Zhang Yaoling (; 344–355),

courtesy name A courtesy name (), also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name. This practice is a tradition in the East Asian cultural sphere, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.Ulrich Theobald ...

Yuanshu (), formally Duke Ai of Xiping, was briefly the ruler of the

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...

state

Former Liang The Former Liang (; 320–376) was a dynastic state, one of the Sixteen Kingdoms, in Chinese history. It was founded by the Zhang family of the Han ethnicity. Its territories included present-day Gansu and parts of Ningxia, Shaanxi, Qinghai and X ...

in 353 and early 354. Zhang Yaoling was the oldest son of his father

Zhang Chonghua Zhang Chonghua (; 327–353), courtesy name Tailin (), formally Duke Jinglie of Xiping (西平敬烈公, posthumous name given by the Jin dynasty) or Duke Huan of Xiping (西平桓公, posthumous name used internally in Former Liang) was a ruler ...

(Duke Jinglie) and therefore was designated his

heir apparent An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...

. When Zhang Chonghua died in 353, he succeeded Zhang Chonghua as the ruler of Former Liang (with the title Duke of Xiping), but actual power was in the hands of his uncle,

Zhang Zuo Zhang Zuo (; died 355), courtesy name Taibo (), formally Prince Wei of (Former) Liang () was a ruler of the Chinese state Former Liang. He was the only ruler of Former Liang to formally declare a break from Jin Dynasty (266–420), and histor ...

the Marquess of Changning. In early 354, Zhang Zuo, who had carried on an affair with Zhang Chonghua's mother

Princess Dowager Ma Princess Dowager Ma (馬太后, personal name unknown; died 362) was the mother of the Chinese state Former Liang's ruler Zhang Chonghua. She was a concubine of Zhang Chonghua's father Zhang Jun. Life Nothing is known about Lady Ma's acts during ...

, gained her support to take over as ruler, and Zhang Yaoling was demoted to the title of Marquess of Liangning. Zhang Zuo was a violent and frivolous ruler, and there was soon much opposition against him, particularly after he completely broke away from Jin Dynasty. In 355, the generals

Zhang Guan Zhang Guan (張瓘) (died 359) was a general and regent of the Chinese state Former Liang, during the early reign of the young prince Zhang Xuanjing. Zhang Guan was a distant relative of the ruling family of Former Liang. He was serving as the go ...

and

Song Hun Song Hun () (died 361), courtesy name Xuanyi (), was a regent of the Chinese Former Liang dynasty. During the reign of the violent and capricious Zhang Zuo, Song Hun served as a general, even though he constantly feared Zhang Zuo, because his ol ...

rebelled against Zhang Zuo and announced that they wished to restore Zhang Yaoling. In response, Zhang Zuo executed Zhang Yaoling by beating him to death. Zhang Zuo, however, would soon be overthrown and replaced by Zhang Yaoling's younger brother

Zhang Xuanjing Zhang Xuanjing (張玄靚 or 張玄靖) (350–363), courtesy name Yuan'an (), formally Duke Jingdao of Xiping (西平敬悼公, posthumous name given by Jin Dynasty (266–420)) or Duke Chong of Xiping (西平沖公, posthumous name used interna ...

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zhang, Yaoling 4th-century Chinese monarchs Monarchs of Former Liang 344 births 355 deaths People from Wuwei