Sima Jiong (264-302) was Prince of Qi during the Jin dynasty and the fourth of the eight princes associated with the War of the Eight Princes. He helped to overthrow the usurper Sima Lun in 301, but he soon grew arrogant and plotted to purge his rival Sima Yong from the government, leading to Sima Yong and his allies Sima Ying and Sima Ai rebelling against him. Sima Jiong was defeated by Sima Ai when the latter's forces stormed Luoyang, and Sima Jiong was executed shortly after.
Biography[]
Sima Jiong was the son of Sima You, the younger brother of Emperor Sima Yan and the son of Sima Zhao. Upon his father's death in 283, he became Prince of Qi, and he came to have a sizable number of troops under his command as an imperial prince.
In 300, he took part in Sima Lun's coup against Empress Jia Nanfeng, but he fell out with Sima Lun due to his lack of reward for his efforts. When Sima Lun usurped the throne in 301, Sima Jiong, Sima Yong, and Sima Ying rebelled against him, forcing him to commit suicide. Sima Jiong and Sima Ying were both appointed as regents, and Sima Jiong became arrogant from his accomplishments.
He had his sons created princes, rarely visited or consulted Emperor Sima Zhong, built a palace for himself, and chose Sima Qin as crown prince after Prince Sima Shang died in childhood. He also despised Sima Yong, who had initially backed Sima Lun before joining the rebellion. In 302, Sima Yong and Sima Ying rebelled against Sima Jiong, and they were later joined by Sima Ai, who attacked the capital at Luoyang to free the emperor. Sima Jiong's army was destroyed during the street fighting, and Sima Jiong was executed.
His three sons were released in 305 in recognition of Sima Jiong's contributions, but they were executed by Liu Cong after his capture of Luoyang in 311, ending Sima Jiong's line.