Why did the Sima family take the throne of Wei.

[Roy]

Why did the Sima family usurpe the thrown of Wei and create Jin. I have some vauge understanding of why this happned though I do not know everything about it.

[Zhilong]

Ambition + Opportunity.

Sima Yi had served Wei for a long time and was a co-regent with Cao Shuang after Cao Rui died. Cao Shuang was acting quite improper and abusing his power. Naturally he viewed Sima Yi as his chief obstacle.

Sima Yi had to fake illness for a long time before he took control of the capital while Cao Shuang was out with the Emperor. Sima Yi then defeated Cao Shuang and steadily his family took over power.

[SlickSlicer]

I think a better question would be, "Why not?" Coup d'etats happen all the time, even in this modern era believe it or not (certain unstable governments in Africa and other countries have changes in leadership all the time). The Wei government was weak so the Simas could take power, and thus they did. :/

[Shadowlink]

because sima yi was 2 strong and cao family like cao fang wanted him dead forcing him to protect his son... maybe his son got the wrong ide4a and became emperor?

[Shi Tong]

Ambition + Opportunity.

Basically yes!

The Sima's obviously thought that by becoming emperor they would be able to make a stable and lasting dynasty with the possibility of having all the riches of a king!

[cao cao#1]

Since I love wei I dont like to think they were overhtrown very easily I like to see it like the sons off cao pi and Cao Cao made a mess off wei and the Sima clan did not want to see there hard work and the former cao's work fall so they took power .

[Yuan Seth]

Sima Yi was self-serving and ambitious. Remember that Cao Cao even warned Cao Pi (I think it was to Cao Pi) that Sima Yi should never be given high office or any real authority because Cao Cao saw through Sima Yi.

[Terranigma Freak]

Sima Yi himself didn't exactly take over Wei, he was trying to get rid of the useless Caos taking over the court. His sons on the other hand are definitely unsurper.

[James]

I think it was also sparked by the Cao family turning on the Sima line. For example, when Sima Yi was ousted, despite his loyalty, it probably set the groundwork for much of what happened with Sima Yi’s children.

[Wo Long]

Plus, Cao Rui was quite incompetant and relied on his advisors constantly. Probably the most prominant one was Sima Yi, so naturally the Sima clan became extremely powerful in the Wei court and being that Sima Yi and his sons were ambitious and quite intelligent, it was easy to take over.

So as Zhilong said, Ambition+Opportunity.