Guangyang Commandery, at times also Guangyang or Guangyou Principality, was a territory of early imperial China located in modern Hebei and Beijing.
Qin dynasty Guangyang Commandery was first established during Qin Shi Huang's reign as part of the Qin Kingdom and Empire in the territory of the former state of Yan.
Western Han dynasty In the early Han dynasty, its land became the fief of the Princes of Yan. The commandery was restored in 80 BC, after Prince Dan (劉旦) of Yan's rebellion was suppressed. In 73 BC, Liu Jian, a son of Liu Dan, was granted the title Prince of Guangyang, and the commandery became his fief.
Four princes held the title Prince of Guangyang:Book of Han, Chapter 14. Liu Jian (劉建), Prince Qing (頃) of Guangyang, 73–45 BC; Liu Shun (劉舜), Prince Mu (穆) of Guangyang, 45–23 BC; Liu Huang (劉璜), Prince Si (思) of Guangyang, 23–3 BC; Liu Jia (劉嘉), 3 BC – 9 AD, deposed after the establishment of Xin dynasty.
The principality had a population of 70,658 in 2 AD, in 20,740 households. It consisted of four counties: Ji (薊), Fangcheng (方城), Guangyang (廣陽) and Yinxiang (陰鄉).Book of Han, Chapter 28.
Xin dynasty During Wang Mang's Xin dynasty, the principality was renamed Guangyou.
Eastern Han dynasty The commandery was expanded, and administered five counties: Ji, Guangyang, Changping (昌平, formerly part of Shanggu Commandery), Jundu (軍都, formerly part of Shanggu) and Anci (安次, formerly part of Bohai Commandery). The seat, Ji, was also the seat of You Province. In 140 AD, the population was 280,600, in 44,550 households.Book of Later Han, Chapter 113. With the beginning of the Three Kingdoms period, the commandery was abolished and merged into the Principality of Yan (燕國).Book of Jin, Chapter 14.
Northern Wei Northern Wei established a commandery of the same name in 441 with three counties, Yanle (燕樂), Guangxing (廣興) and Fangcheng. The seat was Yanle, in present-day Longhua County, Hebei. The population was 8,919, and the households numbered 2,800.Book of Wei, Chapter 106. The commandery was abolished in Northern Qi.Book of Sui, Chapter 30.
See also History of Beijing Jicheng (Beijing)
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