King Daoxiang of Zhao
| King Daoxiang of Zhao 趙悼襄王 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King of Zhao | |||||||||
| Reign | 244 BC-236 BC | ||||||||
| Predecessor | King Xiaocheng | ||||||||
| Successor | King Youmiu | ||||||||
| Born | unknown | ||||||||
| Died | 236 BC | ||||||||
| Spouse | unknown | ||||||||
| Issue | Jia of Zhao King Youmiu | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| House | Ying | ||||||||
| Dynasty | Zhao | ||||||||
| Father | King Xiaocheng of Zhao | ||||||||
King Daoxiang of Zhao (Chinese: 趙悼襄王) (died 236 BC; r. 244–236 BC), personal name Zhao Yan, was a monarch of the Zhao state.[1]
Born to King Xiaocheng, King Daoxiang was originally not groomed to succeed to the throne. However, his path to the throne was eased by the circumstances. Firstly, the heir to the Zhao throne was required to spend a large portion of his youth as a hostage in the Qin court – thus making him susceptible to court intrigue. Secondly, the minister Guo Kai was intent on making King Daoxiang the next king. Therefore, when King Xiaocheng died, instead of welcoming the rightful heir back to Handan, Guo Kai proclaimed King Daoxiang as king instead. The famous Zhao general Lian Po objected to this state of affairs and resigned his posts as a result.
King Daoxiang's rule saw the Zhao state engage in warfare with its eastern neighbour, Yan. Under the command of general Li Mu, Zhao initiated a successful campaign against Yan in 243 BC[2], under Pang Nuan in 242 BC[3], and an unknown general in 236 BC[4] land in what is now central Hebei.
King Daoxiang died in 236 BC, in the midst of a Qin invasion of Zhao and was succeeded by King Youmiu.
In King Daoxiang's 1st Year, Zhao made preparations against Wei, attempting to open a route between Pingyi and Zhongmou, but failed[5]. In his 2nd Year, 243 BC, Zhao General Li Mu (李牧) attacked Yan, capturing Wusui (武遂) and Fangcheng (方城)[6]. Zhao's Lord Chunping (春平君) was summoned and detained by Qin, so Zhao sent a diplomat to Qin, exchanging Lord Chunping for territory, Zhao also fortified Han'gao (韓皋)[7]. In his 3rd Year, 242 BC, Yan general Ju Xin (劇辛) attacked Zhao, he was defeated by Zhao general Pang Nuan (龐煖), Ju Xin was killed and 20,000 soldiers were captured[8]. In his 4th Year, 241 BC, Zhao General Pang Nuan led elite troops of Zhao, Chu, Wei, and Yan to attack Qin at Zui (蕞), failing to capture it, they withdrew, they then attacked Qi, capturing Rao'an (饒安)[9]. In his 5th Year, 240 BC, Zhao general Fu Di (傅抵) lead an army stationed at Pingyi (平邑), while general Qing She (慶舍) lead an army outside Donyang (東陽)[10]. In his 6th Year, 239 BC, The Younger half-brother of King Zheng of Qin (Later Qin Shi Huang), Cheng Jiao (成蟜), attacked Zhao, he rebelled and died at Tunliu (屯留), Wei gave Zhao the city of Ye (鄴)[11][12]. In his 9th Year, 236 BC, Zhao attacked Yan, capturing Li (貍) and Yangcheng (陽城), before the troops returned, a Qin army lead by Wang Jian (王翦), Huan Yi (桓齮), and Yang Duanhe (楊端和) attacked Zhao, capturing Eyu (閼與), Laoyang (橑楊), Anyang (安陽), Ye, and 9 cities[13][14], this year King Daoxiang died and is suceeded by his son Zhao Qian, who become King Youmiao[14].
Family
Daoxiang's oldest son, Jia, was the son of his first wife, whose name is unknown. Jia was initially heir apparent. However the "Songstress Queen", Zhao Mianchang, a consort from Handan, entered the court as a concubine and gave birth to a son, Qian, later King Youmiu of Zhao. Zhao Mianchang allegedly slandered both the queen and Prince Jia, and arranged for someone to offend Jia to provoke him into committing a crime. After Jia had lost favour with Daoxiang, Qian was established as the new heir apparent and Zhao Mianchang was installed as the new queen.[15]
Popular culture
King Daoxiang appears in manga and anime series Kingdom, who appears as a tyrannical king in the series.
References
- ^ Pingsheng, Hu (1989). "Some Notes on the Organization of the Han Dynasty Bamboo "Annals" Found at Fuyang". Early China. 14: 1–25. doi:10.1017/S0362502800002571. ISSN 0362-5028.
- ^ (史記, 趙世家) 二年，李牧將，攻燕，拔武遂、方城。
- ^ (史記, 趙世家) 三年，龐煖將，攻燕，禽其將劇辛。
- ^ (史記, 趙世家) 九年，趙攻燕，取貍、陽城。
- ^ (史記, 趙世家) 悼襄王元年，大備魏。欲通平邑、中牟之道，不成。
- ^ (史記, 趙世家) 二年，李牧將，攻燕，拔武遂、方城。
- ^ (史記, 趙世家) 二年，秦召春平君，因而留之。泄鈞為之謂文信侯曰：「春平君者，趙王甚愛之而郎中之，故相與謀曰『春平君入秦，秦必留之』，故相與謀而內之秦也。今君留之，是絕趙而郎中之計中也。君不如遣春平君而留平都。春平君者言行信於王，王必厚割趙而贖平都。」文信侯曰：「善。」因遣之。城韓皋。
- ^ (史記, 趙世家) 三年，龐煖將，攻燕，禽其將劇辛。
- ^ (史記, 趙世家) 四年，龐煖將趙、楚、魏、燕之銳師，攻秦蕞，不拔；移攻齊，取饒安。
- ^ (史記, 趙世家) 五年，傅抵將，居平邑；慶舍將東陽河外師，守河梁。
- ^ (史記, 秦始皇本紀) 八年，王弟長安君成蟜將軍擊趙，反，死屯留，軍吏皆斬死，遷其民於臨洮。
- ^ (史記, 趙世家) 六年，封長安君以饒。魏與趙鄴。
- ^ (史記, 秦始皇本紀) 十一年，王翦、桓齮、楊端和攻鄴，取九城。王翦攻閼與、橑楊，皆并為一軍。翦將十八日，軍歸斗食以下，什推二人從軍取鄴安陽，桓齮將。
- ^ a b (史記, 趙世家) 九年，趙攻燕，取貍、陽城。兵未罷，秦攻鄴，拔之。悼襄王卒，子幽繆王遷立。
- ^ Exemplary Women of Early China: The Lienü zhuan of Liu Xiang. Columbia University Press. 2014-01-28. pp. 155–156. ISBN 978-0-231-53608-0.