King Wu of Zhou
The city-state of Ji was inhabited by the tribe of the Yellow Emperor in the Shang dynasty, and became one of the founding vassal states of the Zhou dynasty. According to Sima Qian's "Records of the Grand Historian", King Wu of Zhou, in the 11th year of his reign, deposed King Zhou of Shang and conferred titles to nobles within his domain, including the rulers of the city states Ji and Yan. According to the "Book of Rites", King Wu of Zhou was so eager to establish his legitimacy after his battle victory over the Shang that before dismounting from his chariot, he named the descendants of the Yellow Emperor to the State of Ji. The 11th year of the reign of King Wu of Zhou approximates to 1145BC. The Beijing Municipal Government designates 1045BC as the first year of the city's history.