Background and early career

It is not known when Chen Jingxuan was born. According to the Zizhi Tongjian, his family was from Xu Prefecture (許州, in modern Xuchang, Henan). He had at least two younger brothers, Chen Jingxun (陳敬珣) and one other who later became known as Tian Lingzi—as that younger brother became a eunuch in his young age and was adopted by a eunuch named Tian. He probably had two older brothers, as, at one point, Tian Lingzi referred to him as the third brother.

As of the start of the reign of Emperor Xizong (r. 873–888), Tian Lingzi became extremely powerful due to his close personal association with Emperor Xizong, such that Emperor Xizong even referred to him as "Father." Tian tried to intercede on Chen Jingxuan's behalf with Cui Anqian the military governor of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered at Xu Prefecture) to have Chen made an officer under Cui, but Cui refused. Tian, therefore, had Chen come to the imperial capital Chang'an and made him an officer in the eunuch-commanded Left Shence Army (左神策軍), promoting him all the way to being a major general within a span of a few years.

As military governor of Xichuan

Before Emperor Xizongs arrival in Chengdu

As of 880, Emperor Xizong's empire was being overrun by agrarian rebels, the strongest of whom was Huang Chao. Tian Lingzi was beginning to fear the possibility that Huang or another agrarian rebel may attack Chang'an, and therefore made a contingency plan to flee to the Shu (蜀, i.e., modern Sichuan and Chongqing) region. He recommended Chen and three other Left Shence Army generals that he trusted, Yang Shili, Niu Xu (牛勗), and Luo Yuangao (羅元杲) as potential military governors (Jiedushi) for the three circuits covering the region—Xichuan, Dongchuan (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan), and Shannan West (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi). Emperor Xizong held a polo game for the four of them, with the stakes being that the best player would receive Xichuan. Chen did the best during the game, and was therefore made the military governor of Xichuan, replacing Cui (who was then at Xichuan). (Yang was given Dongchuan, and Niu was given Shannan West.) As Chen was of humble origins and had no good reputation, when the news arrived in Xichuan that he would be the new military governor, the people of Xichuan were surprised, as they did not know who Chen was. A sorcerer from Qingcheng (青城, in modern Chengdu) thus falsely claimed that he was Chen; he arrived at government offices and began making orders. The officer Qu Dafu (瞿大夫), however, figured out that the sorcerer was fake, and therefore arrested and killed him, before Chen's arrival. Once Chen arrived and took office, it was said that he had a careful and timid character but was good at comforting his subordinates.

Around the new year 881, Huang captured Chang'an, forcing Emperor Xizong to flee to Shannan West's capital Xingyuan (興元), to be protected by Niu. When Chen received report of Emperor Xizong's flight, he summoned the eunuch monitor Liang Chuhou (梁處厚) and tearfully began the plans to welcome Emperor Xizong to Xichuan's capital Chengdu Municipality, including repairing an old palace for Emperor Xizong. He sent 3,000 soldiers to Xingyuan to protect Emperor Xizong. As Xingyuan had little food supplies, Tian persuaded Emperor Xizong to continue on to Chengdu, and Emperor Xizong agreed. He sent some imperial household servants to Chengdu first while he himself slowly progressed. When those servants viewed the palace that Chen was repairing and made insolent remarks about Chengdu being a barbaric place, Chen, in order to try to put the arrogance of the imperial servants in check, had those insolent servants arrested and executed. He then personally went to Lutou Pass (鹿頭關, in modern Deyang, Sichuan) to welcome Emperor Xizong and escort Emperor Xizong back to Chengdu. Emperor Xizong bestowed on him the honorary chancellor title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事).

During Emperor Xizongs stay in Chengdu

After Emperor Xizong arrived at Chengdu, he gave initial rewards to the Xichuan army, but after he settled down, rewards were repeatedly given to the imperial guards who accompanied Emperor Xizong to Chengdu and stopped for the Xichuan army, drawing much resentment from the Xichuan forces. At a feast held by Tian Lingzi, the officer Guo Qi (郭琪) publicly objected and requested that rewards be balanced; Tian reacted by trying to poison Guo to death, but Guo survived. Guo then led a failed mutiny and then fled, but Chen Jingxuan spared his family.

Meanwhile, though, it was said that Chen's rule of Xichuan was becoming increasingly harsh, and he sent out secret police to monitor the local officials, which, on one occasion, led to false accusations against and the subsequent cruel execution of Xie Hongrang (謝弘讓) the defender of Ziyang Base (資陽鎮, in modern Ziyang, Sichuan). The officer Qian Neng (阡能), who had previously rebelled, refused to resubmit in light of Xie's cruel death, and he took over Qiong (邛州, in modern Chengdu) and Ya (雅州, in modern Ya'an, Sichuan) Prefectures and resisted Chen. Chen sent forces against Qian, but initially had no successes. Meanwhile, in summer 882, Emperor Xizong bestowed the greater honorary chancellor title of Shizhong (侍中) on him, and also created him the Duke of Liang and made his brother Chen Jingxun a prefectural prefect.

The Qian rebellion quickly grew, and by fall 882, it had grown out of Chen's control, as the commander Chen sent to suppress Qian's rebellion, Yang Xingqian (楊行遷), not only was unable to defeat Qian but was killing civilians to pretend that he was having success against Qian. Meanwhile, another rebellion led by Han Xiusheng (韓秀升) and Qu Xingcong (屈行從) rose in the Three Gorges region and cut off the supply route for Xichuan from the east. Chen sent the officer Zhuang Mengdie (莊夢蝶) to try to suppress it, with no success.

In winter 882, as the Qian rebellion had by that point grown and entered Shu Prefecture (蜀州, in modern Chengdu), Chen replaced Yang with Gao Renhou. Gao publicized his appeal that those who followed Qian would be pardoned entirely if they surrendered, and Qian's forces collapsed. Gao captured Qian and executed him and four other rebel leaders, as well as Qian's chief strategist Zhang Rong (張榮), but otherwise did not carry out any reprisals, a decision that Chen agreed with. Chen further made Gao the defender of Mei Prefecture (眉州, in modern Meishan, Sichuan).

In spring 883, with Zhuang repeatedly defeated by Han and Qu, cutting off all supplies from the east, Chen sent Gao to the Three Gorges region to attack them. Gao did so and was able to defeat them, reopening the Three Gorges supply route.

During the time that Emperor Xizong was at Chengdu, at Chen's suggestion, Emperor Xizong had agreed to enter a heqin marriage treaty with Hetuo. When the Hetuo emperor Longshun (隆舜) insisted on the treaty's implementation in 883, Emperor Xizong created an imperial clansman's daughter to be the Princess Anhua and married her to Longshun.

Meanwhile, Chen got into a dispute with the chancellor Zheng Tian over Zheng's refusal to allow Chen to have greater honors than the actual chancellors (as Zheng pointed to regulations that honorary chancellors were not to be regarded to be above actual chancellors). Chen and Tian Lingzi thus instigated an insistence by Li Changyan the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi), who had previously rebelled against Zheng but who had later resubmitted to the Tang imperial government, that Zheng not be allowed through Fengxiang. (Tang forces had recaptured Chang'an from Huang Chao's state of Qi earlier in 883, and Emperor Xizong was then beginning to plan a return to Chang'an.) Faced with this situation, Zheng resigned. After Zheng's resignation, Chen was given the honorary chancellor title of Zhongshu Ling (中書令) and created the Prince of Yingchuan.

Meanwhile, Yang Shili, who had previously been closely associated with Tian Lingzi, had become dissatisfied with the hold that Tian and Chen had on the emperor, particularly becoming displeased when hearing rumors that Chen had promised to have Gao made the military governor of Dongchuan. In spring 884, Tian, knowing Yang's displeasure and worried that he would act militarily, ordered that he be recalled to the imperial government to serve as You Pushe (右僕射)—a highly honored position that carried few actual responsibilities. Yang, receiving the order, rejected it and mobilized against Chen. Emperor Xizong stripped Yang of his titles and ordered Gao to attack. Gao defeated Yang's officer Zheng Junxiong (鄭君雄) and put Dongchuan's capital Zi Prefecture (梓州) under siege. In summer 884, Zheng rose against Yang, and Yang committed suicide, allowing Gao to take Dongchuan. With the Dongchuan campaign over, Emperor Xizong departed Chengdu in spring 885 and headed back to Chang'an. Chen escorted the emperor as far as Han Prefecture (漢州, in modern Deyang) before heading back to Chengdu himself.

After Emperor Xizongs departure from Chengdu

After Emperor Xizong returned to Chang'an, Tian Lingzi continued to be in control of the imperial government, and he had Chen Jingxuan be officially made the overall overseer of not only Xichuan, but of also Dongchuan, Shannan West, and the Three Gorges region.

Meanwhile, though, by late 885, Tian was embroiled in a major dispute with Wang Chongrong the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) over control of the salt ponds at Hezhong, and when he tried to transfer Wang, Wang refused. In a subsequent military confrontation between the forces of Wang and Wang's ally Li Keyong the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) and the forces of Tian (i.e., the Shence Armies) and his allies Zhu Mei the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi) and Li Changyan's brother and successor Li Changfu, Tian and his allies were decisively defeated, causing Tian to again take Emperor Xizong and abandon Chang'an, fleeing to Xingyuan. Subsequently, Zhu and Li Changfu turned against Emperor Xizong as well, with Zhu going as far as supporting Emperor Xizong's distant relative Li Yun the Prince of Xiang as an alternative emperor. As Tian knew that he could not continue to hold on to power in the face of the public anger over his precipitating this confrontation with Wang, he resigned his post as the commander of the Shence Armies and had himself made the eunuch monitor of Xichuan, so that he could join Chen in Xichuan. (Tian's successor Yang Fugong was eventually to reconcile with Wang and Li Keyong. Zhu and Li Yun were killed, and Emperor Xizong was able to return to Chang'an.)

Around the same time, Chen began to suspect Gao Renhou might turn against him. It happened that at that time Zheng Junxiong, who had been made the prefect of Sui Prefecture (遂州, in modern Suining, Sichuan), rose in rebellion, capturing Han Prefecture and attacking Chengdu. Chen had his officer Li Shunzhi (李順之) engage Zheng, killing him. Chen then mobilized his forces and made a surprise attack against Gao, killing him. (Chen was unable to retain control of Dongchuan, however, as Emperor Xizong subsequently named the Shence Army general Gu Yanlang the new military governor of Dongchuan, and Chen appeared to make no attempt to prevent Gu from taking office.)

In spring 887, Emperor Xizong, who had returned to Chang'an, issued an edict stripping Tian Lingzi of his titles and exiling him to Duan Prefecture (端州, in modern Zhaoqing, Guangdong), but as Tian was under Chen's protection, that edict was never carried out.

By winter 887, Chen had become concerned that Gu and the former Shence Army officer Wang Jian—who had previously become an adopted son of Tian's but who had by this point seized Lang Prefecture (閬州, in modern Nanchong, Sichuan) without imperial approval—would ally with each other (as they had become friendly during their service together in the Shence Armies) and attack him. Tian suggested summoning Wang to Chengdu to serve under Chen, and Chen agreed. Tian thus wrote a letter to Wang summoning him. Wang, leaving his family members with Gu at Zi Prefecture, thus headed toward Chengdu. However, when Wang reached Lutou Pass, Chen's staff member Li Ai (李乂) warned Chen that Wang was dangerous, and Chen regretted and tried to stop Wang. Wang refused the order and proceeded all the way to Chengdu, defeating Chen's officers on the way. He captured Han Prefecture and gave control of it to Gu's brother Gu Yanhui, and Gu Yanlang and Wang subsequently attacked Chengdu but could not capture it. When Emperor Xizong sent eunuchs to try to mediate, neither Chen nor Wang accepted the mediation. It was said that Wang's campaign against Chen caused great damage to all 12 prefectures of Xichuan Circuit and that, as a result, Xichuan's routine tributes to the emperor stopped.

Emperor Xizong died in spring 888 and was succeeded by his brother Emperor Zhaozong, who had long hated Tian. Meanwhile, Wang was still unable to capture Chengdu, and therefore submitted a petition to Emperor Zhaozong that the imperial government send a new military governor of Xichuan, offering to serve under that new military governor. Gu Yanlang submitted a petition with a similar proposal as well. Emperor Zhaozong therefore made the chancellor Wei Zhaodu the new military governor of Xichuan and issued an order recalling Chen to serve as a major general of the Shence Armies. Chen, however, refused the order and prepared for battle against Wei. Emperor Zhaozong thus stripped him of all titles. (It was said that, however, after this point, Tian became effectively in control of Xichuan, making all key decisions.) Emperor Zhaozong commissioned Wei as the overall commander against Chen, with Yang Shouliang the military governor of Shannan West, Gu Yanlang, and Wang assisting, and carved out four prefectures of Xichuan to establish a new Yongping Circuit (永平, headquartered at Qiong Prefecture), making Wang the military governor of Yongping.

Resistance against the imperial government

In spring 890, Wang Jian started a siege of Qiong Prefecture, intending to take it as his base of operations. All attempts that Chen Jingxuan made to relieve the siege of Qiong were defeated by Wang. Qiong fell to Wang in fall 890. Wang left his assistant Zhang Lin (張琳) in control at Qiong and returned to Chengdu, resuming the siege there. It was said that, in light of the resistance war that he was waging against the imperial government, Chen increased the tax burden greatly and imposed cruel punishments for those who hid assets, causing the people much grief.

By spring 891, however, given Wei's failure to capture Chengdu by this point and given the imperial government's recent defeat in a campaign against Li Keyong, Emperor Zhaozong decided to end the campaign. He restored Chen's titles and recalled Wei, while ordering Gu Yanlang and Wang to return to their circuits. By this point, though, Chengdu, under siege, was suffering from a serious famine that caused people of the city to resort to cannibalism, and Wang was unwilling to give up the campaign. He initially tried to persuade Wei to continue the campaign despite Emperor Zhaozong's order and, when Wei was unwilling to do so, intimidated Wei (by killing Wei's associate Luo Bao (駱保)) into giving him command of the imperial forces and returning to Chang'an by himself. Wang then resumed the siege against Chengdu.

By fall 891, Chengdu's situation was even more desperate, as Wang cut off the only remaining supply route that it had, from Weirong Circuit (威戎, headquartered in modern Chengdu), whose military governor Yang Sheng (楊晟) was a follower of Tian's. When Chen met with his army to try to encourage them to continue to resist, the soldiers stopped responding to him. Tian personally visited Wang at his camp and offered to surrender, and Wang accepted. Wang, who was then made the military governor of Xichuan, offered to continue to support Tian like a father, while making Chen's son Chen Tao (陳陶) the prefect of Ya Prefecture, having Chen Jingxuan go to Ya Prefecture as well to be with Chen Tao.

Death

In 892, Wang Jian removed Chen Tao of his post as prefect of Ya Prefecture. Wang instead settled Chen Jingxuan at Xinjin (新津, in modern Chengdu), and supported Chen's household with the tax revenues of Xinjin County. However, he was continuously submitting petitions to Emperor Zhaozong requesting the executions of Chen and Tian Lingzi. Emperor Zhaozong never approved his petitions, and he decided to take initiative on his own. In summer 893, he falsely accused Chen and Tian of plotting treason, and he had Chen executed at Xinjin. Chen had long suspected that Wang would have him killed, and therefore carried poison in his belt so that he could commit suicide before an execution could occur, but as he was being arrested, he checked his belt, and the poison was no longer there. He was thereafter beheaded.

Notes and references

• New Book of Tang, vol. 224, part 2.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259.

背景和早期經歷

陳敬瑄生年不詳，許州人。他出身貧賤，最初只是做燒餅的廚師。他至少有兩個弟弟，一個弟弟叫陳敬珣，另一個弟弟幼年被田姓宦官收養，也成為宦官，就是後來的田令孜。他可能還有兩個哥哥，因為田令孜曾稱他為三哥。

唐僖宗（873年 - 888年在位）初年，田令孜因和僖宗關係親密而大權在握，為護軍中尉，甚至被僖宗呼為「阿父」。許州是忠武軍軍部，田令孜想讓陳敬瑄在忠武軍節度使崔安潛帳下服役，被崔安潛拒絕。田令孜就讓陳敬瑄來長安效力左神策軍，幾年內升他為左金吾衛將軍。

任西川節度使

唐僖宗到成都前

廣明元年（880年），唐僖宗治下的帝國受到農民起義軍的威脅，尤其是黃巢起義軍。田令孜害怕起義軍攻打長安，便制定了逃往蜀地的計劃。他推薦陳敬瑄和自己信任的三員左神策軍將領楊師立、牛勗、羅元杲為蜀地三鎮西川、東川、山南西道的節度使，僖宗不知道怎麼分配，決定賭馬球。三月，僖宗為他們四人舉辦了一場馬球賽，約定勝者成為西川節度使。陳敬瑄在比賽中勝出，于是成為西川節度使、檢校尚書右僕射，取代了當時在任的崔安潛。楊師立成為東川節度使，牛勗成為山南西道節度使。由于陳敬瑄出身卑微，又沒有名聲，五月，當得知他被任為新節度使時，西川百姓震驚了，他們根本不知道陳敬瑄是誰。青城山的一個妖人趁機詐稱陳敬瑄，率黨羽到達官署，下達命令。但馬步使瞿大夫指出妖人是假冒的，將其捕殺，這時陳敬瑄尚未就任。六月，陳敬瑄上任後，謹慎小心，善于撫慰下屬。

十二月，黃巢攻陷長安，唐僖宗被迫逃往山南西道軍部興元府，以求牛勗保護。當陳敬瑄得知僖宗出逃，他召來監軍宦官梁處厚，哭著計劃迎接僖宗來西川軍部成都府，並為僖宗重修行宮。他派三千軍隊去興元護駕。興元糧食短缺，田令孜因陳敬瑄之故，說服僖宗行在成都。僖宗派宮僕先行，自己則緩緩前來。中和元年（881年）正月，內園小兒看到陳敬瑄修複的行宮後，出言強橫，稱成都為蠻荒之地。陳敬瑄捕殺之，共殺五十人，陳尸于路，眾人才肅然。他親自去鹿頭關迎僖宗入成都，進酒，僖宗三次舉杯，三月，進他為檢校左僕射並授予他同中書門下平章事的使相榮銜。陳敬瑄奏遣左黃頭軍使李鋋將兵擊黃巢。

淮南節度使高駢幕僚崔致遠曾代高駢寫信給陳敬瑄。

唐僖宗在成都期間

僖宗因蜀中狹陋而鬱郁，田令孜大讚鄭畋、王鐸、程宗楚、李鋋、陳敬瑄正併力抵抗黃巢，不足為慮，僖宗才安心。六月，李鋋等與黃巢戰屢捷，陳敬瑄又遣神機營使高仁厚率二千人增援。

僖宗到成都後，首先犒賞西川軍，但安定後卻頻繁犒賞隨駕的御林軍，不再犒賞西川軍了，西川軍因此怨恨。在田令孜的一次宴席上，西川黃頭軍將郭琪公然提出反對意見，要求公平賞賜；田令孜想毒殺郭琪，郭琪卻沒死，發動兵變，被諸軍擊退，回營後又被陳敬瑄命都押牙安金山打敗出逃廣都，身邊只剩一名廳吏。郭琪對他說：「陳公知道我無罪。你事我有始有終，我要報答你。」要廳吏取郭琪的印綬和佩劍，稱已殺郭琪，陳敬瑄必榜懸印劍于市以安眾心，廳吏可獲厚賞，郭琪家也可保全。郭琪解下印綬佩劍給廳吏，廳吏將其獻給陳敬瑄，陳敬瑄果然赦免了郭琪的家屬。

然而，陳敬瑄在西川的統治是嚴酷的，他派人監視本地官員，稱之為尋事人，此舉導致資陽鎮將謝弘讓慘遭冤殺：當時謝弘讓害怕被陷于罪逃入盜賊中，被捕盜使楊遷引誘出首，陳敬瑄不訊問，杖謝弘讓脊二十，釘于西城十四天，用煎油潑，又以膠麻刮下他的瘡疤，極其慘酷，見者都以為冤。原邛州牙官阡能已為盜賊，本來也因楊遷誘降出首，因聽聞謝弘讓慘死，放棄出首，占據邛州、雅州，對抗陳敬瑄。蜀中盜賊皆起。陳敬瑄遣牙將楊行遷率三千人，胡弘略、莫匡時各率二千人討之，無功。中和二年（882年）年四月，唐僖宗又想讓陳敬瑄判度支，陳敬瑄固辭，于是加陳敬瑄為檢校司徒，授予更高級的宰相榮銜兼侍中，封梁國公，並任其弟陳敬珣為閬州刺史。

但阡能叛軍勢頭越來越大，六月，羅渾擎、句胡僧、羅夫子各聚眾數千人響應阡能，局勢已經超出了陳敬瑄的控制。楊行遷等數戰不利，請求增兵，府中無兵，陳敬瑄盡搜倉庫門庭之卒上陣，大戰于乾溪，官軍大敗。楊行遷等害怕因無功獲罪，多抓捕村民稱為俘虜送回成都府，每天解送數十百人。陳敬瑄不問情由，都斬之，其中不乏老弱婦女，至死不知為何獲罪被殺。黃巢也在這一年打敗陳敬瑄。九月，韓秀升和屈行從也在三峽地區叛變，斷峽江路。陳敬瑄派押牙莊夢蝶率二千人討之，又遣押牙胡弘略率千人後繼，也無功。

十一月，阡能叛軍繼續壯大，進入蜀州。陳敬瑄派押牙高仁厚為都招討指揮使，率兵五百人替代楊行遷。高仁厚宣布叛軍投降者一概赦免，叛軍崩潰。高仁厚俘虜阡能，陳敬瑄梟韓求、羅夫子首于市，釘阡能、羅渾擎、句胡僧于城西並在七天后剮之，阡能謀主孔目官張榮也被釘死于馬市，但沒有採取其餘的報複行為，並在十二月任高仁厚為眉州防禦使，發榜邛州，不再追究阡能等親黨。不久，邛州刺史稱捕獲阡能叔父阡行全家三十五人下獄，請求依法處置。陳敬瑄問孔目官唐溪，唐溪認為陳敬瑄已發榜，刺史還捕捉阡能叔父，必有隱情，殺阡行全不但失信，還可能導致阡能黨羽複起。陳敬瑄從之，派押牙牛暈前去開刑具釋放阡行全等，並詢問緣故，果然系邛州刺史欲買阡行全良田不得而挾恨。陳敬瑄召刺史，將問罪，刺史憂死。

中和三年（883年）三月，莊夢蝶屢敗于韓秀升、屈行從叛軍，陳敬瑄又奏高仁厚為西川行軍司馬，率三千兵去三峽討之。高仁厚擊敗叛軍，恢復了西川的東線補給。

在成都的僖宗在陳敬瑄建議下，同意和南詔和親。在南詔皇帝隆舜堅持下，僖宗封一位姐妹為安化長公主，出降隆舜。七月，南詔遣布燮楊奇肱來迎公主，僖宗詔陳敬瑄作書緩之。僖宗以為陳敬瑄之功，進檢校司空，賜陳敬瑄一子為官。僖宗還在《改元中觀為青羊宮詔》中褒獎陳敬瑄。

當時，宰相鄭畋指出使相不應高于實際宰相，拒絕陳敬瑄享有高于宰相的榮譽，兩人因此陷入衝突。當年四月唐軍收複長安後，僖宗準備回京。七月，在陳敬瑄和田令孜挑唆下，先前反叛鄭畋後又重歸朝廷的鳳翔節度使李昌言堅持不讓鄭畋經過鳳翔。鄭畋于是辭職。九月，陳敬瑄作《元中觀瑞石表》，僖宗令宣示百官，中書侍郎平章事韋昭度、戶部侍郎平章事蕭遘、門下侍郎平章事鄭畋、御史中丞張讀、宗正卿嗣曹王李龜年、樞密使李順融及時任十軍十二衛都指揮使田令孜都表賀。陳敬瑄被授兼中書令，封潁川郡王，實封四百戶，賜一歲上輸錢及上都田宅邸磑各十區。十月，以劍南西川節度副大使、管內觀察處置統押近界諸蠻及西山八國雲南安撫制置指揮諸道兵馬供軍等使、開府儀同三司、太尉、兼中書令、成都尹、上柱國、潁川郡王、食邑三千戶、食實封四百戶的身份獲賜鐵券，恕十死，約定立功將校等由陳敬瑄等聞奏，即行賞典。黃巢平定，進封潁川王，增實戶二百，又因供奉豐余，又進檢校太師。

中和四年（884年）正月，先前和田令孜關係親密的楊師立開始不滿田令孜和陳敬瑄對皇帝的控制，聽聞陳敬瑄承諾讓高仁厚當東川節度使後更為不滿。田令孜知悉楊師立不滿，擔心他兵變，召他回朝任位置很高卻幾乎無所任事的兼右僕射。二月，楊師立抗命，朝廷以陳敬瑄兼西川、東川、山南西道都指揮、招討、安撫、處置等使。三月，楊師立發檄文到行在，言陳敬瑄十罪，起兵對抗陳敬瑄，稱只要得陳敬瑄首級于軍前，就願意回朝謝罪。僖宗削楊師立官爵，陳敬瑄表高仁厚為東川節度留後，僖宗命高仁厚率兵五千，楊茂言為行軍副使，楊棠為諸軍都虞候，共率兵三萬討之。四月，高仁厚擊敗楊師立部將鄭君雄，兵圍東川軍部梓州。陳敬瑄也發兵三千增援。六月，鄭君雄反叛楊師立，楊師立自殺，高仁厚占領東川，獻楊師立首級及妻兒于行在，陳敬瑄將楊師立之子釘在城北，陳敬瑄的三個兒子出來看，楊師立之子呼喊道：「這事將要輪到你們，你們以後努力領取！」陳敬瑄的三個兒子走馬而返。僖宗令陳敬瑄依法處分楊師立首級。高仁厚詔拜劍南東川節度使。東川平定後，十二月，陳敬瑄表辭三川都指揮、招討、制置、安撫等使，獲准。僖宗于光啟元年（885年）正月啟程離開成都，返回長安。陳敬瑄送駕直至漢州。

唐僖宗離開成都後

唐僖宗回京後，田令孜繼續控制朝政，九月，陳敬瑄被任為三川及峽內諸州指揮、制置等使。

先前的五月，田令孜在河中鹽池的控制權問題上和河中節度使王重榮發生爭執，他想調走王重榮，被王重榮拒絕。十二月，王重榮及其盟友河東節度使李克用和田令孜所部及其盟友靜難軍節度使朱玫、鳳翔節度使李昌符（李昌言之弟和繼任者）交兵，田令孜一方大敗，田令孜挾持僖宗棄長安逃奔興元。光啟二年（886年）正月，朱玫和李昌符也反叛僖宗，朱玫甚至另立襄王李熅為帝。由于自己和王重榮的衝突激起了公憤，四月，田令孜自知無法繼續擅權，辭去神策軍中尉一職，自任西川監軍，以求投靠陳敬瑄。接替他的楊複恭則和王重榮、李克用和解，十二月，朱玫、李熅被殺，僖宗也回到長安。

先前的三月，陳敬瑄懷疑高仁厚會反對自己，高仁厚也斷絕了與陳敬瑄的來往。正逢時任遂州刺史的鄭君雄反叛，占領漢州，攻打成都。陳敬瑄命部將李順之迎戰，殺了鄭君雄。陳敬瑄又調維州、茂州羌兵襲殺高仁厚。但他已不能控制東川，因為僖宗于次年正月任神策軍將領顧彥朗為新任東川節度使，陳敬瑄雖然派吏奪其旌節，逼其退保利州，還誣告顧彥朗擅自興兵掠西境，但僖宗下詔講和後，顧彥朗仍得到軍就任。

光啟三年（887年）正月，已回京的僖宗下詔剝奪田令孜的一切官爵，流放端州。但由于田令孜正在陳敬瑄庇護下，詔令淪為一紙空文。陳敬瑄、田令孜攻打東川，被顧彥朗擊退。僖宗命工部尚書張讀勸解未果，張讀因此獲罪被貶為睦王傅。因兩川交戰，貢賦道路斷絕，朝廷派孫偓前去徵收。

十二月，陳敬瑄覺察到顧彥朗和前神策軍軍官王建可能聯手對付他。王建原為田令孜義子，此時卻已擅自占據閬州。田令孜建議召王建來成都為陳敬瑄效力，陳敬瑄同意了。田令孜便寫信召王建。王建把家屬留在梓州顧彥朗身邊，率部下千餘兵前往成都。但當王建到鹿頭關時，陳敬瑄的參謀李乂警告他要小心王建，陳敬瑄後悔了，想阻止王建。王建卻不顧阻攔，直奔成都，于路擊敗陳敬瑄所部。他攻敗漢州張頊，將漢州交給顧彥朗之弟顧彥暉，又和顧彥朗屯學射山，陳敬瑄遣將句惟立迎戰王建，被王建擊敗，王建遂攻彭州，陳敬瑄救之，王建退兵。陳敬瑄遣眉州刺史山行章率兵五萬屯新繁，又被王建擊敗，被虜獲萬餘人，橫尸四十里。陳敬瑄發兵七萬增援山行章，與王建相持濛陽、新都百餘日。王建未能攻克成都。陳敬瑄告知朝廷，僖宗派中使調停，詔鳳翔節度使李茂貞移書和解，但陳敬瑄和王建都不接受。此次王建討伐陳敬瑄對西川十二州都造成了大損，西川向朝廷納貢的道路就此斷絕。

文德元年（888年）二月，唐僖宗崩，三月，其弟長期討厭田令孜的唐昭宗繼位，遣左諫議大夫李洵為兩川宣諭和協使，調停兩川。王建仍然不能攻克成都，在謀士周庠、綦毋諫建議下，上表昭宗聲言陳敬瑄之罪，請求朝廷新派西川節度使，願為新節度使效力。顧彥朗也作了類似上表。六月，昭宗任宰相韋昭度為西川節度使，並下詔召陳敬瑄回京任神策軍左龍武統軍。十月，韋昭度到成都，陳敬瑄不但抗命，還治兵完城準備拒戰。昭宗因此下詔將田令孜暗殺左拾遺孟昭圖之事歸罪陳敬瑄。一說當時在西川真正說了算的其實是田令孜，一切重要決策均出自他手。十二月，昭宗削陳敬瑄官爵，委中書省、門下省處置陳敬瑄子侄等，任韋昭度為西川行營招討制置使兼行營招撫使，作為討伐陳敬瑄的主帥，以山南西道節度使楊守亮為副都統、顧彥朗為行軍司馬，與被任為牙內都校的王建一同協助之，並從西川劃出四州設立永平軍，任王建為永平軍節度使。陳敬瑄派百姓遮道甚至割耳朵稱說自己的功勞，本人也仗著有鐵券而抗命。田令孜勸陳敬瑄募黃頭軍自守。

大約當時，王建遣將屯忠州，與夔州刺史毛湘呼應以對抗叛將奉國軍節度使秦宗權別將常厚。後來毛湘棄城奔成都。《新唐書·成汭傳》誤作「西川節度使王建」，但當時王建尚為閬州防禦使，西川節度使仍是陳敬瑄。

對抗朝廷

龍紀元年（889年）十二月，王建敗山行章于廣都，山行章逃到眉州後投降。

大順元年（890年）正月，王建開始包圍邛州，想把它作為自己的根據地。陳敬瑄遣大將楊儒率兵三千，助當時為邛州的刺史毛湘守城，但楊儒卻投降。王建留永平節度判官張琳為邛南招安使，引兵還成都。陳敬瑄分兵布寨于犀浦、郫、導江等縣，發城中民戶一丁，白天穿重壕，採竹木，運磚石，晚上登城擊柝巡警，不休息。四月，遣蜀州刺史任從海率兵二萬救邛州，戰敗，任從海欲以蜀州降王建，陳敬瑄殺之，以徐公鉥代為蜀州刺史。閏月，邛州被王建攻克。王建以張琳知留後。韋昭度派王建屯學射山，陳敬瑄迎戰不利，又戰于蠶厓，大敗。陳敬瑄屯彌牟、德陽，為了籌集軍費，大增稅賦，殘酷懲罰富人，百姓為之所苦。開戰以來，西川蜀、資、簡、戎、茂、嘉、邛諸州投降王建。四月，僰道土豪文武堅擒戎州刺史謝承恩來降。六月，資簡都制置應援使謝從本殺雅州刺史張承簡，舉城來降。雖然陳敬瑄大敗並殺死攻笮橋的茂州刺史張造，但後戰于浣花，又不勝，次日複戰，將士都被王建所俘。城中有謀投降的，田令孜支解以震懾眾人。正逢大疫，死人相藉。

大順二年（891年），韋昭度未能攻克成都，官軍又新敗于李克用，二月，朝議決定停止西川戰事。三月，他恢復陳敬瑄的官爵，複以為開府儀同三司、太師、兼中書令、成都尹、上柱國、潁川郡王、食邑四千戶、食實封八百戶、充劍南西川節度副大使知節度事、管內觀察處置統押近界諸蠻及西山八國雲南安撫制置營田供軍糧料等使，召回韋昭度，命顧彥朗和王建各歸本鎮。四月，被圍的成都已經鬧饑荒到了人相食的地步，陳敬瑄雖行斷腰、斜劈二法，仍不能制止。眉州刺史徐耕性仁恕，時為內外都指揮使，常保全數千人，當月田令孜說：「公掌生殺，而不刑一人，有異志嗎？」徐耕不得已，夜間殺戮俘囚數人以複命。米價高漲，有人趁機賣米牟利，韋昭度和陳敬瑄為救百姓，都不加禁止。吏民日益困窘，多謀出降，陳敬瑄都捕其族黨殺之，慘毒備至。王建不願就此放棄。昭宗改命王建為西川行營招討制置使。王建試圖說服韋昭度不顧昭宗命令繼續作戰，不果，便殺了韋昭度的親信駱保，嚇得韋昭度把官軍指揮權交給了王建，隻身回京。王建繼續圍困成都，分親騎為十團，環城烽塹五十里，相望幾百里，並派間諜屠狗人王鷂等入城動搖人心。王鷂入見陳敬瑄、田令孜，稱王建兵疲食盡，將遁，出府就在市場賣茶，秘密對吏民稱王建英武，兵勢強盛，陳敬瑄等因而懈于守備，而眾心危懼。王建牙將鄭渥詐降，陳敬瑄愚笨，署為大將並奉命登城，後鄭渥又乘機使詐回王建處，王建因而悉知城中虛實。

陳敬瑄、田令孜派將屯西浦，也被王建部將義勇都副兵馬使李簡所部所破。

八月，成都進一步陷入絕境，來自依附田令孜的威戎軍節度使楊晟的唯一補給線被王建切斷。陳敬瑄出自家錢財救濟百姓，招募壯士收割小麥。有百姓去王建的營壘買賣食鹽，不能禁止，官員請求殺了他們，陳敬瑄說：「百姓飢餓，我沒法照顧，讓他們求生吧。」當陳敬瑄鼓勵軍隊繼續抵抗時，士兵已經不聽從了。陳敬瑄親自率軍出犀浦，列二營迎戰王建，王建軍詐退，以伏兵敗陳敬瑄，破斜橋、昝街二屯。次日又破陳敬瑄一寨，降其守將。王建屯七里亭，陳敬瑄攻之，王建將張武馳入城，戰于子城下，不能克。王建將張勍破浣花營，陳敬瑄諸將幾乎都或死或降。總共五十戰，陳敬瑄皆戰敗，于是上表稱病乞求還京師。田令孜私下以印綬旌節謁見王建請降，王建同意了，陳敬瑄也開關相迎，讓以節鎮，王建自稱兵馬留後。隨後，王建被任為西川節度副大使，知節度事，仍然像父親一樣對待田令孜，以為監軍，任陳敬瑄之子陳陶為雅州刺史，將陳敬瑄也安置在雅州。王建養子王宗范亦從戰有功。陳敬瑄部下將佐有器幹的，王建都禮待任用。收謝從本、文武堅為養子，改名王宗本、王宗阮。

身亡

景福元年（892年），王建免去陳陶的雅州刺史之職，安置陳敬瑄于新津，由新津的租賦供養陳敬瑄一家。但他又不停上表昭宗，請求處決陳敬瑄和田令孜。昭宗一直沒批准，王建便打算自行其是。景福二年（893年）四月，王建誣告陳敬瑄、田令孜養死士勾結楊晟謀反、田令孜與鳳翔通書信，在新津處決陳敬瑄，田令孜亦下獄于同日處死，再上表奏聞。陳敬瑄早懷疑王建要殺他，預先在腰帶裡藏了毒藥，想在被處決前服毒自殺，但當被處刑時，卻發現毒藥已經沒有了。陳敬瑄最終在家被斬首。王建命節度判官馮涓上表奏其事。

軍閥韓建在《辭揣摩時政得失告諭藩鎮奏》中稱陳敬瑄在僖宗避難成都時「過恃寵私，多所參預，所以遠方觀聽，物論諠然」，說自己不敢重蹈其覆轍。

陳敬瑄有女嫁進士致光庭。

作品

• 《元中觀瑞石表》

• 《青羊宮醮詞》

軼聞

《太平廣記》卷一百七十七記載：陳敬瑄雖然被過分提拔到高位，但頗有偉量。鎮守西川的時候，把行政事務委託給幕僚，軍務委託給部將。每天蒸吃一條狗，喝一壺酒。每月設六次宴，款待部曲。和當時五個要好的酒徒，一起喝酒。一桌菜就花掉三十千錢。有人來報告管錢人監守自盜，他把報告丟在一邊而不去理。有個軍妓叫玉兒，陳敬瑄給她酒，她拒絕不喝，而且不小心把酒潑到陳敬瑄的頭上、臉上和身上。陳敬瑄去換衣服，很多人都擔心，猜度玉兒馬上就會被剁成肉醬。陳敬瑄換了衣服出來，不但沒發火，還賞酒給玉兒吃。玉兒表示謝罪，陳敬瑄笑著寬恕了她。他的寬厚待人，大致如此。

注釋