King Xiaocheng of Zhao (; reigned 265 BCE – 245 BCE
[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. ( 皇帝二年孝成王薨，....)]) 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
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 ...
.
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
* Zhao Guo Shi Gao (Draft History of the Zhao State), Shen Changyun, Zhonghua Book Company, China.
{{Monarchs of Zhao (state)
Monarchs of Zhao (state)
Chinese kings
3rd-century BC Chinese monarchs
Zhou dynasty nobility
Zhao (state)