Sui and Tang · Warlord and Official

Wang Gong 王珙

First attested AD 895; died AD 899

Passages: 6
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Wang Gong was a warlord and Official.

Life and dates

Death

AD 899 唐光化二年夏六月
Killed · Authority Li Fan (李璠)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 226

Attested activity

AD 895 乾寧二年五月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passages 199, 203
AD 899 唐光化二年夏六月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 226

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Wang Chongba (王重霸)
paternal uncle 伯父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 223
Sibling of Wang Ke (王珂)
brother 兄弟 · Relationship negated in the source
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 199
Sibling of Wang Yao (王瑤)
brothers 兄弟 · Full siblings · paternal line
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 199
Child of Wang Chongying (王重盈)
son 子
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 199

Kinship Role wives, children, and clan kin · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 224

Career and standing

Shan Prefecture military commissioner 陝州節度使
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passages 199, 223

Works and attributed material

Memorial · Author · With Emperor Zhaozong of Tang (昭宗) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 199

Events and relationships

Replaced
Political · Successor · With Wang Chongba (王重霸)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 223
Sought Hezhong
AD 895 乾寧二年五月 · Military · Claimant
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 203
Relation Allied with · Person Li Maozhen (李茂貞)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 202
Relation Allied with · Person Han Jian (韓建)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 202
Relation Allied with · Person Wang Xingyu (王行瑜)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 202

Assessments and attributes

Assessment extravagant and extortionate; people could not bear it; attendants lived in fear · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 225
Assessment harsh, violent, suspicious, cruel, fond of killing; tortured wives, children, kin, guests, and officers daily · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 224
Assessment talented in civil and military affairs yet arrogant and cruel · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 222
handsome spirit in youth; talent combined civil and military; very arrogant and cruel
Character
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 14, passage 222

References in the histories

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 14Volume 14 Book of Later Liang 14: Biographies 4: Luo Shaowei, Zhao Chou, Wang Ke · 6 passages

時重盈子珙為陝州節度使，瑤為絳州刺史，由是爭為蒲帥，瑤、珙連上章論列，又與太祖書云：「珂非吾兄弟，蓋餘家之蒼頭也，小字忠兒，安得繼嗣！」 At the time Chongying's son Gong was military governor of Shan Prefecture and Yao was prefect of Jiang Prefecture, so they competed for command of Pu. Yao and Gong repeatedly memorialized their arguments and also wrote to the Founder: "Ke is not our brother; he is another household's slave, with the childhood name Zhong'er. How can he inherit!"

既而珙厚結王行瑜、李茂貞、韓建為援，三鎮互相表薦，昭宗詔諭之曰：「吾以太原與重榮有再造之功，已俞其奏矣。」 Gong won Wang Xingyu, Maozhen, and Han Jian; Zhaozong told them, "I have approved Taiyuan's memorial for Chongrong's renewal merit."

乾寧二年五月，三鎮率兵入覲，賊害時政，請以河中授珙、瑤，又連兵以攻河中。 Qianning 2, month 5, the three circuits marched on court politics and attacked Hezhong for Gong and Yao.

克用聞之，出師以討三鎮，瑤、珙兵退，晉師拔絳州，擒瑤斬之。 Keyong drove them off and beheaded Yao at Jiangzhou.

珂至太原謝婚成禮，克用令李嗣昭將兵助珂，攻珙於陝焉。 Ke married at Taiyuan; Keyong sent Li Sizhao against Gong at Shan.

珙，少有俊氣，才兼文武，性甚驕虐。 Gong was talented yet arrogant and cruel.