Ma Yuan 14BC-AD49

Ma Yuan was born into one of the most powerful and wealthiest families in China. He stemmed from Maoling (in modern Shaanxi) and became a follower first of the usurper Wang Mang, then of Wei Xiao, but later changed sides and helped the Later Han Emperor Guangwu defeat Wei Xiao. He held various military posts and died of disease during a campaign against non-Chinese rebels in the Hunan-Guizhou border area.

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