Shence Army
Encyclopedia
The Shence Army was a Tang Dynasty
(618–907) Chinese army unit based in Chang’an City which formed the primary imperial guard
responsible for protecting the emperor. It was set up in 754 CE by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
and placed under the command of Longyou Military Governor (隴右節度使) Geshu Han
. Headquartered to the west of Lintao County
, Gansu Province at Mohuan Chuan (磨環川) (south east of modern day Lintan County
), the Shence’s role was to defend the border with Tufan.
(755–763), General Wei Boyu (卫伯玉/衛伯玉) and 1,000 of his Shence troops were dispatched to assist the embattled central authorities. Thereafter Wei Boyu defended the area around Sanmenxia
where troops from Tufan had already occupied Lintao County
. At the same time Yu Chao'en
was appointed Army Censor (监军/監軍) by the imperial court and later commanded the Shence Army.
In 763 CE Tubo attacked Chang'an whereupon Emperor Daizong of Tang
fled to Sanmenxia. Yu Chao’en’s army and the Sanmenxia armies combined and were collectively referred to as the Shence Army. When Daizong later returned to the capital, the Shence Army became one of the imperial guard units and gradually increased in strength.
Because pay and conditions for the soldiers of the Shence Army were relatively good, a gradual succession of other imperial guard units gradually joined its ranks. By the time Emperor Dezong of Tang
ascended the throne the force had grown to contain 150,000 troops and was the main military power in both Chang’an and the surrounding Guanzhong Plain
.
After Zhu Ci
's rebellion in 784 CE, command of the Shence Army was handed over to the court eunuchs for whom it became the emperor’s primary military tool. When Xuānzong ascended the throne Ma Yuanzhi (马元贽/馬元贄) was given command of the Shence Army
Under succeeding Emperor Shunzong of Tang
, court official Wang Shuwen
unsuccessfully tried to wrest control of the army from the eunuchs, thereafter in the final years of the Tang Dynasty
the Shence Army became riddled with corruption and its power declined.
Under Emperor Xizong of Tang
(r.873–888) the Shence Army was totally routed during the Huang Chao Rebellion Whilst the emperor fled to the Xichuan Circuit (西川路) headquartered in modern day Chengdu
, Sichuan Province, eunuch Tian Lingzi
raised a new Shengce Army. The unit was finally disbanded in 903 CE when Zhu Wen
, founder of the Later Liang Dynasty
murdered all the palace eunuchs in Chang’an.
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
(618–907) Chinese army unit based in Chang’an City which formed the primary imperial guard
Imperial Guards (Tang Dynasty)
The Imperial Guards of the Tang Dynasty, also known as the Forbidden Troops , evolved initially from honour bodyguards of the emperor and garrison of the Imperial capitals during its formation in early 7th century, into the only military force that remained under the control of the central...
responsible for protecting the emperor. It was set up in 754 CE by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
and placed under the command of Longyou Military Governor (隴右節度使) Geshu Han
Geshu Han
Geshu Han , formally Prince Wumin of Xiping , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty of Tuqishi extraction. He became a powerful general late in the reign of Emperor Xuanzong and in 756 became responsible for defending Tong Pass against the rebel forces of An Lushan...
. Headquartered to the west of Lintao County
Lintao County
Lintao County is administratively under the control of Dingxi, Gansu province. In ancient times, Lintao was centered around present day Min County.-Geography:...
, Gansu Province at Mohuan Chuan (磨環川) (south east of modern day Lintan County
Lintan County
Lintan County is an administrative district in Gansu, the People's Republic of China. It is one of 58 counties of Gansu. It is part of the Gannan Prefecture. Its postal code is 747500, and in 1999 its population was 148,722 people.-References:...
), the Shence’s role was to defend the border with Tufan.
Operational history
During the An Shi RebellionAn Shi Rebellion
The An Lushan Rebellion took place in China during the Tang Dynasty from CE December 16, 755 to CE February 17, 763, beginning when general An Lushan declared himself emperor, establishing the rival Yan Dynasty in Northern China...
(755–763), General Wei Boyu (卫伯玉/衛伯玉) and 1,000 of his Shence troops were dispatched to assist the embattled central authorities. Thereafter Wei Boyu defended the area around Sanmenxia
Sanmenxia
-Administration:The prefecture-level city of Sanmenxia administers one district, two county-level cities and three counties.*Hubin District*Lingbao City*Yima City*Lushi County*Shan County*Mianchi County*Sanmenxia Development Zone...
where troops from Tufan had already occupied Lintao County
Lintao County
Lintao County is administratively under the control of Dingxi, Gansu province. In ancient times, Lintao was centered around present day Min County.-Geography:...
. At the same time Yu Chao'en
Yu Chao'en
Yu Chao'en , formally the Duke of Han , was an eunuch official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was powerful early during the reign of Emperor Daizong and was feared by others, including chancellors...
was appointed Army Censor (监军/監軍) by the imperial court and later commanded the Shence Army.
In 763 CE Tubo attacked Chang'an whereupon Emperor Daizong of Tang
Emperor Daizong of Tang
Emperor Daizong of Tang , personal name Li Yu , né Li Chu , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty....
fled to Sanmenxia. Yu Chao’en’s army and the Sanmenxia armies combined and were collectively referred to as the Shence Army. When Daizong later returned to the capital, the Shence Army became one of the imperial guard units and gradually increased in strength.
Because pay and conditions for the soldiers of the Shence Army were relatively good, a gradual succession of other imperial guard units gradually joined its ranks. By the time Emperor Dezong of Tang
Emperor Dezong of Tang
Emperor Dezong of Tang , personally name Li Kuo , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the oldest son of his father Emperor Daizong. His reign of 26 years was the third longest in the Tang dynasty...
ascended the throne the force had grown to contain 150,000 troops and was the main military power in both Chang’an and the surrounding Guanzhong Plain
Guanzhong
Guanzhong , or Guanzhong Plain, is a historical region of China corresponding to the lower valley of the Wei River. It is called Guanzhong or 'within the passes' to distinguish it from 'Guandong' or 'east of the pass', that is, the North China Plain. The North China Plain is bordered on the west by...
.
After Zhu Ci
Zhu Ci
Zhu Ci was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He initially served as military governor of Lulong Circuit , but later became a general for the imperial government...
's rebellion in 784 CE, command of the Shence Army was handed over to the court eunuchs for whom it became the emperor’s primary military tool. When Xuānzong ascended the throne Ma Yuanzhi (马元贽/馬元贄) was given command of the Shence Army
Under succeeding Emperor Shunzong of Tang
Emperor Shunzong of Tang
Emperor Shunzong of Tang , personal name Li Song , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. He was created crown prince in 779 and became emperor in 805 after the death of his father Emperor Dezong, of whom he was the oldest son...
, court official Wang Shuwen
Wang Shuwen
Wang Shuwen was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was a close associate of Emperor Shunzong while Li Song was crown prince under his father Emperor Dezong, and was powerful during Emperor Shunzong's brief reign in 805, when Emperor Shunzong was severely ill...
unsuccessfully tried to wrest control of the army from the eunuchs, thereafter in the final years of the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
the Shence Army became riddled with corruption and its power declined.
Under Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
(r.873–888) the Shence Army was totally routed during the Huang Chao Rebellion Whilst the emperor fled to the Xichuan Circuit (西川路) headquartered in modern day Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
, Sichuan Province, eunuch Tian Lingzi
Tian Lingzi
Tian Lingzi , courtesy name Zhongze , formally the Duke of Jin , was a powerful eunuch during the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang...
raised a new Shengce Army. The unit was finally disbanded in 903 CE when Zhu Wen
Zhu Wen
Emperor Taizu of Later Liang , personal name Zhu Quanzhong , né Zhu Wen , name later changed to Zhu Huang , nickname Zhu San , was a Jiedushi at the end of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who previously served as a general under the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao's...
, founder of the Later Liang Dynasty
Later Liang Dynasty
The Later Liang was one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. It was founded by Zhu Wen, posthumously known as Taizu of Later Liang, after he forced the last emperor of the Tang dynasty to abdicate in his favour...
murdered all the palace eunuchs in Chang’an.