Zhao Hong

Zhao Hong ( – February 1225) was a crown prince of the Song dynasty, the heir apparent of Emperor Ningzong.

Biography Zhao Hong was the adopted son of Zhao Bing, who in turn waings the biological grandson of Emperor Xiaozong. Zhao Hong was therefore, an adopted nephew of the reigning Emperor Ningzong.

When the Crown Prince Zhao Xun died in 1220 from dysentery, Emperor Ningzong asked for a boy at least 14 years old to adopt. Zhao Hong was selected, adopted, and installed as Crown Prince in 1221.

Deposal The powerful chancellor Shi Miyuan did not want Zhao Hong to succeed Ningzong when he died because Shi Miyuan once found Zhao Hong sober and passed out on his quarters and in 1223, a lute-playing girl forced to act like a spy by Shi Miyuan spied on Zhao Hong and reported to Shi that once Zhao Hong would become Emperor, he would banish and exile Shi Miyuan and his subordinates to the far south. Shi Miyuan not wanting to lose his power decided to send his ally Yu Tianxi to locate a suitable heir. Yu found Zhao Yuju, a minor official in Shaoxing and sent him to Shi. Shi decided to groom him as the potential heir renaming him Zhao Guicheng and forced Empress Yang onto the plot. Zhao Hong was moved to a nearby prefecture, Huzhou where he could live in luxury.

Death Zhao Hong was persuaded to join a rebellion after much resistance from him. He was however defeated after two weeks. He was executed by strangulation in February 1225.