King Youmiu of Zhao (; reigned 235–228 BCE), personal name Zhao Qian, was the penultimate ruler of the

state of Zhao Zhao () was one of the seven major State (Ancient China), states during the Warring States period of ancient China. It was created from the three-way Partition of Jin, together with Han (state), Han and Wei (state), Wei, in the 5th century BC. ...

during the waning days of the

Warring States period The Warring States period () was an era in History of China#Ancient China, ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded ...

of ancient China, although his successor

King Jia of Dai Jia, King of Zhao (趙王嘉, reigned 227–223 BCE), also known as Jia, King of Dai (代王嘉), Zhao Jia (趙嘉), was the last ruler of the state of Zhao during the waning days of the Warring States Period of Chinese history. His realm was a ...

only presided over a rump state in Zhao's far north. The younger son of

King Daoxiang of Zhao King Daoxiang of Zhao () (died 236 BC, reigned 244 BC – 236 BC) reigned in the State of Zhao during the Warring States period of Chinese history. Born as Zhao Yan to King Xiaocheng of Zhao, he was originally not groomed to succeed to the throne ...

and Zhao Mianchang, Zhao Qian was nevertheless able to succeed before his elder brother

Zhao Jia Jia, King of Zhao (趙王嘉, reigned 227–223 BCE), also known as Jia, King of Dai (代王嘉), Zhao Jia (趙嘉), was the last ruler of the state of Zhao during the waning days of the Warring States Period of Chinese history. His realm was a ...

due to his mother

Chang Hou Chang may refer to: People Surname * Chang (surname), the romanization of several separate Chinese surnames * Chang or Jang (Korean name), romanizations of the Korean surname Given name * Chang Bunker () (1811–1874), one of the original ...

's intervention. He inherited a country that was in danger of being conquered by the

Qin state Qin () was an ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty. Traditionally dated to 897 BC, it took its origin in a reconquest of western lands previously lost to the Rong; its position at the western edge of Chinese civilization permitted ex ...

, as it had been since a defeat at the

Battle of Changping The Battle of Changping () was a military campaign during the Warring States period of ancient China, which took place from 262 BC to 260 BC at Changping (northwest of present-day Gaoping, Shanxi province), between the two strongest military pow ...

in 260 BCE. The state of Zhao, however, was able to survive thanks to the services of General

Li Mu Li Mu (; died 229 BC), personal name Zuo (繓), courtesy name Mu (牧), was a Chinese military general of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period. He was named by Chinese historians as one of the four greatest generals of the late Wa ...

, who successfully repelled Qin attempts at exploiting the situation. The Qin devised a scheme to get rid of him; through bribing a close confidante of King Youmiu, the courtier Guo Kai (郭開), Li Mu was arrested and executed on suspicion of treason. Without Li Mu, Zhao's defenses were unable to resist the might of Qin. In 228 BCE, Qin forces under the leadership of Wang Jian captured the Zhao capital of

Handan Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwest of Hebei province, China. The southernmost prefecture-level city of the province, it borders Xingtai on the north, and the provinces of Shanxi on the west, Henan on the south and Shando ...

. King Youmiu surrendered and was then exiled to Fangling (northwestern

Hubei Hubei (; ; alternately Hupeh) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, and is part of the Central China region. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Dongting Lake. The prov ...

Notes and references

* Zhao Guo Shi Gao (Draft History of the Zhao State), Shen Changyun, Zhonghua Book Company, China. {{Monarchs of Zhao (state) Monarchs of Zhao (state) 3rd-century BC Chinese monarchs Zhao (state) Zhou dynasty nobility