Death

In 979, 3 years after his father's death, Zhao Dezhao was leading an army in Emperor Taizong's first campaign against the Khitans, when rumors spread in the army that Emperor Taizong had disappeared, and that Zhao Dezhao should be the new emperor. The rumors died when Emperor Taizong was found, however, and Emperor Taizong was very unhappy about the results of his campaign and refused to award the troops sparking complaints from them. On August 26, Zhao Dezhao went to inquire the emperor, who either barked "You do that when you become the new emperor!" or "You may do it yourself after you have ascended the throne! There's still time for that!" Zhao Dezhao immediately went to his palace and asked his guards for a sabre. The guards told him that blades were not allowed in the palace, so Zhao Dezhao fetched a knife for cutting fruits, went to his room and then proceeded to slice his throat killing him. Upon hearing about the suicide, Emperor Taizong was very saddened and hugged the corpse crying while saying "Silly boy, how did you come to this depravity?」

However, as official history may not be trusted in events like this, some historians suspect that Zhao Dezhao was either murdered or forced to commit suicide by his uncle, who possibly was also involved in the deaths of Zhao Dezhao's father and younger brother. Zhao Defang, the last surviving son of Emperor Taizu, died 2 years after Zhao Dezhao. He was also in his 20s.

He was the ancestor of Zhao Yun and Zhao Qi who later became emperors. They were posthumously known as Emperor Lizong and Emperor Duzong respectively.

Family

• Parents:

　• Zhao Kuangyin, Taizu (太祖 趙匡胤; 21 March 927 – 14 November 976)

　• Empress Xiaohui, of the He clan (孝惠皇后 賀氏; 929–958)

• Consorts and Issue:

　• Lady Wang (王氏)

　• Lady He (賀氏)

　• Lady Chen (陳氏)

　• Lady Zhu (朱氏)

　• Unknown

　　• Zhao Weizheng, Prince Jing (靖王 趙惟正; d. 1032)

　　• Zhao Weiji, Prince Ji (冀王 趙惟吉; 966–1010)

　　• Zhao Weigu, Prince Wei (魏王 趙惟固; d. 983)

　　• Zhao Weizhong, Duke Shu (舒國公 趙惟忠)

　　• Zhao Weihe (趙惟和)

生平

父親太祖死後，流傳著燭影斧聲疑案，叔叔趙光義被認為是弒君篡位，即宋太宗。趙德昭失去了當皇帝的機會，太宗雖然封德昭為武功郡王，朝會時位列宰相之上，但內心對這位頗有韜略的侄子存有戒心。

太平興國四年（979年），宋軍攻打北漢，攻下北漢首都太原，並大勝南下援漢的遼軍。宋軍平定北漢後，太宗命大軍乘勝攻打被契丹人佔領的燕雲十六州，並領軍親征幽州，及命趙德昭隨征。一夜偶發之事驚擾軍營，士兵到處尋找太宗卻不知其蹤影，傳說中當時有人提出立德昭為帝，後來太宗出現，此事亦不了了之，但太宗得知有人打算立趙德昭為帝，更為不滿。

後來太宗領兵攻打幽州被遼軍打敗，狼狽撤兵，太宗感到不快。按宋代規定，得勝很快就犒賞，雖然宋軍出征燕雲十六州是敗仗，但之前平定北漢的勝仗，宋太宗卻遲遲不獎勵士兵。當德昭提醒太宗趕快論功行賞時，太宗以懷疑、忌恨的口吻說：「你當皇帝時，再賞還不遲。」德昭聞言惶恐不已，問左右武士「身上有刀嗎？」武士們都說沒有。德昭只好退而用水果刀自刎。德昭死後，太宗又跑到德昭宅邸大哭道：「傻侄兒，我不過一句氣話，你怎會走這條路！」一般認為，這是史官在為趙光義逼死德昭的罪行做掩飾。

家庭

祖先

妻子

韓國夫人王氏，太子太傅王溥之女。

鄭國夫人陳氏，生趙惟吉。

子嗣

• 趙惟正：同安僖靖王

• 趙惟吉：南陽康孝王、冀王，其後代為宋理宗、宋度宗、宋恭帝等。

• 趙惟固：左千牛衛將軍、魏王

• 趙惟忠：右千牛衛大將軍、鄂州觀察使、江夏侯、彰化軍節度使、舒國公。妻任國夫人田氏，子七人

• 趙惟和：汝州防禦使、臨汝侯、永清軍節度觀察留後、清源郡公