King Xiaocheng of Zhao

King Xiaocheng of Zhao (Chinese: 趙孝成王; reigned 265 BCE[1] – 245 BCE[2]) was a king of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period of ancient China. His reign saw the decline of Zhao military power owing to the catastrophic defeat by the State of Qin at the Battle of Changping.

King Xiaocheng of Zhao
King of Zhao
Reign265 BCE–245 BCE
PredecessorKing Huiwen
SuccessorKing Daoxiang
Bornunknown
Died245 BCE
Spouseunknown
IssueCrown Prince
Marquess Chunping
King Daoxiang of Zhao
Names
Ancestral clan: Yíng (嬴)
Branch lineage: Zhào (趙)
Given name: Dān (丹)
Posthumous name
King Xiaocheng 孝成王
FatherKing Huiwen of Zhao

King Xiaocheng ascended to the throne in the midst of a military stalemate between the Qin and the Zhao over the status of Shangdang, which Han had ceded to Zhao during the reign of King Huiwen. The commander in charge of Zhao forces, Lian Po, opted for a defensive strategy of fort construction. Perhaps due to Qin accusations of Lian Po's cowardice, King Xiaocheng decided in 260 BCE to replace him with Zhao Kuo, regardless of objections from the leading politician Lin Xiangru. Zhao Kuo's offensive strategy played right into the hands of Qin general Bai Qi, and ultimately cost Zhao the battle and, with it, Zhao's military pre-eminence.

King Xiaocheng died in 245 BCE and was succeeded by his son and heir, King Daoxiang of Zhao.

Notes and references
  1. Volume 5 of Zizhi Tongjian, citing volume 43 of Shiji, indicated that King Xiaocheng was newly crowned in the 50th year of the reign of King Nan of Zhou; this corresponds to 265 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar. ([赧王五十年]...赵王新立...)
  2. Volume 6 of Zizhi Tongjian indicated that King Xiaocheng died in the 2nd year of the reign of Qin Shi Huang, who was still King of Qin at the time; this corresponds to 245 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar. ([始皇帝二年]赵孝成王薨，....)
  • Zhao Guo Shi Gao (Draft History of the Zhao State), Shen Changyun, Zhonghua Book Company, China.
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