During the reigns of Zhang Chonghua and Zhang Yaoling

Little is known about Zhang Zuo's personal background, other than that he was Zhang Jun's oldest son, but was not designated heir apparent. His younger brother Zhang Chonghua was, even though neither was born of Zhang Jun's wife Princess Yan. Neither his mother nor his birth year was recorded in history. He was praised for being strong, brave and knowledgeable, and either Zhang Jun or Zhang Chonghua created him the Marquess of Changning.

During the reign of his brother Zhang Chonghua, Zhang Zuo was trusted by his brother, and despite warnings by Chang Ju (常据) and Xie Ai, Zhang Chonghua, for a long time, intended for Zhang Zuo to serve as regent for his son Zhang Yaoling. Late in 353, however, as Zhang Chonghua was gravely ill, he ordered that Xie be recalled to be warrant—but Zhang Zuo and Zhang Chonghua's attendants Zhao Zhang (赵长) and Wei Qi (尉缉), who had conspired to take over power, blocked Zhang Chonghua's order and instead forged an order making Zhang Zuo regent. Zhang Chonghua soon died, and he was succeeded by Zhang Yaoling, at age nine, but real power was in Zhang Zuo's hands.

Zhang Zuo, who had by this point engaged in an affair with Zhang Chonghua's mother Princess Dowager Ma, soon made his move to formally take over. With Princess Ma's approval, Zhang Yaoling was deposed in early 354 and replaced with Zhang Zuo, who soon showed his cruel side, as he put Xie Ai and Zhang Chonghua's wife Princess Pei to death.

Reign

Early in 354, Zhang Zuo declared a clear break from Jin—a move that none of his predecessors had dared to do. He completely repudiated the Jin era name Jianxing (declared by Emperor Min of Jin and used in at least some facility by every Zhang patriarch since his grandfather Zhang Shi (张寔)) and changed the era name to Heping. He also declared himself a greater title than the Jin-bestowed Duke of Xiping—although what that title was is a matter of historical controversy, as Jin Shu indicated that he declared himself emperor (and created his wife Lady Xin empress and his sons princes) and Zizhi Tongjian indicated that he declared himself Prince of Liang, although the inclusion by Jin Shu of a declaration of independence by Zhang Zuo appears to lend credibility to the Jin Shu account.

Later that year, Zhang Zuo nevertheless sent his general Wang Zhuo (王擢) to assist the Jin general Sima Xun, who was commanding an auxiliary force in conjunction with the main force commanded by Huan Wen against Former Qin. Wang submitted a report to Zhang Zuo stating that Huan was capable of commanding large armies and had great ambition, which caused Zhang Zuo to panic. Oddly, he decided to assassinate Wang, but failed. He then mobilized his troops, ready to resist Huan or to flee in case Huan destroyed Former Qin and then turned his attention on him. After Huan was forced to withdraw after his food supplies ran out, however, Zhang Zuo attacked Wang, forcing Wang to surrender to Former Qin.

Zhang Zuo's rule, according to traditional accounts, was one filled with debauchery, cruelty, and extravagance. He was said to not only had an affair with Princess Dowager Ma, but committed incest with all of Zhang Chonghua's daughters. He became apprehensive of his general Zhang Guan (张瓘), so he sent Zhang Guan on an expedition, but sent another army to ambush him. The news leaked, however, and Zhang Guan turned his army against the capital Guzang (姑臧, in modern Wuwei, Gansu). He declared that Zhang Zuo should be deposed and Zhang Yaoling should be restored. He was soon joined by another major general, Song Hun (宋混). In response, Zhang Zuo had his young nephew put to death by beating.

That action could not save him, however, as Zhang Guan and Song continued their advances on the capital. Zhang Zuo ordered that Zhang Guan's brother Zhang Ju (张琚) and son Zhang Song (张嵩) be arrested and executed, but instead Zhang Ju and Zhang Son started an uprising within Guzang and opened the city gates to welcome in Song's forces. Zhang Zuo's former coconspirators Zhao Zhang and Wei Qi became apprehensive and forced Princess Dowager Ma to declare Zhang Chonghua's younger son Zhang Xuanjing as the new ruler. Guards still loyal to Zhang Zuo killed Zhao and Wei, but soon fell apart in the confusion, and Zhang Zuo was killed. Song cut off his head and put his two sons to death.

Era name

• Heping (和平 hé píng) 354–355

Personal information

• Father

　• Zhang Jun (Duke Zhongcheng)

• Wife

　• Empress (or Princess) Xin (created 354)

• Children

　• Zhang Taihe (张太和), the Crown Prince (created 354, executed by army officers 355)

　• Zhang Tingjian (张庭坚), the Prince or Marquess of Jiankang (created 354, executed by army officers 355)

生平

侵夺上位

张祚受封长宁侯，他博学且强壮勇武，又有政治才能，可是为人狡诈善于奉承，与张重华宠臣赵长、尉缉等人勾结并结为异姓兄弟。建兴四十一年（353年）张重华病重时，曾下手令召酒泉太守谢艾入朝辅政，但为赵长等压下。同年张重华死，由其年幼的长子张曜灵继位，赵长等就假称张重华遗令，以张祚为持节、都督中外诸军事、抚军将军身份辅政。时赵长等以张曜灵年幼，称国家需要年长君主，张祚因与张重华之母马太后通奸，遂煽动马太后废黜了张曜灵，立张祚为主。张祚于是自称大都督、大将军、凉州牧、凉公。张祚位后即淫乱张重华的妻妾及其未嫁女儿。

和平元年（354年），张祚称帝，改元「和平」，设宗庙、八佾舞，并置百官，尚书马岌因切谏被免官，郎中丁琪进谏更被杀，又杀谢艾。张祚又曾进攻骊靬，但大败而还。同年东晋桓温北伐，也有配合北伐的秦州刺史王擢派人报告张祚称桓温善于用兵，军势难测。张祚闻讯恐惧，但还担忧王擢会倒过来进攻自己，于是派人暗杀他，但因被王擢发现而不成。张祚在暗杀失败后更加恐惧，于是出兵声称要东征，实则是想西退至敦煌自保，只是遇上桓温退兵才取消行动。不过，张祚仍继续打击王擢，派了牛霸率三千兵打败王擢，逼使王擢投降前秦。

乱政致祸

张祚治国不道，曾置五都尉去专抓别人过失，又限定四品以下官员不得送赠衣布，庶人不能畜养奴婢及乘坐车马。张祚为人荒淫暴虐，国人无不侧目，都作讽刺其淫乱的诗。和平二年（355年），张祚因不欲河州刺史张瓘强大，于是命令他去讨伐叛胡，其实已派易揣及张玲率三千兵袭击张瓘。王鸾识术数，向张祚说：「这支军队出去，肯定不会回来，凉国会陷于危险。」更上陈张祚三不道。张祚闻言大怒，认定王鸾所说是妖言，将他处斩。王鸾临死前就说：「我死后，军队在外面战败，大王在内死亡，肯定会发生的！」张祚更诛杀王鸾一族人。不过，张瓘就杀了张祚派去代其守枹罕的索孚，易揣等渡过黄河途中就被张瓘攻击，张瓘更出兵跟随单骑逃还的易揣，兵向姑臧。张瓘军前来的消息震动姑臧人心，时宋混、宋澄兄弟因其兄宋修与张祚有前嫌，就出城聚众响应张瓘，并反攻姑臧。时张瓘传檄州郡，要复立张曜灵，故张祚就派杨秋胡杀害张曜灵；另又收捕并处死张瓘的两个弟弟张琚及张嵩。二人知要被捕时却在市招募数百，大叫张瓘大军已经到达姑臧城东，恐吓敢动手的人要被诛三族。收捕的人果被吓退，然后二人西城门迎宋混等入城。赵长等人惧怕因拥立张祚获罪，于是请马太后出殿，改立张玄靓为主，不过易揣等人却引兵入殿，收杀赵长等人。宋混等入城后，张祚按剑命令部众死战，但因为他失众心，将士根本毫无斗志，张祚于是为宋混等杀死，头被斩下宣示内外，更遭曝尸在大道左边，城内人民都大呼万岁。

陵墓

事后张祚以庶人的礼仪下葬，直至其弟张天锡即位时，才改葬到愍陵，追諡为威王。

家庭

妻子

• 辛王后

子女

• 太子张泰和，一说张太和，354年立，355年被变军所杀。

• 建康公张庭坚，一说张廷坚，354年封，355年被变军所杀，张天锡后追封为金泽侯。

注释