Life

Liu He was the founding emperor Liu Yuan (Emperor Guangwen)'s son, likely oldest son, by his first wife Empress Huyan. According to the Book of Jin, Liu He was described as having an imposing, handsome and sturdy look, and was about 1.96 meters tall. he was studious, but suspicious and miserly. Liu He was created the Prince of Liang (梁王), a title that he was posthumously known by as well, in 308. In early 310, Liu Yuan created him crown prince.

Before Liu Yuan died later in 310, he commissioned his sons and Liu He's brothers Liu Yu (劉裕) the Prince of Qi, Liu Long (劉隆) the Prince of Lu, and Liu Ai (劉乂) the Prince of Beihai with substantial troops at the capital, in addition to the large army that another son, Liu Cong the Prince of Chu, already had, with intent that they assist him with governance and military matters. A group of officials, both Xiongnu and Chinese, were given various responsibilities in assisting Liu He. However, three officials were left out—Liu He's uncle Huyan You (呼延攸), Liu Cheng (劉乘) -- who had prior grudges with Liu Cong—and Liu Rui (劉銳) the Prince of Xichang. They were disgruntled, and they persuaded the already suspicious Liu He that he could not be safe if his brothers maintained large forces in or near the capital. Three days after Liu Yuan's death, under Liu He's orders, these officials commenced surprise attacks on Liu He's four brothers—Liu Rui against Liu Chong, Huyan You against Liu Yu, Liu Cheng against Liu Long, and Tian Mi (田密) and Liu Gui (劉璿) against Liu Ai. Once Tian and Liu Gui got on the way, however, they did not attack Liu Ai but instead escorted him to alert Liu Cong, who then prepared for the confrontation. Liu Rui withdrew his troops. Over the next two days, Liu Yu and Liu Long were defeated and killed. Two days later, Liu Cong besieged the palace and killed Liu He, Liu Cheng, Liu Rui, and Huyan. After initially offering the throne to Liu Ai, Liu Cong then assumed the throne himself.

生平

劉和身長八尺，雄毅美姿儀，好學，從小開始學習《毛詩》、《左氏春秋》、《鄭氏易》。但性格多作猜忌，對屬下無恩德。

永鳳元年（晉永嘉二年，308年），劉淵稱帝，任命劉和為大將軍。兩個月後遷大司馬，封梁王。河瑞二年（晉永嘉四年，310年）被劉淵立為太子。同年劉淵病死，劉和即位，由太宰劉歡樂、太傅劉洋等人輔政。

即位後，衛尉劉銳和劉和舅父宗正呼延攸怨恨自己不被任命為輔政大臣；侍中劉乘則厭惡握有重兵的楚王劉聰，於是共同合謀，向劉和進讒，稱諸王擁兵於都城平陽內外，其中劉聰更加擁兵十萬，嚴重影響劉和的皇權，要劉和有所行動。劉和聽信，及後召其領軍安昌王劉盛和安邑王劉欽將意圖告知。劉盛聽後勸諫劉和不要懷疑兄弟們，但遭呼延攸和劉銳命左右殺死；劉欽見此畏懼，只好對劉和唯命是從。

翌日，劉銳率馬景領兵攻劉聰，呼延攸率永安王劉安國攻齊王劉裕，劉乘則率劉欽攻魯王劉隆，劉和又派尚書田密、武衞將軍劉璿攻北海王劉乂。但田密和劉璿命人攻破城門，並歸降劉聰；而劉銳知劉聰早作準備於是聯合呼延攸等攻擊並殺害劉隆及劉裕，又因害怕劉安國和劉欽有異心而將二人殺害。此時劉聰率軍攻克西明門入宮，劉銳等在劉聰軍前鋒緊追下逃到南宮。劉和則在光極殿西室被殺，劉銳等皆被收捕並被斬首示眾。

劉聰及後自立為帝，改元「光興」，即昭武皇帝。