先世

姚弋仲為燒當羌後代，漢光武帝建武中元年間其先祖滇虞因侵擾東漢而受東漢朝廷討伐，被逼逃亡出塞。至遷那時內附，至此獲居於南安郡赤亭縣。姚弋仲是遷那的五世孫，其父是曹魏鎮西將軍、西羌都督柯回。

生平

姚弋仲年少聰明而勇猛，英明果斷，雄武剛毅，不治產業而以收容救濟為務，故很受眾人敬服。永嘉六年（312年），時值永嘉之亂次年，姚弋仲舉眾東遷榆眉，胡漢人民扶老攜幼跟隨者有數萬，姚弋仲並於此時自稱護西羌校尉、雍州刺史、「扶風公」。太寧元年（323年），前趙帝劉曜消滅盤據隴西的陳安後，關隴地區的氐、羌部落都向前趙請降，劉曜就以姚弋仲為平西將軍，封平襄公。

劉曜於咸和三年（328年）敗於後趙天王石勒後，留守長安的太子劉熙於次年棄守長安，出奔上邽（今甘肅天水市），導致關中大亂，後趙乘時進取關中。不久石虎更領兵攻下上邽，消滅前趙殘餘勢力，姚弋仲亦於是歸降後趙，並獲石虎推薦行安西將軍、六夷左都督。姚弋仲當時向石虎建議遷移隴上豪族，以削弱其實力並充實京畿地區，得石虎聽從。

至咸和八年（333年），後趙帝石勒去世，石虎以丞相掌握朝權，因著姚弋仲前言及氐酋蒲洪的勸言，於是遷關中豪族及氐、羌共十萬戶到首都襄國（今河北邢台）所在的關東地區，並命姚弋仲為奮武將軍、西羌大都督，封襄平縣公，讓他的部眾遷居於清河郡的灄頭（今河北棗強縣東北）。後又遷持節、十郡六夷大都督、冠軍大將軍。

永和五年（349年），高力督梁犢與其部眾兵變，聲勢浩大，並擊敗石虎派往討伐的李農。石虎當時大為恐懼，並召姚弋仲與燕王石斌討伐梁犢。姚弋仲率其部眾八千餘人輕騎至首都鄴城（今河北省臨漳縣）。當時石虎已重病，不能馬上接見，只先賞賜姚弋仲酒食。姚弋仲怒而不食，說：「召我擊賊，豈來覓食邪！我不知上存亡，若一見，雖死無恨。」石虎接見後加授姚弋仲使持節、侍中、征西大將軍，賜鎧馬。隨後姚弋仲就不辭而出，策馬南奔，大破叛軍，斬梁犢。因功加劍履上殿，入朝不趨，進封西平郡公。姚弋仲還當面指責石虎殺害年長兒子而立年幼兒子為儲，言辭之間用「你」「我」分別指代石虎與自己，全無君臣禮節，石虎也不計較。

同年，石虎去世，太子石世繼位，而征梁犢歸來的姚弋仲、蒲洪等人亦於此時回軍，並與彭城王石遵相遇於李城（今河南溫縣），並共同勸說石遵起兵奪位。石遵隨後起兵，不久就殺石世繼位，並讓冉閔掌有兵權。然而不久冉閔就廢殺石遵，立石鑒為帝，掌握朝政。新興王石祗於是與姚弋仲及蒲洪連兵，移檄討伐冉閔。次年，冉閔殺石鑒並誅殺石氏宗室，姚弋仲就率眾討伐冉閔，移兵至混橋。不久石祗於襄國即位為後趙帝，以姚弋仲為右丞相，封親趙王，並殊有禮待。永和七年（351年），冉閔圍攻襄國，姚弋仲命其子姚襄率兵救援石祗，並配合後趙太尉張舉的行動，遣使向前燕求援。最終在汝陰王石琨、姚襄、前燕三軍以及襄國守軍夾擊之下，圍城的冉閔兵敗，敗退鄴城。雖然姚襄取勝，但因為沒有應姚弋仲在出發前所要求的擒得冉閔，遭姚弋仲以杖打一百責罰。而同年石祗亦被殺，後趙滅亡，姚弋仲於是遣使向東晉投降，獲授使持節、六夷大都督、都督江淮諸軍事、車騎大將軍、儀同三司、大單于，封高陵郡公。

次年（352年），姚弋仲在患病時向諸子說：「石氏厚待我，我本來想盡力幫助他們。而今天石氏已經滅了，中原無主；我死了以後，你們要盡快歸降晉室，並固守臣節，不要做不義的事呀！」及後去世，享年七十三歲。其五子姚襄續統其眾。

陵墓

姚襄後為苻生所敗，弋仲的靈柩為其所獲，苻生以王禮葬弋仲於天水冀縣。後來，姚弋仲第二十四子姚萇稱後秦帝時，追諡姚弋仲為景元皇帝，廟號始祖，其墓稱為「高陵」，置園邑五百家。現為天水市域重點文物古蹟。

性格特徵

• 《晉書》載姚弋仲個性「清儉鯁直，不修威儀，屢獻讜言，無所迴避」，連殘暴的石虎也敬重三分，334年，石虎廢皇帝石弘自立，弋仲稱病不來朝賀，經石虎不斷召見才至，弋仲正色向石虎說：「奈何把臂受託而反奪之乎！」石虎也因為弋仲正直而不責怪他。後石虎一名寵姬的弟弟任武城左尉，擾亂姚弋仲的部眾，姚弋仲就捕捉並數責他，更命人殺了他，雖然最終因對方叩頭至流血作請求以及左右的諫言而不殺他，但也見姚弋仲為事剛直，毫不顧忌對方背景。後討梁犢前得石虎召見，又責備患病的石虎：「兒死，愁邪，何為而病？兒幼時不擇善人教之，使至於為逆；既為逆而誅之，又何愁焉！且汝久病，所立兒幼，汝若不愈，天下必亂，當先憂此，勿憂賊也！犢等窮困思歸，相聚為盜，所過殘暴，何所能至！老羌為汝一舉了之」除了看見他梗直而言，直指他教子無道而導致石宣殺害太子石韜的事件發生，亦見其不論尊卑皆直稱「汝」的行為，連作為皇帝的石虎也不例外。

• 姚弋仲曾有一個叫馬何羅的部曲曾在張豺主政時叛歸對方。後因石世被廢，張豺亦遭誅殺，馬何羅於是回到姚弋仲那裏。當時眾人都建議姚弋仲殺了他，但姚弋仲就以「招才納奇」為由寬恕他，不但不作加害，反以其為參軍。

• 姚弋仲在後趙末年一直顯得忠於石氏，不過《資治通鑑》亦有見載於後趙混亂，冉閔篡權時姚弋仲與蒲洪爭奪關中的行動。

子女

姚弋仲共有四十二子。

• 姚益，或作「姚益生」。姚襄兄，後趙曜武將軍

• 姚若，後趙武衞將軍

• 姚襄，姚弋仲五子，姚弋仲死後代領其眾，初投東晉，後叛晉自立，在與前秦的戰事中戰死。後秦建立後追封為魏武王

• 姚萇，姚弋仲二十四子，後秦武昭帝，後秦開國君主

• 姚緒，姚萇同母弟，封晉王，官至丞相

• 姚尹買，姚萇弟，與前秦對戰時戰死

• 姚碩德，姚萇同母弟，隴西王，官至太宰

• 姚紹，姚萇弟，魯公，官至太宰、大將軍、大都督

• 姚靖，姚萇弟

• 姚晃，姚萇弟

註釋

Early life

Ancestors and background

Yao Yizhong was a Qiang chieftain from Chiting county, Nan'an commandary (赤亭, 南安郡; southeast of present-day Longxi County, Gansu). His family claimed to be descendants of Yu the Great and had a long conflicting history with the Han dynasty. His ancestor, Tianyu (填虞) harassed the western regions during the time of Emperor Guangwu of Han's reign between 57 to 58 AD but was eventually driven out by the general Ma Wu. Yizhong's great-great-great-grandfather was Qianna (遷那), who submitted to Han and moved in to what became Yizhong's birthplace. Yizhong's father Yao Kehui (姚柯回) served Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period as General Who Conquers The West, Colonel Who Organizes The Rong and Protector of the Western Qiang. In his youth, Yizhong was characterised as dutiful and well-respected all around.

Disaster of Yongjia

In 312, a year after the Disaster of Yongjia, Yao Yizhong moved his base to Yumei (榆眉; east of present-day Qianyang County, Shaanxi), where he opened himself to provide shelter to refugees from the east. He attracted thousands of both tribal and Han refugees wishing to escape the chaos, and he then self-proclaimed himself as Inspector of Yongzhou and Colonel Who Protects the Qiang.

Submission to Han Zhao

After the emperor of Han Zhao, Liu Yao defeated the rebel Chen An in 323, Liu decided to formally appoint Yao Yizhong, who had previously been independent, as General Who Pacifies the West and Duke of Pingxiang. Yizhong did not do anything of note during his time with the state, and six years later, after Han's rival state Later Zhao defeated Liu Yao and his sons, Yao Yizhong submitted to the general Shi Hu, who he advised to tell his uncle and ruler, Shi Le to relocate the families of Longshang (隴上; north of present-day Shaanxi and west of present-day Gansu) to the area surrounding their capital region around Xiangguo, which Shi Hu kept in mind.

Service under Later Zhao

Shi Les reign

After his surrender, Yao Yizhong was treated with respect and given the titles of General Who Maintains The West and Commander of the Left of the Six Tribes. A year later, the Jin rebel Zu Yue involved in Su Jun's rebellion fled to Later Zhao, seeking their protection. Shi Le entertained him initially but deep down he was not fond of Zu, and even his close advisor Cheng Xia urged him to execute him and his family, believing that they could not be trusted. Yao Yizhong advocated for Cheng Xia, sending a memorial that states, "Zu Yue was a rebellious thief of the Jin dynasty, driving the Empress Dowager to death and was not loyal to his lord. Yet, Your Majesty continues to spoil him, and your ministers fear this will sprout into chaos. This is simply the beginning." Shi Le took their advice and executed Zu Yue along with his family.

Shi Hus reign

Shi Le died in 333, leaving the throne to his son Shi Hong. However, in a coup, Shi Hu killed the prominent advisors Cheng Xia and Xu Guang and made Hong a puppet emperor. Shi Hu acted out Yizhong's advice when he first joined the state, appointing Yizhong Grand Commander of the Western Qiang and relocating him and thousands of families from the west to Shetou (灄頭; southeast of present-day Zaoqiang County, Hebei), Qinghe commandary.

The following year, Shi Hu killed Shi Hong and declared himself "Regent Heavenly Prince". Yizhong hated this decision, so he feigned illness to avoid needing to congratulate Shi Hu but was eventually pushed to meet him. When the two finally met, Yizhong sternly criticised Shi Hu but Hu defended himself by saying that Shi Hong was too young for a ruler and would not be able to handle affairs. Shi Hu feared Yizhong's character and refused to punish him. In the meantime, Yizhong was still not at ease with Shi Hu's answer. Eventually, however, Yizhong came to accept Shi Hong's fate and continued to serve Shi Hu.

In 338, he served as the Champion General during the Later Zhao and Former Yan joint attack on the Duan tribe. In the assault, he and Zhi Xiong led 70,000 troops and headed the vanguard in attacking Duan Liao (段遼). Though the Duan were defeated, the campaign escalated into a war between Zhao and Yan after Shi Hu suspected Yan of betraying the alliance, although Yizhong's involvement in this is not recorded. In 345, he was made Credential Bearer and Grand Champion General and given command over ten commanderies and the Six Tribes.

Yizhong stood out in Shi Hu court for being both humble yet very blunt with his words, his most notable habit being referring to everyone including Shi Hu as "you (汝)" rather than their respective titles when talking to them. Shi Hu greatly valued him and put aside any judgement when it comes to him. On major discussions, Shi Hu always gave him the final say on what was to be carried out, and the ministers all feared him because of this. Despite Shi Hu's flattery, Yizhong was also stern and strict when it comes to the law. On one occasion, the brother of Shi Hu's favorite concubine, Zuo Wei (左尉), trespassed into his camp and harassed the soldiers. Yizhong caught him and, despite Zuo's relationship and position, was determined to have him executed for his crimes. Zuo Wei was said to have kowtowed relentlessly until his head started bleeding. Yizhong's subordinate urged him to let him go, and so he did.

Liang Dus Rebellion

In 349, Shi Hu had chosen Shi Shi as his new heir and declared himself Heavenly Prince, but a crisis struck Zhao when Shi Hu was granting out amnesty. He had left out the guards of one of his sons, Shi Xuan (石宣), who were exiled to Liaodong after Xuan was executed for attempting to assassinate his father. The guards rallied under their captain Liang Du (梁犢) and marched south to capture Luoyang, defeating many generals in their way. The rebel's success was shocking to many, and Shi Hu panicked so much that he was driven to illness.

As the rebels approached Luoyang, Shi Hu ordered his son, Shi Bin to quell the rebellion together with Yizhong and Pu Hong. Before leaving to face them, Yizhong visited the capital to personally meet with Shi Hu. As Hu was sick, he refused to come out and instead had Yizhong treated with food at the royal table. Yizhong was furious by this and demanded Shi Hu to meet him at once. After Hu finally came out to see him, Yizhong scolded Shi Hu and said:

Shi Hu immediately made Yizhong Commissioner Bearing Credentials, Palace Attendant, and General Who Conquers The West and gifted him an armoured horse without formality or ceremony as Yizhong disliked them. Before embarking, he said to Shi Hu, "Observe, do you think this Old Qiang will smash these rebels?" He wore his armour and mounted the steed that Shi Hu had given to him before leaving without any further say. Yizhong joined the Grand Commander Shi Bin (石斌) at Xingyang. Yizhong took Liang Du's head and destroyed the remaining rebel forces. With the rebellion crushed, Shi Hu awarded Yizhong with the title Duke of Xiping commandary.

Shi Hus death and war with Ran Min

Shi Shi and Shi Zuns reigns

Despite the rebellion's demise, Shi Hu's body had taken a toll on him and he would die shortly after in 349. He was succeeded by his preteen son Shi Shi as expected but many including Yao Yizhong were frustrated at the power held by Empress Dowager Liu and the Prime Minister Zhang Chai in the court. This was made worse when Liu and Zhang sent an army to kill the Minister of Works, Li Nong. Yizhong and other prominent generals such as Pu Hong and Shi Min conspired with Shi Shi's half-brother, Shi Zun to restore the court. Shi Zun successfully overthrew and executed Shi Shi, the Empress Dowager and Zhang Chai along with their followers, proclaiming himself as the new emperor.

Shi Zun did not last a year however, as he was executed following a coup by Shi Min, the adopted Han Chinese grandson of Shi Hu, who had found out of Zun's plans to remove him. Shi Min and his ally Li Nong installed Zun's brother Shi Jian as the new emperor, but power was virtually held by the duo. Shi Jian's brother, Shi Zhi, who was positioned in Xiangguo (襄國, in modern Xingtai, Hebei) called for a coalition against Shi Min and Li Nong. Many accepted it including Yizhong, who rose in Shetou.

Wei-Jie War

The following year, Yao Yizhong camped at Hunqiao (混橋) to campaign against Shi Min (now named Ran Min). His sons Yao Yi (姚益) and Yao Ruo (姚若) managed to escape Yecheng and joined their father. Yizhong and the Di general Pu Hong both wanted the strategic position of Guanyou (關右, west of present-day Tongguan county, Shaanxi). Yizhong sent his son fifth son, Yao Xiang to capture it but Pu Hong routed him and occupied the area. Meanwhile, Shi Zhi formally declared himself as emperor after Shi Jian was killed by Ran Min, and Yizhong was appointed as his Prime Minister of the Right. Meanwhile, Yizhong chose Yao Xiang as his heir due to the popular support that Xiang was receiving.

Ran Min eventually besieged Xiangguo, and Shi Zhi desperately called Yizhong for help. Yizhong sent Yao Xiang to lift the siege, but not before asking him to swear that he would capture Ran Min, and contacted the state of Former Yan to send reinforcements. Former Yan sent Yue Wan and together with Yao Xiang and Shi Kun (石琨), they attacked Ran Min from three sides, dealing him a major defeat. However, Ran Min managed to escape, and after Yao Xiang's return, Yizhong had him flogged for not fulfilling his promise.

Shi Zhi and his ministers were later assassinated by a defector named Liu Xian (劉顯), allowing Ran Min to occupy the city. With the emperor dead, Yao Yizhong decided to submit to the Jin dynasty. Jin received his surrender and appointed him Grand Chanyu.

Death

In 352, Yao Yizhong grew deathly ill. He advised his sons to serve the Jin dynasty, as the Shi clan with the recent deaths of its last members under Shi Kun was no more. Yizhong died shortly after at the age of 72 and was succeeded by Yao Xiang, who marched with his followers south to formally join Jin. Although Yao Xiang served Jin for a while, he claimed independence after his ally Yin Hao grew suspicious of him and tried to kill him. Yao Xiang carried his father's coffin around until he was killed in battle in 357 when fighting Former Qin forces. Former Qin's emperor Fu Sheng ordered that his body be buried as a prince in Ji county (冀縣, present-day Gangu County, Gansu), Tianshui. When his 24th son, Yao Chang, became emperor of Later Qin in 386, Yizhong was posthumously named Emperor Jingyuan.