Zhao Gao (died 207 BC) was Imperial Chancellor of Qin from 208 to 207 BC, succeeding Li Si. He seized power after having his political rivals put to death, dominating Emperor Qin Er Shi before having him murdered in 207 BC due to fears that uprisings against his corrupt rule would lead to the Emperor having him punished. Zhao Gao then installed Qin Er Shi's nephew, Ziying as the new emperor, only for Ziying to have Zhao Gao executed and his family exterminated.
Biography[]
Zhao Gao was descended from the royal family of Zhao, and his parents were punished for committing crimes; he and his brothers were all castrated. However, Qin Shi Huangdi valued Zhao Gao due to his excellence in criminal law, and he became one of the Emperor's closest aides.
After the death of Qin Shi Huangdi, Zhao Gao and Chancellor Li Si issued a fake decree forcing Crown Prince Fusu to commit suicide and convinced the new emperor, Qin Er Shi, to have Fusu's loyalists, Meng Tian and Meng Yi put to death. Qin Er Shi, who had been tutored by Zhao Gao, made him his Chancellor, and Zhao Gao went on to have Li Si and his entire family exterminated to remove opposition to his rule.
In 207 BC, several uprisings broke out against Zhao Gao's corrupt rule, and Zhao Gao - fearing that the Emperor would blame him for the uprisings - had Qin Er Shi murdered and replaced by his nephew, Ziying.
Zhao Gao secretly intended to kill Ziying to appease the rebels, but Ziying saw through Zhao Gao's plot. On his coronation day, Ziying feigned illness and lured Zhao Gao to his residence to attend; Ziying then had the eunuch Han Tan to execute Zhao Gao, whose entire family was exterminated.