Liu Du (warlord)


Liu Du was a government official and minor warlord who lived during the Eastern Han dynasty of China.

Life

Little is recorded in history about Liu Du, except that he was a former Inspector of Jing Province during the reign of Emperor Huan. In 162, when the local tribes in Wuling Commandery started a rebellion and attacked Jiangling County, Liu Du and Li Su, the Administrator of Nan Commandery, abandoned their posts and fled after the rebels defeated the government forces sent to resist them.
Sometime before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Liu Du returned to government service and served as the Administrator of Lingling Commandery under Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province. After the Battle of Red Cliffs, Liu Du nominated Liu Biao's eldest son, Liu Qi, to be the Inspector of Jing Province.
In 209, the warlord Liu Bei led his forces to conquer the four commanderies in southern Jing Province: Wuling, Changsha, Guiyang and Lingling. Liu Du surrendered to Liu Bei along with the Administrators of the other three commanderies.

In ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''

In the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Du has a son, Liu Xian, whom he at one point sends along with Xing Daorong against Liu Bei. However, Liu Du surrenders when hearing of the defeat of Liu Xian.