Wang Shaoyi (died 866

866

Year 866 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Fujiwara no Yoshifusa becomes regent of Japan, starting the Fujiwara regentship.- Europe :...

), formally the Count of Taiyuan (太原伯), 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...

 who ruled 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 its 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 Shaoyi was born. His family had been, prior to his generation, 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 Shaoyi had at least one older brother, Wang Shaoding

Wang Shaoding

Wang Shaoding , courtesy name Sixian , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, briefly ruling Chengde Circuit in de facto independence from the imperial government as military governor .- Background :It is not known when Wang Shaoding was born...

.

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. However, Wang Shaoyi was 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 Wang Shaoyi, who was then deputy military governor, to succeed him. Emperor Xuānzong approved and made Wang Shaoyi acting military governor, and then military governor.

As military governor

Wang Shaoyi's rule was said to be simple and lenient, and both the soldiers and the people were happy about his rule. He was created the Count of Taiyuan, although it is not clear which emperor did so.

In 866

866

Year 866 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Fujiwara no Yoshifusa becomes regent of Japan, starting the Fujiwara regentship.- Europe :...

, Wang Shaoyi grew ill. He summoned 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.-...

 — who was not Wang Shaoding's oldest son but was considered Wang Shaoding's proper heir, having been born of Wang Shaoding's wife — and stated to Wang Jingchong:
Wang Shaoyi died after speaking. Emperor Xuānzong's son and successor Emperor Yizong

Emperor Yizong of Tang

Emperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...

subsequently approved the succession and made Wang Jingchong military governor.