Early life

Sun Hao was born in 243 as Sun He's eldest son. Sun He was named crown prince either shortly before or after the death of Sun Quan's eldest son and first crown prince, Sun Deng, in 241. Sun Hao's mother, Consort He, was a concubine of Sun He.

In 250, after Sun Quan grew tired of the constant disputes between his sons Sun He and Sun Ba, he forced Sun Ba to commit suicide and exiled Sun He to Guzhang (故鄣; in present-day Huzhou, Zhejiang), presumably along with his family and reduced to commoner status. Sun Hao went from the status of eventual presumed heir to being the son of a commoner, albeit the grandson of the emperor.

In 252, Sun He's status was elevated from commoner status as Sun Quan just before his death that year instated Sun He as the Prince of Nanyang and a princedom at Changsha. Indeed, there were rumours, even after Sun He's younger brother Sun Liang took the throne after Sun Quan's death that the regent Zhuge Ke, an uncle of Sun He's wife Princess Zhang, was interested in restoring Sun He and making Sun He emperor instead. After Zhuge Ke's assassination and replacement by Sun Jun in 253, Sun He fell into danger as Sun Jun had been instrumental in having Sun He deposed in the first place and wanted to eliminate any chance of a Sun He comeback. Sun Jun used the rumours as an excuse to have Sun He demoted back to commoner status and exiled to Xindu (新都; in present-day Chun'an County, Zhejiang), and then sent messengers to force Sun He to commit suicide. Princess Zhang also committed suicide. When offered the chance to also commit suicide, Consort He refused stating that if she died as well no one would be left to care for Sun He's sons, thus she raised Sun Hao and his three brothers born to other consorts — Sun De, Sun Qian, and Sun Jun (孫俊, not the same person as the regent).

After Sun Liang was deposed by Sun Jun's cousin and successor Sun Chen in 258, Sun Xiu, another son of Sun Quan, became emperor and that year Sun Xiu created Sun Hao and his brothers, Sun De and Sun Qian, marquises. Sun Hao's title was the Marquis of Wucheng and he was sent to his marquisate. At some point, he befriended a magistrate of Wucheng County, Wan Yu, who appraised him as intelligent and studious.

In summer 264, Sun Xiu fell ill and was unable to speak but still could write so he wrote an edict summoning the chancellor Puyang Xing to the palace, where he pointed and entrusted his son, crown prince Sun Wan, to Puyang Xing. Sun Xiu died soon thereafter. However, Puyang Xing did not follow Sun Xiu's wishes. Rather, after consulting with general Zhang Bu, they believed that the people were, in light of the recent fall of their ally state Shu Han in 263, yearning for a mature emperor. (It is not known how old Sun Wan was at this point, but Sun Xiu himself died at age 29, so it was unlikely that Sun Wan was even a teenager.) At the recommendation of Wan Yu, who was by this point a general, Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu enthroned Sun Hao instead.

Early reign

At first, the people of Wu were impressed with the new emperor as he reduced taxes, gave relief to the poor, and released a large number of ladies in waiting from the palace to let them marry. However, soon that hopefulness was shattered as Sun Hao started to be cruel in his punishments, superstitious, and indulging himself in wine and women. He also demoted Sun Xiu's widow, Empress Dowager Zhu, to the title of "Empress Jing." He honoured his mother Consort He as the empress dowager instead, while posthumously honouring his father Sun He with the title "Emperor Wen". Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu were shocked and disappointed; their disappointment was reported to the emperor who had them arrested and executed along with their clans in late 264. In 264, he also instated his wife Lady Teng as the empress.

In 265, Sun Hao forced the former Empress Dowager Zhu to commit suicide and exiled Sun Xiu's four sons. He soon executed the two eldest, Sun Wan (the former crown prince) and Sun Gong. He then also, believing in a prophecy that the imperial aura had moved from Yang Province to Jing Province and that Jing Province forces would defeat Yang Province forces, undertook a costly move of the capital from Jianye to Wuchang. He also started executing officials who showed disapproval of his wasteful ways regularly. The only major official who was able to speak freely without consequences was Lu Kai, a nephew of Lu Xun and one of the chancellors serving in tandem with Wan Yu, because of the great respect the people had for Lu Kai.

In 266, the Jin dynasty, which newly established itself as the successor to Wu's rival state Cao Wei, after its first emperor, Sima Yan, usurped the Wei throne, sought to establish peace with Wu. Sun Hao instead considered attacking the Jin dynasty, but while he did not do so at that moment, he also did not make peace with the Jin dynasty.

In 266, commoners in present-day Zhejiang unable to withstand Sun Hao's heavy levies (to support his luxuries) rebelled and kidnapped Sun Hao's brother, Sun Qian, as figurehead. They reached Jianye but were eventually defeated by Ding Gu (丁固) and Zhuge Jing, who were responsible for Jianye's defences. Although there was no evidence that Sun Qian was actually involved in the rebellion, Sun Hao not only had Sun Qian but also mother and younger brother, Sun Jun, by the same mother, executed. Sun Hao believed this was a fulfillment of the prophecy that prompted his move of the capital to Wuchang; and later that year, he moved the capital back to Jianye.

In 268, Sun Hao began a policy of periodically attacking Jin border regions; he had his general Zhu Ji (朱繼) attack Jiangxia and Wan Yu attack Xiangyang, while he himself postured to attack Hefei. This attack was repelled by Jin forces, as were several later attacks.

In 269, Lu Kai died and soon there was no one left in the administration who dared to speak out anymore. After Lu Kai's death, Sun Hao exiled Lu Kai's clan to Jian'an. Lu Xun's son Lu Kang, a general who was in charge of defending Wu's western borders, did periodically submit petitions requesting reforms, but Sun Hao generally ignored them, although he did not punish Lu Kang.

Late reign

In early 271, in the middle of winter, Sun Hao personally launched a major attack against the Jin dynasty and he brought his mother Empress Dowager He, his wife Empress Teng, and thousands of women in his harem along which necessitated heavy labour – from soldiers to drag their wagons – causing the soldiers to murmur about possible defection. Only after Sun Hao heard this possibility did he make the decision to withdraw and return to Jianye. Wan Yu and the senior generals Ding Feng and Liu Ping (留平) had already considered returning to Jianye themselves before Sun Hao chose to withdraw and when Sun Hao heard about this he bore grudges against them as generals who might leave him.

Later that year, Wu forces finally recovered Jiao Province from rebels paying allegiance to the Jin dynasty, who had held out ever since 264 (during Sun Xiu's reign). This gave Sun Hao encouragement and he continued to plan military actions against the Jin dynasty in earnest — although, to his credit, he put his general Tao Huang in charge of Jiao Province and Tao Huang managed the province effectively; the province would not rebel again for the duration of Sun Hao's reign.

In 272, Wang Jun, the Jin governor of Yi Province, with Sima Yan's support began building a massive fleet with the plan to eventually use the fleet in conquering Wu. As the wood shavings from the building project floated down the Yangtze River, the Wu general Wu Yan realised what was happening and requested that the northwestern border be fortified, but Sun Hao refused.

Later in 272, Sun Hao would carry out an action that would lead to a major rebellion — summoning Bu Chan, the general in charge of Xiling (in present-day Yichang, Hubei), back to the capital back to Jianye. Fearful that he was about to be punished somehow, Bu Chan rebelled and defected to the Jin dynasty. While Lu Kang was eventually able to defeat Bu Chan and recover Xiling for Wu, the distrust the Wu generals had for their emperor had been thoroughly exposed and Jin generals became emboldened in proposing plans of conquest to their emperor.

In the same year, Sun Hao, still holding grudges against Wan Yu and Liu Ping for their plan to abandon him and return to Jianye on their own, tried to poison the two of them. Neither died, but when they found out that Sun Hao was behind the poisoning they knew they could not do anything about it; Wan Yu committed suicide while Liu Ping died in distress.

Lu Kang died in 274. In his final petition, he requested Sun Hao to strengthen the defences on Wu's western border, but Sun Hao did not do so. Further, he divided Lu Kang's forces into six different commands, although each was led by one of Lu Kang's sons.

In 275, the senior Wu minister He Shao (賀邵) suffered a stroke and was paralysed. Sun Hao suspected that he was pretending and had him arrested and tortured by whipping and by subjecting him to saws and fires. He died under torture and his clan was exiled.

For the next several years, people wishing to flatter Sun Hao often offered him miraculous items (real or manufactured) that purportedly suggest that he would eventually destroy the Jin dynasty and unite China. Sun Hao's superstitious nature became even more aroused and he spent all of his efforts on plans to conquer the Jin dynasty.

Fall of Eastern Wu

In 279, after Sima Yan accepted the advice of Wang Jun and Du Yu, the Jin dynasty finally launched a major attack aiming to conquer Eastern Wu. The attack was in six prongs: with the forces led by Sima Yan's uncle, Sima Zhou; Wang Hun (王渾); Wang Rong; Hu Fen (胡奮); Du; and Wang Jun, with the largest forces under Wang Hun and Wang Jun's command. Each of the Jin forces advanced quickly and captured the border cities that they were targeting with Wang Jun's fleet heading east down the Yangtze and clearing the river of Wu fleets. The Wu imperial chancellor Zhang Ti made a last-ditch attempt to defeat Wang Hun's force, but was defeated and killed. Wang Hun, Wang Jun, and Sima Zhou each headed for Jianye. Sun Hao was forced to surrender in the spring of 280.

Sun Hao and his clan were escorted to the Jin capital Luoyang. Sun Hao, now a captive, humiliated himself by covering himself with mud and having himself bound behind his back. Sima Yan had Sun Hao unbound and had him seated next to him at the next imperial gathering. He remarked, "I have set this seat for you for a long time." Sun Hao responded, "I also had a seat for your imperial majesty in Jianye." When the Jin official Jia Chong, seeking to humiliate Sun Hao, asked, "I heard that you had such cruel punishments as poking out people's eyes and peeling the facial skin off people. What kind of punishment is this?" Sun Hao replied, "If a subordinate planned to murder his emperor or was treacherous, I would use those punishments on him." Jia Chong, who was instrumental in the Wei emperor Cao Mao's death, felt humiliated and did not respond.

Sima Yan pardoned Sun Hao and further granted the latter the title "Marquis Guiming" (literally "the marquis who resigns to his fate"). Sun Hao's sons were made junior officials in the Jin government. Sun Hao died in 284.

Family

生平

早期生活

孫皓出生於赤烏六年（243年），是吳主孫權三子孫和的長子。孫皓的嫡母張妃是張承的女兒，生母何姬是孫和的一名庶妃。在他出生的同一年，孫和被立為太子，直到赤烏十三年（250年）因陷入「二宮之爭」被孫權廢黜，流放到故鄣（今浙江省安吉縣）。太元二年（252年）正月，孫權又將孫和封為南陽王，孫和帶家眷移居封地長沙（郡治今湖南省長沙縣）。不久後，孫權逝世，由十歲的幼子孫亮即位。

孫亮即位後，張妃的舅舅諸葛恪秉持朝政。建興二年（253年），宗室孫峻誅殺諸葛恪後，藉故民間有傳言稱諸葛恪想迎孫和即位，而剝奪了孫和的王位，並將孫和流放到新都（治今浙江省淳安縣），隨後賜死，張妃也一同死去。此時的孫皓年僅十二歲，還有三個異母弟弟，何姬為了將孫皓等人撫養長大而保全了性命。太平三年（258年），孫亮被繼承孫峻權力的孫綝廢黜，孫權的六子孫休被立為帝。

孫休即位後，將孫皓封為烏程侯，命孫皓前往封地烏程（今浙江省湖州市）。他的異母弟孫德、孫謙也分別被封為錢塘侯、永安侯。在當烏程侯期間，孫皓與烏程令萬彧相識，彼此交好。永安七年（264年，魏咸熙元年）七月，孫休託孤於丞相濮陽興後逝世。在孫休死後，濮陽興並未遵從他的意願立太子孫𩅦為帝。當時吳國的盟國蜀漢已經滅亡，交趾一帶又發生了叛亂，大臣們考慮著擁立一位較年長的君主。已升任為左典軍的萬彧便向濮陽興和另一位權臣張布推薦孫皓，稱孫皓英明果斷，有長沙桓王孫策的風範，並且行事遵守法度。濮陽興與張布被萬彧說服，便一起勸朱太后將孫皓迎立為帝。這一年，孫皓23歲。

統治前期（264-268年）

孫皓即位後，採取了一系列的舉措來鞏固自己的地位。一方面，他大行封賞，將迎立有功的丞相濮陽興，加封侍中，兼領青州牧，左將軍張布升為驃騎將軍，加封侍中，又把吳國宿將施績、丁奉升為左、右大司馬，以拉攏臣子。另一方面，他發放糧食，救濟窮人，從皇宮放出大量侍女讓她們可以婚配，並放歸宮中圈養的一些野獸，以一系列惠民政策來爭取民心。當時人們都把他稱為明主。

但一段時間後，治國有成、志得意滿的孫皓便顯露出魯莽暴躁、驕傲自滿、迷信以及好酒色的一面。此外，他還將景帝孫休的妻子朱太后貶為景皇后，追謚自己的父親孫和為文皇帝，將自己的生母何姬奉為太后，妻子滕氏立為皇后，將孫休的太子及其它三個兒子封為王爵，以加強自己繼位的合法性。當初擁立他的濮陽興、張布對孫皓的轉變感到震驚和失望，結果被萬彧秘密向孫皓揭發，孫皓將兩人處斬，並夷三族。此時，距離兩人迎立孫皓才過了四個月。之後，孫皓扶植外戚，將滕皇后的父親滕牧和何太后的弟弟即自己的舅舅們何洪、何蔣、何植都封為侯。甘露元年（265年，魏咸熙二年，晉泰始元年）七月，孫皓迫使前太后朱氏自殺，又軟禁了孫休的四個兒子，並殺死了其中較年長的兩人。九月，孫皓聽信術士之言（「荊州有王氣，當破揚州」），又為了防禦司馬氏軍事包夾的迫切需要，決定遷都武昌（今湖北省鄂州市）。這一年十二月，繼承司馬炎權力的司馬昭迫使曹魏禪讓，正式建立了晉王朝。

寶鼎元年（266年，晉泰始二年），出使晉國的使臣丁忠回到武昌。孫皓召集群臣宴會，因常侍王蕃酒醉失態而大怒，雖然有滕牧、留平等重臣出面為王蕃求情，但孫皓依然下令將王蕃斬首。孫皓的這一舉動令大臣們感到震驚遺憾，賀邵、陸抗後來在270年代上疏勸諫時，都有舉此事為例來指責孫皓，重臣陸凱（同年任左丞相）更是在上疏中將王蕃比為吳國的關龍逢，隱含有將孫皓比為暴君夏桀之意。當時，晉國因為才吞併蜀地不久，有意與吳國暫時維持和平。但使臣丁忠發現晉國戰備有其漏洞，勸說孫皓攻取弋陽郡（郡治今河南省潢川縣西），遭到時任鎮西大將軍的陸凱堅決反對，孫皓表面上贊同了陸凱的意見，並未出兵，但最後還是與晉國絕交了。八月，孫皓分置左、右丞相，左丞相由陸凱擔任，右丞相則安排自己的親信萬彧擔任。

起初，孫皓遷都武昌後，因土地貧乏，而孫皓施政不當處漸多，所需的供給大多要從長江下游運上來，使江東百姓頗有不滿，兒童再度傳唱孫權定都武昌時的歌謠：「寧飲建業水，不食武昌魚，寧還建業死，不止武昌居」。十月，永安山民施旦聚眾數千人起義，劫持孫皓的異母弟永安侯孫謙後向吳故都建業（今江蘇省南京市）進發，一路上不斷有人加入，到建業城外時已有數萬人之多，但還是被吳將丁固、諸葛靚擊潰，孫謙被救回。孫皓當初聽說施旦謀反的消息後，不僅不擔憂，反倒覺得這是應驗了之前術士說的「荊州有王氣，當破揚州」一事，肯定了自己遷都的決斷，命令數百人到建業城大喊「天子使荊州兵來破揚州賊」，來壓制之前的晦氣。丁固請示皓如何處理孫謙，孫皓下令將孫謙母子一起毒殺，後來他還殺了亡父孫和的嫡子即自己的另一個異母弟孫俊。十二月時，孫皓將都城遷回了建業。

寶鼎二年（267年，晉泰始三年）夏六月，孫皓下令新建更大的宮殿──昭明宮。為了昭明宮的修建，呂秩二千石以下的官吏都被派往山中督伐木料，昭明宮的修建歷時半年，工程耗資巨大，而且耽誤了農時。當時陸凱、華覈等人上疏勸止，孫皓拒絕聽從。

統治中期（268-272年）

寶鼎三年（268年，晉泰始四年），孫皓開始向晉國發起攻擊。這一年，他親率大軍屯駐東關（今安徽省含山縣西南），令左大司馬施績攻江夏（今湖北省雲夢縣南），右丞相萬彧攻襄陽（今湖北省襄陽市），右大司馬丁奉、右將軍諸葛靚進攻合肥（今安徽省合肥市西），交州刺史劉俊、前部督脩則、將軍顧容等率攻擊投降晉國的交阯（郡治今越南北寧市）叛軍，但都沒有取得成功。北伐大軍被司馬望大軍所拒，兩路主力施績、丁奉分別為晉將胡烈、司馬駿所敗，而南征交阯軍隊更是被晉將楊稷大敗，劉俊、脩則戰死，顧容率殘軍退守合浦（郡治今廣西省合浦縣東北）。

建衡元年（269年，晉泰始五年），孫皓派監軍虞汜、威南將軍薛珝、蒼梧太守陶璜從荊州出發，監軍李勖、督軍徐存從建安海路出發，令兩軍在合浦會合共同剿滅交阯叛軍。此外，還派遣右大司馬丁奉再次北征，攻打穀陽（今安徽省靈壁縣）。但到了建衡二年（270年，晉泰始六年），丁奉部在渦口（今安徽省懷遠縣）一帶被晉將牽弘擊退，李勖部以道路不通為由，殺死向導馮斐後率軍無功而返。孫皓為此大怒，丁奉的向導被處死，李勖更是在被何定揭發後，同徐存被全家誅殺。不久後，何定率領五千人馬到夏口（今湖北省武漢市）打獵，吳宗室前將軍、夏口督孫秀害怕是孫皓令何定來抓自己，提前帶領家送眷數百人投奔晉國。晉武帝拜孫秀為驃騎將軍，儀同三司，封會稽公，禮遇備至。

建衡三年（271年，晉泰始七年）正月，孫皓聽信刁玄增改的讖文（「黃旗紫蓋，見於東南，終有天下者，荊、揚之君！」），認為自己是天命所歸，不顧眾人反對，用車載著自己的母親、妻子、孩子以及後宮上千人，親率大軍從牛渚（今安徽省當塗縣）西進伐晉。晉軍派司馬望率軍駐屯在壽春（今安徽省壽縣）作為防備。結果孫皓的軍隊途中被大雪所阻，士兵忍受天寒地凍的同時還要負責拉孫皓的車隊，都難以忍受這樣的勞苦，軍中漸漸出現倒戈的傳言，因此孫皓只好下令還師。孫皓還師前，右丞相萬彧與右大司馬丁奉、左將軍留平曾私下商議先自行回去，後被孫皓得知，雖然心懷不滿，但介於三人都是老臣並沒有馬上處置。當年，丁奉病逝。翌年，孫皓試圖用毒酒毒死萬彧和留平，二人卻都倖免未死，但不久後，萬彧自殺，留平愁悶而死。

在這兩年間裡，孫吳在軍事上接連取得了重大勝利，使得孫皓的自傲心大幅膨脹。先是在建衡三年（271年，晉泰始七年），南征的薛珝、虞汜、陶璜攻破交阯，擒殺晉軍守將，並收復了九真（郡治今越南清化市）、日南（郡治今越南洞海市南）兩郡，後又平定了扶嚴夷，使持續多年的交阯之亂暫告停歇。接著於鳳凰元年（272年，晉泰始八年）秋八月，陸抗成功討伐了因擔心被孫皓加害而叛投西晉的西陵督步闡，不僅成功收復了戰略要地西陵（今湖北省宜昌市），將步闡等人夷三族，並且擊退了由名將羊祜率領的五萬大軍，圍殲晉將楊肇的三萬援軍。西陵大捷之後，孫皓因為兩年內成功收復失土及大敗西晉，越發自志得意滿，更加相信自己是有上天相助，還召術士尚廣為他占卜看是否能取得天下，占卜的結果顯示他將在庚子年「青蓋入洛陽」。孫皓非常高興，從此專門謀劃統一大業，頻繁派遣軍隊襲擊晉國邊境，但都勞而無功。陸抗上疏反對孫皓的窮兵黷武，希望孫皓看清晉強吳弱的事實，建議「蹔息進取小規，以畜士民之力，觀釁伺隙」，又上疏指出西陵、建平戰略地位的重要，請求加強兩地的兵力。建平太守吾彥也憑借從長江上游漂下的大量木屑，斷定晉國將從巴蜀由水路大舉伐吳，上書孫皓請求加強防備。但孫皓不僅沒有重視這些意見，反而在鳳凰三年（274年，晉泰始十年）陸抗病逝後，將他的兵馬一分為五，交給陸抗的五個兒子分別統領。

統治後期（272-279年）

軍事上取得耀人成果的同時，吳國內部卻越發不穩定。

自建衡元年（269年，晉泰始五年）左丞相陸凱病逝後，左大司馬施績、右大司馬丁奉、司空孟仁、右丞相萬彧、左將軍留平、太尉范慎、司徒丁固、大司馬陸抗等重臣在六年時間裡先後逝世，吳國有名望的舊臣死亡殆盡。當孫皓忌憚、尊重的重臣都不復存在之後，他的施政也更加殘暴，對於其他忠臣的勸諫也就不再接納容忍。大約從272年開始，他每次召集群臣宴會，都要故意讓每個人都喝得大醉，讓人在邊上專門檢舉他們的過失。甚至剝人臉皮，挖人眼珠。272年後孫皓對勸諫忠臣的容忍度也大幅下降，不惜痛下殺手以杜絕煩人的諫言：大司農樓玄因為多次直諫忤逆孫皓，被流放廣州，服毒而死；中書令賀邵也因直諫而使孫皓痛恨，當賀邵因中風不能說話，被孫皓懷疑是裝病，拷打致死；侍中韋昭因多次堅持己見，被以不聽從詔命為由處死；東觀令華覈多次上書勸諫，結果為了一些小事被免官遣返；豫章太守張俊因為給孫奮的母親掃墓，而被孫皓處以車裂極刑，並夷三族；會稽太守車浚因為開倉賑濟飢民，被懷疑收買人心而處斬；湘東太守張詠因為征稅不足，被孫皓派人斬殺；尚書熊睦對孫皓稍加勸阻，就被孫皓派人用刀環生生打死；甚至連他曾經寵信的何定、陳聲、張俶也被他處決，其中張俶受車裂之刑，陳聲更是被鋸斷頭顱而死。

相比於272年後孫皓殘暴的高壓政策，晉國都督荊州諸軍事的羊祜則對吳國展開懷柔政策。天璽元年（276年，晉泰始十二年），繼孫秀、步闡之後，吳國又一位重要將領——吳國宗室武衛將軍、京下督孫楷叛投晉國，在此前後，平虜將軍孟泰、偏將軍王嗣、威北將軍嚴聰、揚威將軍嚴整、偏將軍朱買、邵凱、夏祥、昭武將軍劉翻、厲武將軍祖始也都紛紛向晉軍投降。但孫皓絲毫沒有感受到危機的來臨。在吳國在接下來的幾年裡，各地奉承他的人爭相獻上有吉祥象徵的事物，讓迷信的孫皓始終堅信自己將一統天下。

東吳滅亡

天紀三年（279年，晉泰始五年），郭馬攻殺廣州督虞授，在廣州發起叛亂。孫皓派遣滕脩、陶濬、陶璜率軍剿滅郭馬叛軍。冬十一月，晉武帝司馬炎依羊祜生前擬制的計劃，令鎮軍將軍司馬伷、安東將軍王渾、建威將軍王戎、平南將軍胡奮、鎮南大將軍杜預、龍驤將軍王濬、巴東監軍唐彬等分六路大舉伐吳。天紀四年（280年，晉泰始六年）正月，杜預、王渾兩軍分別向江陵（今湖北省荊州市）、橫江（今安徽省和縣）進軍，接連進克吳軍要塞。王渾部率先攻克尋陽（今湖北省黃梅縣西南）、賴鄉等城，屯兵橫江，距建業僅百里之遙。二月，在王濬、唐彬部和杜預部、胡奮部、王戎部的攻擊下，荊州的軍事重鎮丹陽（今湖北省秭歸縣）、西陵、荊門（今湖北省宜昌市東南）、夷道（今湖北省宜都市）、樂鄉（今湖北省松滋縣東）、江陵、江安（今湖北省公安縣）、夏口、武昌等先後失守，吳軍僅戰死或投降的都督、監軍就有十四人，牙門將、郡守一級的將領更是有一百二十多人，荊南各郡望風而降。

三月，由丞相張悌率領的吳軍精銳在版橋（今安徽省和縣）被王渾部擊潰，張悌、孫震、沈瑩全部戰死。孫皓自知滅亡在即，在給舅舅何植的信中自責道：「天匪亡吳，孤所招也。瞑目黃壤，當複何顏見四帝乎！」不久後，何植也向王渾軍投降。這時，王濬率水軍從武昌順流而下，直取建業。吳主孫皓派遣張象率水軍一萬餘人前往抵擋，但王濬大軍一到，張象便立即投降。孫皓又另遣陶濬率軍兩萬迎敵，結果士兵全部連夜逃竄。孫皓周圍數百人又請求他殺死寵臣岑昬，他不得以而被迫答應。後來，孫皓聽從光祿勛薛瑩和中書令胡沖的計策，分別遣送使節向王濬、司馬伷、王渾請降，試圖分化晉軍，未能奏效。三月壬寅日（280年5月1日），王濬率大軍進入石頭城，孫皓率太子孫瑾、魯王孫虔等二十一人出降，全家被遣送至洛陽。吳國至此滅亡。晉武帝下詔封孫皓為歸命侯。孫皓決定投降後，為了讓晉軍順利接收各地，廣發勸降書信給臣僚，信中寫道：

五月，孫皓到達洛陽後，得到了晉武帝較為優厚的待遇。後來晉武帝大會群臣時，召孫皓進見，孫皓上前叩首請罪，晉武帝指著坐席上的最末座對孫皓說：「朕設此座以待卿久矣。」孫皓回應道：「臣於南方，亦設此座以待陛下。」賈充故意刁難他說：「聞君在南方鑿人目，剝人臉皮，此何等刑也？」孫皓回答說：「人臣有弒其君及姦回不忠者，則加此刑耳。」賈充曾指使手下殺害魏帝曹髦，聽了孫皓的話後羞愧不已，而孫皓本人則面不改色。晉武帝曾與王濟下棋，孫皓在旁邊，晉武帝對孫皓說：「何以好剝人面皮？」孫皓回應道：「見無禮于君者則剝之。」王濟當時把腳伸到了棋盤下，因而孫皓譏諷王濟。晉武帝有一次問孫皓：「聞南人好作《爾汝歌》，頗能為不？」孫皓正飲酒，于是舉羽觴吟誦：「昔與汝為鄰，今為汝做臣；上汝一杯酒，令汝壽萬春！」。爾汝歌原為南人市井小調，「爾」「汝」皆為同輩間帶有輕視意義的不敬稱呼，孫皓直呼晉武帝為汝，晉武帝感到不悅但也沒辦法生氣，因此感到後悔。太康四年十二月（284年初），孫皓在洛陽逝世，享年四十二歲，葬於河南縣界。

人物

性格

孫皓是中國歷史上有名的暴君，生性多疑且殘暴，設立諸多酷刑。他曾殺死或流放多名重要宗室，如殺害再從兄弟孫奉，流放從兄弟孫基、孫壹，誅殺五叔孫奮及其五子，殺死異母弟孫謙、孫俊等。對大臣，他也常常施以重刑，僅丞相一級的官員為例：除張悌在亡國之際戰死外，濮陽興被流放處死，夷三族，萬彧被譴自殺，全家遭流放；陸凱死後數年，全家被處以流放。此外，孫皓非常迷信，常憑借運曆、望氣、卜筮、讖緯之類的原因來決定如遷都、用兵、皇后廢立等重大事件，並因此一直堅信自己將統一天下。

逸聞

孫皓富有才氣，能吟詩，並有一定書法造詣。他曾在宴會上應晉武帝之邀，當場作《爾汝歌》一首：「昔與汝為鄰，今與汝為臣。上汝一杯酒，令汝壽萬春。」

家庭

• 高祖父

　• 孫鐘

• 曾祖父

• 兄弟

　• 孫德，孫皓異母弟，孫休時封為錢塘侯。

　• 孫謙，孫皓異母弟，孫休時封為永安侯，孫皓時被山民施旦劫持謀反，後為孫皓所殺。

　• 孫俊，孫皓異母弟，生母為孫和嫡妃張氏，孫休時封為騎都尉，後為孫皓所殺。

• 姊妹

　• 孫氏，孫皓異母妹，生母為孫和嫡妃張氏，嫁陸景為妻。

• 妃嬪

　• 滕皇后，與太常滕胤同族，滕牧之女，吳亡後隨孫皓內遷洛陽。

　• 張美人，張布女，受孫皓寵愛，後被孫皓棒殺。

　• 左夫人，一說為王氏，一說為張氏（張美人姊），受孫皓寵愛，死後孫皓日夜思念，數月不臨朝政。

• 子

　• 孫瑾，孫皓子，建衡元年（269年）立為太子，吳亡後隨孫皓內遷洛陽，被封為中郎。

　• 孫虔，孫皓子，先封為淮陽王，後改為魯王，吳亡後隨孫皓內遷洛陽，被封為郎中。

　• 孫充，孫皓子，晉永嘉四年（310年）被錢璯擁立為吳王，後又為錢璯所殺。

　• 孫璠，孫皓子，晉太興元年（318年）謀反，失敗被殺。

　• 孫希祖，孫皓子，後死於家鄉富春縣。

　• 其它：孫皓先後封三十三人為王，除魯王孫虔外，其餘人的名字都沒有記載。

歷史評價

同絕大多數亡國之君一樣，對孫皓的評價以負面評價為主。從孫皓受到的各種評價來看，他是一個典型的暴君形象，吳國重臣陸凱、陸抗在給孫皓的上疏中，曾多次暗示他堪比夏桀、商紂。曾擔任吳國光祿勛的薛瑩稱在孫皓當政時「暱近小人，刑罰妄加，大臣大將無所親信，人人憂恐，各不自安」。而孫皓被晉軍俘虜後，也批判自己「虐毒橫流，忠順被害。闇昧不覺，尋其壅蔽」，要求未降的吳軍儘快投降。此外，有些吳國人士曾對孫皓做出正面評價，如吳將吾彥在歸降西晉之後，在晉武帝面前力讚孫皓的英明：「吳主英俊，宰輔賢明」；而孫皓早期的好友萬彧也稱讚孫皓好學不倦、英明果斷，有孫策的風範。

在敵國眼中，272年後孫皓因殘暴所導致的吳國內部不安，已經促成了進攻吳國的最佳時機，晉臣張華曾對晉武帝說：「吳主荒淫驕虐，誅殺賢能，當今討之，可不勞而定」。晉將羊祜更是在上疏中稱：「孫皓暴虐已甚，於今可不戰而克。若皓不幸而沒，吳人更立令主，雖有百萬之眾，長江未可窺也，將為後患矣！」認為如果孫皓死掉，伐吳的難度將會大大增加。晉代史臣陳壽、孫盛在批評孫皓的暴虐以外，還指責晉武帝對孫皓的處置太過寬厚，認為像孫皓這樣的「肆行殘暴，忠諫者誅，讒諛者進，虐用其民，窮淫極侈」的禍國殃民之君，「梟首素旗，猶不足以謝冤魂」，「宜腰首分離，以謝百姓」。

同時，關於孫皓也有一些其它方面的評價，如晉臣秦秀在為滅吳的王濬請功時，曾言及孫皓對晉國用兵給晉國帶來的心理威脅，稱「以孫皓之虛名，足以驚動諸夏，每一小出，雖聖心知其垂亡，然中國輒懷惶怖。」後世的李世民則從另一個角度出發，將孫皓前期「權施恩惠之風」與王莽稱帝前「偽行仁義之道」相提並論，認為兩人的失敗就在於「有始無終」，以此得出二人都迅速覆亡的結論。唐代的朱敬則在批評孫皓的同時，還對他的權謀和才華予以一定程度的肯定。孫皓的書跡流傳到唐代，庾肩吾在他所著《書品》中則把孫皓評為「中中」，與曹操杜預並列，稱「魏帝（曹操）筆墨雄贍、吳主（孫皓）體裁綿密」，書法家韋續則把他的行隸，評為「下中」品。

臣僚

• 丞相

　• 濮陽興（264年）

　• 陸凱（266年－269年，左丞相）

　• 萬彧（266年－272年，右丞相）

　• 許沇（276年前後）

　• 張悌（279年－280年）

• 大司馬

　• 朱績（264年－270年，左大司馬）

　• 丁奉（264年－271年，右大司馬）

　• 陸抗（273年－274年）

• 太尉

　• 範慎（271年－273年）

• 司徒

　• 丁固（268年－273年）

　• 何植（279年－280年）

• 司空

　• 孟仁（268年－271年）

• 驃騎將軍

　• 張布（264年）

　• 朱宣（？－？）

• 車騎將軍

　• 劉纂（？－？）

• 衛將軍

　• 滕牧（264年－？）

• 其他

　• 太常張夔，光祿勛薛瑩，大鴻臚張儼，少府李勖，大司農樓玄，中書令紀陟、賀邵、弘璆、董朝、張尚、胡沖

　• 選曹尚書陸喜，侍中韋昭、虞昺、李仁，中常侍王蕃，東觀令華覈，五官中郎將丁忠

　• 前將軍鍾離牧、孫秀，左將軍留平，右將軍諸葛靚，鎮西將軍朱琬，護軍將軍孫震，撫軍將軍步協，建威將軍孫晏，遊擊將軍張象

　• 丹陽太守沈瑩，會稽太守郭誕、車浚，臨海太守奚熙，京下督孫楷，徐陵督陶濬，無難督周處

　• 宜都太守虞忠，建平太守吾彥，江陵督伍延，西陵督步闡、張政、留憲，樂鄉督孫歆，公安督孫遵，夏口督孫慎，中夏督陸景，丹陽監盛紀，夷道監陸晏

　• 威南將軍薛珝，廣州牧滕脩，廣州刺史熊睦、徐旗、閭豐，交州刺史劉俊、虞汜、陶璜，南海太守留略，桂林太守脩允

　• 尚書岑昬，殿中列將何定，司市中郎將陳聲，司直中郎將張俶，奉禁都尉陳訓，侍芝郎黃耇，平慮郎吳平

• 尚廣，術士，為孫晧占卜看是否能取得天下，占卜的結果顯示他將在庚子年「青蓋入洛陽」。

注釋