Five Dynasties · Ruler

Li Keyong 李克用

Lǐ Kèyòng

Died AD 908

Passages
71
Chapters
17
Histories
3

Overview

The translated histories identify Li Keyong as a general, royal family member, ruler, and warlord. This record brings together 71 passages from 17 chapters across 3 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

TypeEnglishChinesePinyin
Personal Li Keyong 李克用 Lǐ Kèyòng
Temple name Emperor Wu 武皇
Title Emperor Wu 武皇
Temple name Emperor Wu 武皇 Wu huang
Title Jin commander 並帥
Title Jin Prince Li Keyong 晉王克用 Jìn wáng Kèyòng
Alternate name Ke Yong 克用
Given Keyong 克用 Keyong
Title Later Tang's martial emperor 後唐武皇
Personal Li Keyong 李克用
Personal Li Keyong 克用 Li Keyong
Personal name Li Keyong 李克用 Li Keyong
Personal name Li Keyong 李克用 Lǐ Kèyòng
Personal Li Keyong 李克用 Li Keyong
Temple name Martial Emperor 武皇
Temple name Martial Emperor 武皇 Wuhuang
Title Martial Emperor 武皇
Temple Martial Emperor 武皇 Wǔ huáng
Title Martial Emperor 武皇 Wu Huang
Title Prince of Jin 晉王 Jin Wang
Title Prince of Jin 晉王
Title the Martial Emperor 武皇
Given 克用 Keyong

Identity

Historicity
Historical
Identification
Named
Sex
Male

Roles

  • General
  • Royal Family Member
  • Ruler
  • Warlord

Life and dates

Death

Attested activity

  • Source Date: Text: 龍紀元年 · Regnal Year: 1 · Western Year: AD 889
    Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:050:s0029
  • Source Date: Text: 中和二年冬 · Regnal Year: 2 · Western Year: AD 882
    Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:050:s0013
  • Source Date: Text: 五年正月 · Regnal Year: 5 · Western Year: AD 908
    Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:050:s0084
  • Source Date: Text: 乾寧三年五月 · Western Year: AD 896
    Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:016:s0038
  • Source Date: Text: 乾符中 · Western Interval: Start: AD 874 · End: AD 879
    Explicit · jiuwudaishi:096:s0177
  • Source Date: Text: 事武皇 · Western Interval: Start: AD 883 · End: AD 908
    Strongly inferred · jiuwudaishi:066:s0125
  • Source Date: Text: 光化三年 · Western Year: AD 900
    Explicit · liaoshi:075:s0090, liaoshi:075:s0093
  • Source Date: Text: 光啟中 · Western Interval: Start: AD 885 · End: AD 888
    Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:065:s0003
  • Source Date: Text: 光啟二年 · Western Year: AD 886
    Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:062:s0044
  • Source Date: Text: 及太祖會李克用於雲中 · Western Interval: Start: AD 901 · End: AD 907
    Explicit · liaoshi:034:s0014, liaoshi:034:s0015
  • Source Date: Text: 同光三年 · Western Year: AD 925
    Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:051:s0001
  • Source Date: Text: 同光初 · Western Year: AD 923
    Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:070:s0142, jiuwudaishi:070:s0161
  • Source Date: Text: 唐中和中 · Western Interval: Start: AD 881 · End: AD 885
    Explicit · jiuwudaishi:012:s0070
  • Source Date: Text: 大順元年 · Western Year: AD 890
    Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:062:s0020
  • Source Date: Text: 大順元年八月 · Western Year: AD 890
    Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:016:s0027
  • Source Date: Text: 太祖為於越時 · Western Interval: Start: AD 900 · End: AD 916
    Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:075:s0049, liaoshi:075:s0050
  • Source Date: Text: 晉王李克用攻行瑜 · Western Interval: Start: AD 895 · End: AD 895
    Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:035:s0048
  • Source Date: Text: 晉王遣使 · Western Interval: Start: AD 897 · End: AD 900
    Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:041:s0071
  • Source Date: Text: 會於雲州 · Western Interval: Start: AD 900 · End: AD 908
    Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:073:s0041
  • Source Date: Text: 武皇之起雲中 · Western Year: AD 878
    Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:050:s0006
  • Source Date: Text: 武皇用為典謁 · Western Year: AD 908
    Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:057:s0005
  • Source Date: Text: 莊宗取魏前史事 · Western Interval: Start: AD 915 · End: AD 923
    Explicit event contextual date · xinwudaishi:008:s0002
  • Western Interval: Start: AD 883 · End: AD 908 · Source Date: Text: 郁在武皇幕，累官至檢校司空、秘書監。
    Explicit · jiuwudaishi:071:s0010
  • Source Date: Text: 龍紀元年 · Western Year: AD 889
    Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:062:s0049

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

  • Parent of Wife of Wang Yu (王郁妻)
    Kinship Term: daughter / 女 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: daughter · Object Role: father
  • Sibling of Li Kejian (李克儉)
    Kinship Term: elder brother / 兄 · Parentage: biological · Subject Relative Age: elder
  • Child of Li Guochang (李國昌)
    Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
    Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological
  • Kin of Li Kexiu (李克修)
    Kinship Term: paternal cousin / 從父弟 · Line: paternal · Subject Relative Age: elder
    Kinship Term: younger paternal cousin / 從父弟 · Line: paternal · Subject Relative Age: younger
    Kinship Term: younger paternal cousin / 從父弟 · Line: paternal
  • Sibling of Li Kerang (李克讓)
    Kinship Term: second younger brother / 仲弟 · Parentage: biological · Subject Relative Age: younger · Shared Parentage: uncertain
  • Parent of Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (後唐莊宗)
    Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
    Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
  • Parent of Li Cunyi (李存乂)
    Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
  • Parent of Li Luoluo (李落落)
    Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
  • Parent of Li Cunju (李存矩)
    Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
  • Parent of Li Cunmei (李存美)
    Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
  • Parent of Li Cunque (李存確)
    Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
  • Parent of Li Cunwo (李存渥)
    Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
  • Parent of Li Cunba (李存霸)
    Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
  • Parent of Li Cunli (李存禮)
    Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
  • Parent of Li Cunji (李存紀)
    Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
  • Spouse of Mother of Cunyi (存乂母)
    Kinship Term: spouse / 配偶 · Union Category: marriage
  • Spouse of Mother of Zhuangzong (莊宗母)
    Kinship Term: spouse / 配偶 · Union Category: marriage
  • Sibling of Li Keqin (李克勤)
    Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Parentage: biological · Subject Relative Age: younger
  • Sibling of Li Kegong (李克恭)
    Kinship Term: younger brother / 諸弟 · Parentage: biological · Subject Relative Age: younger
  • Sibling of Li Kerou (李克柔)
    Kinship Term: younger uterine brother / 母弟 · Parentage: biological · Shared Parentage: maternal-half · Subject Relative Age: younger
  • Sibling of Li Kening (李克寧)
    Kinship Term: youngest brother / 季弟 · Parentage: biological · Subject Relative Age: younger
  • Kinship Role: sons by concubines · Count: 6 · Note: six or seven treated like legitimate heirs
    Explicit · jiuwudaishi:050:s0089

Career and standing

Places and affiliations

Works and attributed material

Events and relationships

Assessments and attributes

  • Assessment: especially cherished Ke Ning among brothers · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
    Explicit · jiuwudaishi:050:s0080
  • Assessment: fierce, violent, delighted in killing · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
    Explicit · jiuwudaishi:096:s0179
  • Assessment: rose from Yin Mountains; dynasty short-lived; kin not properly enfeoffed · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
    Explicit · jiuwudaishi:050:s0123

Source notes

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 12Volume 12 Book of Later Liang 12: Biographies 2: Imperial Family · 3 passages
Open chapter
Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 16Volume 16 Book of Later Liang 16: Biographies 6: Ge Congzhou, Xie Yanzhang, He Zhen, Zhang Guiba, Zhang Guihou, Zhang Guibian · 4 passages
Open chapter
Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 50Volume 50 Book of Later Tang 26: Biographies 2: Imperial Family · 31 passages
Open chapter
克修少便弓馬，從父征討，所至立功，武皇節制雁門，以克修為奉誠軍使，從入關為前鋒，破黃揆於華陰，敗尚讓於梁田坡，蹙黃巢於光順門，每戰皆捷，勇懾諸軍。 Ke Xiu was skilled with bow and horse from youth. On his father's campaigns he distinguished himself wherever he fought. When Li Keyong took command of Yanmen, he appointed Ke Xiu commissioner of the Fengcheng Army. Marching into the passes as vanguard, Ke Xiu defeated Huang Kui at Huayin, routed Shang Rang at Liangtian Slope, and drove Huang Chao back at Guangshun Gate. He won every engagement, and his boldness overawed the other armies.
史臣曰：昔武皇發跡於陰山，莊宗肇基於河朔，雖奄有天下，而享國日淺，眷言枝屬，空秀棣華，固未及推帝堯敦敘之恩，廣成王封建之義。 The historiographer writes: The Martial Emperor rose from the Yin Mountains and Emperor Zhuangzong founded his rule in Hebei. Though they briefly held the realm, their dynasties were short-lived. Their kinsmen bloomed like catalpa blossoms yet bore no fruit—they never attained Emperor Yao's generous ordering of kin or broadly extended King Cheng's principles of enfeoffment.
Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 51Volume 51 Book of Later Tang 27: Biographies 3: Imperial Family · 3 passages
Open chapter
Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 57Volume 57 Book of Later Tang 33: Biographies 9: Gao Chongtao · 2 passages
Open chapter
Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 62Volume 62 Book of Later Tang 38: Biographies 14: Meng Fangli, Zhang Wenli, Dong Zhang · 8 passages
Open chapter
龍紀元年，克用使李罕之、李存孝擊邢，攻磁、洺，方立戰琉璃陂，大敗，禽其二將，被斧鑕，徇邢壘，呼曰：「孟公速降，有能斬其首者，假三州節度使。」 In 889 Keyong sent Li Hanzhi and Li Cunxiao against Xingzhou and into Ci and Ming; Fangli met them at Liuli Dam, was crushed, and lost both generals; the captives were shackled and displayed before the walls of Xing with the cry, "Lord Meng, surrender at once! Whoever brings me his head shall govern the three prefectures."
Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 65Volume 65 Book of Later Tang 41: Biographies 17: Li Jianji, Shi Junli, Gao Xinggui, Zhang Tingyu, Wang Sitong, Suo Zitong · 3 passages
Open chapter
Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 66Volume 66 Book of Later Tang 42: Biographies 8: an Zhonghui, Zhu Hongzhao, Zhu Hongshi, Kang Yicheng, Yao Yanchou, Song Lingxun · 1 passage
Open chapter
Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 70Volume 70 Book of Later Tang 46: Biographies 22: Yuan Xingqin, Xia Luqi, Yao Hong, Li Yan, Li Renju, Kang Sili, Zhang Jingda · 2 passages
Open chapter
Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 71Volume 71 Book of Later Tang 47: Biographies 23: Ma Yu, Si Kongting, Cao Tingyin, Xiao Xifu, Yao Zongzhi, Jia Fu, Ma Gao, Luo Guan, Chun Yuyan, Zhang Ge, Xu Ji, Zhou Xuanbao · 2 passages
Open chapter
Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 96Volume 96 Book of Later Jin 22: Biographies 11: Kong Chongbi, Chen Baoji, Wang Yu, Zhang Jizuo, Zhen Ruan, Hu Rao, Liu Suiqing, Fang Gao, Meng Chenghui, Liu Jixun, Zheng Shouyi, Cheng Xun, Li Yu, Zheng Xuansu, Ma Zhongji, Chen Xuan · 2 passages
Open chapter
History of Liao, Chapter 34Volume 34 Treatises 4: Military 1 · 1 passage
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History of Liao, Chapter 73Volume 73 Biographies 3: Yelu Helu, Xiao Dilu, Yelu Xieniechi, Yelu Yuwen, Yelu Haili · 1 passage
Open chapter
History of Liao, Chapter 75Volume 75 Biographies 5: Yelu Dilie, Yelu Duozhen, Wang Yu, Yelu Tulujiong · 4 passages
Open chapter
New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 8Volume 8 Later Jin Annals 1: Gaozu · 1 passage
Open chapter
New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 35Volume 35 Biographies 15: Zhan Wenyu, Yang She, Zhang Ce, Zhao Guangfeng, Xue Yiju, Su Xun · 1 passage
Open chapter
New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 41Volume 41 Miscellaneous Biographies 21: Lu Guangchou, Tan Quanbo, Lei Man, Zhong Chuan, Zhao Kuangning · 2 passages
Open chapter