Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei

In 534, the Emperor Xiaowu of Northern Wei had fled the capital Luoyang to reestablish the imperial government at Chang'an.

In 550, Gao Yang forced Emperor Xiaojing to yield the throne to him, ending the Eastern Wei and establishing the Northern Qi dynasty.

In 534, Emperor Xiaowu, a cousin of Yuan Shanjian's father Yuan Dan, seeking to resist the control of the paramount general Gao Huan, entered into an alliance with independent generals Yuwen Tai and Heba Sheng (賀拔勝).

When Gao, in response, marched toward the capital Luoyang, Emperor Xiaowu fled to Yuwen's territory.

(Yuan Dan, in embarrassment and fear, tried to flee south, presumably to rival Liang Dynasty, but Gao tracked him down and brought him back to Luoyang.)

Gao Huan, believing that Luoyang was too close to the borders of Western Wei and Liang, moved the capital to Yecheng, an important city firmly under his control.

Gao mostly remained at his headquarters in Jinyang (晉陽, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), but made occasional visits to Yecheng.

Late that year, Emperor Xiaojing's father Yuan Dan died, and according to some historians (but not all), Gao assassinated him.

Emperor Xiaojing, as he grew, was described to be handsome and strong, capable of jumping over a fence while holding a stone lion.

The Book of Wei records that when Gao Cheng saw the emperor, he yelled "Your majesty, why would you rebel?"

Nonetheless, he eventually put Emperor Xiaojing under house arrest, and executed several leading participants of the conspiracy.

Subsequently, in fall 549, Emperor Xiaojing created his son Yuan Zhangren (元長仁) crown prince.

He made a quick show of force, marching his personal guards of 8,000 men into the palace, and stating to Emperor Xiaojing that he was going to Jinyang – where the military headquarters were.

Emperor Xiaojing, seeing Gao Yang's intent on keeping power, turned pale and stated, "This man does not appear any more tolerant of me.

Gao Yang set up his headquarters in Jinyang, intending to control the military, and in spring 550, Gao Yang had Emperor Xiaojing create him the Prince of Qi Commandery – a slightly lesser title than the one that his brother declined before his death.