Duke Huan of Lu (, died 694 BC) was from 711 to 694 BC the 15th ruler of the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. His ancestral name was Ji (姬), given name Yun (允) or Gui (軌), and Duke Huan was his posthumous title.
Early life
Duke Huan was the son of Duke Hui of Lu and his main wife Zhong Zi (仲子), daughter of Duke Wu of the State of Song. Duke Hui also had another son, Xigu (later Duke Yin of Lu), whose mother was a concubine. Although Xigu was the older son, Duke Huan was made the crown prince owing to the higher status of his mother.
Accession to the throne
In 723 BC Duke Hui died after 46 years of reign. Although Duke Huan was the crown prince, he was then a little boy and his older half-brother Duke Yin ascended the throne with the understanding that he would rule as a regent until Duke Huan grew up.
In 712 BC, Duke Yin's brother Prince Hui suggested that Duke Yin kill Duke Huan and permanently take the throne, but Duke Yin refused. Afraid that he would be killed if the word leaked out, Prince Hui went to Duke Huan and falsely accused Duke Yin of planning to kill him, offering to kill Duke Yin first. Duke Huan agreed. In the eleventh month of that year Prince Hui had Duke Yin assassinated when he was making sacrificial offerings, and Duke Huan ascended the throne as planned.
