江陵出發後感染疾病，至京師尚未痊癒，齊高帝深感憂慮，為蕭嶷的病大赦。蕭嶷疾病痊癒之後，齊高帝駕幸東府設金石樂，敕命准蕭嶷乘輿至宮六門。

齊武帝時期

齊高帝駕崩，蕭嶷哀號，眼耳皆出血。蕭賾即位後，進升為太尉，設置兵佐，解侍中之職務，增加班劍為三十人。建元年間，蕭賾因不遵齊高帝旨意，齊高帝頗有以蕭嶷代嫡之意，而蕭嶷事蕭賾恭悌盡禮，未嘗有違忤顏色，故蕭賾對蕭嶷友愛亦深。永明元年（483年）正月，領太子太傅，解中書監，其餘職函如故。

蕭嶷雖然不參與朝務，然而言事密謀多被武帝信納。永明二年（484年），齊武帝下詔曰：「漢之梁孝，寵異列蕃，晉之文獻，秩殊恆序。況乃地侔前准，勳兼往式！雖天倫有本，而因事增情。宜廣田邑，用申恩禮。」因此增封食邑為四千戶。

蕭嶷時常疑慮，在宮宴上求解除揚州之封授給竟陵王蕭子良。齊武帝始終不許，曰：「畢汝一世，無所多言。」齊武帝即位後，頻繁發詔禮拜先皇陵墓，但次次也不能成行。遂遣蕭嶷禮拜先皇陵墓，回程時經過延陵季子廟，參觀沸井時，有水牛衝突隊伍，士兵擒下水牛推問，蕭嶷不許，取絹一匹橫系牛角，放牛回家。因為蕭嶷為人治存寬厚，故得朝野歡心。蕭嶷性格泛愛，不喜歡聽聞別人過失，左右若有投書相告，他會置於靴中，竟然不看書取火焚之。

永明五年（487年）正月戊子，進位大司馬。永明八年（490年），給皂輪車。再加中書監，蕭嶷固讓。

永明十年（492年），齊武帝封蕭嶷諸子，舊例食邑千戶，蕭嶷意欲五子俱受封，啟奏減每人五百戶。同年蕭嶷疾篤，上表解職但齊武帝不許，賜錢百萬營功德。蕭嶷又啟曰：「臣自嬰今患，亟降天臨，醫走術官，泉開藏府，慈寵優渥，備極人臣。生年疾迫，遽陰無幾。願陛下審賢與善，極壽蒼旻，強德納和，為億兆禦。臣命違昌數，奄奪恩憐，長辭明世，伏涕嗚咽。」薨，年四十九歲。當日齊武帝再探視其疾，至薨後乃回宮。下詔斂以袞冕之服，溫明秘器，大鴻臚持節護理喪事，太官朝夕致送祭奠，大司馬、太傅二府文武悉停過葬。又下詔贈假黃鉞、都督中外諸軍事、丞相、揚州牧，綠綟綬，具九服錫命之禮，侍中、大司馬、太傅、王如故。賜給九旒鸞輅，黃屋左纛，虎賁班劍百人，轀輬車，前後部羽葆、鼓吹。喪葬送儀，一切依當年漢東平王劉蒼的規範。

蕭嶷臨終時，召他的兒子蕭子廉、蕭子恪留下遺言：「人生在世，本自非常，吾年已老，前路幾何。居今之地，非心期所及。性不貪聚，自幼所懷，政以汝兄弟累多，損吾暮志耳。無吾後，當共相勉厲，篤睦為先。才有優劣，位有通塞，運有富貧，此自然理，無足以相陵侮。若天道有靈，汝等各自修立，灼然之分無失也。勤學行，守基業，治閨庭，尚閑素，如此足無憂患。聖主儲皇及諸親賢，亦當不以吾沒易情也。三日施靈，唯香火、盤水、乾飯、酒脯、檳榔而已。朔望菜食一盤，加以甘果，此外悉省。葬後除靈，可施吾常所乘輿扇傘。朔望時節，席地香火、盤水、酒脯、乾飯、檳榔便足。雖才愧古人，意懷粗亦有在，不以遺財為累。主衣所余，小弟未婚，諸妹未嫁，凡應此用，本自茫然，當稱力及時，率有為辦。事事甚多，不復甲乙。棺器及墓中，勿用餘物為後患也。朝服之外，唯下鐵鈈刀一口。作塚勿令深，一一依格，莫過度也。後堂樓可安佛，供養外國二僧，餘皆如舊。與汝遊戲後堂船乘，吾所乘牛馬，送二宮及司徒，服飾衣裘，悉為功德。」蕭子廉等哀號哭泣而奉行蕭嶷的遺訓。

齊武帝哀痛特至，至其年十二月才舉辦樂宴請朝臣，當時齊武帝仍虛欷流涕。諸王邸不得起樓臨瞰宮中，齊武帝後來登景陽，望見樓悲感，乃敕命毀此樓。蕭嶷薨後，第庫無見錢，齊武帝敕命貨雜物服飾得數百萬，從此起集於善寺，每月給府第百萬，至齊武帝駕崩後才省卻。

一說蕭嶷是被長侄蕭長懋所害。蕭嶷子蕭子顯作《南齊書》時，諱言其父死狀且為蕭長懋諱，才沒有作記載。

屬官

府佐

;左軍府（478年－479年）

• 王秀之，左軍長史

• 劉繪，左軍主簿

;鎮西府（479年）

• 王秀之，鎮西長史

• 崔慧景，鎮西司馬，兼諮議參軍

• 到坦，鎮西諮議參軍

;驃騎府（479年－480年）

• 王秀之，豫章王驃騎長史

• 劉瓛，豫章王驃騎記室參軍

• 江淹，豫章王驃騎記室參軍

• 張融，豫章王驃騎諮議參軍

• 到坦，豫章王驃騎諮議參軍

• 蕭惠朗，豫章王驃騎中兵參軍

• 劉伾緒，豫章王驃騎中兵參軍

• 莊明，豫章王驃騎中兵參軍

• 孫淡，豫章王驃騎行參軍

• 樂藹，豫章王驃騎行參軍

;司空府（480年－482年）

• 王慈，豫章王司空長史

• 荀伯玉，豫章王司空諮議參軍

• 張融，豫章王司空諮議參軍

• 陸慧曉，豫章王司空掾

;太尉府（482年－487年）

• 王諶，豫章王太尉司馬

• 王玄邈，豫章王太尉司馬

• 荀伯玉，豫章王太尉諮議參軍

• 江效，豫章王太尉諮議參軍，領錄事參軍

• 樂藹，豫章王太尉刑獄參軍，典書記

• 張欣泰，豫章王太尉參軍

• 謝朓，豫章王太尉行參軍

• 劉璡，豫章王太尉板行佐

;大司馬府（487年－492年）

• 王智深，豫章王大司馬參軍，兼記室參軍

• 庾銑，豫章王大司馬記室參軍

• 劉祥，豫章王大司馬諮議參軍

• 樂藹，豫章王大司馬中兵參軍、記室參軍

• 王僧孺，豫章王大司馬行參軍

• 蕭融，豫章王大司馬法曹行參軍

州佐

;揚州（479年，480年－492年）

• 辛普明，揚州議曹從事

• 杜棲，揚州議曹從事、西曹佐

國官

;豫章王國（479年－492年）

• 王智深，豫章王國常侍

家庭

妻

• 庾氏，豫章王妃

子

蕭嶷最初因無子而過繼蕭子響為世子，後有子十六人，可考者十人。其中蕭子顯和蕭子云參見十八家晉史。

• 長子：蕭子廉，字景藹，永新侯→豫章哀世子

• 第二子：蕭子恪，字景沖，南康侯→南康恭子

• 第三子：蕭子操，泉陵侯

• 第四子：蕭子行，洮陽侯

• 第五子：蕭子光，宜陽侯

• 第六子：蕭子範，字景則，祁陽侯→祁陽文子

• 第八子：蕭子顯，字景陽，寧都侯→寧都驕子

• 第九子：蕭子雲，字景喬，新浦侯→新浦子

• 蕭子暉，字景光

• 蕭子開，字景發

女

• 第二女：綏安縣主

參考

• 《南齊書·豫章文獻王傳》

• 《南史卷四十三·列傳第三十三齊高帝諸子下》

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