Han Yunzhong

Han Yunzhong (814–874), né Han Junxiong , was a general of the Chinese Tang dynasty who seized control of Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei) in a mutiny and subsequently ruled it as its military governor (Jiedushi) in de facto independence from the imperial government.

Background Han Junxiong was born in 814, during the reign of Emperor Xianzong. His family was from Wei Prefecture (魏州, in modern Handan, Hebei), the capital of Weibo Circuit. His father Han Guochang was a long-time officer in the Weibo army under the military governor He Hongjing. Because of his heritage, Han Junxiong started serving in the military in his youth, and subsequently served in a campaign in 833–834, during the reign of Emperor Xianzong's grandson Emperor Wuzong, with his father Han Guochang, where He Hongjing joined the imperial forces in attacking Liu Zhen, who had seized neighboring Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi) without imperial sanction.

Seizure of Weibo Circuit By 870, during the reign of Emperor Wuzong's cousin Emperor Yizong, He Hongjing's son He Quanhao was the military governor. He Quanhao was harsh in his discipline, and at that time, there were rumors that He Quanhao was set to reduce the food and clothing stipends for the soldiers. The soldiers mutinied, and He Quanhao was killed in flight. The soldiers supported Han Junxiong as their leader. With Wang Jingchong the military governor of neighboring Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei) supporting the request, Emperor Yizong commissioned Han as the acting military governor, with Emperor Yizong's son Li Yan the Prince of Pu nominally serving as military governor.

Notes and references

Old Book of Tang, vol. 181. New Book of Tang, vol. 210. Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 252.