The empire of Western Yan (Xiyan 西燕) is not counted among the Sixteen Kingdoms. Its founders were descendants of the Former Yan (Qianyan 前燕) Empire and had been resettled near Chang'an 長安 (modern Xi'an) by the Former Qin (Qianqin 前秦) Empire. When this empire came to its end, Murong Hong 慕容泓 (might be written 慕容弘 or 慕容宏) adopted the title of King of Jibei 濟北王 and founded his empire of (Western) Yan. On their way back to the east, the house of Murong was weakened by permanent power struggles and was finally defeated by the empire of Later Yan (Houyan 後燕). The Yan empire is named after the old feudal state of Yan 燕 during the Zhou Dynasty 周. 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 Western Yan (Xiyan) 西燕 (384-394) Capitals: Pingyang 平陽 (modern Linfen 臨汾/Shanxi), Chang'an 長安 (modern Xi'an/Shaanxi), Wenxi 聞喜/Shanxi, Changzi 長子 (modern Changzhi 長治/Shanxi) Ethnicity: Xianbi 鮮卑, clan or subtribe of Murong 慕容 dynastic title -----reign periods personal name -----Yanxing 燕興 384 Murong Hong 慕容泓 Xiyan Weidi 西燕威帝 385-386 -----Gengshi 更始 385 Usurper: Duan Sui 段隨 386 -----Changping 昌平 386 Murong Chong 慕容沖 -----Jianming 建明 386 Murong Yi 慕容顗 (or Ji 覬) -----Jianping 建平 386 Murong Yao 慕容瑤 -----Jianwu 建武 386 Murong Zhong 慕容忠 ------Zhongxing 中興 386-394 Conquered by Later Yan Murong Yong 慕容永

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