King Zhaoxiang of Qin

King Zhaoxiang of Qin
King of Qin
Reign 306–251 BC
Predecessor King Wu of Qin
Successor King Xiaowen of Qin
Regent Wei Ran
Spouse Queen Yeyang
Queen Dowager Tang
Issue Crown Prince Dao
King Xiaowen of Qin
Full name
Ancestral name: Ying (嬴)
Given name: Ji (稷)
House House of Ying
Father King Huiwen of Qin
Mother Queen Dowager Xuan
Born 325 BC
Died 251 BC (aged 75–76)

King Zhaoxiang of Qin or King Zhao of Qin (秦昭襄王 or 秦昭王) (324–251 BC) was the son of King Huiwen and younger brother of King Wu.

Biography

After the death of Wu in 306 BC, Zhao contended for the crown of Qin with his younger brother. With the support of King Wuling of Zhao, Zhao finally ascended the throne. During Zhao's reign, the Qin general Bai Qi captured the Chu capital Ying in 278 BC. In 260 BC, King Zhao won the vital Battle of Changping against the State of Zhao when General Bai Qi encircled the Zhao army and forced its surrender. He decided to massacre all 400,000 of the Zhao survivors.

Under Zhao, Qin captured territory of the Yiqu (義渠) semipastoral people, acquiring the later commanderies of Longxi, Beidi (北地), and Shang (上), and built “long walls” for protection against the Hu, a northwestern nomadic people.[1]

Family

Mother of Zhaoxiang was Queen Xuan.

He married Lady Yeyang and Lady Tang.

See also

References

  1. Nicola Di Cosmo, The Northern Frontier in Pre-Imperial China//The Cambridge History of Ancient China, p. 961
King Zhaoxiang of Qin
Born: 324 BC Died: 250 BC
Regnal titles
Preceded by
King Wu
King of Qin
306–250 BC
Succeeded by
King Xiaowen