Duke Wen of Chen (; reigned 754 BC – died 745 BC) was the eleventh ruler of the
ancient Chinese state
Ancient Chinese states () were typified by variously sized city-states and territories that existed in China prior to its unification by Qin Shi Huang in 221 BCE. In many cases these were vassal states and fiefs established in the '' fengjian'' s ...
of
Chen during the early
Spring and Autumn period
The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...
. His given name was Yu (圉), and Wen was his
posthumous name
A posthumous name is an honorary name given mostly to the notable dead in East Asian culture. It is predominantly practiced in East Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and Thailand. Reflecting on the person's accomplishments or ...
.
Duke Wen succeeded his father
Duke Ping of Chen
Duke Ping of Chen (; reigned 777 BC – died 755 BC), given name Xie (燮), was the tenth ruler of the ancient Chinese state of Chen during the transition period from the Western Zhou dynasty to the Spring and Autumn period. Ping was his posthumo ...
, who died in 755 BC. He reigned for 10 years and died in 745 BC. He was succeeded by his son Bao, known as
Duke Huan of Chen
Duke Huan of Chen (; reigned 744 BC – died 707 BC) was the twelfth ruler of the Ancient Chinese state of Chen during the early Spring and Autumn period. His ancestral surname was Gui, given name Bao (鮑), and Huan (桓) was his posthumous name ...
. When Duke Huan died in 707 BC, his younger brother
Chen Tuo
Chen Tuo (; reigned 707 BC – died 706 BC), also known as Chen Ta (陳他) and Wufu (五父), was the thirteenth ruler of the ancient Chinese state of Chen (state), Chen during the early Spring and Autumn period. His given name was Tuo (佗) or ...
murdered
Crown Prince Mian Crown Prince Mian (; died 707 BC) was the eldest son and designated successor of Duke Huan of Chen, the twelfth ruler of the ancient Chinese state of Chen during the early Spring and Autumn period. His given name was Mian (免).
In the first mont ...
and usurped the throne of Chen. Chen Tuo was then killed by the army of the neighbouring
State of Cai
Cài (; Old Chinese: *s.r̥ˤat-s) was an ancient Chinese state established at the beginning of the Zhou dynasty, rising to prominence during the Spring and Autumn period, and destroyed early in the Warring States period.
History
Following his ...
, which restored the throne to Duke Huan's younger son Yue, known as
Duke Li of Chen
Duke Li of Chen (; reigned 706 BC – died 700 BC) was the fourteenth ruler of the ancient Chinese state of Chen during the early Spring and Autumn period. His ancestral surname was Gui, given name Yue (躍), and Li (厲) was his posthumous name.
...
.
Duke Zhuang of the