Wang Tingcou

Wang Tingcou (王廷湊 or 王庭湊) (died 834), formally the Duke of Taiyuan (太原公), was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who, in 821, during the reign of Emperor Muzong, took over control of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei) and thereafter ruled it in a de facto independent manner from the imperial government. He was said to be particularly cruel even for a warlord. After his death, his family held onto control of the circuit, even after the end of Tang Dynasty, until his great-great-grandson Wang Rong was overthrown in 921 – 100 years after Wang Tingcou had initially taken over the circuit.

It is not known when Wang Tingcou was born. His ancestors were of the Huigu Abusi (阿布思) tribe, which had been submissive to the Tang Dynasty Protectorate General to Pacify the East. His great-grandfather Wugezhi (五哥之) came to serve under Li Baochen the military governor (Jiedushi) of Chengde and Li Baochen's son Li Weiyue. After Li Weiyue's death, Li Weiyue's successor Wang Wujun, because of Wugezhi's bravery in battle, adopted Wugezhi as a son, and thus Wugezhi took on the surname of Wang. Both Wang Tingcou's grandfather Wang Modahuo (王末怛活) and father Wang Shengchao (王升朝) continued to serve under Wang Wujun's family as cavalry officers. Wang Tingcou himself was said to be brave and quiet, but decisive.

When Wang Wujun's grandson Wang Chengzong died in 820, Wang Chengzong's brother Wang Chengyuan temporarily took over command of the circuit but requested to be transferred, fearing to be targeted as a warlord. At that time, Wang Tingcou served as the commander of Wang Chengyuan's guards. Then-reigning Emperor Muzong transferred Tian Hongzheng the military governor of Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei) to Chengde and transferred Wang Chengyuan to Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang, Henan). Wang Chengyuan subsequently left Chengde and headed for Yicheng despite the attempts by some soldiers to detain him at Chengde.

...
Wikipedia