Zhao Dezhao (趙德昭) (951 – 26 August 979) was an imperial prince of the
Chinese Song dynasty
The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...
.
Officially the Prince Yi of Yan (燕懿王), he was the second son of
Emperor Taizu and the
crown prince
A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title, crown princess, is held by a woman who is heir apparent or is married to the heir apparent.
''Crown prince ...
since his elder brother died young. However, he did not succeed the throne after his father, as his uncle
Emperor Taizong assumed power.
Death
In 979, three years after his father's death, Zhao Dezhao was leading an army in
Emperor Taizong's first campaign against
the Khitans, when rumors spread in the army that
Emperor Taizong had disappeared, and that Zhao Dezhao should be the new emperor.
The rumors died when
Emperor Taizong was found, however, and
Emperor Taizong was very unhappy about the results of his campaign and refused to award the troops sparking complaints from them.
On August 26, Zhao Dezhao went to inquire of the emperor, who either barked "You do that when you become the new emperor!" or "You may do it yourself after you have ascended the throne! There's still time for that!"
Zhao Dezhao immediately went to his palace and asked his guards for a
sabre
A sabre or saber ( ) is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the Early Modern warfare, early modern and Napoleonic period, Napoleonic periods. Originally associated with Central European cavalry such a ...
. The guards told him that blades were not allowed in the palace, so Zhao Dezhao fetched a knife for cutting fruits, went to his room and then proceeded to slice his throat killing him.
Upon hearing about the
suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death.
Risk factors for suicide include mental disorders, physical disorders, and substance abuse. Some suicides are impulsive acts driven by stress (such as from financial or ac ...
,
Emperor Taizong was very saddened and hugged the corpse crying while saying "Silly boy, how did you come to this depravity?"
However, as
official history
An official history is a work of history which is sponsored, authorised or endorsed by its subject. The term is most commonly used for histories which are produced for a government. The term also applies to commissions from non-state bodies includi ...
may not be trusted in events like this, some historians suspect that Zhao Dezhao was either murdered or forced to commit suicide by his uncle, who possibly was also involved in the deaths of Zhao Dezhao's father and younger brother.
Zhao Defang, the last surviving son of
Emperor Taizu, died two years after Zhao Dezhao. He was also in his 20s.
He was the ancestor of
Zhao Yun
Zhao Yun ( ) (died 229), courtesy name Zilong (), was a military general who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period of China. Originally a subordinate of the northern warlord Gongsun Zan, Zhao Yun later came ...
and
Zhao Qi who later became emperors. They were posthumously known as
Emperor Lizong
Emperor Lizong of Song (26 January 1205 – 16 November 1264), personal name Zhao Yun, was the 14th emperor of the Song dynasty of China and the fifth emperor of the Southern Song dynasty. He reigned from 1224 to 1264.
His original name was ...
and
Emperor Duzong
Emperor Duzong of Song (2 May 1240 – 12 August 1274), personal name Zhao Qi, was the 15th Emperor of China, emperor of the Song dynasty of China and the sixth emperor of the Song dynasty#Southern Song, 1127–1279, Southern Song dynasty. He ...
respectively.
Family
Parents
*
Zhao Kuangyin
Emperor Taizu of Song (21 March 927 – 14 November 976), personal name Zhao Kuangyin, courtesy name Yuanlang, was the founding emperor of the Song dynasty of China. He reigned from 960 until his death in 976. Formerly a distinguished milita ...
, Taizu (; 21 March 927 – 14 November 976)
*
Empress Xiaohui, of the He clan (; 929–958)
Consorts and issue
*Lady Wang, of the Wang clan (王氏), daughter of Wang Pu (王溥)
*Lady He, of the He clan (賀氏)
*Lady of Guo, of the Chen clan (国夫人 陈氏)
**Zhao Weiji, Prince of Ji (冀王 趙惟吉; 966–1010), second son
*Lady Zhu, of the Zhu clan (朱氏)
*Unknown
**Zhao Weizheng, Prince of Jing (; d. 1032), first son
**Zhao Weigu, Prince of Wei (), third son
**Zhao Weizhong, Duke of Shu (), fourth son
**Zhao Weihe (), Duke of Qingyuan (清源郡公), fifth son
References
General references
*
Toqto'a et al., ''
History of Song'',
vol. 244.
*
Sima Guang
Sima Guang (17 November 1019 – 11 October 1086), courtesy name Junshi, was a Chinese historian, politician, and writer. He was a high-ranking Song dynasty scholar-official who authored the ''Zizhi Tongjian'', a monumental work of history.
B ...
, ''
Sushui Jiwen'',
vol. 2.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zhao, Dezhao
951 births
979 deaths
Song dynasty princes