Jiedushi

The ''jiedushi'' (), or jiedu, was a title for regional military governors in China which was established in the Tang dynasty and abolished in the Yuan dynasty. The post of ''jiedushi'' has been translated as "military commissioner", " legate", or "regional commander". Originally introduced in 711 to counter external threats, the ''jiedushi'' were posts authorized with the supervision of a defense command often encompassing several prefectures, the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes and promote and appoint subordinates.

Powerful ''jiedushi'' eventually became ''fanzhen'' rulers (''de facto'' warlords) and overrode the power of the central government of Tang. An early example of this was An Lushan, who was appointed ''jiedushi'' of three regions, which he used to start the An Lushan Rebellion that abruptly ended the golden age of the Tang dynasty. Even after the difficult suppression of that rebellion, some ''jiedushi'' such as the Three Fanzhen of Hebei were allowed to retain their powers due to the weakened state of the court. The ''jiedushi'' were one of the primary factors which contributed to the political division of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, a period marked by continuous infighting among rival kingdoms, dynasties, and regional regimes established by ''jiedushi''.

History

710s

Hexi Jiedushi was created in 711 and headquartered in Liang Prefecture. It was lost to the Tibetan Empire in 766. Wang Junchuo (王君㚟), Xiao Song, Niu Xianke, Geshu Han, and Cui Xiyi (崔希逸) were ''jiedushi'' of Hexi.

Longyou Jiedushi was created in 713 and headquartered in Shan Prefecture ( Ledu, Qinghai). In 747, Geshu Han was appointed ''jiedushi'' of Longyou.

Shuofang Jiedushi was created in 713 and headquartered in Ling Prefecture (southwest of Lingwu, Ningxia). It controlled Ordos, Ningxia, and north Shanxi. In 756 the jiedushi of Shuofang, Guo Ziyi, defeated the rebel Shi Siming in Hebei and recovered Chang'an and Luoyang from the rebels in 757. He was made Commandery Prince of Fenyang in 762 and retook Chang'an from the Tibetan Empire in 763. Shuofang was taken over by the warlord Han Zun (韓遵) in 887.

Youzhou Jiedushi, also known as Fanyang Jiedushi, was created in 713. It assumed control of Lulong in 762 and controlled You, Ji, Ping, Tan, Gui, and Yan prefectures. Its territory lay primarily in Tianjin north of the Hai River and parts of Beijing. It was headquartered in Ji county (southwest of Beijing). An Lushan was promoted to ''jiedushi'' of Pinglu, Fanyang (in north Hebei), and Hedong (central Shanxi) with an army of 150 000. He rebelled against the Tang dynasty in 755. Li Guangbi was promoted to ''jiedushi'' of Fanyang after recovering much territory from the rebels in Hebei, but he died soon after in 764. Li Huaixian, former general of An Lushan, delivered Shi Chaoyi's head to the Tang and surrendered in 763, becoming ''jiedushi'' of Youzhou and Lulong. Zhang Shougui (張守珪) was a ''jiedushi'' of Youzhou. Zhu Tao was a ''jiedushi'' of Lulong.

Jiannan Jiedushi was created in 719 and headquartered in Yi Prefecture (益州) (Chengdu). It was split into Jiannan Dongchuan Jiedushi and Jiannan Xichuan Jiedushi in 757 and then merged again from 763 to 764, and then split again from 766 to 779. It controlled 25 prefectures in Chengdu and areas to its north and south in Sichuan. East River controlled 12 prefectures from Jiange to Luzhou. It was headquartered in Zi Prefecture (梓州) ( Santai, Sichuan). West River controlled the Chengdu area and surrounding prefectures. Wei Gao and Xianyu Zhongtong were ''jiedushi'' of Jiannan.

Pinglu Jiedushi was created in 719 and headquartered in Ying Prefecture (營州) ( Chaoyang, Liaoning). It controlled Pinglu, Lulong and other prefectures in Liaoyang, Jinzhou, Liaoning, and northeast Hebei.

730s

Hedong Jiedushi was created in 730 and headquartered in Taiyuan, controlling Shi, Lan, Fen, Xin, and Dai prefectures in central and north Shanxi. Liu Gongchuo (柳公綽) was a ''jiedushi'' of Hedong. In 883 Li Keyong was appointed ''jiedushi'' of Hedong after recovering Chang'an from Huang Chao. In 885 Li Keyong captured Chang'an and laid waste to it. He was defeated by Zhu Wen in 902 and died in 908. Liu Zhiyuan was a ''jiedushi'' of Hedong.

Lingwu Jiedushi was created in 733 and headquartered in Huile (回樂) (southwest of Lingwu, Ningxia). It controlled Ling, Hui, and Yan prefectures.

750s

Huainan West Circuit Jiedushi, also known as Huaixi Jiedushi, was created in 756 and lasted until 818. It was headquartered in Yingchuan Prefecture (潁川郡) ( Xuchang, Henan), Zhengzhou (in Henan), Shou Prefecture ( Shou County, Anhui), An Prefecture (Anlu northwest of Wuhan, Hubei), Cai Prefecture (Runan County, southeast Henan) from 773 to 776, and Bian Prefecture (Kaifeng, Henan) from 776 to 779. In 757 Gao Shi was appointed jiedushi of Huainan. Li Zhongchen was ''jiedushi'' until he was expelled by his nephew Li Xilie. Wu Yuanji

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