Zhang Ao

This article is about the Han dynasty feudal lord. For the football player, see Zhang Ao (footballer).

Zhang Ao (died 182 BC)^[1] was one of the feudal lords after the end of the Qin dynasty in 206 BC.

Zhang Ao
Traditional Chinese	張敖
Simplified Chinese	张敖
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhāng Áo Wade–Giles Chang Ao

Life

Born in the Kingdom of Zhao, he was the son of Zhang Er (張耳), a Zhao general and posthumously known as King Jing of Zhao (赵景王). Zhang Ao participated in his father's campaigns against the last armies of the Qin. The hegemon king Xiang Yu of Western Chu made Zhang Er king of Changshan (常山王) during the Eighteen Kingdoms Period, but Zhang Er changed his loyalty to Liu Bang, the eventual founder of the Han dynasty and was appointed King of Zhao. In 202 BC, Zhang Er died^[2] and Zhang Ao succeeded him to the throne of Zhao. He married Liu Bang's daughter, Princess Yuan of Lu (posthumous title), who would later predecease him. In 198 BC, his plot to kill Liu Bang was revealed, but he was pardoned and only demoted to Marquis of Xuanping (宣平侯). He was succeeded as king of Zhao by the emperor's young son Liu Ruyi. Zhang Ao died during the reign of Empress Lü (r. 188–180 BC).

Legacy

Zhang Ao's posthumous title was Marquis Wu (武侯); his son Zhang Yan (张偃) was later appointed King Luyuan (魯元王),^[3] after the title of Yan's mother Princess Luyuan. Zhang Ao's daughter Zhang Yan became the wife of Emperor Hui (r. 195–188 BC), her uncle.