The Usurpation by Liu Congjian in the Zhaoyi Army and the Order of Military Fiefdom in the Late Tang Dynasty
The success of the usurpation by Liu Congjian(刘从谏)in the Zhaoyi Army(昭义军)during the reigns of the Emperors Muzong(唐穆宗)and Jingzong(唐敬宗)of the Tang Dynasty,was quite extraordinary but seldom noticed by historians.From the perspectives of opportunity,qualification,and characteristics of the Zhaoyi Army,it seemed that Liu Congjian did not have much chance of success,yet his usurpation was completed in three months,thus becoming the only example of following the hereditary system in compliance with the environment of the Late Tang Dynasty.An textual research on various documents shows that Jia Zhiyan(贾直言),an adjutant in the headquarters of the Zhaoyi Army(行军司马),played an important role in the successful usurpation with the usurpation strategy he provided.This strategy emphasized"respectfulness and submission"(恭顺)in terms of procedure,which was in line with the order of military fiefdom(藩镇)constructed by the imperial court of the Late Tang Dynasty,thus making it easier for Liu Congjian to achieve success.However,this order of military fiefdom in the Late Tang emphasized the degree of"respectfulness and submission"in the interaction between the imperial court and the military fiefdom,instead of relying upon the simple regional differences like"giving up Heshuo to control other places"(放弃河朔,控制其余).Under the background of the reinforcement of the authority of the imperial court,the military governors generally had more respectful and submissive usurpation strategy.Such measures as the participation of neighboring military fiefdom,which were common during the reigns of the Emperors Daizong(唐代宗)and Dezong(唐德宗),were seen as rebellions against the imperial court.This change in mindset can be seen as a specific manifestation of the increased authority of the Late Tang imperial court.
Zhaoyi Army(昭义军)Liu Congjian(刘从谏)Jia Zhiyan(贾直言)usurpation strategyorder of military fiefdom
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