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China: King Wu (c.1046-1043 BCE), founder and first ruler of the Zhou Dynasty (1046-249 BCE).

King Wu of Zhou or King Wu of Chou was the first of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 1046-1043 BCE or 1049/45-1043 (Cambridge History of Ancient China). Various sources quoted that he died at the age of 93, 54 or 43. He was considered a just and able leader. Zhou Gong Dan was one of his brothers.

In 1048 BCE, Wu marched down the Yellow River to the Mengjin ford and met with more than 800 dukes. In 1046 BCE, seeing that the Shang government was in a shambles, King Wu launched an attack along with many neighboring dukes. In the Battle of Muye, Shang forces were destroyed, and King Zhou of Shang set his palace on fire and burned himself to death. Following the victory, King Wu established many smaller feudal states under the rule of his brothers and generals. He died three years later in 1043 BCE.