Sima Lun

Sima Lun (sim. ch. 司马伦, trad. ch. 司馬倫, py. sī mǎ lún, wg. Ssu-ma Lun) (before 249 exclusive – poisoned June 5, 301), courtesy name Ziyi (子彛), was titled the Prince of Zhao (pinyin: zhào wáng, simplified Chinese: 赵王, traditional Chinese: 趙王) and the usurper of the Jin Dynasty from February 3 to May 30, 301. He is usually not counted in the list of Jin emperors due to his brief reign, and was often mentioned by historians as an example of a wicked usurper. He was the third of the eight princes commonly associated with the War of the Eight Princes.

Early career

As Sima Yi's youngest son, Sima Lun had a number of minor titles during the Cao Wei regencies of his brothers Sima Shi and Sima Zhao. After his nephew Sima Yan established Jin Dynasty as Emperor Wu in 265, Sima Lun was named the Prince of Langye. He served as a general and governor at times during his nephew's reign, but was undistinguished; several times he was accused of crimes, but each time Emperor Wu pardoned him of them. In 277, his principality was moved to Zhao.