Duke Ping of Qi

Duke Ping of Qi 齊平公
Ruler of Qi
Reign	480–456 BC
Predecessor	Duke Jian of Qi
Successor	Duke Xuan of Qi
Died	456 BC
Full name Ancestral name: Jiang (姜) Clan name: Lü (呂) Given name: Ao (驁)
House	House of Jiang
Father	Duke Dao of Qi

Duke Ping of Qi (Chinese: 齊平公; pinyin: Qí Píng Gōng; died 456 BC) was from 480 to 456 BC the titular ruler of the State of Qi, a major power during the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China. His personal name was Lü Ao (呂驁), ancestral name Jiang (姜), and Duke Ping was his posthumous title.^[1][2]

Reign

Duke Ping was a younger son of Duke Dao of Qi, who was killed in 485 BC after four years of reign, probably by Tian Heng, leader of the powerful Tian clan. Subsequently Duke Ping's older brother Duke Jian ascended the throne. In 481 BC, Tian Heng staged a preemptive coup d'etat and killed Duke Jian and his prime minister Kan Zhi, who had been plotting to attack and expel the Tian clan.^[1][2]

Tian Heng became the de facto ruler of Qi, but he installed Duke Ping on the throne as the figurehead ruler. Duke Ping ruled for 25 years and died in 456 BC. He was succeeded by his son Duke Xuan of Qi.^[1][2]

References

1. Sima Qian. 齐太公世家 [House of Duke Tai of Qi]. Records of the Grand Historian (in Chinese). Guoxue.com. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
2. Han Zhaoqi (韩兆琦) (2010). "House of Duke Tai of Qi". Shiji (史记) (in Chinese). Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company. pp. 2596–2598. ISBN 978-7-101-07272-3.