Gao Wei

Who was Gao Wei?

Gao Wei, often known in history as Houzhu of Northern Qi, courtesy name Rengang, sometimes referred to by his later Northern Zhou-created title of Duke of Wen, was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. During his reign, Northern Qi's imperial administration was plunged into severe corruption and wastefulness, with the military suffering after Gao Wei killed the great general Hulü Guang in 572. Rival Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou launched a major attack in 576, and Northern Qi forces collapsed. Gao Wei, who formally passed the throne to his son Gao Heng, was captured while trying to flee to Chen Dynasty, and later that year, the Northern Zhou emperor executed him and almost all members of his clan.