- Zhai Zhao
Zhao Zhao (翟釗) (d. 393) was the last ruler of the Chinese/
Dingling state Wei. During his reign, he used the title "Heavenly Prince" ("Tian Wang "), roughly equivalent to emperor.Zhai Zhao's father
Zhai Liao had, after rebelling against Jin in 386, held a swath of territory near theYellow River in modernHenan . In 387, he sent Zhao Zhao to attack Jin's Chenliu (陳留, roughly modernKaifeng ,Henan ) and Yinchuan (潁川, roughly modernXuchang ,Henan ) commanderies, but Jin general Zhu Xu (朱序) repelled his attack. Later that year, under pressure fromLater Yan 's emperorMurong Chui , Zhai Liao briefly submitted to Later Yan, but in winter 387 again rebelled. In 388, he tried to reconcile with Later Yan, but after Murong Chui turned down his overture, declared an independent Wei state.In 390, the Jin general
Liu Laozhi (劉牢之) attacked Zhai Zhao, who was then defending the city of Juancheng (鄄城, in modernPuyang ,Henan ), forcing Zhai Zhao to abandon Juancheng and flee back to his father's capital Huatai (滑台, in modernAnyang ,Henan ). Liu then defeated Zhai Liao in battle as well, but did not destroy Wei.In 391, Zhai Liao died, and Zhai Zhao succeeded him as the Heavenly Prince. Zhai Zhao soon attempted to attack Later Yan's important city Yecheng, but was repelled by Murong Chui's son
Murong Nong .In 392, Murong Chui personally attacked Zhai Zhao, heading for his capital Huatai. Zhai Zhao sought aid from
Western Yan 's emperorMurong Yong , but Murong Yong, believing that Zhai Zhao could wear Later Yan out without his aid, refused. Murong Chui then pretended to build rafts to ready to cross theYellow River , and Zhai Zhao tried to attack his flotilla -- when Murong Chui's general Murong Zhen (慕容鎮) crossed the river at a different spot and camped in. Zhai Zhao tried to attack both places, but his army was worn out and completely collapsed. Zhai Zhao fled by himself to Western Yan. In 393, he tried to start a coup against Murong Yong and was killed.
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