16 Facts About Qiao Zong

Qiao Zong was a Han Chinese military leader in present-day Sichuan province in China during the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

Qiao Zong proclaimed himself the Prince of Chengdu in 405 and was given the title "Prince of Shu" by Yao Xing, ruler of the Later Qin, in 409.

Qiao Zong divided his forces into two groups, one commanded by his brothers Mao Jin and Mao Yuan, and one commanded by Qiao Zong and Hou Hui.

Qiao Zong refused and ran, but as the soldiers closed in on him, he tried to jump into the river to commit suicide, but he was pulled out of the water, and, with swords on his neck, forced to assume a place on a royal litter.

Qiao Zong pleaded against it, even prostrating himself on the ground and bowing to the soldiers, but was tied to the litter and forced to "lead" the mutineers.

Qiao Zong assumed the title Prince of Chengdu, and set his capital at Chengdu, the capital of Yi Province.

Also around this time, Qiao Zong submitted as a vassal to Later Qin's emperor Yao Xing.

Qiao Zong secretly maintained a relationship with Jin's governor of Guang Province, Lu Xun, who was formally a Jin official but had maintained in reality an independent administration over his domain.

In 408, Qiao Zong requested Yao Xing to send Huan Xuan's cousin Huan Qian to Chengdu, so that he and Huan Qian could jointly attack Jin.

In late 408, Liu Jingxuan advanced to Huanghu, and Qiao Zong sought aid from Later Qin; Yao Xing sent an army to assist him, but at the same time, Qiao Daofu was able to resist Liu Jingxuan's advance, and after the armies stalemated for 60 days, Liu Jingxuan's army ran out of food supplies and grew ill, and was forced to retreat.

Qiao Zong withdrew back to his domain, but did manage to, in the process, capture Badong Commandery.

Only when Zhu reached Pingmo did a Western Shu army, commanded by Hou Hui and Qiao Zong Shen arrive to try to stop Zhu.

Qiao Zong, hearing that Zhu was about to arrive, abandoned Chengdu and fled toward Qiao Daofu's camp.

Qiao Zong's daughter suggested that they commit suicide on the ancestral tombs, but Qiao Zong refused.

Qiao Zong fled but, believing that he could not escape, committed suicide by hanging.

Qiao Zong Daofu tried to continue to resist, but his army collapsed, and he was captured and killed by Zhu.