Wang Chengyuan

Wang Chengyuan (王承元) (801 – February 3, 834), formally the Duke of Qi (岐公), was a general of the Tang dynasty of China. His family had, for generations, controlled Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei), but he declined the command of Chengde after the death of his older brother Wang Chengzong. He subsequently served as a general under imperial command until his death.

Wang Chengyuan was born in 801, during the reign of Emperor Dezong. He was a son of Wang Shizhen, who, around the time, took over as military governor (Jiedushi) of Chengde after the death of Wang Chengyuan's grandfather Wang Wujun. He had two elder brothers Wang Chengzong, Wang Chengxi (王承系) and at least three younger brothers — Wang Chengtong (王承通), Wang Chengdi (王承迪), and Wang Chengrong (王承榮).

After Wang Shizhen died in 809, Wang Chengzong took over control of the circuit but was initially denied imperial sanction to succeed Wang Shizhen. Wang Chengzong received such imperial sanction in 810, however, after a failed imperial campaign against him. In 816, at Wang Chengzong's request, Wang Chengyuan was made deputy governor. When the imperial government declared a general campaign against Wang Chengzong's former ally Li Shidao the military governor of Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Tai'an, Shandong), he advised Wang Chengzong to send 2,000 to aid the imperial campaign against Li. Wang Chengzong did not accept the advice on account of Wang Chengyuan's youth, but it was said that the army thereafter often looked to him for his opinions.

In winter 820, Wang Chengzong died, and initially, his subordinates kept his death a secret. At that time, Wang Chengzong's two sons Wang Zhigan (王知感) and Wang Zhixin (王知信) were serving as hostages at the capital Chang'an. The Chengde officers wanted one of their own to succeed Wang Chengzong, and Wang Chengzong's staff member Cui Sui (崔燧) declared an order in the name of Wang Wujun's wife Lady Li, the Lady of Liang, declaring Wang Chengyuan successor to Wang Chengzong. When the officers bowed to Wang Chengyuan, Wang Chengyuan initially tearfully declined and requested a consultation with the imperial eunuch monitor of the army. The monitor arrived and also urged him to accept the officers' submission. Wang, after receiving a promise from the officers that they would be loyal to the imperial cause, accepted — but took office using his title of commander of the army rather than acting military governor. He also secretly submitted a petition to Emperor Muzong that the imperial government send a permanent replacement for him. In response, Emperor Muzong issued a number of military governor commissions involving Chengde and nearby circuits — transferring Tian Hongzheng the military governor of nearby Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei) to Chengde, making Wang Chengyuan the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang, Henan), transferring Liu Wu the military governor of Yicheng to Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi), transferring Li Su the military governor of Wuning Circuit (武寧, headquartered in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu) to Weibo, and making Tian Hongzheng's son Tian Bu the military governor of Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Jiaozuo, Henan). Wang Chengzong was also made the prefect of Yicheng's capital prefecture Hua Prefecture (滑州).

...
Wikipedia