Sui and Tang · Eastern Capital Official

Yuan Wendu 元文都

Yuán Wéndū

Died AD 618

Passages: 5
Chapters: 2
Histories: 2

Overview

Yuan Wendu was an Eastern Capital Official.

Life and dates

Death

AD 618 皇泰元年
Cause Killed by Wang Shichong · Responsible Person Id Wang Shichong (王世充)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 59, passage 168
Killed by Wang Shichong · Killed by Wang Shichong (王世充)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 171

Attested activity

AD 618 義寧二年六月
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 84, passages 154, 171
AD 618 皇泰元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 59, passages 111, 115

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Grand Steward 太府卿
AD 617 大業十三年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Sui 59, passage 110
Director of the Palace Secretariat 內史令
AD 618 皇泰元年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Sui 59, passage 115
General-in-Chief of the Left Martial Cavalry 左驍衛大將軍
AD 618 皇泰元年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Sui 59, passage 115
Granted
Honor gold-inscribed iron tally 金書鐵券
Directly stated · Book of Sui 59, passage 115

Places and affiliations

Polity Eastern Capital regime · Relation Associated with
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 59, passages 111, 115
Organization Seven Nobles 七貴 · Relation Called member of
Directly stated · Book of Sui 59, passage 116

Source notes

Value historical
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 171

References in the histories

Book of Sui, Chapter 59Volume 59 Biographies 24: Three Sons of Emperor Yang · 4 passages

十三年，帝幸江都，複令侗與金紫光祿大夫段達、太府卿元文都、攝民部尚書韋津、右武衛將軍皇甫無逸等總留台事。 In the thirteenth year the emperor went to Jiangdu and again entrusted Tong, together with Duan Da, Yuan Wendu, Wei Jin acting as Minister of the Household, Huangfu Wuyi as General of the Right Martial Guards, and others, with overall charge of the Eastern Capital.

宇文化及之弑逆也，文都等議，以侗元德太子之子，屬最為近，於是乃共尊立，大赦，改元曰皇泰。 When Yuwen Huaji carried out his regicide, Wendu and the others reasoned that Tong, as a son of the Yuande Heir Apparent, was closest in the imperial line. They jointly enthroned him, proclaimed a general amnesty, and changed the era name to Huangtai.

以段達為納言、右翊衛大將軍、攝禮部尚書，王世充亦納言、左翊衛大將軍、攝吏部尚書，元文都內史令、左驍衛大將軍，盧楚亦內史令，皇甫無逸兵部尚書、右武衛大將軍，郭文懿內史侍郎，趙長文黃門侍郎，委以機務，為金書鐵券，藏之宮掖。 Duan Da was made Director of the Chancellery, General-in-Chief of the Right Wing Guards, and acting Minister of Rites; Wang Shichong likewise Director of the Chancellery, General-in-Chief of the Left Wing Guards, and acting Minister of Personnel; Yuan Wendu Director of the Palace Secretariat and General-in-Chief of the Left Martial Cavalry; Lu Chu also Director of the Palace Secretariat; Huangfu Wuyi Minister of War and General-in-Chief of the Right Martial Guards; Guo Wenyi Vice Director of the Palace Secretariat; Zhao Changwen Vice Director of the Yellow Gate. They were entrusted with state affairs, granted iron tallies inscribed in gold, and the tallies were kept in the inner palace.

未幾，元文都、盧楚、郭文懿、趙長文等為世充所殺，皇甫無逸遁歸長安。 Before long Yuan Wendu, Lu Chu, Guo Wenyi, Zhao Changwen, and others were killed by Shichong; Huangfu Wuyi fled back to Chang'an.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 84Volume 84 Biographies 9: Li, Mi · 1 passage

侗召密入朝，至溫，聞世充殺元文都，乃止。 Tong summoned Mi to court. When he reached Wen, he heard that Shichong had killed Yuan Wendu and thereupon stopped.