Jin Midi

Jin Midi (134–86 BC) (, courtesy name Wengshu (翁叔), formally Marquess Jing of Du (秺敬侯), was a prominent official of the Chinese dynasty Han Dynasty of Xiongnu ethnicity. He served as coregent early in the reign of Emperor Zhao of Han.

Background

Jin Midi was born in 134, and at that time he did not have the surname of Jin, which was given later. He was the heir apparent to Xiongnu's Prince of Xiutu, one of the major princes under the supreme ruler of the Xiongnu, the Chanyu Luanti Junchen (欒提軍臣). After Luanti Junchen's death in 126 BC, his brother Luanti Yizhiye (欒提伊稚斜) succeeded him. During this time, the Prince of Xiutu and another major prince, the Prince of Hunye, were responsible for defending Xiongnu's southwestern border with Han Dynasty – modern central and western Gansu.

In 121 BC, Emperor Wu of Han sent his general Huo Qubing to attack Xiongnu, dealing a great defeat on the Xiongnu. In the campaign, Huo killed the Princes of Zhelan and Luhou, as well as 8,900 Xiongnu soldiers, while capturing the Prince of Hunye's son, chief assistant, and a number of officials, as well as golden statues that the Prince of Xiutu had forged to use to worship heaven. The Chanyu Luanti Yizhiye was greatly displeased, and was considering summoning the Princes of Hunye and Xiutu to execute them. The princes, in fear, plotted to defect to Han. When Emperor Wu sent Huo to accept their surrender, the Prince of Xiutu changed his mind and tried to...
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