Five Dynasties · General

Li Siyuan 李嗣源

Attested AD 917

Passages: 7
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Li Siyuan was a general.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 917 天祐十四年
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 28, passage 205

Career and standing

acting Grand Guardian 檢校太保
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 28, passage 222

References in the histories

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 28Volume 28 Book of Later Tang 4: Zhuangzong Annals 2 · 7 passages

夏四月，命李嗣源率師赴援，次於淶水； In the fourth month of summer he sent Li Siyuan to the rescue; Siyuan halted at the Lai River;

周德威遣人告李嗣源曰：「契丹三十萬，馬牛不知其數，近日所食羊馬過半，阿保機責讓盧文進，深悔其來。 Zhou Dewei reported to Li Siyuan: "The Khitan number three hundred thousand, with herds beyond count; they have already eaten more than half their sheep and horses. Abaoji blames Lu Wenjin and bitterly regrets this campaign.

嗣源具以事聞。 Siyuan sent the full report to court.

秋七月辛未，帝遣李存審領軍與嗣源會於易州，步騎凡七萬。 On xinwei in the seventh month the Emperor sent Li Cunshen to join Siyuan at Yizhou with seventy thousand foot and horse.

八月甲午，自易州北循山而行，李嗣源率三千騎為前鋒。 On jiawu in the eighth month they left Yizhou north along the hills; Li Siyuan led three thousand horse in the van.

契丹萬騎遽至，存審、嗣源極力以拒之，契丹大敗，委棄毳幕、氈廬、弓矢、羊馬不可勝紀，進軍追討，俘斬萬計。 Ten thousand Khitan horse rushed up; Cunshen and Siyuan met them head-on and routed them, leaving felt tents, huts, bows, and countless sheep and horses; the pursuit took tens of thousands of heads and prisoners.

九月，班師，帝授存審檢校太傅，嗣源檢校太保，閻寶加同平章事。 In the ninth month they withdrew; Cunshen was made acting Grand Tutor, Siyuan acting Grand Guardian, and Yan Bao was added Tongping Grand Councilor.