Marquis Su of Zhao (赵肃侯, Triệu Túc hầu; personal name Zhao Yu 赵语; reigned 349–326 BC), was the fifth monarch of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period and the father of the legendary military reformer King Wuling of Zhao (King Wuling).
Reigning for twenty-four years, Marquis Su constructed the massive Great Wall of Southern Zhao (赵南长城) along the Zhang River to deter incursions from Wei and Chu. In 326 BC, upon his death, the neighboring states of Qin, Wei, Qi, Yan, and Chu each dispatched ten thousand heavily armed troops to attend his funeral in Handan, intending to intimidate and divide Zhao. However, Marquis Su’s youthful son, the future King Wuling, mobilized Zhao’s border armies, placed the capital on total war footing, and forced the five armies to pay respectful homage and withdraw without battle.
Contents
Role in History (Shiji)
Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji, vol. 43, House of Zhao): “Marquis Su built the Great Wall of Zhao; upon his death, five states sent ten thousand troops each in funeral armor. King Wuling ordered the borders barred and swords drawn, and the kings withdrew in awe.”
Marquis Su of Zhao — Historical & Literary Timeline
349 BC
Accession in Handan
Succeeds his father Marquis Cheng of Zhao.
333 BC
The Great Wall of Southern Zhao
Constructs extensive frontier wall networks along the southern boundary.
326 BC
Death & The Five-Nation Funeral Crisis
Passes away in Handan; succeeded by King Wuling who masterfully defuses the invasion threat.
Key Relationships
Family
- Father Marquis Cheng of Zhao (赵成侯): Preceding monarch.
- Son & Successor King Wuling of Zhao (King Wuling): Legendary monarch who instituted cavalry archery.
Friends
- Diplomatic Reformer Su Qin (苏秦): Architect of the Vertical Alliance who forged treaties with Zhao.
Enemies
- Rival Powers King Hui of Wei, State of Qin: Sent armies under the guise of funeral mourners.
Other
- Handan Commanders Garrison generals of the Zhang River: Guarded the frontier walls.
In Shiji
“The ramparts of Marquis Su stood firm against five kings; his legacy birthed the iron horsemen of Wuling.”
Historical Context
Marquis Su’s defensive fortifications provided the secure foundation from which King Wuling launched his military revolution.