Background

Liu Jun was born in 430, as Emperor Wen's third son. His mother, Consort Lu Huinan, was not one of Emperor Wen's favorite consorts, and he was also not much favored by his father. In 435, he was created the Prince of Wuling. In 439, at age nine, he was made the governor of Xiang Province (湘州, modern Hunan), and for the next several years he was rotated through the provinces, although he did not appear to be actually at all in charge until 445, when he was made the governor of Yong Province (雍州, modern northwestern Hubei and southwestern Henan), an important province militarily due to its location on the border with rival Northern Wei, and with Emperor Wen interested in recovering provinces lost to Northern Wei during the reign of his brother Emperor Shao, Yong was considered a key post. As his mother was not favored by the Emperor, she mostly accompanied him rather than stay at the palace in the capital Jiankang.

In 448, Liu Jun was made the governor of the equally important Xu Province (徐州, modern northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui), with its capital at Pengcheng, and it was there that he was involved in a major war between Liu Song and Northern Wei. In 450, with Emperor Wen's northern advances not only repelled by Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, but with Northern Wei troops under Emperor Taiwu attacking south in retaliation, Northern Wei troops quickly reached Pengcheng. Liu Jun's uncle Liu Yigong the Prince of Jiangxia, the commander of the northern troops, wanted to abandon Pengcheng, at the suggestion of Zhang Chang, Liu Jun insisted on defending Pengcheng, and Liu Yigong gave up his plan to flee. Emperor Taiwu, after diplomatic parlaying at Pengcheng, continued advancing south, all the way to the Yangtze River, before withdrawing in 451. Despite holding Pengcheng, Liu Jun was slightly demoted after the war. (During the war, at the instigation of Liu Jun, his older brother Liu Shao the Crown Prince, and He Shangzhi (何尚之), Emperor Wen put his brother Liu Yikang, the former prime minister who had been deposed in 440, to death.) In 452, Liu Jun was sent to be the governor of South Yan Province (南兗州, modern central Jiangsu), and then of Jiang Province (江州, modern Jiangxi and Fujian).

Uprising against Liu Shao

In 452, Liu Shao and another brother, Liu Jun the Prince of Shixing (different character), were caught in a scandal where they had engaged a witch to curse Emperor Wen to death so Liu Shao could become emperor faster, and Emperor Wen was set on deposing them. Liu Shao, in 453, then led a coup d'etat and assassinated Emperor Wen, taking over as emperor himself. At this time, Liu Jun the Prince of Wuling was at Wuzhou (五洲, a small island on the Yangtze River in modern Huanggang, Hubei) preparing to attack rebellious aborigines in the region. His communications officer Dong Yuansi (董元嗣) arrived from Jiankang and informed him how Liu Shao had assassinated Emperor Wen, and he in turn had Dong inform it to his subordinates.

Meanwhile, Liu Shao wrote a secret letter to the general Shen Qingzhi (沈慶之), who at the time was with Liu Jun. However, Shen had no intentions of following Liu Shao's orders, and after showing the letter to Liu Jun, ordered his troops to enter a state of emergency, preparing a major rebellion against Liu Shao. Meanwhile, Liu Jun's uncle Liu Yixuan the Prince of Nanqiao and governor of Jing Province (荊州, modern Hubei), and Zang Zhi (臧質) the governor of Yong Province both refused Liu Shao's promotions as well and sent messengers to Liu Jun, requesting that he declare himself emperor. Liu Jun first returned to the capital of Jiang Province, Xunyang (尋陽, in modern Jiujiang, Jiangxi), and then issued declarations requesting other governors to join him. Liu Yixuan and Zang Zhi soon arrived with their troops, and they quickly advanced toward Jiankang. Meanwhile, Liu Jun's brother Liu Dan the Prince of Sui, the governor of Kuaiji Commandery along the southern shore of Hangzhou Bay, also declared support for Liu Jun.

In less than a month, Liu Jun arrived in the vicinity of Jiankang; during the journey, however, he suffered a major illness, during which his assistant Yan Jun (顔竣) had to impersonate him to avoid public knowledge that he was ill. Initially, Liu Shao's troops had minor success over his, but one of Liu Shao's major generals, Lu Xiu (魯秀), soon sabotaged his efforts and then fled to Liu Jun's camp. Liu Jun soon declared himself emperor (as Emperor Xiaowu), while the battle was continuing to be waged. Seven days later, the palace fell, and Liu Shao and Liu Jun the Prince of Shixing were captured and executed. Emperor Xiaowu settled in Jiankang, welcoming his mother Consort Lu and his wife Princess Wang Xianyuan to the capital, honoring his mother as empress dowager and his wife as empress. He also created his oldest son Liu Ziye crown prince.

Early reign

One major issue with Emperor Xiaowu's personal conduct immediately became a political issue as well—as he was said to have engaged in incest with all of Liu Yixuan's daughters who remained in Jiankang, drawing Liu Yixuan's ire. Further, because of both Liu Yixuan's and Zang Zhi's contributions to his cause, they expected to be able to act with absolute powers within their domains (Jing and Jiang Province, respectively), and yet Emperor Xiaowu was trying to establish his personal authority and therefore often overrode and questioned their actions. Liu Yixuan and Zang therefore resolved to rebel. In spring 454, they sent messengers to persuade Lu Xiu's brother Lu Shuang (魯爽) the governor of Yu Province (豫州, modern central Anhui) to join them in rebellion in the fall—but when the messengers arrived, Lu Shuang was so drunk that he misunderstood the messengers and declared a rebellion immediately, declaring Liu Yixuan emperor, and he was joined by Xu Yibao (徐遺寶) the governor of Yan Province (兗州, modern western Shandong). Upon hearing Lu Shuang's premature actions, Liu Yixuan and Zang had to quickly declare rebellion as well, although they fell short of declaring Liu Yixuan emperor.

Emperor Xiaowu, hearing of the four provinces' rebellion, initially felt that he was unable to withstand them and considered offering the throne to Liu Yixuan, but at earnest opposition by his brother Liu Dan the Prince of Jingling, decided to resist. Most of the other provinces quickly declared their support for Emperor Xiaowu, and Yuan Huzhi (垣護之) the governor of Ji Province (冀州, modern northwestern Shandong), along with Ming Yin (明胤) and Xiahou Zuhuan (夏侯祖歡) quickly defeated Xu, forcing him to flee to Lu Shuang. Lu's ferocity in battle was feared by many, but he continued to drink heavily throughout the campaign, and when he encountered the troops of Emperor Xiaowu's general Xue Andu (薛安都), he fell off his horse and was killed, greatly discouraging Liu Yixuan's and Zang's troops. Liu Yixuan also did not personally trust Zang, and declined Zang's strategy of attacking Jiankang directly, instead choosing to engage Emperor Xiaowu's troops at Liangshan (梁山, in modern Chaohu, Anhui), and after some initial losses, Liu Yixuan's troops collapsed, and he fled. Zang was forced to flee as well, and soon was killed in flight. Liu Yixuan was captured and executed, ending this episode of opposition against Emperor Xiaowu. In response to the rebellion, Emperor Xiaowu decided to cut down on the strengths of the major provinces (Jing, Jiang, as well as the capital province Yang Province (揚州, modern Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu) by reducing them in size, carving East Yang Province (東揚州, modern central and eastern Zhejiang) out of Yang and Ying Province (郢州, modern eastern Hubei) out of Jing and Jiang Provinces, which had the side effect, however, of adding administrative expenses due to the multiplicity of provinces.

In 455, Emperor Xiaowu's 16-year-old younger brother Liu Hun the Prince of Wuchang, the governor of Yong Province, in jest, wrote a declaration in which he referred to himself as the Prince of Chu and changed era name—but Liu Hun had no intention whatsoever to rebel. However, when this document was brought to Emperor Xiaowu's intention, Emperor Xiaowu stripped Liu Hun of his title and reduced him to commoner rank, and then further forced Liu Hun to commit suicide. This would start a trend in which Emperor Xiaowu suppressed the authority of his brothers. In addition, the authority of the provincial communication officers, because they served as liaisons between the emperor and the provincial governors and doubled as the emperor's watchdogs on the provincial governors, began to expand greatly.

Emperor Xiaowu, after he had completed the mourning period for his father Emperor Wen, began to spend his energy on various pleasures and construction projects. Yan Jun the mayor of Jiankang, who had assisted him greatly during his campaign against Liu Shao and who had been a long-time subordinate of his, repeatedly urged him to change his ways, and Emperor Xiaowu became displeased at him, and sent him away to be the governor of East Yang Province. Meanwhile, Emperor Xiaowu also became suspicious of his brother Liu Dan the Prince of Jingling, then the governor of South Yan Province, who was capable and who had gathered many warriors about him, and he set up military safeguards between Liu Dan's post at Guangling (廣陵, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) and the capital.

In 458, a coup plot by Gao Du (高闍) and the Buddhist monk Tanbiao (曇標) was discovered, and Emperor Xiaowu issued an edict reducing the number of monks and nuns greatly, but because members of Emperor Xiaowu's households often associated with nuns, the edict never actually took effect. (Emperor Xiaowu also took this opportunity to falsely accuse the official Wang Sengda (王僧達), who had disrespected Empress Dowager Lu's nephew Lu Qiongzhi (路瓊之), of being involved in Gao's rebellion, after being urged to kill Wang by Empress Dowager Lu.)

With Emperor Xiaowu being distrustful of high level officials, he often consulted his long-time associates Dai Faxing (戴法興), Dai Mingbao (戴明寶), and Chao Shangzhi (巢尚之). The three became therefore very powerful and wealthy, notwithstanding their actual relatively low rank.

Late reign

By 459, there were many rumors that Liu Dan was going to rebel or that Emperor Xiaowu was going to act against Liu Dan, and Liu Dan built strong defenses around Guangling in response. Meanwhile, upon reports of Liu Dan's crimes (which appeared to have been instigated by Emperor Xiaowu himself), Emperor Xiaowu issued an edict demoting Liu Dan to marquess, and at the same time sent the general Yuan Tian (垣闐) and Dai Mingbao to make a surprise attack on Guangling. When they approached, however, Liu Dan realized it and counterattacked, killing Yuan Tian. Liu Dan made public declarations of Emperor Xiaowu's incestuous relationships (including an allegation, which some historians believed to be true, that he had an incestuous relationship with his mother Empress Dowager Lu), infuriating Emperor Xiaowu, who proceeded to slaughter the families of all of Liu Dan's associates—many of whom had not been aware of Liu Dan's plans and had in fact fled out of Guangling back to Jiankang upon the battle being waged, only to find their families already dead.

Emperor Xiaowu sent Shen Qingzhi against Liu Dan, and Shen put Guangling under siege after cutting off Liu Dan's potential path of fleeing to Northern Wei. Liu Dan briefly abandoned Guangling and tried to flee, but upon urging by his associates returned to Guangling and defended it. Meanwhile, Emperor Xiaowu, also believing that Yan Jun had revealed his personal indiscretions, falsely accused Yan of having been a part of Liu Dan's rebellion, and first broke Yan's legs and then forced him to commit suicide, killing all male members of Yan's household after Yan had died. Shen soon captured Guangling and killed Liu Dan; upon Emperor Xiaowu's orders, most of Guangling's population was slaughtered in inhumane manners.

In 461, Emperor Xiaowu's impulsive younger brother Liu Xiumao the Prince of Hailing, the governor of Yong Province, angry that his communications officers Yang Qing and Dai Shuang (戴雙) and military officer Yu Shenzhi (庾深之) curbed his powers, started a rebellion that was quickly put down by Liu Xiumao's own subordinates. Knowing that Emperor Xiaowu had become increasingly suspicious of all of his brothers, his uncle Liu Yigong, now prime minister, suggested that imperial princes be prohibited from having weapons, from being governors of border provinces, and from associating with people other than members of their household. At the urging of Shen Huaiwen (沈懷文), however, Liu Yigong's suggestions were not acted upon.

In 462, Emperor Xiaowu's favorite concubine Consort Yin died. (Most historians believe that Consort Yin was actually a daughter of Liu Yixuan, whom Emperor Xiaowu officially made a consort after Liu Yixuan's death but covered up the incestuous relationship by claiming that she was from the household of his official Yin Yan (殷琰), although some believe Consort Yin to have actually been from Yin's household and been given to Liu Yixuan before Emperor Xiaowu took her as his own after Liu Yixuan's death.) He mourned her so greatly that he was unable to carry on the matters of state, and he built a magnificent tomb and temple for her, forcing many commoners into laboring for these projects.

In 464, Emperor Xiaowu died, and was succeeded by his son Liu Ziye (as Emperor Qianfei). The historian Sima Guang, in his Zizhi Tongjian, made the following comments about the late years of Emperor Xiaowu's reign:

:Late in his reign, Xiaowu was particularly greedy. Whenever provincial or commandery governors left their post and returned to the capital, the emperor ordered them to submit sufficient amounts of tributes, and also gambled with them without ceasing until he would win over their wealths. He was often drunk everyday and was rarely sober, but his reactions were quick. He often slept in stupor on his desk, but if there were emergency submissions from the officials, he could wake himself quickly and be alerted without sign of intoxication. Therefore, his officials were all fearful of him and did not dare to be idle.

Era names

• Xiaojian (孝建 xiào jiàn) 454-456

• Daming (大明 dà míng) 457-464

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Wenmu, of the Wang clan of Langya (文穆皇后 琊瑯王氏; 428–464), first cousin, personal name Xianyuan (憲嫄)

　• Princess Kuaiji (會稽公主; 446–466), personal name Chuyu (楚玉)

　　• Married He Ji of Lujiang (廬江 何戢; 446–482)

　• Princess Linhuai Kang'ai (臨淮康哀公主), personal name Chupei (楚佩), third daughter

　　• Married Wang Ying of Langya (琊瑯 王瑩; d. 516)

　• Liu Ziye, Emperor (皇帝 劉子業; 449–466), first son

　• Liu Zishang, Prince Yuzhang (豫章王 劉子尚; 451–466), second son

　• A daughter, personal name Chuxiu (楚琇)

　• Princess Kangle (康樂公主), personal name Xiuming (修明)

　　• Married Xu Xiaosi of Donghai (東海 徐孝嗣; 453–499), and had issue (two sons)

• Guifei, of the Yin clan (宣貴妃 殷氏; d. 462), first cousin

　• Liu Ziluan, Prince Shiping Xiaojing (始平孝敬王 劉子鸞; 456–465), eighth son

　• Liu Ziyu, Prince Qijing (齊敬王 劉子羽; 458–459), 14th son

　• Liu Ziyun, Prince Jinlingxiao (晉陵孝王 劉子云; 459–462), 19th son

　• Liu Ziwen (劉子文), 20th son

　• Liu Zishi, Prince Nanhai'ai (南海哀王 劉子師; 460–465), 22nd son

　• Princess (公主; d. 465), 12th daughter

• Shuyuan, of the Chen clan (淑媛 陳氏; d. 466)

　• Liu Zixun, Prince Jin'an (晉安王 劉子勳; 456–466), third son

• Shuyi, of the He clan (淑儀 何氏)

　• Liu Zifang, Marquis Songzi (松滋侯 劉子房; 456–466), sixth son

• Zhaohua, of the Shi clan (昭華 史氏)

　• Liu Zixu, Prince Linhai (臨海王 劉子頊; 456–466), seventh son

• Zhaoyi, of the Shi clan (昭儀 史氏)

　• Liu Ziyuan, Prince Shaoling (邵陵王 劉子元; 458–466), 13th son

• Zhaorong, of the Xu clan (昭容 徐氏)

　• Liu Zishen (劉子深; b. 456), fifth son

　• Liu Ziren, Prince Yongjia (永嘉王 劉子仁; 457–466), ninth son

　• Liu Zichan, Prince Nanping (南平王 劉子產; 459–466), 18th son

• Zhaorong, of the Xie clan (昭容 謝氏)

　• Liu Zizhen, Prince Shi'an (始安王 劉子真; 457–466), 11th son

　• Liu Ziyong (劉子雍), 24th son

　• Liu Zisi, Prince Dongping (東平王 劉子嗣; 463–466), 27th son

• Jieyu, of the He clan (婕妤 何氏)

　• Liu Zifeng (劉子鳳; b. 457), tenth son

　• Liu Ziqu (劉子趨; d. 466), 25th son

• Jieyu, of the Jiang clan (婕妤 江氏)

　• Liu Zixuan (劉子玄), 12th son

　• Liu Zikuang (劉子況; b. 459), 17th son

　• Liu Zixiao, Prince Huaiyangsi (淮陽思王 劉子霄; 461–464), 23rd son

• Jieyu, of the Yang clan (婕妤 楊氏)

　• Liu Zimeng, Prince Huainan (淮南王 劉子孟; 459–466), 16th son

　• Liu Ziyu, Prince Luling (廬陵王 劉子輿; 460–466), 21st son

• Ronghua, of the Ruan clan (容華 阮氏)

　• Liu Zisui, Prince Jiangxia (江夏王 劉子綏; 456–466), fourth son

• Ronghua, of the Du clan (容華 杜氏)

　• Liu Ziyue (劉子悅; d. 466), 28th son

• Meiren, of the Jiang clan (美人 江氏)

　• Liu Ziheng (劉子衡), 15th son

　• Liu Ziqi (劉子期; d. 466), 26th son

• Unknown

　• Princess Angu (安固公主)

　　• Married Wang Zhi of Langya (琊瑯 王志; 460–513)

　• Princess Linru (臨汝公主)

　　• Married Jiang Xiao of Jiyang (濟陽 江敩; 452–495)

　• Princess Anji (安吉公主)

　　• Married Cai Yue of Jiyang (濟陽 蔡約; 457–500)

Ancestry

早年生涯

劉駿生於南朝宋文帝元嘉年間（430年9月19日），為宋文帝第三子。435年，年僅六歲便受封武陵王，食邑二千戶；439年，時年十歲，受詔都督湘州諸軍事、征虜將軍、湘州刺史，領石頭戍事；440年，遷使持節、都督南豫、豫、司、雍、並五州諸軍事、南豫州刺史，仍任征虜將軍，戍守石頭城；444年，加都督秦州，進號撫軍將軍；隔年（445年），時年十六歲，受詔改任都督雍、梁、南北秦四州，荊州之襄陽、竟陵、南陽、順陽、新野、隨六郡諸軍事、甯蠻校尉、雍州刺史，持節，仍任撫軍將軍。自東晉偏安江東後，劉駿為南朝第一位出鎮襄陽的皇室子弟。448年，受詔改任都督南兗、徐、兗、青、冀、幽六州、豫州之梁郡諸軍事、安北將軍、徐州刺史，持節如故，北鎮彭城。不久宋文帝又下詔加任劉駿為兗州刺史，次子始興王劉濬為南兗州刺史，因此劉駿都督南兗州的職銜當即撤銷。

450年，北魏太武帝拓跋燾率兵南侵，宋文帝詔令劉駿領兵北襲屯駐於汝陽的北魏永昌王拓跋仁。劉駿領一千五百兵馬進襲汝陽，魏兵因無防備而潰敗。但之後探得宋軍並無援軍，因而反戈一擊，宋軍大敗，士兵僅有九百人生還。5月19日，劉駿因汝陽戰敗，降號為鎮軍將軍。451年3月19日，魏軍解圍盱眙北還。4月13日，因防禦北魏入侵無功，宋文帝再下詔降劉駿為北中郎將。

452年，劉駿時年二十三歲，加封都督南兗州軍事，擔任南兗州刺史，鎮守山陽，不久改任都督江州、荊州之江夏、豫州之西陽、晉熙、新蔡四郡諸軍事、南中郎將、江州刺史，持節如故。當時江寇橫行，宋文帝派遣步兵校尉沈慶之討賊，由劉駿全權統領征討大軍。劉駿的親信顏竣，曾於彭城假託沙門僧語，散佈劉駿當為「真人」的符讖謠言，並傳至京師。宋文帝欲行加罪，卻因爆發太子劉劭詛咒皇帝的巫蠱事件，故對劉駿和顏竣暫時不予治罪。

孝武踐祚

起兵與登基

453年3月16日深夜，劉駿長兄、皇太子劉劭趁夜帶兵入宮弒君，宋文帝遇害。劉劭稱帝，進號劉駿為征南將軍、加任散騎常侍，以示攏絡，卻矚使步兵校尉沈慶之殺害劉駿。沈慶之受命後求見劉駿，劉駿稱病不敢接見。沈慶之便闖至劉駿面前，將劉劭的手書呈遞。劉駿涕泣請求沈慶之讓自己與母親路淑媛訣別。沈慶之說：「下官受先帝厚恩，常願報德，今日之事，唯力是視，殿下是何疑之深！」劉駿聽此言，便起座再拜說：「家國安危，在於將軍。」遂由沈慶之處分內外。453年4月11日，劉駿戒嚴示眾，起兵討逆。荊州刺史南譙王劉義宣、雍州刺史臧質響應義舉。5月1日，劉駿移檄建康（今南京市）；14日，冠軍將軍柳元景與劉劭大戰於新亭，劉劭敗逃；三天後，劉駿兵進江寧；18日，江夏王劉義恭來降，奉表上尊號；隔日，劉駿進駐新亭，使散騎侍郎徐爰草制即位禮儀。

453年5月20日，武陵王劉駿於新亭即皇帝位，大赦天下，時年二十四歲；27日，攻陷建康城，斬偽皇帝劉劭及二兄劉濬。

平叛與剷除強臣

454年3月17日，南郡王劉義宣、江州刺史臧質、豫州刺史魯爽、兗州刺史徐遺寶舉兵造反。因新皇即位日淺，朝廷得報大懼。劉駿甚至想奉呈乘輿法物迎劉義宣即位，竟陵王劉誕當即阻止，說：「奈何持此座與人？」劉駿乃止。4月19日，安北司馬夏侯祖歡擊破徐遺寶；6月1日，鎮軍將軍沈慶之於曆陽之小峴大破魯爽，將其斬決；29日，劉義宣及臧質率軍攻梁山營壘，豫州刺史王玄謨派遣遊擊將軍垣護之、竟陵太守薛安都出壘迎戰，擊敗臧質。垣護之因風縱火，劉義宣及臧質大敗而逃；7月13日，臧質遭斬；8月4日，賜死劉義宣於江陵獄中。

455年8月29日，因武昌王劉渾自號楚王、擅訂年號（永光），潛越禮制，下詔將其廢為庶人，賜死。

459年，劉駿暗示有司核奏竟陵王劉誕不法，貶爵為侯，並任命垣閬為兗州刺史，以赴鎮所為名，趁機襲擊劉誕。事洩失敗，垣閬被殺。6月4日，劉誕聚眾造反，佔據廣陵城，劉駿派遣車騎大將軍沈慶之率兵平叛；9月22日，攻下廣陵，將劉誕斬首，殺光城內的三千男丁，女子賞賜給兵士。

集權改革與用倖

劉駿是一個頗有作為、積極改革制度的皇帝。他加強中央集權，撤除「錄尚書事」職銜，並分割州、郡以削弱藩鎮實力。454年7月28日，因揚、荊二州地大兵多，刺史易生異志，劉駿下詔分割揚州、浙東五郡為「東揚州」，並由荊、湘、江、豫四州分割出八郡，劃歸「郢州」，荊、揚二州自此削弱；撤除「南蠻校尉」一職，戍兵移鎮建康，增強京師武備。同年（454年），劉駿因劉義宣叛亂，有意削弱諸王侯權勢，江夏王劉義恭於是奏請裁損諸王侯車服器用、樂舞制度九條，劉駿准奏後，更另有司增訂至二十四條，全面抑制藩王地位，威福獨專。宗王兄弟中只有七弟劉宏被親愛重用，455年成為宰相（458年卒）。孝武帝同時重用江東寒門沈慶之與傖荒北人柳元景，依照兩人的功績，先後提拔為三公，開啟吳興沈氏與河東柳氏攀升為南朝高門的起始之路，並開創南朝寒門、寒人以軍功升為三公的先例。

458年（大明二年），在外放顏竣並處死王僧達後，劉駿欲大權獨攬、專擅朝綱，因此除了高門蔡興宗與袁顗以外，從此不再放權給宗王兄弟與高門強族的大臣，專委任倖臣充作耳目，隱刺朝政，形成後代所謂「寒人掌機要」的政治局面，孝武帝的集權統治也被史書稱為「主威獨運，官置百司，權不外假」。倖臣當中，戴法興、巢尚之、戴明寶、徐爰四人，最有理政才幹，因此大受寵幸，事必與議。巢尚之及徐爰尤知謹慎，惟戴法興及戴明寶卻因此作威作福、納賄受貨，門庭若市，身價並達千金。戴明寶尤其驕縱，放任長子戴敬出錢搶買皇帝的御用物，甚至於劉駿出巡時，騎馬於御輦旁來回奔馳，毫無顧忌。劉駿大怒，下令處死戴敬並將戴明寶下獄，不久仍釋放，委以重任如初。而戴法興於劉子業任皇太子時即奉命侍從，後更受劉駿遺命託孤，輔佐劉子業繼位（宋前廢帝），以致宋前廢帝時有民間謠言：「戴法興為真天子，皇帝為假天子。」之語，權重若此。

晚年無禮與浙江大旱

劉駿生性嚴峻寡恩，對待左右侍臣，動輒屠戮；甚且自詡風流，晚年專喜戲謔大臣，各取綽號，無禮之至，惟吏部尚書蔡興宗方直嚴肅，劉駿憚怕之，不敢侵狎；平時飲食起居極盡奢華，宮殿牆柱及地板皆鋪錦繡，又嫌宮廷狹小，特命建「玉燭殿」以供享樂，並破壞其祖父、宋武帝生前所居密室，做為地基，並率大臣圍觀動工。見床頭用土作鄣，牆上掛葛燈籠、麻繩拂，侍中袁顗便稱讚宋武帝有節儉樸素之德，劉駿自以為名士派頭，瞧不起沒文化的祖父劉裕，批評說：「田舍公得此，以為過矣！」（「鄉下人能用這些東西，已經太過了！」）

劉駿生性好賭，揮霍不少，加上國家戰亂之後，中央府庫空虛、無錢可使，便效法桓玄手段，以賭博斂財。詔命凡各州刺史及二千石官員，卸職還都時須獻奉財物，限期繳納。其後更召入宮中賭博作樂，賺盡地方官於其任上所積錢財，方准離去。這種收稅辦法被後任的宋、齊皇帝沿用並發揚光大，直接強逼刺史「獻奉」，省略掉賭博這種相對體面的手法。；劉駿晚年喜好飲酒，常飲至深夜，隔日起床洗漱完畢後，便繼續喝至大醉，整日嗜睡。然而有奏疏馳至，便立刻整理好儀容，毫無醉態。宮中內外都佩服他的機神明肅，不敢偷懶懈怠。

大明七年（463年）底至八年（464年），浙江等地因為劇烈旱災，造成嚴重的大饑荒，浙江十分之六的戶口餓死逃散。宋朝史家司馬光因此批評劉駿，說他晚年好酒奢靡，以致原本強盛的劉宋，在他執政末年中衰。

荒淫無道

劉駿非常好色，喜歡到宮外不分親疏貴賤臨幸美女。

北宋史學家司馬光所著資治通鑑的記載：

亂倫傳聞

454年，劉駿召幸南郡王劉義宣（六叔）的幾個女兒，劉義宣於是憎恨劉駿，隨後在江州刺史臧質的慫恿下，起兵造反。造反失敗，劉義宣遭誅。劉駿可能便秘密納娶其中一位堂妹（劉駿為避人耳目，冊封其為殷淑儀），並與其生下第八子劉子鸞等五子一女，但也有說法認為殷淑儀並非劉氏女。

史載劉駿與母親路太后有亂倫之嫌疑。南朝人沈約所著《宋書》之記載較為含蓄，內文如下：

《宋書》指劉駿常於路太后所居顯陽殿中臨幸宮女，因停留時間過久，以致民間謠傳其間有不可告人之事。《宋書》作者沈約並無否認，只模稜兩可地表示：「宮掖事秘，莫能辨也。」

然而由北朝人魏收所著的《魏書》就沒有顧忌，直接指涉劉駿與其母亂倫：

魏收還記述劉駿天性好色、狎褻無度，以致其兒子、宋前廢帝劉子業即位後，指著劉駿的畫像罵：「此渠大好色，不擇尊卑！」

但也有人認為記載不實。唐朝史家劉知幾在其著作《史通》中辯誣說：「沈氏著書，好誣先代，於晉則故造奇說，在宋則多出謗言，前史所載，已譏其謬矣。而魏收黨附北朝，尤苦南國，承其詭妄，重以加諸。遂雲馬睿出於牛金，劉駿上淫路氏。可謂助桀為虐，幸人之災。」

逝世與廟諡

464年7月12日，劉駿病逝於玉燭殿，享年三十五歲，在位十一年。皇太子劉子業繼位，是為宋前廢帝。8月27日，奉葬位於丹陽郡秣陵縣岩山（今南京市江寧區秣陵鎮）的景寧陵，予諡「孝武皇帝」，廟號「世祖」。

家族