Qian Weijun
Qian Weijun (
Background
[edit]Qian Weijun was born in 955, as the oldest biological son of Wuyue's king Qian Hongchu (later renamed Qian Chu). His mother was Qian Chu's wife Sun Taizhen. Immediately upon his birth, he received the title of heir apparent.[4] When he was just a few years old, Qian Hongchu, acting on authority granted him by the emperor of Wuyue's then-suzerain Later Zhou, gave Qian Weijun the titles of deputy military governor of Wuyue's two main circuits, Zhenhai (鎮海, headquartered in modern Hangzhou, Zhejiang) and Zhendong (鎮東, headquartered in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang); acting Taibao (
In 960, after the Later Zhou throne was seized by the general Zhao Kuangyin, who established Song dynasty as its Emperor Taizu, Qian Weijun received the title of acting Taifu (
Heir Apparent
[edit]Subsequently, when Wuyue forces participated in the Song campaign that would destroy Wuyue's northwestern neighbor Jiangnan, Qian Weijun accompanied his father Qian Chu on the campaign, and, after the campaign, was bestowed the honorary chancellor title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (
Later in the year, Emperor Taizu died, and was succeeded by his brother Zhao Guangyi the Prince of Jin (as Emperor Taizong).[8] Shortly after, Qian Weijun's mother Queen Sun also died, and he formally left governmental service to observe a mourning period for her, but Emperor Taizong then recalled him back to governmental service, and gave him additional general titles.[3] As Qian Chu was again preparing to go to Kaifeng to pay homage to the new emperor, he first sent Qian Weijun to submit tributes, and Qian Weijun initially stayed at Kaifeng, but then was sent to Song Prefecture (
Meanwhile, Qian Chu was hoping that Emperor Taizong, just like Emperor Taizu before, would allow him to return to his new domain, and so offered rich tributes to the emperor. Meanwhile, though, the Song chancellor Lu Duoxun was advocating that the emperor detain Qian Chu at Kaifeng and absorb Wuyue into Song proper — just as Chen Hongjin the military governor of Pinghai Circuit had just recently surrendered the two prefectures under his control to Song. While Emperor Taizong did not approve Lu's proposal, he also did not permit Qian Chu to leave Kaifeng, even after Qian Chu submitted reports on Wuyue's armies and offered to be relieved of the Song-bestowed titles of King of Wuyue and Generalissimo. In fear, Qian submitted a petition surrendering the 13 prefectures that Wuyue consisted of, ending Wuyue's existence as a state.[9]
After absorption by Song
[edit]After absorbing Wuyue, Emperor Taizong gave Qian Chu a new kingly title — King of Huaihai — and made Qian Weijun the military governor of Huainan Circuit (
In 984, Qian Weijun was made the military governor of Shannan East Circuit (
Qian Weijun suffered a sudden illness and died in 991.[3] (The shortness of his lifespan was blamed on his favoring drinking.)[4] Emperor Taizong posthumously created him the Prince of Bin, and sent imperial eunuchs to oversee the funeral arrangements.[3]
Notes and references
[edit]- ^ Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 81.
- ^ Academia Sinica Chinese Western-Calendar Converter.
- ^ a b c d e f g h History of Song, vol. 480.
- ^ a b c Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 83.
- ^ Xu Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 3.
- ^ Xu Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 5.
- ^ Xu Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 7.
- ^ a b Xu Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 8.
- ^ a b Xu Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 9.
- History of Song, vol. 480.
- Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 83.
- Xu Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 3, 5, 7, 8, 9.
- 955 births
- 991 deaths
- Politicians from Hangzhou
- Generals from Zhejiang
- Wuyue generals
- Later Zhou people
- Chinese princes
- Song dynasty jiedushi of Jianwu Circuit
- Song dynasty jiedushi of Zhendong Circuit
- Song dynasty jiedushi of Zhenhai Circuit
- Song dynasty jiedushi of Huainan Circuit
- Song dynasty jiedushi of Shannan East Circuit
- Song dynasty jiedushi of Anyuan Circuit
- Wuyue jiedushi
- Zhendong jiedushi
- Zhenhai jiedushi