Sima Zhou

Sima Zhou (227 – 12 June 283¹), courtesy name Zijiang, posthumously known as Prince Wu of Langya (琅琊武王), was an imperial prince and military general of the Jin dynasty of China. He previously served in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. His grandson, Sima Rui, was the founding emperor of the Eastern Jin dynasty.

Life under Cao Wei

Sima Zhou was born to Sima Yi and his concubine Lady Fu (伏氏); he was Lady Fu's second son.² He had three full brothers: Sima Liang, Sima Jing (司馬京) and Sima Jun (司馬駿). He started his career as a military officer in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. As a youth, he already had a reputation for being talented. He was also well regarded because of his family background; the Sima family would later become the de facto rulers of Wei from February 249 (after the Incident at the Gaoping Tombs). Sima Zhou was first appointed as Ningshuo General (寧朔將軍) and put in charge of the security of the Wei nobles living in Ye city. At some point during the Zhengshi era (240–249) of Cao Fang's reign, he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Nan'an Village (南安亭侯). Later, he was promoted to a Regular Mounted Attendant (散騎常侍) and elevated from a village marquis to a district marquis under the title "Marquis of Dongwu District" (東武鄉侯). In April 258, his father-in-law Zhuge Dan was killed after rebelling; his wife Lady Zhuge was spared³ while other relatives of Zhuge Dan were killed.

In June 260, the Wei emperor attempted to seize back power from the Sima family by staging against the regent (Sima Zhou's half-brother). Sima Zhou, then holding the position of a Colonel of the Garrison Cavalry (屯騎校尉), led his troops to stop Cao Mao. However, his men dispersed in fear when Cao Mao shouted at them. Cao Mao eventually met his end at the hands of Cheng Ji (成濟), a subordinate of Sima Zhao's adviser, .