Wang Shaoding (died 857

857

Year 857 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* Michael III of Byzantium, under the influence of his uncle Bardas, banishes his mother Theodora...

), courtesy name Sixian (嗣先), was a general of the Chinese

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 Tang Dynasty

Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...

, briefly ruling Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang

Shijiazhuang

Shijiazhuang is the capital and largest city of North China's Hebei province. Administratively a prefecture-level city, it is about south of Beijing...

, Hebei

Hebei

' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...

) in de facto independence from the imperial government as military governor (Jiedushi

Jiedushi

The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...

).

Background

It is not known when Wang Shaoding was born. His family had been, prior to him, in control of Chengde Circuit for two generations, after his grandfather Wang Tingcou

Wang Tingcou

Wang Tingcou , formally the Duke of Taiyuan , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who, in 821, during the reign of Emperor Muzong, took over control of Chengde Circuit and thereafter ruled it in a de facto independent manner from the imperial government...

 seized control of the circuit in 821

821

Year 821 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Tang Mu Zong becomes emperor of China.* First recorded session of the Parliament of Croatia- Byzantine Empire :...

 without imperial approval and eventually forced the imperial government to acquiesce; his father Wang Yuankui

Wang Yuankui

Wang Yuankui , formally Duke Zhong of Taiyuan , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. Like his father Wang Tingcou, Wang Yuankui ruled Chengde Circuit in de facto independence from the imperial government, but unlike Wang Tingcou, he was respectful to the imperial government and...

 later succeeded Wang Tingcou and took a more conciliatory stance with the imperial government. Wang Shaoding was Wang Yuankui's oldest son. During Wang Yuankui's rule of Chengde, Wang Shaoding became deputy military governor, the commander of the Chengde troops, and acting commandant of Chengde's capital Zhen Prefecture (鎮州). When Wang Yuankui died in 855

855

Year 855 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Louis II succeeds Lothar as Western Emperor...

, the soldiers supported Wang Shaoding to succeed him. Then-reigning Emperor Xuānzong

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...

 initially made Wang Shaoding acting military governor, and, later in the year, full military governor.

As military governor

Wang Shaoding, however, was said to be inappropriate in his behavior, favoring drinking, and particularly liking to sling bullets at people from towers for fun. The soldiers became so displeased with him that they considered overthrowing him, but before they could do so, he fell ill and died in 857

857

Year 857 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* Michael III of Byzantium, under the influence of his uncle Bardas, banishes his mother Theodora...

. The soldiers supported his younger brother Wang Shaoyi

Wang Shaoyi

Wang Shaoyi , formally the Count of Taiyuan , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who ruled Chengde Circuit in de facto independence from the imperial government as its military governor .- Background :It is not known when Wang Shaoyi was born...

 to be the new military governor, and Emperor Xuānzong approved the succession and granted Wang Shaoding posthumous honors. Wang Shaoding's son Wang Jingchong

Wang Jingchong

Wang Jingchong , courtesy name Meng'an , formally Prince Zhongmu of Changshan , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who followed a line of his ancestors in ruling Chengde Circuit as its military governor in de facto independence from the imperial government.-...

later succeeded Wang Shaoyi.