Marquess of Shen

The Marquess of Shēn (? – 771 BCE) (Chinese: 申侯; pinyin: Shēn Hóu) was a ruler of the State of Shēn during the Zhōu Dynasty period of Chinese history. A vassal state of the Zhōu Kings, Shēn state covered the area of modern day Nanyang City in Henan Province.

One of the Marquess of Shēn's daughters married King Yōu. As Queen Shēn, she gave birth to Crown Prince Yíjiù before Bāo Sì persuaded the king to banish Queen Shēn and make her own son, Bófú, crown prince. Furious at the treatment of his daughter and grandson, the Marquess of Shēn allied with the State of Zēng (繒/缯) along with Quănróng nomads to attack the Zhōu capital at Hàojīng. King Yōu lit beacons to summon his nobles in defence, but none came and he was subsequently killed at the foot of Líshān near modern day Xī'ān. Thereafter, the Marquesses of Shēn and Zēng, together with Marquess Wén of Xŭ enthroned Yíjiù as King Ping of Zhōu in the State of Shēn.[1][2] This marked the end of the Western Zhōu Dynasty and the beginning of the Eastern Zhōu Dynasty.

The Marquess of Shēn died in 771 BCE.

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