Emperor Yi of Chu

Emperor Yi of Chu, also known as King Huai II of Chu before receiving his de jure emperor title, personal name Xiong Xin, was the ruler of the revived Chu state during the final years of the Qin dynasty of China. In 209 BC, when rebellions broke out throughout China to overthrow the Qin dynasty, the Chu state, which had been previously conquered by the Qin state during the Warring States period, was revived as an insurgent state against Qin imperial rule. Xiong Xin, as a descendant of the Chu royal family and a grandson of King Huai of Chu, was found by Xiang Liang, who descended from a Chu noble family, and installed as the puppet ruler of the revived Chu state. After Xiang Liang was killed in battle in 208 BC, Xiong Xin attempted to assert his authority through Song Yi, whom he put in charge of Chu's armed forces. However, in the following year, Xiang Liang's nephew Xiang Yu launched a coup against Song Yi and seized power, making Xiong Xin a figurehead once more. In 206 BC, the rebels overthrew the Qin dynasty, after which Xiang Yu, who had emerged as the de facto leader of all the rebel groups, divided the former Qin Empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms. He promoted Xiong Xin to a more honourable title – Emperor Yi of Chu – and made him the nominal sovereign ruler over all the Eighteen Kingdoms. Xiang Yu then had Emperor Yi relocated to Chen County and secretly ordered Ying Bu to assassinate the emperor.