King Hui of Yan explained

King Hui of Yan
Succession:King of Yan
Reign:278–272 BCE
Predecessor:King Zhao
Successor:King Wucheng
Posthumous Name:King Hui (Chinese: 惠王)
Birth Date:?
Death Date:272 BC
Father:King Zhao of Yan

King Hui of Yan (died 272 BC), ancestral name (Chinese: ), clan name Yān (Chinese: ), personal name unknown, was the fifth king of the state of Yan in Warring States period of Chinese history. He ruled the kingdom between 278 BC until his death in 272 BC.[1]

King Hui was a son of King Zhao, he was appointed the heir apparent to the throne. He had been at odds with the general Yue Yi. After his succession, he replaced Yue Yi with Qi Jie (Chinese: 騎劫) as highest commander of the army. Yue Yi escaped to Zhao, where he was enfeoffed as Lord of Wangzhu. Yet Qi Jie was not a good leader, Yan was defeated by the troops of Qi under Tian Dan, lost all the territory of Qi again. [2] [3] King Hui sent a letter to Yue Yi, accusing him of betraying the country. Yue Yi replied: "I have heard that the worthy and sage-like among the lords would never lay waste to the achievements they had established and thus were written about in the annals of their country, and that prescient scholars would never ruin the reputation they had perfected and thus were extolled by later generations."[4] King Hui was regretful; as a compensation, he ordered Yue Jian (Chinese: 樂間), whom was Yue Yi's son, to inherit the title Lord of Changguo.[5]

In 272 BC, King Hui was murdered by his chancellor Lord Cheng'an (Chinese: 成安君).[6] He was succeeded by King Wucheng.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Cihai (small print edition) . 2000. 5th . Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House . 2510 . 7-5326-0630-9 .
  2. http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Zhou/rulers-yan.html The Regional State of Yan Chinese:
  3. Book: Records of the Grand Historian . 34 . zh . 昭王三十三年卒,子惠王立。惠王为太子时,与乐毅有隙;及即位,疑毅,使骑劫代将。乐毅亡走赵。齐田单以即墨击败燕军,骑劫死,燕兵引归,齐悉复得其故城。湣王死于莒,乃立其子为襄王.
  4. Book: John Knoblock . 1988 . Xunzi: A Translation and Study of the Complete Works . Stanford University Press . 182 . 9780804714518 .
  5. Book: Records of the Grand Historian . 80 . 於是燕王复以乐毅子乐间为昌国君;而乐毅往来复通燕,燕、赵以为客卿。乐毅卒於赵。.
  6. Book: Records of the Grand Historian . 43 . zh . 二十八年,蔺相如伐齐,至平邑。罢城北九门大城。燕将成安君公孙操弑其王。.