Early life

Zhao Hongyin decided against a civil career and became a military officer instead under Zhuangzong of Later Tang: he knew that in times of disunity it would be a military career that would lead to success.

The young Zhao Hongyin was a skilled horse archer. He originally served the warlord Wang Rong for the de facto independent Zhao State, and was once ordered by Wang to lead 500 cavalries to assist their ally Li Cunxu in battles, presumably against the Later Liang. Impressed by his bravery, Li kept Zhao as part of his imperial army after the fall of Zhao in 921.

It was also around this period that he married Lady Du who was 3 years his junior. According to popular rumour a few decades after his death, when Zhao Hongyin first came to the area by himself, he encountered a snowstorm and had to beg for food from servants in official Du Shuang's (杜爽) house. After a few days, the servants noticed that he was hardworking and persuaded Du to keep him in the house. A few months later, the family arranged for him to marry their eldest daughter.

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Dowager Zhaoxian, of the Du clan (昭憲皇太后 杜氏; 902–961)

　• Zhao Guangji, Prince Yong (邕王 趙光濟), first son

　• Princess Gongxian (恭獻帝姬), first daughter

　• Zhao Kuangyin, Taizu (太祖 趙匡胤; 927–976), second son

　• Princess Gongyi (恭懿帝姬; d. 973), second daughter

　　• Married Gao Huaide (高懷德; 926–982) in 960, and had issue (one daughter)

　• Zhao Jiong, Taizong (太宗 趙炅; 939–997), third son

　• Zhao Guangzan, Prince Qi (岐王 趙光贊), fifth son

• Lady, of the Geng clan (陳夫人 耿氏)

　• Zhao Tingmei, Prince Fudao (涪悼王 趙廷美; 947–984), fourth son

Ancestry

生平

趙弘殷在保州長大，年少驍勇，擅長騎射。投靠鎮州趙王王鎔為他的手下，並在此地與杜四娘子結婚（昭憲太后）。曾為王鎔帶領五百騎馳援後唐莊宗李存勖于河上，有戰功。李存勖愛惜他作戰英勇，留用于洛陽禁軍。興教門之變李存勖（926年）死後第二年（927年）趙匡胤在洛陽出生。趙匡胤二十一歲時（947年，虛歲）離家闖蕩江湖。

後漢乾祐年間（948年－950年），趙弘殷從軍出征王景于鳳翔，適逢蜀兵來救援王景，後漢軍與後蜀軍在陳倉交戰，一開始交戰時，就有箭矢射中趙弘殷左眼，但是他反而作戰更加英勇，奮力帶領士兵擊敗對手，因為這次功勞升至護聖都指揮使。後周廣順三年（953年）改任鐵騎第一軍都指揮使，又轉任右廂都指揮，領岳州防禦使。又趙弘殷從軍出征淮南，在前軍後退南唐軍來攻，趙弘殷領兵攔截並擊敗敵軍。

顯德三年（956年），趙弘殷帶兵出征揚州，與後周世宗柴榮在壽春會合。壽春城中賣餅的商人所提供的餅又薄又小，柴榮非常生氣，抓了十幾個賣餅者打算殺掉，但是趙弘殷執意勸諫，救了那些人的性命。又追贈他的父親趙敬左驍騎衛上將軍的官爵。最後官至檢校司徒、天水縣男，于趙匡胤分掌禁軍，地位非常高。

顯德三年（956年）七月二十六日去世，死後追贈武清軍節度使、太尉。北宋建立後追尊為皇帝，廟號宣祖，諡號昭武皇帝。

家庭

　• 妻：昭憲太后杜氏

　• 子

　　• 趙光濟（邕王，改曹王，早逝）

　　• 趙匡胤（宋太祖）

　　• 趙匡義（宋太宗）

　　• 趙廷美（一說生母杜氏，另說生母為宋太宗乳母耿氏）

　　• 趙光贊（夔王，改岐王，早逝）

　• 女

　　• 陳國長公主（太祖追封）

　　• 燕國長公主