Zhao Jiande

Who is Zhao Jiande?

Zhao Jiande was the last king of the Nanyue Kingdom. His rule began in 112 BC and ended in the next year.

Zhao Jiande was the eldest son of King Zhao Yingqi, his mother was a Yue woman. Zhao Yingqi was sent to Han court by King Zhao Mo to serve as Emperor Wu's guard in 135 BC, he also married a Han Chinese woman called Jiushi there, and had his second son Zhao Xing.

After assuming the Nanyue kingship, Zhao Yingqi appointed Zhao Xing as Crown Price instead of his eldest son Zhao Jiande. Zhao Yingqi died in 113 BC, Zhao Xing succeeded as king. Zhao Jiande was titled "Maquis of Shuyang" by his younger brother.

During Zhao Xing's reign, Emperor Wu of Han sent missions to Nanyue summon Zhao Xing to Han court for an audience with the Emperor. Zhao Xing decided to submit the Han court rule, but the prime minister Lü Jia, who held the military power at that time, didn't want to. So Emperor Wu dispatched Han Qianqiu with 2000 soldiers to arrest Lü Jia. After reached the news, Lü Jia conducted a coup d'état, killing Zhao Xing and all of his supporters in 112 BC. Zhao Jiande was crowned as the new king of Nanyue, and declared war on Han court.