Background

Wang Jingchong was born in 847, during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong. At that time, his grandfather Wang Yuankui ruled Chengde Circuit in de facto independence from the imperial government, but maintained a good relationship with the imperial government and largely followed imperial orders; he also married a Tang imperial princess (Princess Shou'an, a granddaughter of Emperor Xuānzong's father Emperor Xianzong. Wang Jingchong's father Wang Shaoding was the oldest son of Wang Yuankui's, by Princess Shou'an, and served as Wang Yuankui's deputy. Wang Jingchong himself, while not the oldest among his brothers (he had at least one older brother, Wang Jingyin (王景胤), and at least one younger brother, Wang Jingyu (王景敔)), was the oldest (or only) son of Wang Shaoding's wife, and therefore viewed as the eventual heir of Wang Shaoding.

Wang Yuankui died in 855, and Wang Shaoding succeeded him, with imperial sanction. Wang Shaoding, however, was said to mistreat his people and waste his time on feasts, leading to the soldier's plotting rebellion. Before any plot came to fruition, however, Wang Shaoding died of illness, and the soldiers supported his younger brother (and Wang Jingchong's uncle) Wang Shaoyi as his successor. Emperor Xuānzong approved the succession.

During Wang Shaoyi's military governorship, Wang Jingchong served as the acting commandant of Chengde's capital Zhen Prefecture, as well as the commander of the army. In 866, Wang Shaoyi grew ill. He summoned Wang Jingchong and stated to Wang Jingchong:

Wang Shaoyi died after speaking. Emperor Xuānzong's son and successor Emperor Yizong subsequently approved the succession and made Wang Jingchong first acting military governor, and then military governor later in 866.

As military governor

During Emperor Yizongs reign

It was said that the imperial government had a good relationship with Wang Jingchong since he was the grandson of a princess. During the rebellion of Pang Xun at Xu Prefecture (徐州, in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), Wang contributed troops to the imperial cause, and after Pang's rebellion was put down, Wang was created the Baron of Taiyuan. It was said that when Princess Shou'an died, Wang observed a mourning period appropriately, and was praised by the imperial officials. After he was subsequently formally recalled to active service, he was given the honorific title of acting Sikong (司空, one of the Three Excellencies).

In 870, when He Quanhao the military governor of neighboring Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei) was killed in a mutiny, the Weibo soldiers supported the officer Han Junxiong to succeed He Quanhao. It was said that because Wang also submitted a petition on Han's behalf that Emperor Yizong approved of Han's takeover. Later in the year, Emperor Yizong bestowed the honorific chancellor designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi on him.

During Emperor Xizongs reign

In 873, Emperor Yizong died and was succeeded by his son Emperor Xizong. Emperor Xizong bestowed a number of honorific titles on military governors, and Wang received the greater honorific chancellor title of Zhongshu Ling (中书令). In 875, Wang's honorific chancellor title was changed to Shizhong (侍中). During this period, he was also successively created the Duke of Zhao and then the Prince of Changshan. Also, during this time, his mother Lady of Qin died, but he was then formally recalled to active service.

In 880, the agrarian rebel Huang Chao captured the imperial capital Chang'an, forced Emperor Yizong to flee, and established his own state of Qi as its emperor. Wang's neighbor, Wang Chucun the military governor of Yiwu Circuit (义武, headquartered in modern Baoding, Hebei), upon hearing the news of Chang'an's fall, mobilized all of Yiwu's troops and headed for Chang'an, subsequently participating in a major campaign against Huang's Qi state on Tang's behalf. Wang Jingchong sent troops to accompany Wang Chucun on his campaign, although, unlike Wang Chucun, he did not personally attend to the campaign. However, he often sent messengers to Emperor Xizong, who had fled to Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan) by this point, to greet the emperor and to submit tributes. After Huang's Qi state was destroyed, Wang Jingchong was thus given the honorific title of Taiwei (太尉, also one of the Three Excellencies, but now no longer acting).

Wang Jingchong died in 883. The soldiers supported his nine-year-old son Wang Rong as his successor, and the imperial government, then in disarray, subsequently approved.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 142.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 211.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 250, 252, 255.

背景

王景崇生于唐宣宗年间的846年。当时，他的祖父王元逵任成德节度使，实际独立于朝廷，但和朝廷关系良好，对朝廷诏敕相当奉行，还娶了宣宗的侄女寿安公主（绛王李悟女）。王景崇的父亲王绍鼎是王元逵的长子，为公主所生，任节度副使。王景崇并非王绍鼎长子，有兄王景胤、王景儒，弟王景㟧，但却是嫡长子，因此被视为王绍鼎的继承人。

大中九年（855年），王元逵去世，王绍鼎奉诏继任。但他虐待百姓，终日饮宴，士兵因此谋叛。但叛变还没有发生，王绍鼎就病死了，因其诸子尚幼不能主事，士兵推举其弟王绍懿继任。宣宗予以认可。

王绍懿任节度使期间，王景崇任军部镇州大都督府左司马、知府事、都知兵马使。唐懿宗咸通七年（866年）三月，王绍懿病倒了。他召来王景崇，说：「我兄长认为你年轻，所以把军队的指挥权和成德镇的管辖权都交给我。你现在成年了，我要把权力交还给你。现在我病重了，你虽然年轻，但要努力工作，忠于朝廷，和邻镇和睦相处，别毁了兄长的遗产。这就是你的功劳了。」说完就死了。监军在场，上表报知，懿宗高兴，也认可了这次接班，六月任王景崇为兵马留后，八月起复为忠武将军、左金吾卫将军同正、检校右散骑常侍，兼镇州大都督府左司马、知府事、御史中丞，充成德军节度观察留后，仍赐上柱国，赐紫金鱼袋，十二月又任为正节度使、检校工部尚书。

任节度使

唐懿宗年间

因为王景崇是寿安公主的孙子，朝廷和王景崇关系很好。在庞勋的徐州叛乱中，王景崇派大将从诸军征讨，平叛后，他以功授检校右仆射，封太原县男，食邑三百户。祖母寿安公主薨，王景崇以礼服丧，受到朝野称赞。服丧期满后，他被起复为左金吾卫上将军同正，进检校司空。

十一年（870年）八月，邻镇的魏博节度使何全皞在兵变中被杀，魏博军推韩君雄继任。由于王景崇上表，九月，唐懿宗允许韩君雄接任。十二月，加王景崇同中书门下平章事。累加检校太尉、赵国公，食邑三千户，食实封二百户。

曾有荧惑、镇星、太白、辰星聚于毕、昴，在赵、魏之分，太史奏称赵、魏当有王者，于是懿宗诏王景崇披衮冕，摄朝三日，遣臣下备仪注、命军府向他称臣，以为对异常天象的压制。

唐僖宗年间

十四年（873年），唐懿宗驾崩，子唐僖宗继位，加王景崇兼中书令，王景崇想让给哥哥王景儒，求做易定节度使，被宰相中书侍郎兼工部尚书崔沆驳回。乾符二年（875年）四月，又加开府仪同三司、兼侍中。又丁母亲秦国夫人张氏忧，其忧伤之相为当时所称。起复本官。他把军政交给宾佐，戒亲属不得干预。他曾想引姨表弟为牙将，其佐张位说：「军中用人是看功劳和能力的，如果爱此人，厚给田宅禄食就可以了，何必任官。」他便认错。五年（878年），以成德军节度使、镇冀深赵等州观察处置等使、开府仪同三司、检校太尉、兼中书令、镇州大都督府长史、上柱国、赵国公、食邑三千户、食实封二百户、袭实封一百户进封常山郡王。

880年，黄巢率农民起义军攻占帝都长安，迫使唐僖宗出逃，自称大齐皇帝。十分之三四的节度使投降黄巢。黄巢使者持诏书招安王景崇，王景崇斩杀使者，枭首于市。时有邸吏持伪诏前来，王景崇斩之。王景崇邻镇的义武军节度使王处存得知长安失守，动员义武军进军京师，随后站在朝廷一边参与对黄巢的大战。王景崇并未亲身参战，但发兵驰檄诸道，派军队与王处存同行。他时常派使臣去僖宗栖身的西川军行在，向僖宗致礼、纳贡。每每谈及宗庙园陵，他都哭。关中平定后，正拜太尉。

中和二年（882年）三月，蔚州刺史苏佑被迁濮州刺史，拥兵赴任，行经成德军，王景崇在灵寿为其设馆，苏佑放纵部下剽掠地面，王景崇遂杀之，并分兵诛其徒党，四月，奏报僖宗。王景崇经十三次迁官，至检校太傅。十二月，王景崇以成德军节度、镇冀深赵观察处置等使、开府仪同三司、检校太尉、中书令、上柱国、常山郡王、食邑六千户去世。遗表9岁的儿子王熔继任，士兵也推戴王熔。这时朝廷已混乱不堪，随后也同意了。王景崇获赠太傅，谥忠穆。

妻何氏，王熔母，有妇德。

注释