Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Founder of Later Zhao

Shi Le 石勒

Attested AD 304 - AD 333

Passages: 23
Chapters: 6
Histories: 4

Overview

Shi Le was the founder of Later Zhao.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 304 to AD 316 劉淵、石勒之亂
Dated from the passage context · Book of Wei 28, passage 125
AD 319 to AD 333 後沒石勒
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 88, passage 33
AD 319 to AD 333 沒石勒
Directly stated · Book of Wei 96, passage 13
AD 314 石勒既克薊城
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 109, passages 186, 191
AD 319 to AD 333 石勒遣使
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 108, passage 99
AD 319 苻堅、石勒之眾
Directly stated · History of Song 359, passage 45

Key source chapters

Places and affiliations

Polity Later Zhao 後趙 · Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 109, passage 186

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Zao Song (棗嵩) · Direct quotation · Extent s0186
Directly stated · Book of Jin 109, passage 186
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Extent s0189
Directly stated · Book of Jin 109, passage 189

Events and relationships

Attacked Liu Kun’s Leping and defeated Ji Dan
Military · With Liu Kun (劉琨), Ji Dan (姬澹)
Directly stated · Book of Wei 28, passages 121, 125
Intended to appoint
Political · Would be employer · With Yang Yu (陽裕)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 109, passage 191
Sent Kong Chang to destroy Ji Dan
Military · With Kong Chang (孔萇), Ji Dan (姬澹)
Directly stated · Book of Wei 28, passage 126
Took city
AD 314 石勒既克薊城 · Military · Conqueror · At Jicheng 薊城
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 109, passage 186
Diplomatic · Sender of envoys · With Emperor Yuan (元帝)
Directly stated · History of Song 359, passage 87
Relation Enemy of · Person Murong Hui (慕容廆)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 108, passages 99, 101

References in the histories

Search passages

History

23 passages

History of the Northern Dynasties, Chapter 88Volume 88 Biographies 76: Recluses · 1 passage

祖邁，晉東海王越軍謀掾，後沒石勒，為徐州刺史。 His grandfather Mai had been military strategist to Prince of Donghai Sima Yue of Jin; later, after falling into Shi Le's hands, he became Inspector of Xuzhou.

Book of Jin, Chapter 108Volume 108 Records 8: Murong Hui · 8 passages

石勒遣使通和，廆距之。 He rebuffed Shi Le's overtures.

勒怒，遣宇文乞得龜擊廆，廆遣皝距之。 Shi Le answered Murong's snub by ordering Yuwen Qidegui north; Huang blocked him.

深怪文武之士，過荷朝榮，不能滅中原之寇，刷天下之恥。 He reproached southern ministers for inertia against Shi Le.

以義聲之直，討逆暴之羯，檄命舊邦之士，招懷存本之人，豈不若因風振落，頓阪走輪哉！ Northern expedition should sweep Shi Le easily.

假號之強，眾心所去，敵有釁矣，易可震盪。 Shi Le's regime was brittle.

惠皇之末，後黨構難，禍結京畿，釁成公族，遂使羯寇乘虛，傾覆諸夏，舊都淪滅，山陵毀掘，人神悲悼，幽明發憤。 Late Emperor Hui's disasters enabled Shi Le.

昔獫狁之強，匈奴之盛，未有如今日羯寇之暴，跨躡華裔，盜稱尊號者也。 Shi Le exceeded ancient northern foes.

車騎雖未能為官摧勒，然忠義竭誠。 He acknowledged logistical limits yet praised devotion.

Book of Jin, Chapter 109Volume 109 Records 9: Murong Huang · 4 passages

石勒既克薊城，問棗嵩曰：「幽州人士，誰最可者？」 After Shi Le took Jicheng he asked Zao Song, "Among the gentlemen of Youzhou, who is most worthy?"

勒曰：「若如君言，王公何以不任？」 Shi Le asked, "If what you say is so, why did Prince Wang not employ him?"

嵩曰：「王公由不能任，所以為明公擒也。」 Song answered, “Because he could not use them, you captured him.”

勒方任之，裕乃微服潛遁。 Shi Le meant to employ Yang Yu, who fled in disguise.

History of Song, Chapter 359Volume 359 Biographies 118: Li Gang 2 · 2 passages

故以魏武之雄，苻堅、石勒之眾，宇文、拓拔之盛，卒不能窺江表。 Thus even the prowess of Cao Cao, the vast hosts of Fu Jian and Shi Le, and the power of the Yuwen and Tuoba clans could not in the end threaten the lands south of the Yangzi.

東晉渡江，石勒遣使于晉，元帝命焚其幣而卻其使。 When Eastern Jin crossed the Yangzi, Shi Le sent envoys to Jin, and Emperor Yuan ordered the gifts burned and the envoys turned away.

Book of Wei, Chapter 28Volume 23: Wei Cao, Mo Han, Liu Kuren · 7 passages

及劉淵、石勒之亂，勸桓帝匡助晉氏。 When Liu Yuan and Shi Le threw the north into rebellion, he pressed Emperor Huan to stand with the house of Jin.

刊石勒銘，垂示後昆。」 They carved stone and engraved an inscription, handing it down as a display to later descendants."

會石勒攻琨樂平，太守韓據請救於琨。 Just then Shi Le struck Liu Kun at Le'ping; the prefect Han Ju begged Liu Kun for relief.

琨以得雄、澹之眾，欲因其銳，以滅石勒。 Liu Kun, now reinforced by Xiong and Dan's troops, meant to hurl that fresh strength against Shi Le and destroy him.

琨不從，使雄、澹率眾討勒，琨屯廣牧為之聲援。 Liu Kun refused. He sent Xiong and Dan against Le while he held Guangmu to back them.

勒率輕騎與雄、澹戰，澹大敗，率騎千餘，奔于代郡。 Shi Le met them with light cavalry; Dan was routed and fled north with a thousand riders into Dai.

勒遣孔萇追滅之。 Le sent Kong Chang in pursuit to finish him off.

Book of Wei, Chapter 96Volume 90: Retired Officals: Sui Kua, Feng Liang, Li Mi, Zheng Xiu · 1 passage

祖邁，晉東海王越軍謀掾，後沒石勒為徐州刺史。 His grandfather Mai had been a military adviser to Jin's Prince of Donghai, Yue; after capture by Shi Le he became Inspector of Xuzhou.