Zhao Jiande (, Vietnamese: ''Triệu Kiến Đức'', ?–111 BC) was the last king of Nanyue. His rule began in 112 BC and ended in the next year. He was executed by Western Han forces during the reign of

Emperor Wu of Han Emperor Wu of Han (156 – 29 March 87BC), born Liu Che and courtesy name Tong, was the seventh Emperor of China, emperor of the Han dynasty from 141 to 87 BC. His reign lasted 54 years – a record not broken until the reign of the Kangxi ...

Early life

Zhao Jiande was the eldest son of Zhao Yingqi and a Yue woman. Although the eldest, Jiande was passed over for kingship in preference for his half-brother, Zhao Yingqi.

War with the Han

During Zhao Xing's reign,

sent missions to Nanyue to summon Zhao Xing to the Han court for an audience with the emperor. Zhao Xing and his mother decided to submit to the Han, but the prime minister Lü Jia (呂嘉), who held military power in Nanyue at that time, opposed this. Emperor Wu dispatched Han Qianqiu (韓千秋) with 2000 soldiers to arrest Lü Jia. After hearing of these developments, Lü Jia conducted a coup d'état, killing Zhao Xing and all of his supporters in 112 BC. Zhao Jiande was then crowned king of Nanyue. The 2000 men led by Han Qianqiu defeated several small towns but were defeated as they neared Panyu, which greatly shocked and angered Emperor Wu. The emperor then sent an army of 100,000 to attack Nanyue. The army marched on Panyu in a multi-pronged assault. Lu Bode advanced from the Hui River and Yang Pu from the Hengpu River. Three natives of Nanyue also joined the Han. One advanced from the Li River, the second invaded Cangwu, and the third advanced from the Zangke River. In the winter of 111 BC Yang Pu captured Xunxia and broke through the line at Shimen. With 20,000 men he drove back the vanguard of the Nanyue army and waited for Lu Bode. However Lu failed to meet up on time and when he did arrive, he had no more than a thousand men. Yang reached Panyu first and attacked it at night, setting fire to the city. Panyu surrendered at dawn. Zhao Jiande and Lü Jia fled the city by boat, heading east to appeal for Minyue's aid, but the Han learned of their escape and sent the general Sima Shuang after them. Both Zhao Jiande and Lü Jia were captured and executed.

Aftermath

When the neighboring kingdoms of Cangwu, Xiou (Western Ou), and Luoluo heard of the fall of Nanyue, they all submitted to the Han. Their kings were made marquises.

Legacy

Based on many temples of Lü Jia (Lữ Gia), his wives, and soldiers scattering in Red River Delta of northern Vietnam, the war might have lasted until 98 BC. After the fall of Panyu, Tây Vu Vương (the captain of Tây Vu area of which the center is Cổ Loa) revolted against the First Chinese domination from

Western Han dynasty The Han dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC9 AD, 25–220 AD) established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) and a warring in ...

. He was killed by his assistant Hoàng Đồng (黄同).Book of Han
Vol. 95, Story of Xi Nan Yi Liang Yue Zhao Xian, wrote: "故甌駱將左黃同斬西于王，封爲下鄜侯" Neither ''

Shiji The ''Shiji'', also known as ''Records of the Grand Historian'' or ''The Grand Scribe's Records'', is a Chinese historical text that is the first of the Twenty-Four Histories of imperial China. It was written during the late 2nd and early 1st cen ...

'' nor '' Hanshu'' had mentioned his Temple name, but his

Posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary Personal name, name given mainly to revered dead people in East Asian cultural sphere, East Asian culture. It is predominantly used in Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. ...

was mentioned in some Vietnamese historical texts. He was called Dương Vương (陽王 ''Yáng Wáng'') in '' Việt Nam sử lược'', Thuật Dương Vương (術陽王 ''Shù Yáng Wáng'') in '' Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư'', and Vệ Dương vương (衛陽王 ''Wèi Yáng Wáng'') in '' Đại Việt sử lược''. His palace supposedly formed the grounds of

Guangzhou Guangzhou, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Canton or Kwangchow, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Guangdong Provinces of China, province in South China, southern China. Located on the Pearl River about nor ...

's Guangxiao Temple.

References

*''

'', vol. 113. * '' Book of Han'', vol. 95. *'' Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư'', vol.2 (Kỷ nhà Triệu)

Bibliography