The Xiongnu 匈奴 Liu Yuan 劉淵 saw himself as a successor of the great Han Dynasty 漢, because his forefathers had once obtained the surname of the Han Dynasty rulers. In the field of politics, the Xiongnu clan of the Liu employed Non-Chinese titles and institutions as well as Chinese ones. Many people were resettled to the capital to ensure the supply with food and commodities. Furthermore, this policy lead to an administration that was less blown-up than the traditional Chinese local administration. The Zhao empire is named after the old feudal state of Zhao 趙 during the Zhou Dynasty 周. The name "Northern Han" (Beihan 北漢) is given in contrast to the Cheng-Han 成漢 empire in Sichuan. See also titles of rulers. Note: The rulers of the sideline dynasties are usually not called with their posthumous dynastic titles but with their personal names as they are not accepted as righteous rulers by official historiographies. Rulers of Former Zhao (Qianzhao) 前趙, also called Northern Han (Beihan) 北漢 (304-329) Capitals: Zuoguocheng 左國城 (modern Lishi 離石/Shanxi), Puzi 蒲子 (modern Xixian 隰縣/Shanxi), Pingyang 平陽 (modern Linfen 臨汾/Shanxi), Chang'an 長安 (modern Xi'an 西安/Shaanxi) Ethnicity: Xiongnu 匈奴 dynastic title {temple name} -----reign periods personal name Qianzhao Guangwendi 前趙光文帝 {Gaozong 高宗} 304-309 -----Yuanxi 元熙 304-307 -----Yongfeng 永鳳 308, proclamation as emperor -----Herui 河瑞 309 Liu Yuan 劉淵 309 Liu He 劉和 Qianzhao Zhaowudi 前趙昭武帝 {烈宗} 310-317 -----Guangxing 光興 310 -----Jiaping 嘉平 311-314 -----Jianyuan 建元 315 -----Linjia 麟嘉 316-317 Liu Cong 劉聰 Qianzhao Yindi 前趙隱帝, The Minor Ruler (Shaozhu) 前趙少主 317 -----Hanchang 漢昌 317 Liu Can 劉粲 The Prince of Qin 秦王 318-329 -----Guangchu 光初 (Zuochu 佐初) 318-329 Dynasty called Zhao 趙 329, capital shifted to Chang'an. Liu Yao 劉曜 Liu Xi 劉熙 329 Former Zhao conquered by Later Zhao 後趙.

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