Zhao Dezhao

Life

His family included his grandfather Zhao Hongyin and his father, Zhao Kuangyin, Emperor Taizu of Song; his mother was Lady He, his paternal uncles were Zhao Tingmei and Zhao Jiong, his younger brother was Zhao Defang, and his wife was Lady Wang. He had five sons: Zhao Weizheng, Zhao Weiji, Zhao Weigu, Zhao Weizhong, and Zhao Weihe.

In the second year of the Qiande era (964), he was appointed to the Guizhou office, styled 貴州防御史 in one formulation and 貴州防禦使 in another. He later rose to Jingzhaoyin and was stationed at Yongxing; from 973 he held the offices of Inspecting Grand Tutor, Military Commissioner and Associate Chief Councillor, and Governor of Xingzhong Prefecture. In 976 he became governor of Jingzhao Prefecture and military commissioner of Yongxing, and was made Prince of Wugong Commandery; in 978 he received the additional titles of Inspecting Grand Commandant and Shizhong.

In the fourth year of the Taiping Xingguo era (979), he joined the expedition against Youzhou. One night, the army was thrown into alarm and did not know where the emperor was; someone proposed installing Dezhao, which displeased the emperor. After the northern expedition went badly, the reward for the pacification of Northern Han was long withheld; when Dezhao spoke to the emperor about it, the emperor angrily rebuked him, and he withdrew and killed himself.

After his death, he was posthumously made Prince of Wei and given the posthumous name Yi. Subsequent honours listed for him include a princely title and Zhongshu Ling in 979, Grand Tutor in 997, Grand Preceptor in 1022, and, successively, Prince of Wu, Prince of Yue, and Prince of Yan in 1033, 1063, and 1100.