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People: Ān of Hàn
Location: Brandenburg an der Havel Brandenburg Germany

Ān of Hàn

6th emperor of the Eastern Hàn dynasty
Years: 94 - 125

Emperor Ān of Hàn (94–125) is an emperor of the Chinese Hàn Dynasty and the sixth emperor of the Eastern Hàn period ruling from 106 to 125.

He is the grandson of Emperor Zhang.

When her infant stepson Emperor Shang succeeds to the throne in 106, Empress Dowager Deng keeps the eventual Emperor Ān, Prince Hu, then 12, in the capital Luòyáng as the successor to the throne as insurance against the infant emperor's death.

Prince Hu ascends to the throne when Emperor Shang dies in August or September 106; however, Empress Dowager Deng still remains as the regent until her death in 121.

Thereafter, Emperor Ān removs many of her relatives from government, and many of them commit suicide, probably under duress.

Emperor Ān does little to revive the withering dynasty.

He begins to indulge himself in women and heavy drinking and pays little attention to affairs of state, instead leaving matters to corrupt eunuchs.

In this way, he effectively becomes the first emperor in Hàn history to encourage corruption.

He also trusts his wife Empress Yan Ji and her family deeply, despite their obvious corruption.

At the same time, droughts ravage the country while peasants rise up in arms.

In 125, Emperor Ān dies while traveling to Nanyang.

He is only 31.