At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang was crowned by eight kings with different surnames, which were important princes and kings divided by Liu Bang in the early days of the Chu and Han Dynasty hegemony and the establishment of the Western Han Dynasty in order to encompass various forces and consolidate their rule. The eight kings with different surnames are:
1. King of Qi (later migrated to King of Chu) Han Xin:
Title change: the first king of Qi, and later the king of Chu.
Main achievements: Known as the "soldier immortal", he showed outstanding military talent in the battles of the last water, the battle of Weishui, etc., and made great achievements for the victory of Chu and Han in the struggle for hegemony.
Ending: After being deprived of military power by Liu Bang, he was finally lured and killed by Empress Lu and Xiao He, and the three clans were destroyed.
2. Han Wangxin:
Identity background: The grandson of King Han Xiang of Korea at the end of the Warring States period.
Main achievements: Actively cooperated with Liu Bang in the Chu-Han War, and made many military exploits.
Ending: Due to secret collusion with the Xiongnu, he was defeated by Liu Bang, and finally defected to the Xiongnu and was killed by the Han army in the battle of Shenhe.
3. Yan Wang Zang Di:
Identity background: A veteran general of the Yan Kingdom, he was attached to the Qin Dynasty and Xiang Yu.
Main achievements: Fell to Liu Bang in the Chu-Han War and contributed to Liu Bang's victory.
Ending: In Liu Bang's later years, he raised troops to rebel, and was finally exterminated by Liu Bang's personal conquest.
4. Yan Wang Lu Juan:
Identity background: Liu Bang's loyal friend and confidant, born in the same year as Liu Bang and a classmate.
Main achievements: After Liu Bang became emperor, he was named King of Yan and inherited Zang Di's fief.
Ending: Because of the rebellion involving Chen Xuan, he was ordered to attack by Liu Bang, and finally died as a Huns.
5. Liang Wang Peng Yue:
Identity background: Born as a fisherman, he later became a general of the anti-Qin rebel army.
Main achievements: In the Chu-Han War, he was mainly responsible for guerrilla warfare, harassing and exhausting the enemy, and made important contributions to Liu Bang's victory.
Ending: Liu Bang was demoted to a concubine for the crime of treason and exiled to Shu, but was executed by Empress Lu on the way, and the clan was razed.
6. Zhao Wang Zhang Er:
Identity background: A close friend of Wuji, the prince of Wei, and an active participant in the anti-Qin uprising.
Main achievements: Befriended Liu Bang, fought against the tyrannical Qin together, and was later named King of Zhao.
Ending: Died of illness, but his son Zhang Ao inherited the throne, and although he was deprived of the title by Liu Bang, he was demoted to the Marquis of Xuanping and died a good death.
7. Huainan Wang Yingbu:
Identity background: One of the three famous generals in the early Han Dynasty, he once followed Xiang Liang to oppose Qin and became Xiang Yu's general.
Main achievements: Betrayed Xiang Yu and returned to Han under Liu Bang's persuasion, and contributed to Liu Bang's victory in the Chu-Han War.
Ending: Rebelled against Liu Bang because he knew that he would not be spared, and was finally defeated by Liu Bang's personal expedition and killed in the process of fleeing.
8. Wu Rui, King of Changsha:
Identity background: Qin Dynasty Poyi Order, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang actively responded to the uprising and became the first Qin official to resist the tyrannical Qin.
Main achievements: After receiving the title of Queen of Hengshan by Xiang Yu, he switched to Liu Bang's camp and contributed to the establishment of the Western Han Dynasty.
Ending: He is the only prince king among the eight kings with different surnames who died well and passed on to the fifth generation. His descendants remained on the throne until the fifth generation ended due to childlessness.
These eight kings with different surnames played an important role in the political and military landscape of the early Han dynasty, but most of them suffered an unfortunate end as Liu Bang's need to centralize power and consolidate his rule began. Only Wu Rui, the king of Changsha, and his descendants were able to die a good death and pass it on for generations.