Xin Dynasty

The sole emperor of the Xin Dynasty, Wang Mang , was the nephew of . After the death of her step-grandson in 1 BC, Wang Mang rose to power. After several years of cultivating a personality cult, he finally proclaimed himself emperor in . However, while a creative scholar and politician, he was an incompetent ruler, and his capital Chang'an was laid seige by peasant rebels in . He died in the siege, and the Han Dynasty was restored by descendents of the former imperial clan.