Wang Rong (warlord)

In this Chinese name, the family name is Wang.
Wang Rong
王鎔
Reign910[1]–921
Bornc. 877
Died921
Full name
DynastyZhao

Wang Rong (Chinese: 王鎔; c. 877?[2][3][4][5][6][7]–921[8]), was a warlord in the final years of the Tang dynasty who later became the only ruler of the state of Zhao during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Late in Tang, he initially tried to chart an independent course between the more powerful warlords Zhu Quanzhong and Li Keyong, but later was forced to become Zhu's vassal, although he continued to govern his domain without much interference from Zhu. After Zhu declared himself the emperor of a new dynasty of Later Liang (as Emperor Taizu), Wang continued to serve as a vassal and was created the Prince of Zhao. Later, though, when the Later Liang emperor tried to seize the Zhao domain by force, Wang broke away from Later Liang and realigned with Li Keyong's son and successor Li Cunxu the Prince of Jin instead. In 921, Wang was overthrown and killed in a coup led by his adoptive son Wang Deming, who subsequently took over his domain and changed back to the birth name of Zhang Wenli, before dying later in the year; Li Cunxu then defeated and killed Zhang's son and successor Zhang Chujin, incorporating Zhao into his Jin state.

  1. ^ The 910 date is used here as that was the date when Wang Rong broke away from Later Liang's Emperor Taizu (Zhu Quanzhong). Alternatively, the date of 907 (when Emperor Taizu created Wang the Prince of Zhao) can be used.
  2. ^ Old Book of Tang, vol. 142.
  3. ^ New Book of Tang, vol. 211.
  4. ^ History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 54.
  5. ^ New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 54.
  6. ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 255.
  7. ^ All traditional historical sources for Wang Rong indicated that he was nine when he succeeded his father Wang Jingchong in 883, making him born in 874. However, the Zizhi Tongjian also, when discussing his age when surviving Li Kuangwei's coup attempt in 893, said that he was 16, which would make him born in 877 if correct there.
  8. ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 271.