Murong Chui 慕容垂 left the court of Former Yan (Qianyan 前燕) during interal struggles of the Murong clan. He was given a command by Former Qin (Qianqin 前秦) but proclaimed himself King of (Later) Yan (Houyan 後燕) in 384, emperor in 386. In 394, he conquered Western Yan (Xiyan 西燕) and was able to take the old capital of Northern Wei (Beiwei 北魏). The second ruler Murong Bao 慕容寶 was not able to defend his territory against Northern Wei and suffered a harsh setback. The last years of Later Yan are characterized by usurpers and internal struggles that were ended when the Chinese Feng Ba 馮跋 killed Gao Yun 高雲, an adopted son of the last Murong ruler, in 394 to found the empire of Northern Yan (Beiyan 北燕). The Murong clan had to rely on the help of the higher aristocracy that obtained an eminent position in the social hierarchy. Murong Bao gave up the system of military households, and Murong Sheng 慕容盛 introduced a system of political and economical discrimination between Chinese and Non-Chinese. The Yan empire is named after the old feudal state of Yan 燕 during the Zhou Dynasty 周. See also titles of rulers. Note: The rulers of the sideline dynasties are usually not called with their posthumous dynastic titles but with their personal names as they are not accepted as righteous rulers by official historiographies. Rulers of Later Yan (Houyan) 後燕 (384-409) Capitals: Pingyang 平陽 (modern Linfen 臨汾/Shanxi), Chang'an 長安 (modern Xi'an/Shaanxi), Wenxi 聞喜/Shanxi, Changzi 長子 (modern Changzhi 長治/Shanxi) Ethnicity: Xianbi 鮮卑, clan or subtribe of Murong 慕容 dynastic title {temple name} -----reign periods personal name Houyan Wuchengdi 後燕武成帝 (Chengwudi 成武帝) {Shizu 世祖} 384-395 -----Yanyuan 燕元 384-385 -----Jianxing 建興 386-395 Murong Chui 慕容垂 Houyan Huimindi 後燕惠閔皇帝 {Liezu 烈祖, Liezong 烈宗} 396-397 -----Yongkang 永康 396-397 Murong Bao 慕容寶 The Duke of Kaifeng 開封公 397 -----Jianshi 建始 397 Murong Xiang 慕容詳 The Prince of Zhao 趙王 397 -----Yanping 延平 397 Usurper: Lan Han 蘭汗 398 -----Qinglong 青龍 398 Murong Lin 慕容麟 Houyan Zhaowudi 後燕昭武帝 {Zhongzong 中宗} 398-400 -----Jianping 建平 398 -----Changle 長樂 399-400 Murong Sheng 慕容盛 Houyan Zhaowendi 後燕昭文帝 401-407 -----Guangshi 光始 401-406 -----Jianshi 建始 407 Murong Xi 慕容熙 Houyan Huiyidi 後燕惠懿帝 407-409 -----Zhengshi 正始 407-409 Gao Yun 高雲, adoptive son of Murong Bao 409 Later Yan conquered by Northern Yan 北燕.

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