Gao Anagong
Encyclopedia
Gao Anagong (died November 18, 580) was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Northern Qi
. He was a close associate of the emperor Gao Wei
, and late in Gao Wei's reign dominated the political scene along with Mu Tipo
and Han Zhangluan
. While probably not as corrupt as Mu and Mu's mother and Gao Wei's wet nurse
Lu Lingxuan
, he was known for incompetence. In 577, with Northern Qi under major attack by rival Northern Zhou
, after Gao Wei fled the capital Yecheng
, Gao Anagong betrayed him and gave him false information, allowing Northern Zhou forces to capture him. In 580, with Northern Zhou in civil war between the regent
Yang Jian
and the general Yuchi Jiong
, Gao Anagong was on Yuchi's side and, after Yuchi's defeat, was executed.
). His father Gao Shigui (高市貴) was a follower of Gao Huan
, the paramount general of Eastern Wei
, the predecessor state of Northern Qi, and whose sons eventually became emperors of Northern Qi. Gao Anagong served in the military and was known for his abilities in archery and horseriding. He was also known for his ability to flatter others, and he became a favorite of both Gao Wei's father Emperor Wucheng
and the powerful official He Shikai
. After Gao Wei became emperor in 565, Gao Anagong continued to be promoted, eventually to the title of Prince of Huaiyin. He became particularly powerful after the death of He Shikai in 571 and the general Hulü Guang
in 572, becoming known, along with Mu and Han as the "Three Nobles."
In winter 577, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou
launched a major attack on Northern Qi's important city Pingyang (平陽, in modern Linfen
, Shanxi
), but despite the urgency of the matter, Gao Anagong delayed notification to Gao Wei, who was then hunting with his favorite concubine Consort Feng Xiaolian
at Qilian Lake (祁連池, in modern Xinzhou). He did not inform Gao Wei of the attack until Pingyang fell. During the subsequent struggle for Pingyang, Gao Anagong began secret communications with Northern Zhou forces, and the communications intensified after Gao Wei abandoned the secondary capital Jinyang (晉陽, in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
) around the new year 578, fleeing back to Yecheng.
With Northern Zhou forces approaching Yecheng, Gao Wei abandoned Yecheng as well and fled south of the Yellow River
, intending to try to regroup and make one final stand, and flee to Chen Dynasty
if he failed. He initially fled to Ji Province (濟州, roughly modern Liaocheng
, Shandong
), but then headed further to Qing Province (青州, roughly modern Qingzhou
, Shandong
). He left Gao Anagong in charge of defending Ji Province and notifying him as to Northern Zhou's advances. However, Gao Anagong made a secret offer to betray Gao Wei, and he sent false information to Gao Wei, making Gao Wei believing that Northern Zhou forces were not advancing quickly. When Northern Zhou forces arrived at Ji Province, Gao Anagong surrendered and directed them toward Qing Province, and they were able to capture Gao Wei with relative ease.
, Sichuan
). After the death of Emperor Wu's son and successor Emperor Xuan
in 580, the government was seized by Emperor Xuan's father-in-law Yang Jian. The general Yuchi Jiong rose against Yang, and joining him were the generals Sima Xiaonan (司馬消難) and Wang Qian (王謙). Wang, the military commander of the modern Sichuan region, was Gao Anagong's superior, and he followed Wang's orders. In winter 580, after Yuchi had already been defeated and committed suicide and Sima had fled to Chen, Yang Jian sent the general Liang Rui (梁睿) against Wang. Liang defeated Wang and captured him and Gao Anagong, and then executed both of them. Yang subsequently awarded Gao Anagong's mansion to the former Northern Qi official Li Delin
.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Northern Qi
Northern Qi
The Northern Qi Dynasty was one of the Northern dynasties of Chinese history and ruled northern China from 550 to 577.-History:The Chinese state of Northern Qi was the successor state of the Chinese/Xianbei state of Eastern Wei and was founded by Emperor Wenxuan...
. He was a close associate of the emperor Gao Wei
Gao Wei
Gao Wei , often known in history as Houzhu of Northern Qi , courtesy name Rengang , sometimes referred to by his later Northern Zhou-created title of Duke of Wen , was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi...
, and late in Gao Wei's reign dominated the political scene along with Mu Tipo
Mu Tipo
Mu Tipo , né Luo Tipo , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. He was a close associate of the emperor Gao Wei, and during the latter part of Gao Wei's reign controlled the political scene along with his mother Lu Lingxuan, and the other favorites of Gao Wei, Han Zhangluan and Gao...
and Han Zhangluan
Han Zhangluan
Han Zhangluan , formal personal name Han Feng , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. He was initially a guard commander for Gao Wei when Gao Wei was crown prince, and became a close associate of Gao Wei after Gao Wei became emperor...
. While probably not as corrupt as Mu and Mu's mother and Gao Wei's wet nurse
Wet nurse
A wet nurse is a woman who is used to breast feed and care for another's child. Wet nurses are used when the mother is unable or chooses not to nurse the child herself. Wet-nursed children may be known as "milk-siblings", and in some cultures the families are linked by a special relationship of...
Lu Lingxuan
Lu Lingxuan
Lu Lingxuan was a lady in waiting in the palace of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. As she served as the wet nurse to the emperor Gao Wei, she became exceedingly powerful during his reign, at times eclipsing in importance his mother Empress Dowager Hu, and was often criticized by historians for...
, he was known for incompetence. In 577, with Northern Qi under major attack by rival Northern Zhou
Northern Zhou
The Northern Zhou Dynasty followed the Western Wei, and ruled northern China from 557 to 581. It was overthrown by the Sui Dynasty.Northern Zhou's basis of power was established by Yuwen Tai, who was paramount general of Western Wei, following the split of Northern Wei into Western Wei and...
, after Gao Wei fled the capital Yecheng
Ye, China
Ye or Yecheng was an ancient Chinese city located in what is now Linzhang County, Hebei and the neighbouring Anyang County, Henan....
, Gao Anagong betrayed him and gave him false information, allowing Northern Zhou forces to capture him. In 580, with Northern Zhou in civil war between the regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
Yang Jian
Emperor Wen of Sui
Emperor Wen of Sui — personal name Yang Jian , Xianbei name Puliuru Jian , nickname Naluoyan — was the founder and first emperor of China's Sui Dynasty . He was a hard-working administrator and a micromanager. As a Buddhist, he encouraged the spread of Buddhism through the state...
and the general Yuchi Jiong
Yuchi Jiong
Yuchi Jiong , courtesy name Bojuluo , was a general of the Chinese/Xianbei states Western Wei and Northern Zhou. He first came to prominence while his uncle Yuwen Tai served as the paramount general of Western Wei, and subsequently served Northern Zhou after the Yuwen clan established the state...
, Gao Anagong was on Yuchi's side and, after Yuchi's defeat, was executed.
During Northern Qi
Gao Anagong was from Shanwu Commandery (善無, roughly modern Xinzhou, ShanxiShanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
). His father Gao Shigui (高市貴) was a follower of Gao Huan
Gao Huan
Gao Huan , nickname Heliuhun , formally Prince Xianwu of Qi , later further formally honored by Northern Qi initially as Emperor Xianwu , then as Emperor Shenwu with the temple name Gaozu , was the paramount general of the...
, the paramount general of Eastern Wei
Eastern Wei
The Eastern Wei Dynasty followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 534 to 550.In 534 Gao Huan, the potentate of the eastern half of what was Northern Wei territory following the disintegration of the Northern Wei dynasty installed Yuan Shanjian a descendant of...
, the predecessor state of Northern Qi, and whose sons eventually became emperors of Northern Qi. Gao Anagong served in the military and was known for his abilities in archery and horseriding. He was also known for his ability to flatter others, and he became a favorite of both Gao Wei's father Emperor Wucheng
Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi
Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi , personal name Gao Dan , nickname Buluoji , was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. During his reign, he devoted much of his time to feasting and pleasure-seeking, neglecting the affairs of the state and causing Northern Qi's political system to degrade...
and the powerful official He Shikai
He Shikai
He Shikai , courtesy name Yantong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. He was a close associate of Emperor Wucheng prior to Emperor Wucheng's accession to the throne, and he became a powerful official during Emperor Wucheng's reign...
. After Gao Wei became emperor in 565, Gao Anagong continued to be promoted, eventually to the title of Prince of Huaiyin. He became particularly powerful after the death of He Shikai in 571 and the general Hulü Guang
Hulü Guang
Hulü Guang , courtesy name Mingyue , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. During the late years of the dynasty -- the reigns of Emperor Wucheng and Gao Wei, traditionally viewed as a period of corruption and debauchery when Northern Qi's once-powerful status was deteriorating -- Hulü...
in 572, becoming known, along with Mu and Han as the "Three Nobles."
In winter 577, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou
Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou
Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou , personal name Yuwen Yong , nickname Miluotu , was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Zhou. As was the case of the reigns of his brothers Emperor Xiaomin and Emperor Ming, the early part of his reign was dominated by his cousin Yuwen Hu, but in 572 he...
launched a major attack on Northern Qi's important city Pingyang (平陽, in modern Linfen
Linfen
-Administrative divisions:The prefecture-level city of Linfen is divided in one district, two cities and fourteen counties. The information here presented uses the metric system and data from 2010 Census.-Pollution:...
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
), but despite the urgency of the matter, Gao Anagong delayed notification to Gao Wei, who was then hunting with his favorite concubine Consort Feng Xiaolian
Feng Xiaolian
Consort Feng Xiaolian was an imperial consort of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. She was a concubine of the penultimate Gao Wei, and his infatuation with her caused her to be, fairly or unfairly, often stated by traditional historians as a reason for Northern Qi's downfall.Feng Xiaolian was...
at Qilian Lake (祁連池, in modern Xinzhou). He did not inform Gao Wei of the attack until Pingyang fell. During the subsequent struggle for Pingyang, Gao Anagong began secret communications with Northern Zhou forces, and the communications intensified after Gao Wei abandoned the secondary capital Jinyang (晉陽, in modern Taiyuan
Taiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
) around the new year 578, fleeing back to Yecheng.
With Northern Zhou forces approaching Yecheng, Gao Wei abandoned Yecheng as well and fled south of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
, intending to try to regroup and make one final stand, and flee to Chen Dynasty
Chen Dynasty
The Chen Dynasty , also known as the Southern Chen Dynasty, was the fourth and last of the Southern dynasties in China, eventually destroyed by the Sui Dynasty....
if he failed. He initially fled to Ji Province (濟州, roughly modern Liaocheng
Liaocheng
Liaocheng , also known as the Water City, is a prefecture-level city in western Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the southeast, Dezhou to the northeast, Tai'an to the south, and the province of Hebei and Henan to the west...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
), but then headed further to Qing Province (青州, roughly modern Qingzhou
Qingzhou
Qingzhou , formerly Yidu County , is a county-level city, which is located in the west of Weifang City, Shandong Province, China. Qingzhou is a dynamic industry city, and also grows a great number of farm products...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
). He left Gao Anagong in charge of defending Ji Province and notifying him as to Northern Zhou's advances. However, Gao Anagong made a secret offer to betray Gao Wei, and he sent false information to Gao Wei, making Gao Wei believing that Northern Zhou forces were not advancing quickly. When Northern Zhou forces arrived at Ji Province, Gao Anagong surrendered and directed them toward Qing Province, and they were able to capture Gao Wei with relative ease.
After Northern Qi's destruction
For Gao Anagong's betrayal of Gao Wei, Emperor Wu created him a duke and made him the governor of Long Province (隆州, roughly modern NanchongNanchong
Nanchong is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of Sichuan Province of the People's Republic of China, with an area of 12,479 kilometers. and the home to 7,300,000 people. It has the second most populated area and suggested to be one of the eight largest cities of Sichuan Province...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
). After the death of Emperor Wu's son and successor Emperor Xuan
Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou
Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou , personal name Yuwen Yun , courtesy name Qianbo , was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Zhou. He was known in history as an erratic and wasteful ruler, whose actions greatly weakened the Northern Zhou regime...
in 580, the government was seized by Emperor Xuan's father-in-law Yang Jian. The general Yuchi Jiong rose against Yang, and joining him were the generals Sima Xiaonan (司馬消難) and Wang Qian (王謙). Wang, the military commander of the modern Sichuan region, was Gao Anagong's superior, and he followed Wang's orders. In winter 580, after Yuchi had already been defeated and committed suicide and Sima had fled to Chen, Yang Jian sent the general Liang Rui (梁睿) against Wang. Liang defeated Wang and captured him and Gao Anagong, and then executed both of them. Yang subsequently awarded Gao Anagong's mansion to the former Northern Qi official Li Delin
Li Delin
Li Delin , courtesy name Gongfu , formally either Duke Wen of Anping or Viscount Wen of Cheng'an , was an official of the Chinese dynasties Northern Qi, Northern Zhou, and Sui Dynasty...
.