Duke Gong of Cao was the seventeenth ruler of the vassal State of Cao

Cao (state)

The State of Cáo was a vassal state in China during the Zhou Dynasty . The state was founded sometime in the 11th century BCE by Caoshu Zhènduó （曹叔振鐸）, son of King Wen of Zhou and the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou. With its capital at Táoqiū , the State of Cáo covered roughly the area of...

 during the Chinese Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 475 BCE). Born Jī Xiāng (姬襄) he was the son of Duke Zhao of Cao.

In 637 BCE, during the exile of Chóng’ěr

Duke Wen of Jin

Duke Jin Wen led the state of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history from 636 BC to 628 BC. His ancestral name is Ji,clan name is Jin Duke Jin Wen (晋文公) (697 BC - 628 BC) led the state of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history from 636 BC to 628 BC. His ancestral...

, son of Duke Xian of Jin

Duke Xian of Jin

Duke Xian of Jin , Ancestral name is Ji, given name is Guizhu , was the nineteenth ruler of the State of Jin. He was also the ninth ruler of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period and the second duke of Jin. When his father, Duke Wu of Jin, died in 677 BC, Guizhu ascended the throne of Jin and became...

, Duke Gòng heard that Chóng’ěr suffered from fused ribs and wanted to see for himself. Chóng’ěr caught Duke Gòng spying on him whilst he bathed and described the Duke as a man of “unbelievable rudeness”.

After Chóng’ěr became Duke Wen of Jin and one of the Five Hegemons, in 632 he used Duke Gòng’s previous rudeness as an excuse to overthrow the State of Cao. Duke Gòng was captured by the State of Jin but later released.

After Duke Gòng of Cáo died in 618 BCE, his son Duke Wén of Cáo became ruler.