Emperor An of Han: Sixth Eastern Han Emperor

Emperor An of Han (Liu Hu, 刘祜) was the 21st Han emperor and the 6th Eastern Han emperor. His place in the Han sequence matters because it shows how the dynasty moved from founding, recovery, and expansion into regency politics, restoration, and final collapse.

Emperor An of Han is best known for Deng Sui's regency, later attacks on the Deng clan, and deepening mid-Eastern Han instability. For sequence, read this page with Han emperors timeline, Emperor Shang of Han, and Marquis of Beixiang.

Key Facts

Identity

sixth Eastern Han emperor, enthroned after Emperor Shang's death

Lived

94-125 CE

Reign

106-125 CE

Emperor Order

Han emperor number 21; Eastern Han emperor number 6

Best Known For

Deng Sui's regency, later attacks on the Deng clan, and deepening mid-Eastern Han instability

Historical Role

His reign shows the strain between capable regency and later imperial backlash.

Quick Answer

Emperor An of Han was the 21st Han emperor and the 6th Eastern Han emperor. In simple terms, His reign shows the strain between capable regency and later imperial backlash.

Because imperial titles can hide the real balance of power, this page separates formal succession from practical control of the court.

Name, Dates, and Place in the Han Order

Liu Hu is the personal name behind the usual English title Emperor An of Han. In Chinese, the name is written 刘祜. The reign is usually dated to 106-125 CE, while the life dates are given as 94-125 CE.

For a reader trying to keep the Han Dynasty in order, the most important point is not only the title. It is where this ruler sits in the sequence: after Emperor Shang of Han and before Marquis of Beixiang.

How Liu Hu Came to Power

He was selected by Empress Dowager Deng while real authority remained in regency hands for much of the early period.

This succession background matters because Han history is not a simple list of names. Some transitions were orderly, some depended on regents, and some were shaped by court families, ministers, military leaders, or child succession. Emperor An of Han's accession belongs to that larger pattern.

What This Reign Shows

His reign shows the strain between capable regency and later imperial backlash.

That makes this page more than a biography. It is also a small window into how Han authority worked at this particular moment. The title emperor could mean commanding personal power, carefully balanced regency, or a throne controlled by stronger actors around it.

Power, Limits, and Caution

The problems of his reign were not created by one ruler alone; they reflected repeated child successions and court factionalism.

This is especially important for a clean English guide. A ruler can be counted in the Han emperor list without being treated as if he personally directed policy. For short reigns, child rulers, and deposed rulers, the careful question is always: who held the title, and who actually made decisions?

Why Emperor An of Han Still Matters

His death created another succession crisis and briefly brought Liu Yi, Marquis of Beixiang, to the throne.

For beginners, Emperor An of Han is useful because he marks a specific link in the chain. Once that link is clear, the Han Dynasty becomes easier to read as a sequence rather than a cloud of famous names.

Reading and Verification Notes

Use the full ruler-order table as the control point, then read this biography for the political meaning behind the name.

When checking this page, start with three questions: where does the ruler sit in the order, who held practical power at court, and what changed after the reign ended? Those questions keep the page from becoming either a bare list or a misleading heroic portrait.

Historical Sources and Traditional Memory

This page uses the standard Eastern Han narrative frame preserved in the Book of the Later Han. For late Eastern Han rulers, that means reading court drama together with the larger pattern of relatives, eunuchs, military leaders, and succession crises.

Traditional histories are essential here, but they are not neutral modern biographies. They preserve court judgments, moral framing, and later editorial choices. This guide therefore avoids turning contested or thinly recorded details into certainty, especially for short-lived rulers and child emperors.

Simple Summary

• Emperor An of Han was the 21st Han emperor and the 6th Eastern Han emperor.
• He is mainly remembered for Deng Sui's regency, later attacks on the Deng clan, and deepening mid-Eastern Han instability.
• His reign is best read through succession, real court power, and what changed after him.
• The source base is strongest when read with attention to traditional historical framing.

FAQ

Who was Emperor An of Han?

Emperor An of Han was the 21st Han emperor and the 6th Eastern Han emperor. He is best understood through his place in the Han succession and the political forces around his reign.

What was Emperor An of Han best known for?

He is best known for Deng Sui's regency, later attacks on the Deng clan, and deepening mid-Eastern Han instability.

Was Emperor An of Han an independent ruler?

He held the imperial title, but the degree of practical power depends on the reign. This page separates formal status from real political control.

Where does Emperor An of Han fit in the Han emperors timeline?

He fits as Han ruler number 21, within the Eastern Han sequence. The full English timeline page places him before and after the neighboring rulers.