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Zhao ( pinyin: zhao4, simplified Chinese: 赵, traditional Chinese: 趙) was a Chinese state during the Warring States Period. Its territory included areas in modern Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces. The state of Zhao bordered the Xiongnu ( Huns), the states of Qin, Wei and Yan. Its capital was Handan (邯郸), suburb of modern-day Handan City in Hebei.

At the beginning of the Warring States Period, the state of Zhao was one of the weakest states. Zhao gained strength during the reign of King Wuling of Zhao . The state of Zhao adopted horseback riding from their Xiongnu neighbors; eventually, cavalryAn army unit consisting of mounted soldiers are commonly known as cavalry . Cavalry fight from the backs of their mounts, which most often are horses or camels. Infantry travelling by horse and fighting on foot are instead known as dragoons. Modern cavalr accounted for a significant portion of the troops of Zhao.

Several brillant military commanders of the whole period appeared concurrently, including Lian Po , Zhao She and Li Mu . Lian Po was instrumental in defending against the Qin. Zhao She was most active in the east; he lead the invasion of Yan state. Li Mu was responsible for defending against the Huns.

Zhao demonstrated its enhanced military prowess by conquering the ethnic State of ZhongshanZhongshan was a state in the Zhou Dynasty located in modern Ding County , Hebei Province. It first came under the protection of the State of Wei during the Warring States Period and later regained its independence for years. It was eventually absorbed int in 295 BCCenturies: 4th century BC 3rd century BC 2nd century BC Decades: 340s BC 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 300 BC 299 BC 298 BC 297 BC 296 BC 295 BC 294 BC 293 BC 292 BC 291 BC 290 BC Events In the Battle of S after a prolonged war, and annexing territory from its neighbors Wei, Yan and Qin. The cavalry of Zhao occasionally intruded into the state of Qi in campaigns against the state of Chu.

By the end of the Warring States Period, Zhao was the only state strong enough to oppose the mighty Qin. An alliance with Wei begun in 287 BC against Qin ended in defeat at Huayang in 273 BC. The struggle then culminated in the bloodiest battle of the whole period, the Battle of Changping in 260 BC. The troops of Zhao were completely defeated by Qin. Although the forces of Wei saved Handan from a follow-up siege by the victorous Qin, Zhao would never recover from the huge loss of men in the battle.

In 229 BC, invasions led by the Qin general Wang Jian were opposed by Li Mu and his subordinate officer Sima Xiang until 228 BC. According to some accounts, King Qian of Zhao ordered the execution of Li Mu and relieved Sima Xiang from his duties, due to disloyal advice from court officials and Qin infiltrators.

In 228 BC, Qin captured King Qian and conquered Zhao. Prince Jia, the step-brother of Qian, was proclaimed king at Dai Commandry and led the last Zhao forces against the Qin. The regime lasted until 222 BC when the Qin army captured him and squashed his forces at Dai. State of Zhao
( bronzeware script, ca. 800 BC)