Reign 265-272 Died 272 AD Grandparents Sima Jun Role Politician Siblings Sima Yi | Name Sima Fu Children Sima Wang Father Sima Fang Parents Sima Fang | |
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Issue Sima Yong, Hereditary Prince
Sima Wang, Prince of Yiyang
Sima Fu, Prince of Taiyuan
Sima Yi
Sima Huang, Prince of Xiapi
Sima Mei, Prince of Taiyuan
Sima Gui, Prince of Gaoyang
Sima Heng, Prince of Changshan
Sima Jing, Prince of Pei Similar People Sima Yi, Sima Lang, Chen Tai, Zhuge Ke, Zhang Yi | ||
Sima Fu (180–272), courtesy name Shuda, was an imperial prince and statesman of the Jin dynasty. He previously served as an official in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period before his grandnephew, Sima Yan (Emperor Wu), usurped the Wei throne in 265 and established the Jin dynasty.
Life
Sima Fu was the third among the eight sons of Sima Fang, who served as the Intendant of the Capital (京兆尹) during the reign of Emperor Ling towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty (c. 184–220). He was known for being well read, highly competent as an official, and generous towards those in need. He was also a close friend of Cao Zhi.
Sima Fu's second brother, Sima Yi, rose to power in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period (220–280) and became the regent and de facto ruler of Wei after seizing power in a coup d'état in 249. After Sima Yi's death, his sons Sima Shi and Sima Zhao consecutively succeeded him as the regent and de facto ruler of Wei. During his service under the Wei regime, Sima Fu held relatively high offices: Prefect of the Masters of Writing (尚書令) during the reign of Cao Rui; and Grand Commandant (太尉) and Grand Tutor (太傅) during the reigns of Cao Fang, Cao Mao and Cao Huan. He also served as a military commander in some battles against Wei's rival states, Shu Han and Eastern Wu. In 265, Sima Zhao's son Sima Yan forced the last Wei emperor Cao Huan to abdicate the throne in his favour, thereby ending the Wei regime. Sima Yan established the Jin dynasty and became its first emperor.
Sima Fu was known for his loyalty to the Wei regime, even after it was replaced by the Jin dynasty. In 260, when the Wei emperor Cao Mao was assassinated during a failed coup to seize back power from Sima Zhao, Sima Fu was one of the few Wei officials who wept at Cao Mao's funeral. In 265, after Sima Yan established the Jin dynasty and became the emperor, he granted titles of nobility to his relatives, including his granduncle Sima Fu, whom he enfeoffed as the Prince of Anping. In response to his ennoblement, Sima Fu said, "I am, and always have been, a subject of Wei." He also held the position of taizai (太宰; "Grand Chancellor") in the Jin government until his death in 272 at the age of 92. He was survived by at least nine sons and 14 grandsons.