During Lü Guangs reign

When Lü Guang founded Later Liang in 386 (after he had taken over Liang Province (凉州, modern central and western Gansu after a return for a military campaign in central Asia on Former Qin's behalf), Lü Shao and Lü Guang's wife Lady Shi were not with him—they had remained in the Former Qin capital Chang'an during Lü Guang's campaign, and had fled to Chouchi when Chang'an subsequently fell to Western Yan in 385. In 389, they, along with Lü Guang's brother Lü Deshi (吕德世), arrived in Later Liang territory. Lü Guang, then with the title Prince of Sanhe, created Lü Shao his heir apparent. In 396, after Lü Guang claimed the title of "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang, roughly equivalent to emperor), he created Lü Shao crown prince.

Lü Shao, however, was not Lü Guang's oldest son—he had at least two older brothers, Lü Zuan the Duke of Taiyuan and Lü Hong (吕弘) the Duke of Changshan, both of whom were regarded for their military abilities. Lü Shao was considered weak and untalented, and Later Liang's enemies (including Southern Liang and Northern Liang) took this into account when they attacked Later Liang. The only military campaign that Lü Shao was recorded to have commanded was one in summer 399, when he and Lü Zuan attacked Northern Liang's prince Duan Ye. After Duan Ye sought aid from Southern Liang's prince Tufa Wugu, and Tufa Wugu's brother Tufa Lilugu arrived to assist Duan Ye, Lü Shao and Lü Zuan were forced to withdraw.

Around the new year 400, Lü Guang grew seriously ill. He ordered Lü Shao to take the throne as Heavenly Prince, while he himself claimed the title of retired emperor. Lü Zuan was put in charge of the military forces, and Lü Hong the government. Lü Guang told the three to be united, and that Lü Shao should trust his brothers. He also told Lü Zuan and Lü Hong that Lü Shao might not be talented, but was the rightful heir, and that they should assist him faithfully. Lü Guang died later that day.

Coup and death

Initially, Lü Shao was not going to immediately announce Lü Guang's death, in fear that it might draw enemy attacks, but Lü Zuan broke down the door and forcibly entered the palace and mourned. Lü Shao became fearful and offered the throne to Lü Zuan, but Lü Zuan refused. Lü Shao's cousin Lü Chao (吕超) then secretly suggested to Lü Shao that Lü Zuan be arrested and executed, but Lü Shao refused.

However, soon thereafter (either that day or at most several days after), Lü Hong sent his assistant Jiang Ji (姜纪) to encourage Lü Zuan to seize the throne. At night, then, Lü Zuan led his personal guards to attack the palace. Lü Hong joined him. Lü Shao's guards initially resisted, and one of them, Qi Cong (齐从), hit Lü Zuan in the head with a sword but could not kill him. Lü Chao also tried to assist Lü Shao, but their forces were fearful of Lü Zuan and collapsed. Lü Shao fled to a secondary palace and committed suicide. Lü Zuan took the throne, and when he gave Lü Shao a posthumous name, he only referred to Lü Shao as prince, not emperor.

Personal information

• Father

　• Lü Guang (Emperor Yiwu)

• Mother

　• Princess/Empress Shi

• Wife

　• Lady Zhang

生平

吕光出征西域时，吕绍与石氏等人留在前秦。淝水之战后，前秦因战败而国乱，长安亦构乱，吕绍等人于是出奔仇池，直至麟嘉元年（389年）才到后凉，甫称三河王的吕光遂立吕绍为世子。龙飞元年（396年），吕光立其为太子。

吕绍唯一一次有记载的亲自指挥的军事行动在龙飞四年（399年），当时他与庶兄吕纂攻打北凉天王段业，段业求助于南凉天王秃发乌孤。秃发乌孤的弟弟秃发利鹿孤率援军赶到，吕绍和吕纂只得撤退。

同年年末，吕光病重，立吕绍为天王，以吕纂为太尉，吕弘为司徒，临终前叮嘱吕绍说：「如今三寇（乞伏乾归、段业和秃发乌孤）未平，我死之后，吕纂带领军队，吕弘治理朝政，你自己无为而治，把重任交给两个哥哥」。也对两位长子有所嘱咐：「永业并非治理乱世的人才，只不过因嫡长的规举才让其处元首之位。现在外有强寇，人心不定，你们兄弟和睦则会让国家流传万世；若果自己内斗，则祸乱立即就会来了。」还对吕纂说：「你本性粗豪勇武，很令我担心。开展基业本来就艰难，守成也不容易。好好辅助永业，不要听谗言呀。」不久吕光去世，吕绍秘不发丧，吕纂推门入殿哭丧，竭尽哀思才出来。吕绍害怕被杀害，想让位给他，但吕纂以吕绍是嫡子身份推辞，吕绍固请也不获吕纂答允，于是即位。吕光侄子吕超劝吕绍及早除去既有兵权，又有极高威名的吕纂，但吕绍虽也忧心吕纂，但仍以父亲遗命及袁尚兄弟相争之事一再拒绝对付吕纂，令吕超很失望。吕绍在湛露堂面见吕纂时，吕超持刀在侧侍候，用眼神请求吕绍收捕吕纂，但吕绍都不肯。

在吕绍到后凉前，吕光曾经想立吕弘为世子，不过因为知道吕绍在仇池而打消念头。可是吕弘一直记恨在心，不久即派尚书姜纪唆使吕纂和他一起叛变。吕纂顺从，于是在一夜率军攻入宫廷，吕绍试图出兵抵抗，但兵众都因为忌惮吕纂威名而溃散。吕绍见此便在紫阁自杀。吕纂即位后諡吕绍为隐王。

妻子

• 张美人，敦煌人，长得十分美艳，吕绍死后请出家为尼。及后登位的吕隆逼迫她，于是在张掖门楼跳下自杀。

注释

参考书目

• 《晋书·载记·吕纂传》

• 《资治通鉴》（卷一百一十一）