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 (常據) 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 (趙長) and Wei Qi (尉緝), 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 (張寔)) 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 (張瓘), 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 (張琚) and son Zhang Song (張嵩) 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 (張太和), the Crown Prince (created 354, executed by army officers 355)

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

生平

侵奪上位

張祚受封長寧侯，他博學且強壯勇武，又有政治才能，可是為人狡詐善於奉承，與張重華寵臣趙長、尉緝等人勾結並結為異姓兄弟。建興四十一年（353年）張重華病重時，曾下手令召酒泉太守謝艾入朝輔政，但為趙長等壓下。同年張重華死，由其年幼的長子張曜靈繼位，趙長等就假稱張重華遺令，以張祚為持節、都督中外諸軍事、撫軍將軍身份輔政。時趙長等以張曜靈年幼，稱國家需要年長君主，張祚因與張重華之母馬太后通姦，遂煽動馬太后廢黜了張曜靈，立張祚為主。張祚於是自稱大都督、大將軍、涼州牧、涼公。張祚位後即淫亂張重華的妻妾及其未嫁女兒。

和平元年（354年），張祚稱帝，改元「和平」，設宗廟、八佾舞，並置百官，尚書馬岌因切諫被免官，郎中丁琪進諫更被殺，又殺謝艾。張祚又曾進攻驪靬，但大敗而還。同年東晉桓溫北伐，也有配合北伐的秦州刺史王擢派人報告張祚稱桓溫善於用兵，軍勢難測。張祚聞訊恐懼，但還擔憂王擢會倒過來進攻自己，於是派人暗殺他，但因被王擢發現而不成。張祚在暗殺失敗後更加恐懼，於是出兵聲稱要東征，實則是想西退至敦煌自保，只是遇上桓溫退兵才取消行動。不過，張祚仍繼續打擊王擢，派了牛霸率三千兵打敗王擢，逼使王擢投降前秦。

亂政致禍

張祚治國不道，曾置五都尉去專抓別人過失，又限定四品以下官員不得送贈衣布，庶人不能畜養奴婢及乘坐車馬。張祚為人荒淫暴虐，國人無不側目，都作諷刺其淫亂的詩。和平二年（355年），張祚因不欲河州刺史張瓘強大，於是命令他去討伐叛胡，其實已派易揣及張玲率三千兵襲擊張瓘。王鸞識術數，向張祚說：「這支軍隊出去，肯定不會回來，涼國會陷於危險。」更上陳張祚三不道。張祚聞言大怒，認定王鸞所說是妖言，將他處斬。王鸞臨死前就說：「我死後，軍隊在外面戰敗，大王在內死亡，肯定會發生的！」張祚更誅殺王鸞一族人。不過，張瓘就殺了張祚派去代其守枹罕的索孚，易揣等渡過黃河途中就被張瓘攻擊，張瓘更出兵跟隨單騎逃還的易揣，兵向姑臧。張瓘軍前來的消息震動姑臧人心，時宋混、宋澄兄弟因其兄宋修與張祚有前嫌，就出城聚眾響應張瓘，並反攻姑臧。時張瓘傳檄州郡，要復立張曜靈，故張祚就派楊秋胡殺害張曜靈；另又收捕並處死張瓘的兩個弟弟張琚及張嵩。二人知要被捕時卻在市招募數百，大叫張瓘大軍已經到達姑臧城東，恐嚇敢動手的人要被誅三族。收捕的人果被嚇退，然後二人西城門迎宋混等入城。趙長等人懼怕因擁立張祚獲罪，於是請馬太后出殿，改立張玄靚為主，不過易揣等人卻引兵入殿，收殺趙長等人。宋混等入城後，張祚按劍命令部眾死戰，但因為他失眾心，將士根本毫無鬥志，張祚於是為宋混等殺死，頭被斬下宣示內外，更遭曝屍在大道左邊，城內人民都大呼萬歲。

陵墓

事後張祚以庶人的禮儀下葬，直至其弟張天錫即位時，才改葬到愍陵，追諡為威王。

家庭

妻子

• 辛王后

子女

• 太子張泰和，一說張太和，354年立，355年被變軍所殺。

• 建康公張庭堅，一說張廷堅，354年封，355年被變軍所殺，張天錫後追封為金澤侯。

註釋