Liu Meng (Xiongnu)

Liu Meng (died 272) was a leader of the Southern Xiongnu in Bing province during the Jin dynasty (266–420). In 271, he led a rebellion against Jin but was defeated and killed the following year.

Life
Liu Meng's family background is shrouded in uncertainty due to multiple discrepancies in the historical records. The earliest record, the Book of Wei, indicates that Liu Meng was the son of Southern Xiongnu leader, Qubei, but a later record, the New Book of Tang, instead claim that he was Qubei's brother.

The Book of Jin also provides contradicting accounts regarding the title he held. According to different volumes in the record, he was either the Leader of the Xiongnu (匈奴帥), the Leader of the Central Tribe (中部帥), the Right Virtuous King (右賢王), or the Chanyu (單于), although the last title is likely a mistake, as it was abolished at the end of Huchuquan's reign in 216. Additionally, the Book of Wei also states that he was the Leader of the Northern Tribe (北部帥).

In 271, Liu Meng began a rebellion against the Jin dynasty. He went beyond the Great Wall and established a base in Kongxie city (孔邪城). At the end of the year, he led his forces to invade Bing province but suffered defeat to the provincial inspector, Liu Qin (劉欽). In spring 272, the Army Supervisor, He Zhen, campaigned against Liu Meng and defeated him multiple times. In the end, the Commander of the Left Tribe, Li Ke (李恪), was bribed into defecting to Jin and had Liu Meng assassinated, ending his rebellion.

When Liu Meng died, his son, Liu Fulun (劉副崙) fled to the Tuoba-Xianbei tribe, where he and his descendants intermarried with the ruling Tuoba clan and became known as the Dugu tribe. Meanwhile, Liu Meng's followers were taken over by his brother (or nephew), Liu Gaoshengyuan. These people later became the Tiefu tribe after Gaoshengyuan's son, Liu Hu, came to power in 309.