Zhang Tianxi was the youngest son of Zhang Jun, and he seized the throne from his nephew Zhang Xuanjing in 363.
23 Facts About Zhang Tianxi
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Zhang Tianxi became a Former Qin official, but after Former Qin's failed attempt to conquer Jin in 383 at the Battle of Fei River, he fled to Jin.
3.
Zhang Tianxi died in 406,30 years after his state was destroyed.
4.
Zhang Tianxi's mother was Zhang Jun's concubine Lady Liu.
5.
Sometime either during Zhang Zuo's reign or that of his nephew Zhang Xuanjing, who became ruler after the violent and arbitrary Zhang Zuo was overthrown in 355, Zhang Tianxi visited the Jin capital Jiankang, and it was this time that his non-standard, three-character courtesy name Gongchungu was apparently joked about, so he dropped the initial character "Gong" and made it Chungu.
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The young Zhang Xuanjing went through a progression of regents.
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Zhang Tianxi's forces, hearing this, abandoned him, and Zhang Tianxi Yong committed suicide.
8.
Zhang Tianxi's clan was slaughtered, and Zhang Tianxi became sole regent.
9.
Zhang Tianxi ended the practice of using Emperor Min of Jin's era name Jianxing and instead started using the current era name of Jin Dynasty, to show even greater affinity with Jin.
10.
Zhang Tianxi honored his mother Lady Liu as princess dowager, and he immediately sought out an official Jin commission as the Duke of Xiping, and released the Jin messenger Yu Gui, who had been detained by Zhang Chonghua in 347 after offending him by refusing to grant him the Prince of Liang title that he wanted.
11.
Zhang Tianxi's reign was regarded as one that was filled by arbitrariness, as he apparently allowed Liu Su, Zhao Baiju, and other trusted followers, none of whom was older than 20 years at the time of his ascension, govern as they wished.
12.
In early 367, Zhang Tianxi personally attacked Li and took a number of cities from him.
13.
The Former Qin prime minister Wang Meng led a force to try to relieve Li's capital Fuhan, and Wang and Zhang Tianxi's forces came to a stalemate at Fuhan.
14.
Zhang Tianxi accepted, and a major confrontation with Former Qin was averted.
15.
Under Former Qin threat Zhang Tianxi became more obsessed with drinking and women than before, ignoring the duties of state.
16.
Zhang Tianxi deposed his first heir apparent, Zhang Dahuai and made the son of his favorite concubine Consort Jiao, Zhang Dayu, heir apparent.
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The other armies that Zhang Tianxi sent were all defeated by Former Liang forces, and the last one commanded by Chang Ju was annihilated.
18.
Zhang Tianxi himself tried to lead an army to resist, but uprisings in Guzang started as soon as he tried to leave Guzang.
19.
Zhang Tianxi became fearful and returned to Guzang and then surrendered.
20.
Fu Jian spared Zhang Tianxi and gave him a mid-level government post, creating him the Marquess of Guiyi.
21.
In 383, Zhang Tianxi was attending to Fu Jian when Former Qin forces, trying to destroy Jin, was defeated by Jin forces at the Battle of Fei River.
22.
Zhang Tianxi took this opportunity to flee to Jin along with the captured Jin generals Zhu Xu and Xu Yuanxi.
23.
Zhang Tianxi became known for his literary skills, but the Jin officials largely disrespected him for losing his state and being captured by Former Qin.