背景

紹懿生年不詳，兄長王紹鼎，在紹鼎之前，他家控制成德已經兩代了：長慶元年（821年），他的祖父成德兵馬使王廷湊殺害節度使田弘正，控制了成德，又打敗了田弘正之子田布，迫使朝廷妥協，王元逵繼承父位後，和朝廷和解。王紹懿及其兄王紹鼎都是王元逵妻壽安公主之子。

大中八年（854年）十二月，王元逵去世，王紹鼎繼任。王紹懿時為御史中丞、深州刺史。十一年（857年）三月，王紹懿以朝請大夫、深州刺史、御史大夫兼成德軍節度判官被起複為檢校左散騎常侍、鎮府左司馬、知府事，充成德軍節度副使，兼充都知兵馬使。

王紹鼎行為不端，喜好飲酒，尤其喜歡在塔樓上用彈弓打行人取樂。士兵想推翻他，但未及兵變，王紹鼎就在當年七月病亡了。王紹鼎子年幼，士兵擁立王紹懿繼任，王紹懿自稱留後。宣宗也同意了，當月王紹懿以成德軍節度副使、都知兵馬使、檢校右散騎常侍、左司馬、知府事、兼御史中丞受任以本官充成德軍節度、觀察留後，賜紫金魚袋，十月被任為檢校工部尚書，兼鎮州大都督府長史、御史大夫，充成德軍節度、鎮冀深趙觀察等使。

任節度使

王紹懿對成德的治理簡單而寬大，軍民對他都很滿意。累加檢校右僕射、兼御史大夫、太原縣開國伯，食邑七百戶，又加檢校司空。

咸通七年（866年）三月，身為成德軍節度、鎮冀深趙等州觀察處置等使、金紫光祿大夫、檢校司空、鎮州大都督府長史、御史大夫、太原縣開國伯、食邑七百戶、襲食實封一百戶的王紹懿染病。他召來兄長王紹鼎的嫡長子都知兵馬使王景崇，對他說：「我兄長認為你年輕，所以把軍隊的指揮權和成德的管轄權都交給我。你現在成年了，我要把權力交還給你。你要努力工作，忠于朝廷，和隔鄰藩鎮和睦相處，別毀了兄長的遺產。這就是你的功勞了。」說完就死了。宣宗的兒子和繼任者唐懿宗認可了這次權力交接，任王景崇為節度使。贈王紹懿司徒。

延伸閱讀

注釋

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 seized control of the circuit in 821 without imperial approval and eventually forced the imperial government to acquiesce; his father Wang Yuankui later succeeded Wang Tingcou and took a more conciliatory stance with the imperial government. Wang Shaoyi had at least one older brother, Wang Shaoding.

When Wang Yuankui died in 855, the soldiers supported Wang Shaoding to succeed him. Then-reigning Emperor Xuānzong initially made Wang Shaoding acting military governor, and, later in the year, full military governor. However, Wang Shaoding 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. 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, Wang Shaoyi grew ill. He summoned Wang Shaoding's son Wang Jingchong — 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 subsequently approved the succession and made Wang Jingchong military governor.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 142.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 211.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 249, 250.