Battle of Muye
1046 BCE · Muye, Xinxiang, Henan (around modern Weihui) · China · Ancient
The Zhou army routed the main Shang force in a single blow; King Zhou of Shang fled back to Zhaoge and burned himself to death
Belligerents
Zhou (Western Zhou coalition)
- Commanders
- King Wu of Zhou, Ji Fa; Jiang Ziya (Lü Shang)
- Strength
- About 300 chariots, 3,000 elite Tiger Guards and 45,000 armored soldiers, allied with the "eight hundred lords"
Shang (Di Xin)
- Commanders
- King Zhou of Shang, Di Xin
- Strength
- Hastily assembled and claimed at 700,000, mostly slaves and prisoners of war
Background
King Zhou of Shang was tyrannical, and years of campaigns against the Eastern Yi had hollowed out his realm; King Wu of Zhou allied with the lords and marched east to attack Shang, joining forces at Mengjin.
Course of the battle
- Forces meet at MengjinKing Wu of Zhou led the coalition across the river at Mengjin and swore an oath to overthrow King Zhou
- Marching on ZhaogeZhou army presses to Muye outside the Shang capital and forms up
- Troops change sides on the fieldThe Shang slaves changed sides and led the Zhou army into the city; King Zhou burned himself to death
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 1046 BCE |
|---|---|
| Place | Muye, Xinxiang, Henan (around present-day Weihui) |
| Result | The Zhou army routed the main Shang force in a single blow; King Zhou of Shang fled back to Zhaoge and burned himself to death |
| Winner | Zhou |
| Casualties | The slaves in the Shang vanguard turned against their masters on the field, and countless men scattered; Zhou losses were light |
| Territorial change | The Shang dynasty fell and the Zhou dynasty was founded, beginning the Western Zhou order of enfeoffment |
Impact
The decisive battle of the transition from Shang to Zhou, which established the Zhou world order and the Fengjian system.
See the world in 1046 BCE on the map →