King Fuchai of Wu

King Fuchai of Wu (simplified Chinese: 吴王夫差; traditional Chinese: 吳王夫差; pinyin: Wú Wáng Fūchāi) (reigned 495–473 BC) was the last king of Wu, a state in ancient China; he reigned towards the end of the Spring and Autumn period.

Fuchai of Wu, was the son of King Helü of Wu. He became king in 495 BC following the death of his father. In 494 BC, he defeated the armies of Yue in Fujiao (now Wu County, Jiangsu) and captured the capital city of Yue. Instead of annexing Yue, as suggested by his advisor Bo Pi, he made peace with the king of Yue, Goujian.

After this battle, he built the Han Canal (邗溝) and pushed his army northward. In Ailing, his army defeated the state of Qi. In 482 BC Fuchai successfully challenged the state of Jin for the status of hegemon in the regional lords' meeting in Huangchi.

However, during the latter part of his reign, his extravagance and obsession with a Yue beauty, Xi Shi, led to the weakening of his state. King Goujian of Yue took advantage of this situation to invade Wu and was able to defeat the Wu armies. Following his victory, Wu was destroyed in 473 BC and King Fuchai was forced to commit suicide.

Fuchai had at least four sons, three of whom were You, Hong and Hui. You was his heir but was killed in the battles leading to the defeat of Wu. So Hong became the new heir. After the abolition of the state, the other three sons of Fuchai were exiled. They and their descendants took Wu as their clan name. Wu Rui, Prince of Changsha created by Emperor Gaozu of Han, was a descendant of the House of Wu. He was also said to be descended from Fuchai.

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