[
]
Service under Zhu Quanzhong during Tang Dynasty
Yuan Xiangxian's army career started in or shortly after 883, when his uncle Zhu Quanzhong was made the military governor of Xuanwu,['']Zizhi Tongjian
''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song (960–1127), Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959&n ...
'', vol. 255. as he thereafter became an officer at Xuanwu. He was gradually promoted through the ranks within the Xuanwu army itself. In 899, Zhu Quanzhong put him in charge of Su Prefecture (宿州, in modern Suzhou
Suzhou (; ; Suzhounese: ''sou¹ tseu¹'' , Mandarin: ), alternately romanized as Soochow, is a major city in southern Jiangsu province, East China. Suzhou is the largest city in Jiangsu, and a major economic center and focal point of trade ...
, Anhui
Anhui , (; formerly romanized as Anhwei) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the East China region. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze River ...
), and in 901 made him full military prefect of the prefecture (團練使, ''Tuanlianshi''). Shortly after, the army of Zhu's rival Yang Xingmi
Yang Xingmi (; 852''Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms''vol. 1 – December 24, 905Academia Sinicabr>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 265.), né Yang Xingmin (楊行愍, name changed 886), courtesy name Huayuan ...
the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou
Yangzhou, postal romanization Yangchow, is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province (Suzhong), East China. Sitting on the north bank of the Yangtze, it borders the provincial capital Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north ...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with its ca ...
) put Su under siege, but Yuan capably defended it, and the city did not fall. In 903, he was put in charge of Ming Prefecture (洺州, in modern Handan, Hebei
Hebei or , (; alternately Hopeh) is a northern province of China. Hebei is China's sixth most populous province, with over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. The province is 96% Han Chinese, 3% Manchu, 0.8% Hui, and 0 ...
) In 906, he was made the prefect of Chen Prefecture (陳州, in modern Zhumadian
Zhumadian (; postal: Chumatien) is a prefecture-level city in southern Henan province, China. It borders Xinyang to the south, Nanyang to the west, Pingdingshan to the northwest, Luohe to the north, Zhoukou to the northeast, and the province of An ...
, Henan
Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...
).[
]
During Later Liang
In 908, by which time Zhu Quanzhong had seized the Tang throne and established a new Later Liang as its Emperor Taizu, Yuan Xiangxian was recalled to serve as a general of the imperial guards. In 909, he was created the Baron of Ru'nan. In 910, he was made the acting military governor of Xuanwu Circuit[ — which, by that point, had had its capital moved to Song Prefecture (宋州, in modern ]Shangqiu
Shangqiu (), alternately romanized as Shangkiu, is a city in eastern Henan province, Central China. It borders Kaifeng to the northwest, Zhoukou to the southwest, and the provinces of Shandong and Anhui to the northeast and southeast respectivel ...
, Henan
Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...
) as its prior capital Daliang had become the imperial eastern capital.[''History of the Five Dynasties'', vol. 4.] Shortly after, he was moved to be the acting military governor of Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an
Tai'an () is a prefecture-level city in Western Shandong Province of the People's Republic of China. Centered on Mount Tai, the city borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the north, Zibo to the east, Linyi to the southeast, Liaocheng to ...
, Shandong). At that time, the circuit was suffering through a major famine, and Yuan was credited with opening up the military food reserves to feed the people.[ In 911, when Emperor Taizu launched a campaign north against Zhao and Yiwu Circuit (義武, headquartered in modern ]Baoding
Baoding (), formerly known as Baozhou and Qingyuan, is a prefecture-level city in central Hebei province, approximately southwest of Beijing. As of the 2010 census, Baoding City had 11,194,382 inhabitants out of which 2,176,857 lived in the b ...
, Hebei
Hebei or , (; alternately Hopeh) is a northern province of China. Hebei is China's sixth most populous province, with over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. The province is 96% Han Chinese, 3% Manchu, 0.8% Hui, and 0 ...
) (which was allied with Zhao, as well as Later Liang's archenemy Jin), Yuan was put in charge of the southeastern theater of the campaign and created a count. He unsuccessfully sieged Tiao County (蓨縣, in modern Hengshui
Hengshui () is a prefecture-level city in southern Hebei province, People's Republic of China, bordering Shandong to the southeast. At the 2010 census its population was 4,340,373 inhabitants whom 522,147 lived in the built-up (''or metro'') are ...
, Hebei
Hebei or , (; alternately Hopeh) is a northern province of China. Hebei is China's sixth most populous province, with over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. The province is 96% Han Chinese, 3% Manchu, 0.8% Hui, and 0 ...
) before the Later Liang army withdrew.[''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 268.] He was thereafter recalled to the imperial government to serve as an imperial guard general.[
In summer 912, Emperor Taizu was assassinated by his son ]Zhu Yougui
Zhu Yougui () (c. 888? – March 27, 913), nickname Yaoxi (), often known by his princely title Prince of Ying (), was briefly an emperor of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Liang. He became emperor after assa ...
the Prince of Ying, who then took the throne after putting his adoptive brother Zhu Youwen
Zhu Youwen (; died 912), né Kang Qin (康勤), courtesy name Deming (德明), formally the Prince of Bo (博王), was an imperial prince of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Liang. He was an adoptive son of the foun ...
the Prince of Bo to death and blaming Zhu Youwen for the assassination. However, many generals believed Zhu Yougui to be responsible, and Yuan was soon in contact with the major general Yang Shihou
Yang Shihou () (died April 23, 915Academia Sinicabr>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter), formally the Prince of Ye (), was a major general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Liang, serving as the main obstacle to t ...
, Emperor Taizu's son-in-law Zhao Yan, and Emperor Taizu's son Zhu Youzhen
Zhu Zhen (朱瑱) (20 October 888 – 18 November 923), often referred to in traditional histories as Emperor Mo of Later Liang (後梁末帝, "last emperor") and sometimes by his princely title Prince of Jun (均王), né Zhu Youzhen (朱友貞), ...
the Prince of Jun, plotting to overthrow Zhu Yougui. In spring 913, Yuan sent his soldiers into the palace and had Zhu Yougui surrounded. Zhu Yougui, seeing the situation as hopeless, committed suicide with his wife Empress Zhang and his servant Feng Ting'e (). Yuan and Zhao took over control of the capital Luoyang
Luoyang is a city located in the confluence area of Luo River and Yellow River in the west of Henan province. Governed as a prefecture-level city, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang ...
, and sent the imperial seal to Daliang, where Zhu Youzhen was then at the time, offering the throne to him. Zhu Youzhen accepted and took the throne at Daliang.[ For his contributions, Yuan was given the honorary titles of military governor of Zhennan Circuit (鎮南, headquartered in modern ]Nanchang
Nanchang (, ; ) is the capital of Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China. Located in the north-central part of the province and in the hinterland of Poyang Lake Plain, it is bounded on the west by the Jiuling Mountains, and on the east ...
, Jiangxi
Jiangxi (; ; formerly romanized as Kiangsi or Chianghsi) is a landlocked province in the east of the People's Republic of China. Its major cities include Nanchang and Jiujiang. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze river in the north int ...
, then under control of Later Liang's enemy Wu), acting ''Taibao'' (), honorary chancellor (同中書門下平章事, ''Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi''), acting mayor of Kaifeng (i.e., Daliang), and the commander of the capital guards; he was also created a duke.[ In 914, he was made the military governor of Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern ]Weifang
Weifang () is a prefecture-level city in central Shandong province, People's Republic of China. The city borders Dongying to the northwest, Zibo to the west, Linyi to the southwest, Rizhao to the south, Qingdao to the east, and looks out to the ...
, Shandong), and shortly after the military governor of Xuanwu, where he would remain for some 10 years.[ When Wu's junior regent Xu Zhixun put Ying Prefecture (潁州, in modern ]Fuyang
() is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Anhui province, China. It borders Bozhou to the northeast, Huainan to the southeast, Lu'an to the south, and the province of Henan on all other sides.
Its population was 8,200,264 inhabitants at the ...
, Anhui
Anhui , (; formerly romanized as Anhwei) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the East China region. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze River ...
) under siege late in 916, Zhu Youzhen (who had changed his name to Zhu Zhen by this point) ordered Yuan to command a relief force; when Yuan approached Ying, Xu withdrew.[''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 269.] It was said that during Emperor Taizu's reign, a culture of corruption developed among the generals. In particular, Yuan, as a nephew of the emperor, while governing the circuits, took much wealth from the people and enriched himself.[
]
During Later Tang
In 923, Jin's prince Li Cunxu
Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (), personal name Li Cunxu (), nickname Yazi (), stage name Li Tianxia (), was the ruling prince of the Former Jin dynasty (r. 908–923) and later became the founding emperor of the Later Tang dynasty (r. 923 ...
, who had declared himself emperor of a new Later Tang
Tang, known in historiography as the Later Tang, was a short-lived imperial dynasty of China and the second of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in Chinese history.
The first three of the Later Tang's four ...
earlier in the year (as Emperor Zhuangzong), launched a surprise direct attack on the Later Liang capital Daliang. With the main Later Liang army away from the capital and unable to save him, Zhu Zhen committed suicide before the city fell, ending Later Liang. Once the Later Tang emperor entered the former Later Liang capital, the Later Liang military governors submitted to the new state in droves, with Yuan Xiangxian and Huo Yanwei Huo Yanwei () (872-928'' History of the Five Dynasties'', vol. 64.), known as Li Shaozhen () from 924 to 926, courtesy name Zizhong (), formally Duke Zhongwu of Jin (), was a general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period states La ...
the acting military governor of Zhenguo Circuit (鎮國, headquartered in modern Sanmenxia
Sanmenxia (; postal: Sanmenhsia) is a prefecture-level city in the west of Henan Province, China. The westernmost prefecture-level city in Henan, Sanmenxia borders Luoyang to the east, Nanyang to the southeast, Shaanxi Province to the west and S ...
, Henan
Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...
) arriving first. It was said that Yuan, with the wealth that he had accumulated, brought tens of carts of jewels and other treasures to the capital, and used the wealth to bribe Emperor Zhuangzong's favorite consort Lady Liu, as well as other powerful officials, eunuch
A eunuch ( ) is a male who has been castrated. Throughout history, castration often served a specific social function.
The earliest records for intentional castration to produce eunuchs are from the Sumerian city of Lagash in the 2nd millenni ...
s, and performers that Emperor Zhuangzong favored, thus causing them to all praise him greatly.[''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 272.] Emperor Zhuangzong changed the name of his circuit from Xuanwu to Guide (歸德, "returning with virtue")[ (as Emperor Zhuangzong returned the Xuanwu name to Daliang),][ and bestowed the imperial clan name of Li on him with a new name of Shao'an, before sending him back to his circuit. He died later next summer while still serving at Guide,][ and was given posthumous honors.][
]
Notes and references
* '' History of the Five Dynasties'', vol. 59.
* ''New History of the Five Dynasties
The ''Historical Records of the Five Dynasties'' (''Wudai Shiji'') is a Chinese history book on the Five Dynasties period (907–960), written by the Song dynasty official Ouyang Xiu in private. It was drafted during Ouyang's exile from 1036 to ...
'', vol. 45.
* ''Zizhi Tongjian
''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song (960–1127), Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959&n ...
'', vols. 268, 269, 272.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yuan, Xiangxian
860s births
924 deaths
Year of birth uncertain
Politicians from Suzhou, Anhui
Later Liang (Five Dynasties) jiedushi of Zhennan Circuit
Later Liang (Five Dynasties) jiedushi of Pinglu Circuit
Later Liang (Five Dynasties) jiedushi of Xuanwu Circuit
Later Liang (Five Dynasties) people born during Tang
Later Tang jiedushi of Guide Circuit
Political office-holders in Anhui
Political office-holders in Henan
Generals from Anhui