Dugu Xin

Dugu Xin (Chinese: 獨孤信; 503 – 24 April 557), Xianbei name Qimitou (期彌頭), known as Dugu Ruyuan (獨孤如願) before 540, was a prominent general and official during the chaotic Northern and Southern dynasties period of imperial China. In 534, Dugu Xin followed Emperor Xiaowu of Northern Wei to the west to join the warlord Yuwen Tai, and in the ensuing years led Western Wei forces against their nemesis, the Eastern Wei. Despite an early debacle (after which he fled to and stayed for 3 years in the southern Liang dynasty before returning to the northwest), he captured the former Northern Wei capital Luoyang from Eastern Wei in 537. He rose to high ranks under Yuwen Tai, and his eldest daughter married Yuwen Tai's son Yuwen Yu. When the Northern Zhou dynasty replaced Western Wei, Dugu Xin was created Duke of Wei (衛國公), but was soon forced to commit suicide by the powerful regent Yuwen Hu.

Dugu Xin was described as an extremely handsome man and was fond of wearing strange clothes. He is best remembered today due to his three daughters: it is because of their marriages that he was a father-in-law to two emperors from two Chinese dynasties (Emperor Ming of Northern Zhou and Emperor Wen of Sui), and maternal grandfather to two emperors from two dynasties (Emperor Yang of Sui and Emperor Gaozu of Tang), all after his death. In fact, every Chinese emperor for 3 centuries (from 604 to 907, with the exception of Wu Zetian and self-proclaimed rebels) was descended from him. During the Sui dynasty, Dugu Xin was honored as Duke Jing of Zhao (趙景公) by Emperor Wen (who married his seventh daughter Dugu Qieluo). In 583, the empress built a temple dedicated to his memory in the capital Daxingcheng, the remains of which were discovered in 1997 on the campus of Xi'an Jiaotong University.

Family
Parents Consorts and their respective issue(s):
 * Father: Dugu Kuzhe (獨孤庫者), Duke of Sikong (司空公)
 * Mother: Lady of Changle County, of the Feilian clan (长乐郡君 費連氏)
 * Lady Luo, of the Luo clan (罗氏)
 * Dugu Luo (獨孤羅, 534 – 599), Duke Gong of Shu (蜀恭公), first son
 * Lady Guo, of the Guo clan (郭氏)
 * Dugu Shan (獨孤善, 530– 570), Jungong of Henei (河内郡公), second son
 * Dugu Mu (獨孤穆), Xiangong of Jinquan (金泉县公), third son
 * Empress Mingjing (明敬皇后, 536 – 558), first daughter
 * Married Yuwen Yu, Emperor Ming of Northern Zhou and had issue (one son)
 * Dugu Zang (獨孤藏, 544 – 20 September 578), Xiangong of Wuping (武平县公), fourth son
 * Dugu Shun (獨孤順), Duke of Wucheng (武成公), fifth son
 * Dugu Tuo (獨孤陀), Xiangong of Wuxi (武喜县公), sixth son
 * Dugu Zheng (獨孤整), eighth son
 * Lady Cui, of the Cui clan of Qinghe (清河崔氏)
 * Dugu Qieluo, Empress Wenxian (文獻皇后, 544 – 10 September 602), seventh daughter
 * Married Yang Jian, Emperor Wen of Sui and had issue (five sons and five daughters)
 * Unknown
 * Dugu Zong (獨孤宗), seventh son
 * Lady Dugu (獨孤氏), second daughter
 * Lady Dugu (獨孤氏), third daughter
 * Empress Yuanzhen (元贞皇后), fourth daughter
 * Married Li Bing, Duke of Tang and had issue (one son and one daughter)
 * Lady Dugu (獨孤氏), fifth daughter
 * Lady Dugu (獨孤氏), sixth daughter