Early life

Zhang Jun was the son of Zhang Shi (張寔), the Jin governor of Liang Province (涼州, modern central and western Gansu) and the Duke of Xiping. In 320, Zhang Shi was assassinated by his guards Yan She (閻涉) and Zhao Ang (趙卬), who were followers of the magician Liu Hong (劉弘), who had falsely prophesied that he would be the ruler of Liang Province. Zhang Shi's brother Zhang Mao captured and executed Liu and his followers. Because Zhang Jun was still young (aged 13) at the time, Zhang Shi's subordinates requested that Zhang Mao take over the governorship. (Because Zhang Mao also declared a general pardon at the time, a power normally reserved for an emperor, this was often viewed as the date of Former Liang's independence from Jin.) Zhang Mao made Zhang Jun a general, and later in the year named him his heir. In 324, Zhang Mao died, and Zhang Jun succeeded him. Because Zhang Mao had previously been forced to submit to Han Zhao and was given the title the Prince of Liang, Zhang Jun carried that title as well, even though internally he used the Jin-vested title of Duke of Xiping.

Early reign

In 326, Zhang Jun, in fear of Han Zhao, forcibly relocated the people of Longxi (隴西) and Nan'an (南安, collectively roughly Dingxi, Gansu) Commanderies to the capital Guzang (姑臧, in modern Wuwei, Gansu). He also sought peace with Cheng Han's emperor Li Xiong and further tried to persuade Li Xiong to become a Jin vassal. Li Xiong agreed to peace and further did not completely rebuff Zhang Jun's overture, but also did not actually become a Jin vassal.

In 327, after hearing news that Han Zhao had suffered losses at Later Zhao's hands, Zhang Jun disavowed all titles granted by Han Zhao and returned to Jin titles, and attacked Han Zhao's Qin Province (秦州, modern eastern Gansu). Han Zhao's prince Liu Yin counterattacked, and, after defeating Former Liang general Han Pu (韓璞), captured all Former Liang territory south of the Yellow River and further crossed the river, but did not advance further. However, Zhang Jun did not resubmit to Han Zhao. As Han Zhao disintegrated and fell to Later Zhao in 329 after its emperor Liu Yao was captured by Later Zhao forces, Former Liang took the opportunity to regain lands south of the Yellow River. In 330, Later Zhao's emperor Shi Le sent messengers to persuade Former Liang to submit (by granting him honors, including the nine bestowments), but Zhang Jun refused and detained Shi Le's messengers. Later in the year, however, after Later Zhao's general Shi Sheng (石生) the Prince of Hedong defeated the nearby Xiongnu chieftain Shi Qiang (石羌), Zhang Jun became apprehensive and submitted to Later Zhao.

In 333, in the aftermaths of Shi Le's death and the coup by his nephew Shi Hu, a number of Later Zhao generals rebelled and tried to seek Jin and Former Liang assistance. Former Liang tried to ally itself with one of these generals, the Di chief Pu Hong (蒲洪). However, in light of Shi Hu's victory over most of the other generals, Pu soon submitted to Shi Hu. Shi Hu, however, did not appear to consider attacking Former Liang, and, not having to fight Later Zhao for years, by 335 Zhang Jun's domain was described as being so rich and strong and under his capable leadership that it also became overlord over a number of Xiyu (西域, collective name for modern Xinjiang and former Soviet central Asia) kingdoms, which offered tribute to Zhang Jun. He submitted a plan to Emperor Cheng of Jin requesting to attack Later Zhao and/or Cheng Han jointly with Jin forces, but the plan was not acted upon by Emperor Cheng.

Late reign

In 339, Zhang Jun transferred some of his authorities to his heir apparent, Zhang Chonghua. In 340, he offered tribute to Shi Hu, but in his petition he used arrogant words. Shi Hu was angered and wanted to kill his messenger, but Shi Hu's official Shi Pu (石璞) was able to persuade him to overlook Zhang Jun's arrogance.

In 344, a battle between Former Liang and Later Zhao forces was mentioned, perhaps indicating that the relationship was not as peaceful as before.

In early 346, Zhang Jun attacked the Xiyu kingdom Yanqi (焉耆, in modern Bayin'gholin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang), and Yanqui submitted to him. By this point, he was described as having taken the title Acting Prince of Liang (假涼王) and using styles that were usually reserved for emperors.

In summer 346, Zhang Jun died, and was succeeded by his heir apparent Zhang Chonghua.

Era name?

Most historical sources indicate that Zhang Jun, like his father Zhang Shi and his uncle Zhang Mao, continued to use Emperor Min of Jin's era name Jianxing (both to show continued allegiance to Jin and to distance himself from Emperor Yuan of Jin and his line) but some sources indicate that he changed era name to Taiyuan (太元 tài yuán 324–346). A current theory is that his era name was used internally while the Jianxing era name was used when communicating with other states.

Personal information

• Father

　• Zhang Shi, Duke Yuan of Xiping

• Wife

　• Princess Yan

• Major Concubines

　• Lady Ma, mother of Zhang Chonghua

　• Mother of Zhang Tianxi, variously reported as Lady Liu or Lady Yan

• Children

　• Zhang Zuo (張祚), the Marquess of Changning, later Prince Wei

　• Zhang Chonghua (張重華), the heir apparent, later Duke Jinglie

　• Zhang Tianxi (張天錫), the Marquess of Changning (created 354), later Duke Dao

生平

建興四年（316年），張駿受封霸城侯。建興八年（320年），張寔去世，涼州州府推舉其叔張茂繼位，張茂於是以張駿為撫軍將軍、武威太守，襲爵西平公。建興十二年（324年），張駿在張茂死後繼位，並暗示時滯留在姑臧的晉愍帝使者史淑以晉廷名義授予自己使持節大都督、大將軍、涼州牧、領護羌校尉，封西平公。時前趙皇帝劉曜也授張駿大將軍、涼州牧，封涼王。

對外擴張

張駿繼位時，守枹罕的涼州將領辛晏據城反對張駿，不服其統治。張駿打算討伐但為從事劉慶勸止，而翌年辛晏也向張駿投降，收服了河南之地。建興十五年（327年），張駿聽聞前趙軍隊敗於後趙，於是除去前趙所授的官爵，用回晉朝的官爵，並派兵進攻前趙秦州。可時前涼軍敗於前趙南陽王劉胤所率的軍隊，劉胤更乘勝渡過黃河，攻陷令居並殺二萬多人，又進佔振武，震動河西，張駿派皇甫該前往防禦。金城太守張閬及枹罕護軍辛晏都向前趙投降，河南之地復失。建興十七年（329年），前趙亡於後趙，張駿於次年就乘機重奪河南地，進軍至狄道，置武街、石門、侯和、漒川及甘松五屯護軍。不久，後趙派了鴻臚孟毅授予張駿征西大將軍、涼州牧，但張駿恥於為後趙之臣，不接受並留下孟毅。但不久就因畏懼後趙強大而向其稱臣，送還孟毅。東晉朝廷也進張駿鎮西大將軍，仍授涼州刺史、領護羌校尉並封西平公，詔命於建興二十一年（333年）到達前涼，張駿接受任命，派王豐等人陳謝並上疏稱臣，但仍然用建興年號，不用東晉年號。次年東晉又進張駿為大將軍，此後晉涼每年都有使者往來。

張駿又曾派將領楊宣率兵進攻龜茲及鄯善，終令西域諸國都歸附前涼，焉耆前部王及于寘王都派人進貢。也曾上疏晉廷請求配合司空郗鑒及征西將軍庾亮進行北伐。

對內政策

西域長史李柏敗於不肯服從張駿的戊己校尉趙貞，有人認為是李柏自設計謀導致失敗，請張駿誅殺他，然而張駿終免李柏一死，更得眾人歡心。張駿也改易原本犯下死罪者的親屬不得留在朝中的律令，只是限制他們不能參與宿衞，於是令前涼刑法清明，國家富強，群僚更於建興二十年（332年）勸張駿稱「涼王」，自領秦涼二州牧，置公卿百官。雖然張駿嚴詞拒絕，但其實前涼境內都用涼王去稱呼張駿。後張駿更努力改變自己，勤於庶政，統掌涼州文武事務，治績不錯，得四方稱頌，叫他做「積賢君」。而涼州自晉末以來連年都有戰事，至張駿在位時漸見平穩安定。建興二十七年（339年），張駿又設闢雍、明堂以行禮教。

張駿攻西域後，在涼州西界劃出設沙州，又將涼州東界劃出設河州，時屬官們都稱臣。張駿亦在姑臧附近增築新城，又修建用金玉和五色畫裝飾的謙光殿，極盡珍貴精巧，其四面都各建一殿，四季各居一殿。他又自稱大都督、大將軍、假涼王，督攝涼沙河三州，設六佾之舞，設天子的豹尾車，所設祭酒、郎中、大夫、舍人、謁者等官職官號都模仿晉朝體系，只是稍稍改了名字。

建興三十四年（346年），張駿去世，享年四十歲，前涼私諡為文公，晉廷則賜諡號忠成，贈大司馬，歸葬大陵。其子張祚稱帝時，追尊為文王，廟號世祖。

陵墓

後涼年間，有名叫安據的即序胡人盜張駿墓，見張駿貌如生前，並盜得真珠簏、琉璃榼、白玉樽、赤玉簫、紫玉笛、珊瑚鞭、馬腦鐘、水陸奇珍不可勝數。後涼皇帝呂纂誅安據黨徒五十餘家，遣使弔祭張駿，並繕修其墓。

性格特徵

張駿年輕就已顯得奇特雄偉，十歲時就能寫文章，為人卓越不羈，但曾經縱情淫慾，常夜遊城邑里巷。《魏書·張寔傳》記載張駿為人貪婪，為求進圖秦隴而給予人民穀物布帛，一年後收一倍稅收，不夠的都要用田地屋宅抵償。然《晉書·張軌傳》則載是譚詳建議將倉庫的穀贈予百姓，然後在秋季收三倍稅收，為陰據所諫而放棄實行。《魏書》又寫其因畏懼大姓陰氏勢力大而逼陰澹弟陰鑒自殺，大失人心。此事《晉書》亦無載。

家庭

妻妾

• 嚴王后，嫡妻，張重華繼位後尊為大王太后

• 馬夫人，張重華生母，獲尊為王太后。

子

• 張祚，前涼威王，張駿長子，曾稱帝。

• 張重華，前涼桓王，張駿次子。

• 張天錫，前涼末任君主，西平悼公。

註釋