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THE WANG CLAN
Wáng Suì Bójì (王 遂 伯紀), descendent of the Tián (田) family, posthumously titled Bó-wáng (伯王).
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Wáng Hè Wēngrú (王 賀 翁孺). Secretary to an Imperial Counsellor, he was involved in prosecution of criminals in the Weijun region, to which he moved. Posthumously titled Yuánchéngrú-wáng (元城孺王).
He had issue:
1) Yángpíng-hóu Qǐng-hóu Wáng Jin Zhìjūn (陽平侯 頃侯 王 禁 稚君), Marquis of Yángpíng. He was Superintendent of Trials and made Marquis in 48 after his daughter became Empress to Yuándì, the Eleventh Emperor. He married Lǐ Qīn (李 親), who became jealous of his other consorts and divorced him. He died in 42 but had issue:
a) Yángpíng Jìngchéng-hóu Wáng Fèng (陽平 敬成侯 王 鳳), Marquis of Yángpíng (son of Lǐ). He became Marquis in 42 and Palace Attendent and Superintendent of the Guards from 36. In 33 his sister became Empress Dowager and he was promoted to General in Chief and Grand Marshal. He worked to monopolise his clan's control over power, with some success. He married a lady of the Zháng (長) family. He died in 22. He had issue:
i) Yángpíng Lí-hóu Wáng Xiāng (陽平 釐侯 王 襄), Marquis of Yángpíng from 22, he was Superintendent of the Guards (20 – 15), Superintendent of Transport (15 – 12) and died in 3 BC. He had issue:
(1) Yángpíng Kāng-hóu Wáng Cén (陽平侯 康侯 王 岑), Marquis of Yángpíng from 3 BC until his death in AD 11. He had issue:
(a) Yángpíng-hóu Wáng Mò (陽平侯 王 莫), Marquis of Yángpíng from AD 11 until his death in AD 23 during the fighting that brought the Xin Dynasty to its end.
b) Wáng Wàn (王 曼). He died before 22 and was posthumously titled Xīndū Āi-hóu (新都 哀侯). He married Gōngxiǎn-jūn Cì-gōngtàifūren Wáng Qú (功顯君 賜公太夫人 王 渠), Duchess of Gōngxiǎn from AD 4, she cared for her sister-in-law, the Empress Dowager and died in AD 8.
i) Wáng Yǒng (王 永), died young but had issue:
(1) Yǎngōng-hóu Wáng Guāng (衍功侯 王 光), Marquis of Yǎngōng from AD 8 and a favourite of his uncle Wang Mang until he organised a murder. To escape his uncle's fury, he committed suicide. He had issue:
(a) Yǎngōng-hóu Wáng Jiā (衍功侯 王 嘉), Marquis of Yǎngōng.
ii) Xīn-huángdì Wáng Mǎng Jùjūn (新 皇帝 王 莽 巨君) Emperor of Xin. (see below).
c) Píngā Ān-hóu Wáng Tán (平阿 安侯 王 譚), Marquis of the Interior from 32 and Peaceful Marquis of Píng'ā from 27. Incompetant and reviled for the opulence in which he lived, he was passed over for high office and died in 16 BC. He had issue:
i) Píngā La-hóu Wáng Rén (平阿 剌侯 王 仁), Marquis of Píng'ā from 16, he was exiled to the countryside by his cousin Wang Mang, supposedly because of his great honesty. He committed suicide around AD 3, possibly as a result of involvement in a plot to use fake portents to trick Wang Mang into surrendering some of his power.
(1) Píngā-hóu Wáng Shù (平阿侯 王 述), Marquis of Píngā from AD 3, Administrator of Jiujiang under Wang Mang. He survived the fall of Wang Mang, living in the countryside until he died in 26. He married Ma (馬), sister of Ma Yu, a northern Colonel under Wang Mang.
(2) Wáng Pán Zǐshí (王 磐 子石), when Wang Mang fell from power in AD 23, he fled to the countryside. He returned to the Capital in the 40s, and entered high society. This proved unwise- he was executed in 46.
(i) Wáng Sù (王 肅). He continued to reside in the Capital after his father's death, which was foolish; he was accused of treason in an anonymous letter in 52 and was killed.
ii) Wáng Hóng Chángshì (王 閎 常侍). Deputy to the Superintendent of Agriculture in the reign of the Thirteenth Emperor Āidì, he suggested as a cost-saving measure that the tomb of Twelfth Emperor Chéngdì not be completed, and was rewarded with a promotion to Marquis of the Interior. Later he rebuked Āidì for wanting to abdicate in favour of his homosexual lover and prevented Āidì's will, which named the same lover as his successor, from being carried out in 1 BC. His usurping cousin, Wang Mang, appointed him Governor of Dongjun, and Regional Commissioner of Yanzhou and he maintained peace in Dongjun until handing the region over to the revived Han administration in AD 23. He was then named Administrator of Langye, which, however, soon came under control of the rebel King of Liang. He died sometime thereafter. He married a daughter of Xiāo Xián (蕭 鹹), who was Magistrate of Haozhi, Metropolitan Superintendent of Huaiyang & Sishui, Governor of Zhangye, Hongnong & Hedong, dismissed, then Cavalry Colonel, Commandant Commissioner, Leader of the Gentlemen of the Palace, Envoy to the Xiongnu and finally Superintendent of Agriculture.
iii) Wáng Xiàng (王 向). Governor of Anding for Wang Mang until he was killed by rebel forces in AD 23.
iv) Wáng Qùjí (王 去疾), a favourite of the Thirteenth Emperor, Āidì, he was made Palace Attendent and Cavalry Commandant.
v) Wáng Xīng (王 興), who fled to the countryside during the reign of Wang Mang. He had issue:
(1) Wang Yuancai
(2) Wang Yicai
(3) Wang Xiancai
(4) Wang Zhongcai
(5) Wang Jicai
d) Ānchéng Gōng-hóu Wáng Chóng (安成 共侯 王 崇), Counsellor of the Palace, he became Marquis of Ānchéng in 32 and died in 30 or 28. He married Wáng Fàng (王 放) , who died in 4 BC, accused of cursing. He had issue:
i) Ānchéng-hóu Jìng-hóu Wáng Fèngshì (安成 靖侯 王 奉世), born posthumously in 30 or 28, he was Marquis of Ānchéng from birth until his death in AD 10. He had issue:
(1) Ānchéng-hóu Wáng Chígōng (安成侯 王 持弓), Marquis of Ānchéng from AD 10 until he was demoted to commoner.
e) Chéngdū Jǐngchéng-hóu Wáng Shāng (成都 景成侯 王 商), Marquis of the Interior from 32 and Marquis of Chéngdū from 27. Hated by Chéngdì, the Twelfth Emperor, for the opulence in which he lived, he nevertheless was appointed a general in 16 and in 15 became Grand Marshal and General of Defence. In 12 he retired and then was reappointed Grand Marshal and Grand General. He died in the same year, but had issue:
i) Chéngdū-hóu Wáng Kuàng (成都侯 王 況), Marquis of Chéngdū from 9 BC until his demotion to commoner in 7 BC for failing to follow the mourning protocols at the death of the Twelfth Emperor, Chéngdì. He fought as a general against the Xiongnu nomads during the reign of the usurper Wang Mang and was one of the six Tiger Generals appointed to save his Empire from the forces of the revived Han Dynasty in AD 23. When he realised all was lost, he committed suicide.
ii) Longxīn-gōng Wáng Yì Gōngzǐ (隆新公 王 邑 公子), Marquis of Chéngdū (成都侯) from 6 BC. As a Palace Attendent he forged orders from the Grand Empress Dowager to help his cousin Wang Mang. Discovered, he was demoted to Commandent of Xihe. By AD 7 he was Superintendent of the Palace, and in that role he foiled an attempted revolt against Wang Mang. In AD 9, he was made Duke of Longxīn and appointed Grand Minister of Works and Infantry General. During the revolts aiming to restore the Han Dynasty in AD 22, he was placed in charge of all aspects of government. He led a massive force against the rebels at Kunyang, but was defeated. As things grew more critical in AD 23, he was appointed Grand Marshal, but shortly after the rebels entered the Capital and Wang Yi died in the fighting.
He married a sister of Dòu Róng Zhōugōng (竇 融 周公), a general for Wang Mang, who switched sides to serve the Gēngshǐdì, Sixteenth Han Emperor as colonel, Governor of Julu and Commandant of Zhangye; governed the Western River region autonomously after the fall of that Emperor, finally serving under the Eighteenth Han Emperor.
(1) Wáng Mù (王 睦). He died with his father in AD 23, fighting the Han rebels.
iii) Zhǎngwēi-hóu Wáng Qí (掌威侯 王 奇), Marquis of Zhǎngwēi. A Palace Attendent who fought against rebellion in AD 7, traveled China proclaiming Wang Mang's new Dynasty in AD 9 only to be convicted of criminal activities in AD 10.
f) Hóngyáng Huāng-hóu Wáng Lì (紅陽 荒侯 王 立), Marquis of the Interior from 32 and Marquis of Hóngyáng from 27. He was involved in dodgy land deals and had harboured criminals. As a result, despite being an Imperial-in-law, he was passed over for high office and exiled from the Capital in 8 BC. His nephew, the usurper Wang Mang was afraid of his influence over his sister and drove him to commit suicide through criminal allegations. He had issue:
i) Hóngyáng-hóu Wáng Zhù (紅陽侯 王 柱), Marquis of Hóngyáng from 9 BC until the defeat of Wang Mang in AD 23.
?) Wáng Róng (王 融).
iv) Wáng Dān (王 丹), Governor of Zhongshan. At the revolt of AD 23, which led to the overthrow of the Xin Dynasty, he supported the rebels, and was appointed a general before dying in battle. He had issue:
(1) Wǔhuán-hóu Wáng Hóng (武桓侯 王 泓), Marquis of Wuhuan from AD 25.
g) Qūyáng-hóu Wáng Gēn (曲陽侯 王 根), Marquis of the Interior from 32 and Marquis of Qūyáng from 27 and Superintendent of the Palace from 13. After his brother Wáng Shāng's death in 12, his sister the Empress Dowager had him appointed Grand Marshal and Rapid Cavalry General. He supported the selection of Aidi as the Thirteenth Han Emperor, but this proved a mistake, for he lost his generalship and the new Emperor worked to limit the power of the Wang clan. He was criticised for the opulence in which he lived. Realising that his number was up he resigned in 8. He died in 6 BC and was posthumously named Zhídào Ràng-gōng (直道譲公) by his usurping nephew Wang Mang. He had issue:
i) Zhídào-gōng Wáng Shè (直道公 王 涉), Marquis of Qūyáng (曲陽侯) from 6 BC until AD 9 when his cousin usurped the Imperial throne and promoted him to Duke of Zhídào (直道公). A General of Defence from AD 18, he plotted against Wang Mang in AD 23, when the situation for the Xin Dynasty had become desperate, claiming that Wang Mang was a bastard. He was discovered and committed suicide.
h) Gāopíng-hóu Wáng Féngshí (高平侯 王 逢時), Marquis of the Interior from 32 and Marquis of Gaoping from 27 until his death in 9 BC.
i) Gāopíng-hóu Wáng Zhì (高平侯 王 置) , Marquis of Gāopíng from 9 BC until the defeat of Wang Mang in AD 23.
a) Guǎngēn-jūn Wáng Jūnxiá (廣恩君 王 君俠), Lady Guǎng'ēn.
b) Guǎnghuì-jūn Wáng Jūnlì (廣惠君 王 君力), Lady Guǎnghuì. She married a man of the Sīmǎ (司馬) family and had an affair with a man of the Dù (杜) family. The shameful discovery of this affair led her to retire from public life.
c) Guǎngshī-jūn Wáng Jūndì (廣施君 王 君弟), Lady Guǎngshī.
d) Xiàoyuán-tàihuángtàihòu Wáng Zhèngjūn (孝元太皇太后 王 政君), also known as Chángxìn-gōng (長信宮) (daughter of Lǐ), she married Hàn Gāozōng Xiào Yuán-huángdì Liú Shì (漢 高宗 孝 元皇帝 劉 奭), Eleventh Emperor of Han (see above). After his death in 33 she became Empress Dowager (Grand Empress Dowager from 7 BC) and exercised a great deal of authority; she selected Píngdì to be the Fourteenth Emperor in 1 BC and, as he was a minor, she was appointed his Regent; though the duties were actually performed by her nephew Wang Mang; she lived to see this nephew seize the throne for himself, an act which she bitterly resented. She died in AD 13.
e) Wáng Ruò (王 若), who had issue:
i) Dìnglíng-hóu Chúnyú Zháng Zǐhóng (定陵侯 淳於 長 子鴻), Marquis of Dìnglíng. Gentleman of the Yellow Gates, Palace Attendent, Superintendent of Waterways and Parks from 16 until 13, then Superintendent of the Guards from 13 to 10 BC. He was made a Marquis of the Interior for managing construction of an Imperial tomb and Marquis of Dingling in 10. He married (second) Nǎishǐ (迺始). He married (third) Xū Mǐ (許 孊), sister to the Emprees of Chéngdì, Twelfth Emperor. She was involved in attempts to restore that empress after she was dismissed. This was discovered in 8 BC; he was imprisoned, dying as a result of corporal punishment.
2) Wáng Hóng (王 弘), Changle Palace Superintendent of the Guards.
a) Ānyáng Jìng-hóu Wáng Yīn (安陽 敬侯 王 音), Marquis of Ānyáng. He was Palace Attendent and Leader of the Gentlemen of the Palace, promoted to Superintendent of Transport in 26 and Imperial Counsellor in 23. In 22 he succeeded his cousin as Grand Marshal, the highest position in government, additionally being made a Chariot Cavalry General and Director of the Secretariat. He was made a Marquis in 20 and died in 15 BC. He had issue:
i) Ānxīn-gōng Wang Shun (安新公 王 舜), Marquis of Ānyáng (安陽侯) from 15 BC. He was a Palace Attendent and an Attendent Cavalry Commandant before being appointed Superintendent of Transport (8 – 6 BC). He opposed the destruction of the temple to Jǐngdì, the Sixth Emperor, proclaiming that emperor's virtues. As Chariot and Cavalry General, he brought Píngdì to the Capital to be enthroned as the Fourteenth Emperor and was promoted to Grand Protector and (once Wang Mang had vacated the position) to Grand Marshal. He was a loyal supporter of Wang Mang, and it was he who seized the Heirloom Seal of the Realm from the Grand Empress Dowager for Wang Mang. He was Senior Tutor to the puppet Fifteenth Emperor, Rúzǐ, from AD 6, promoted to Grand Tutor in AD 9 and to Duke Ānxīn. He died in AD 11, but had issue:
(1) Ānxīn-gōng Wáng Yán (安新公 王 延), Duke of Ānxīn from AD 11. He surrendered to the rebels restoring the Han Dynasty in AD 23 and was executed.
(2) Gōngjiàn-gōng Wáng Kuāng (功建公 王 匡), Duke of Gōngjiàn. He was Marquis of Tóngxīn (同心侯) from AD 6, later Marquis of Bāoxīn (褒新侯). In AD 22 he was sent to defeat rebels in the east. Initially successful, he was promoted to Duke, only to attack a strong band of Red Eyebrow Rebels, who defeated him. The next year, he fought to defend Luoyang from Gēngshǐdì, Sixteenth Han Emperor. Defeated again, he was executed by the Han.
(3) Héxīn-gōng Wáng Shè (和新公 王 攝), Marquis of Ānyáng from AD 11, he was promoted by Wang Mang to Duke of Héxīn and died in AD 23, fighting to defend Wang Mang from rebels.
(4) Yuèdé-hóu Wáng Lín (說德侯 王 林), Marquis of Yuèdé from AD 6, he may be the same as the Palace Attendent and Rapid Cavalry General who was appointed Defensive General in AD 22. Either of these might be the same as the officer appointed to defend the walls of Chángān from the forces of the revived Han Dynasty in AD 23 who was killed when the city fell.