Qin Shihuang

Emperor Qin Shihuang (also called the First Emperor of China) was the founder of the first unified empire in the history of China. He established an autocratic state with centralized power over the feudal society.

Qin Shihuang, named Yingzheng, was born in Hanan in the late Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-256BC). Legend has it that his father, prince of the Qin State, was held hostage in the State of Zhao until Lu Buwei, a wealthy merchant secured their release back to the Qin. Finding that his own wife, who was an exceedingly beautiful woman, was pregnant, Lu Buwei managed to inspire the prince with great love for her. With apparent reluctance Lu Buwei granted the princes request of his wife, for Lu thought in due time his own offspring would have the acknowledged heir to the throne. When the prince became King Zhuang Xiang of Qin, he made Lu his prime minister, and for the next ten years Lu was the ruling force in the state.