Sima-Zhao (司馬昭; 211 – 265) was a pivotal figure in the late Three Kingdoms period and the early Jin Dynasty in Chinese history. He played a crucial role in the transition from the Cao Wei regime to the establishment of the Western Jin Dynasty.
Sima-Zhao was the second son of Sima Yi, a renowned strategist and military leader during the Cao Wei dynasty, and his wife, Zhang Chunhua. His elder brother, Sima Shi, also held significant influence in the political landscape of Cao Wei.
In 263, Sima-Zhao orchestrated the Conquest of Shu-Han, effectively ending the tripartite division of China by eliminating one of the Three Kingdoms. His ultimate goal was to replace the Cao family with his own, and in 265, his son Sima Yan forced the last Wei emperor, Cao Huan, to abdicate, thereby establishing the Western Jin Dynasty.
Sima-Zhao's legacy is often overshadowed by his more famous father and son, but his role in consolidating power and setting the stage for the Jin Dynasty is undeniable. His methods, however, were criticized by some contemporaries and later historians for their ruthlessness and the apparent betrayal of the Wei regime.
Sima-Zhao died in 265, shortly after his son's ascension to the throne, possibly from natural causes or, according to some sources, from the stress and intrigue of his political machinations.