Prince of Zhao (Ming dynasty)

Prince of Zhao (Chinese: 趙王), was a first-rank princely peerage used during Ming dynasty, this peerage title initially was created by Hongwu Emperor for his ninth son he was deceased. The princedom later created again by Yongle Emperor and was held by Zhu Gaosui, 3rd son of Yongle Emperor.

Main article: Vassals princes of Ming dynasty

Generation name / poem

As members of this princedom were descendants of Yongle Emperor, the generation poem they used was:-

"Gao Zhan Qi Jian You, Hou Zai Yi Chang You. Ci He Yi Bo Zhong, Jian Jing Di Xian You"
高瞻祁見祐，厚載翊常由。慈和怡伯仲，簡靖迪先猷

The mainline members used the poem until the name "Ci" (慈), which was the same generation as Chongzhen Emperor's son.

Princedom of Zhao

Princedom of Zhao 趙王
Creation date1404, fief taken in 1425
Creation2nd creation
Created byYongle Emperor
Peerage1st-rank princely peerage for imperial son of Ming Dynasty
First holderZhu Gaosui, Prince Jian
Last holderZhu Youyan (the 10th prince)
StatusExtinct
Extinction date1647
Seat(s)Zhangde (彰德府) (borders of Henan and Hebei)
  • Zhu Gaosui (朱高燧; 19 Jan 1383 - 5 Oct 1431) (1st), third son of Yongle Emperor, he was made the Prince of Zhao in 1404 by his father, then took his fief in Zhangde in 1425 and died in 1431. His full posthumous name was Prince Jian of Zhao (趙簡王)
    • Zhu Zhanba (朱瞻坺; 1411 - 15 Feb 1427), Zhu Gaosui's eldest son, was made the hereditary prince in 1424 but died in 1427. His posthumous name was Hereditary Prince Daoxi of Zhao (趙悼僖世子)
    • Zhu Zhanque (朱瞻塙; 1413 - 1454) (2nd), Zhu Gaosui's second son, he initially was made a commandery prince, under the title Prince of Anyang Comm. (安陽郡王) in 1424. He succeeded the princedom from 1432 to 1455. His full posthumous name was Prince Hui of Zhao (趙惠王)
      • Zhu Qizi (朱祁鎡; 1430 - 1460) (3rd), Zhu Zhanque's eldest son, he succeeded the princedom from 1456 to 1460. His full posthumous name was Prince Dao of Zhao (趙悼王)
        • Zhu Jianzuo (朱見灂; 1453 - 1502) (4th), Zhu Qizi's eldest son, he succeeded the princedom from 1465 to 1502. His full posthumous name was Prince Jing of Zhao (趙靖王)
          • Zhu Youcai (朱祐棌; 1460 - 1518) (5th), Zhu Jianzuo's third son, he initially was made a commandery prince, under the title Prince of Qingliu Comm. (清流郡王). He succeeded the princedom from 1503 to 1518. His full posthumous name was Prince Zhuang of Zhao (趙莊王)
            • Zhu Houyu (朱厚煜; 1498 - 1560) (6th), Zhu Youcai's eldest son, he succeeded the princedom from 1521 and committed suicide in 1560. His full posthumous name was Prince Kang of Zhao (趙康王)
              • Zhu Zaipei (朱載培; 1510 - 1537), Zhu Houyu's eldest son, initially was made a commandery prince, under the title of Prince of Huojia Comm. from 1531 and died in 1537, before his father. His original posthumous name was Prince Zhaoding of Huojia (獲嘉昭定王). He then later posthumously honoured under the posthumous title "Prince Gong of Zhao" (趙恭王), after his grandson succeeded the princedom.
                • Zhu Yizi (朱翊錙; 1537 - 1559), Zhu Zaipei's eldest son, was designated as the hereditary prince in 1549 but died before his grandfather, he was posthumously honoured under the posthumous title "Prince An of Zhao" (趙安王) after his son succeeded the princedom.
                  • Zhu Changqing (朱常清; 1555 - 1614) (7th), Zhu Yizi's eldest son, he succeeded the princedom from 1565 to 1614. His full posthumous name was Prince Mu of Zhao (趙穆王)
                    • Zhu Yousong (朱由松; d.1614), Zhu Changqing's eldest son, was designated hereditary prince in 1585 but died before his father.
                    • Zhu Yougui (朱由桂; 1590 - 1608), Zhu Changqing's seventh son, was made a commandery prince under the title Prince of Shouguang Comm. from 1599 to 1608. His original posthumous name was Prince Zhaojing of Shouguang (壽光昭敬王), he was posthumously honoured under the posthumous title "Prince Shun of Zhao" (趙順王) after his son succeeded the princedom.
                      • Zhu Ci... (朱慈𢣴) (8th), Zhu Yougui's eldest son, he was designated hereditary prince after the death of his uncle. He succeeded the princedom in 1617.
              • Zhu Zaiyuan (朱載垸), Prince of Chenggao Comm. (成皐郡王), Zhu Houyu's fourth son, he was appointed to acting general affairs of Princedom of Zhao from 1538 to 1565, after the death of his eldest brother.
                • Zhu Yizong (朱翊錝; d.1557), Zhu Zaiyuan's eldest son, was made a defender general under his father's designation from 1557 to 1577
                  • Zhu Changyu (朱常㳛; 1574 - 1644) (9th), Zhu Yizong's eldest son, he initially succeeded the peerage of Prince of Chenggao Comm. from 1587. He succeeded the principality from 1632 and was killed by Li Zicheng in 1644. His posthumous name was Prince Ke of Zhao (趙恪王)
                    • Zhu Youyan (朱由棪; 1614 - 1647) (10th), he succeeded the princedom from 1646 to 1647.
Genealogy of Princedom of Zhao
Yongle Emperor
3rd son
Zhu Gaosui 朱高燧
1383–1431
Prince Jian of Zhao 趙簡王
1st Prince of Zhao
1404–1425
1st son2nd son
Zhu Zhanba 朱瞻坺
1411–1427
Hereditary Prince Daoxi of Zhao
趙悼僖世子
1424–1427		Zhu Zhanque 朱瞻塙
1413–1454
Prince Hui of Zhao 趙惠王
2nd Prince of Zhao
1432–1455
1st son
Zhu Qizi 朱祁鎡
1430–1460
Prince Kang of Zhao 趙康王
3rd Prince of Zhao
1456–1460
1st son
Zhu Jianzuo 朱見灂
1453–1502
Prince Jing of Zhao 趙靖王
4th Prince of Zhao
1465–1502
3rd son
Zhu Youcai 朱祐棌
1460–1518
Prince Zhuang of Zhao 趙莊王
5th Prince of Zhao
1503–1518
1st son
Zhu Houyu 朱厚煜
1498–1560
Prince Kang of Zhao 趙康王
6th Prince of Zhao
1521–1560
1st son4th son
Zhu Zaipei 朱載培
1510–1537
Prince Zhaoding of Huojia Comm.
"Prince Gong of Zhao" 趙恭王
(posthumously honoured)		Zhu Zaiyuan 朱載垸
Clan Patriach of Zhao
1538–1565
Prince Duanmu of Chenggao Comm.
1st son1st son
Zhu Yizi 朱翊錙
1537–1559
Hereditary Prince of Zhao (princely grandson)
1549–1559
"Prince An of Zhao" 趙安王
(posthumously hounoured)		Zhu Yizong 朱翊錝
d.1577
Defender General of Chenggao
1st son1st son
Zhu Changqing 朱常清
1555–1614
Prince Mu of Zhao 趙穆王
7th Prince of Zhao
1565–1614		Zhu Changyu 朱常㳛
1574–1644
Prince Ke of Zhao 趙恪王
9th Prince of Zhao
1632–1644
1st son2nd son
Zhu Yousong 朱由松
d.1614
Hereditary Prince of Zhao
1585–1614		Zhu Yougui 朱由桂
1590–1608
Prince Zhaojing of Shouguang Comm.
"Prince Shun of Zhao" 趙順王
(posthumously honoured)		Zhu Youyan 朱由棪
1614–1647
10th Prince of Zhao
1646–1647
Zhu Ci... 朱慈𢣴
8th Prince of Zhao
1617–?

Cadet princedoms

Genealogy of Cadet Branches of Princedom of Zhao
Yongle Emperor
Prince of Zhao 趙王
1404, located in Zhangde
3rd son
Zhu Gaosui
朱高燧
1383–1431
Prince Jian of Zhao
趙簡王
1st Prince of Zhao
1404–1425
2nd son
Prince of Anyang Comm.
安陽王
1424
title merged after succeeded princedom of Zhao in 1432
Zhu Zhanque
朱瞻塙
1413–1454
Prince Hui of Zhao
趙惠王
2nd Prince of Zhao
1432–1455
1st son2nd son3rd son4th son5th son6th son7th son
Prince of Linzhang Comm.
臨漳王
1444		Prince of Tangyin Comm.
湯陰王
1444		Prince of Xiangyi Comm.
襄邑王
1444		Prince of Luochuan Comm.
雒川王
1445		Prince of Nanle Comm.
南樂王
1457		Prince of Pingxiang Comm.
平鄉王
1457
Zhu Qizi
朱祁鎡
1430–1460
Prince Kang of Zhao
趙康王
3rd Prince of Zhao
1456–1460		Zhu Qijun
朱祁鋆
d.1485
Prince Gong'an of Linzhang
臨漳恭安王
1444−1485
1st Prince of Linzhang Comm.		Zhu Qirui
朱祁𨧨
d.1485
Prince Zhuangxi of Tangyin
湯陰莊僖王
1444−1485
1st Prince of Tangyin Comm.		Zhu Qizhen
朱祁鋥
d.1465
Prince Gongding of Xiangyi
襄邑恭定王
1444−1465
1st Prince of Xiangyi Comm.		Zhu Qichang
朱祁鋹
d.1483
Prince Duanyi of Luochuan
雒川靖懿王
1445−1483
1st Prince of Luochuan Comm.		Zhu Qihong
朱祁鉷
d.1503
Prince Anyi of Nanle
南樂安懿王
1457−1503
1st Prince of Nanle Comm.		Zhu Qizong
朱祁鏓
d.1476
Prince Rongshun of Pingxiang
平鄉榮順王
1457−1476
1st Prince of Pingxiang Comm.
6 princes from 7 generations
extinct in 1644		2 princes from 2 generations
abolished in 1493		6 princes from 5 generations
abolished in 1583		8 princes from 9 generations
extinct in 1644		7 princes from 7 generations
extinct in 1644		5 princes from 6 generations
extinct in 1644
1st son2nd son3rd son
Prince of Ruyuan Comm.
汝源王
1467		Prince of Kunyang Comm.
昆陽王
1467
extinct in 1506
Zhu Jianzuo
朱見灂
1453–1502
Prince Jing of Zhao
趙靖王
4th Prince of Zhao
1465–1502		Zhu Jianqi
朱見淇
d.1529
Prince Rongzhao of Ruyuan
汝源榮昭王
1st Prince of Ruyuan Comm.
1467–1529		Zhu Jianqia
朱見洽
d.1506
Prince Wenmu of Kunyang
昆陽溫穆王
1467–1506
2 princes from 3 generations
main line extinct in 1549
3rd son5th son
Prince of Qingliu Comm.
清流王
1492
title merged after succeeded princedom of Zhao in 1503		Prince of Guang'an Comm.
廣安王
1492
Zhu Youcai
朱祐棌
1480–1518
Prince Zhuang of Zhao
趙莊王
5th Prince of Zhao
1503–1518		Zhu Youzhi
朱祐枳
d.1502
Prince Duanyu of Guang'an
廣安端裕王
1st Prince of Guang'an Comm.
1492–1502
4 princes from 4 generations
extinct in 1606
1st son3rd son4th son6th son
Prince of Jiangning Comm.
江寧王
1521		Prince of Guangshan Comm.
光山王
1523		Prince of Xiushui Comm.
秀水王
1530
extinct in 1540
Zhu Houyu
朱厚煜
1498–1560
Prince Kang of Zhao
趙康王
6th Prince of Zhao
1521–1560		Zhu Houlian
朱厚煉
d.1562
Prince Gongyi of Jiangning
江寧恭懿王
1521–1562
1st Prince of Jiangning Comm.		Zhu Houhui
朱厚煇
d.1551
Prince Kangjing of Guangshan
光山康靖王
1523–1551		Zhu Houjiong
朱厚炯
d.1540
Prince Xianmu of Xiushui
秀水憲穆王
1530–1540
3 princes from 3 generations
extinct in 1600		extinct in 1511
the clan headed by the cadet members of princedom of Jiangning
1st son4th son
Prince of Huojia Comm.
獲嘉王
1531		Prince of Chenggao Comm.
成皐王
1540
Zhu Zaipei
朱載培
1510–1537
Prince Zhaoding of Huojia
獲嘉昭定王
1521–1560
"Prince Gong of Zhao"
趙恭王
(posthumously honoured in 1565)		Zhu Zaiyuan
朱載垸
d.1584
Prince Duanmu of Chenggao
成皐端穆王
1st Prince of Chenggao Comm.
1540–1584
1st son1st son
Zhu Yizi
朱翊錙
1537–1559
Hereditary Prince of Zhao (princely grandson)
1549–1559
"Prince An of Zhao"
趙安王
(posthumously hounoured in 1565)		Zhu Yizong
朱翊錝
d.1577
Defender General of Chenggao
1st son1st son
2nd Prince of Chenggao
succeeded in 1587, title merged after succeeded princedom of Zhao in 1632
Zhu Changqing
朱常清
1555–1614
Prince Mu of Zhao
趙穆王
7th Prince of Zhao
1565–1614		Zhu Changyu
朱常㳛
1574–1644
Prince Ke of Zhao
趙恪王
9th Prince of Zhao
1632–1644
7th son
Prince of Shouguang Comm.
壽光王
1599
Zhu Yougui
朱由桂
1590–1608
Prince Zhaojing of Shouguang
壽光昭敬王
1599-1608
"Prince Shun of Zhao"
趙順王
(posthumously honoured in 1617)		Zhu Youyan
朱由棪
1614–1647
10th Prince of Zhao
1646–1647
Zhu Ci...
朱慈𢣴
8th Prince of Zhao
1617–?

Princedom of Linzhang Comm.

Prince of Linzhang Commandery (臨漳郡王) was created in 1538, for Zhu Qijun, second son of Zhu Zhanhao, the 2nd Prince of Zhao. The princedom was abolished in 1644 when the Ming dynasty extinct.

  • Zhu Zhanhao, Prince Hui of Zhao, 2nd Prince of Zhao
    • Zhu Bangjun (朱祁鋆; d.1485) (1st), second son of Zhu Zhanhao, the 2nd Prince of Zhao. He was made Prince of Linzhang in 1444 until his death in 1485. His full posthumous name was Prince Gong'an of Linzhang (臨漳恭安王)
      • Zhu Jianzhi (朱見淔; d.1516) (2nd), Zhu Bangjun's eldest son. He succeeded the princedom from 1487 until his death in 1516. His full posthumous name was Prince Ronghe of Linzhang (臨漳榮和王)
        • Zhu Youyi (朱祐杙; d.1505), Zhu Jianzhi's eldest son. He was made a defender general when his father succeeded the princedom, he died before his father and was posthumously honoured as a Prince of Linzhang with the posthumous name "Prince Daohuai of Linzhang" (臨漳悼懷王) after his eldest son succeeded the princedom
            • Zhu Houke (朱厚炣; d.1529) (3rd), Zhu Youyi's eldest son. He succeeded the princedom from 1521, after his grandfather's death until his death in 1529
              • Name unknown (d.1590) (4th), Zhu Houke's eldest son. He succeeded the princedom from 1538 until his death in 1590. His full posthumous name was Prince Zhuanghui of Linzhang (臨漳莊惠王)
                • Zhu Yishuo (朱翊鎙) (5th), Prince Zhuanghui's eldest son. He was designated chief son (heir apparent) in 1586 and succeeded the princedom in 1593
                  • Zhu Changhai (朱常海) (6th), Zhu Yishuo's eldest son. He succeeded the princedom from 1622 until 1644

References