Fu Jian (337–385)

Fu Jian (Chinese: 苻堅; 337–385), courtesy name Yonggu (永固) or Wenyu (文玉), formally Emperor Xuanzhao of (Former) Qin ((前)秦宣昭帝), was the third emperor (who, however, used the title "Heavenly King" (Tian Wang) during his reign) of the Di-led Chinese Former Qin dynasty, the sixth of the traditionally-recognised Sixteen Kingdoms. Under his reign, Qin unified Northern China by conquering the kingdoms of Former Yan, Chouchi, Former Liang and Dai as well as the Jin dynasty's's Yi Province (modern Sichuan and Chongqing), until he was repelled at the Battle of Fei River in 383. Following this defeat, the Former Qin state disintegrated and Fu was assassinated in 385 by Yao Chang, his former subordinate who then founded the Later Qin dynasty. He was considered by traditional histories to be a virtuous and just ruler, who, ironically, by sparing too many of his enemies after defeating them, led to his own downfall.