Gao Jiong (高熲) (d. August 27, 607[1]), courtesy name Zhaoxuan (昭玄), alternative name Min (敏), known during Northern Zhou by the Xianbei name Dugu Jiong (獨孤熲), was a key official and general of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan Events By Place Europe Ceolwulf of Wessex fights the South Saxons. A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name ( zì) is a given name to be used later in life The Northern Zhou Dynasty (Chinese北周 followed the Western Wei, and ruled northern China from 557 to 581. The Xianbei ( were a significant nomadic people residing in Manchuria and eastern Mongolia, or Xianbei Shan. Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River ( valley in the Neolithic era The Sui Dynasty ( 581 - 618 AD and in the undertaking of other construction projects including the reconstruction of the Great Wall. He was a key advisor to Emperor Wen and was instrumental in the campaign against rival Chen Dynasty, allowing Sui to destroy Chen in 589 and reunify China. Background Yang Jian's clan was from Hongnong Commandery (弘農 roughly modern Sanmenxia, Henan) Chen Dynasty (陳朝 ( Pinyin: Chén cháo (557-589 was the fourth and the last of the Southern dynasties in China, eventually destroyed by the Sui Events By Place Europe October 17 — The Adige River overflows its banks flooding the church of St In 607, he offended Emperor Wen's son Emperor Yang (Yang Guang) by criticizing Emperor Yang's large rewards to Tujue's submissive Qimin Khan and was executed by Emperor Yang. Background Yang Guang was born in 569 during the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. Göktürks ( Turkish: Gök Türkler) were a Turkic people of ancient Central Asia. Göktürks ( Turkish: Gök Türkler) were a Turkic people of ancient Central Asia. (Some traditional historians believed that Emperor Yang was looking for an excuse to execute him after he had, against his orders, executed the Chen emperor Chen Shubao's concubine Consort Zhang Lihua, whom Emperor Yang, then an imperial prince, might have wanted to seize as a concubine himself. Background Chen Shubao was born in 553 when his father Chen Xu was serving as a mid-level official under Emperor Yuan of Liang at Emperor Yuan's capital Concubinage is the state of a woman or youth in an ongoing quasi-matrimonial relationship with a man of higher social status Consort Zhang Lihua (張麗華 (died 589 was an imperial consort of the Chinese dynasty Chen Dynasty. )
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Background
It is not known when Gao Jiong was born. His father Gao Bin (高賓) was an official of Eastern Wei who, in 540, was fearful of false accusations against him and therefore fled to Western Wei. The Eastern Wei Dynasty (Chinese 東魏 followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 534 to 550. Events By place Byzantine Empire General Belisarius conquers Milan and the Ostrogothic capital Ravenna The Western Wèi Dynasty (Chinese西魏 followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 535 to 556. Gao Bin served on the staff of the general Dugu Xin (獨孤信), and, per the orders of Western Wei's paramount general Yuwen Tai in 554, changed his family name to Dugu as well. Yuwen Tai (宇文泰 (507-556 nickname Heita (黑獺 formally Duke Wen of Anding (安定文公 later further posthumously honored by Northern Zhou Events By Place Byzantine Empire General Narses reconquers all of Italy Because of this connection, after Dugu Xin was forced to commit suicide in 557 after the founding of Western Wei's successor state Northern Zhou, Dugu Xin's daughter Dugu Qieluo often visited Gao Bin's home. Events By Place Asia The Northern Zhou Dynasty begins in northern China; its first ruler is Northern Zhou Xiao Min Di The Northern Zhou Dynasty (Chinese北周 followed the Western Wei, and ruled northern China from 557 to 581. Empress Dugu Qieluo (獨孤伽羅 ( 544 - September 10, 602) formally Empress Xian (獻皇后 literary meaning "the wise empress" Gao Bin eventually served as a provincial governor and died while posted as such.
Gao Jiong was himself skilled in history and rhetoric while young. When he was 16, Yuwen Xian the Prince of Qi made Gao Jiong a member of his staff. Yuwen Xian (宇文憲 (544-578 nickname Pihetu (毗賀突 formally Prince Yang of Qi (齊煬王 was an imperial prince of the Chinese state He inherited the title of Count of Wuyang that his father was created. He apparently served under Yuwen Xian when Yuwen Xian was a major general in the campaign of his brother Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou in destroying rival Northern Qi (Eastern Wei's successor state) and was promoted to a mid-level post in the imperial government. Background Yuwen Yong was born in 543 as the fourth son of the Western Wei paramount general Yuwen Tai. The Northern Qi Dynasty (Chinese 北齊 Běiqí was one of the Northern dynasties of Chinese history and ruled northern China from 550 to 577.
In 580, after the death of Emperor Wu's son Emperor Xuan, Emperor Xuan's father-in-law Yang Jian (Dugu Qieluo's husband) seized power as regent over Emperor Xuan's son Emperor Jing (by Emperor Xuan's concubine Empress Zhu Manyue). Events By Place Europe Ethelbert becomes king of Kent. The Roman Senate sends an embassy to Constantinople Background Yuwen Yun was born in 559 as the oldest son of Yuwen Yong, then the Duke of Lu and younger brother of Emperor Ming. Background Yang Jian's clan was from Hongnong Commandery (弘農 roughly modern Sanmenxia, Henan) A regent, from the Latin regens "who reigns" is a person selected to act as Head of state (ruling or not because the ruler is a minor Background Yuwen Chan was born in 573 initially with the name Yuwen Yan Concubinage is the state of a woman or youth in an ongoing quasi-matrimonial relationship with a man of higher social status Empress Zhu Manyue (朱滿月 (547-586 later Buddhist nun name Fajing (法淨 was a Concubine of Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou (Yuwen Yun Yang Jian, knowing that Gao was intelligent and full of strategies, sent his associate Yang Hui the Duke of Yu to request that Gao join his staff. Gao, seeing that Yang had great ambitions, responded, "I am willing to be driven by him. Even if the Duke's ambitions could not be carried out, I am willing to have my clan slaughtered over this. " He therefore agreed to serve as Yang's secretary. When the general Yuchi Jiong, suspicious of Yang's intentions, rebelled at Xiang Province (相州, roughly modern Handan, Hebei), Yang needed someone to oversee the operations against Yuchi, but his associates Cui Zhongfang (崔仲方), Liu Fang (劉昉), and Zheng Yi (鄭譯) each declined. Yuchi Jiong (尉遲迥 (d 580 Courtesy name Bojuluo (薄居羅 was a general of the Chinese / Xianbei states Western Wei and Handan ( is a Prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China. ( Postal map spelling: Hopeh) is a northern province of the People's Republic of China. Gao volunteered, and he not oversaw the operations but also personally defeated Yuchi's son Yuchi Chun (尉遲淳). After the major general Wei Xiaokuan defeated Yuchi Jiong and forced Yuchi Jiong to commit suicide, Gao Jiong was created the Duke of Yi'ning. Wei Xiaokuan (韋孝寬 (509-580 formal personal name Wei Shuyu (韋叔裕 (but went by the Courtesy name of Xiaokuan known by the Xianbei name (As Yang soon declared that Yuwen Tai's system of requriing Han officials and generals to change their names to Xianbei should be rescinded, Gao after this point did not use the family name Dugu any more. Han Chinese ( are an Ethnic group native to China and by most modern definitions the largest single Ethnic group in the world. The Change of Xianbei family names to Han names was part of a Sinicization campaign to convert Xianbei family names into Han Chinese names The Xianbei ( were a significant nomadic people residing in Manchuria and eastern Mongolia, or Xianbei Shan. )
During Emperor Wen's reign
In 581, Yang Jian had Emperor Jing yield the throne to him, ending Northern Zhou and establishing Sui Dynasty as its Emperor Wen. Events By Place Europe Tauric Chersonesus is besieged by the Gokturks. The Sui Dynasty ( 581 - 618 AD and in the undertaking of other construction projects including the reconstruction of the Great Wall. He reorganized his government into five major bureaus, and Gao served as both the head of the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng) and the co-head of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng) -- effectively serving as co-prime minister. He was created the Duke of Bohai, and few officials could rival him in terms of Emperor Wen's trust. Emperor Wen often referred to him honorifically as simply "Mr. Dugu" (using his old Xianbei name) without mentioning his given name. Gao recommended Su Wei to Emperor Wen, and Emperor Wen trusted Su as well, eventually promoting Su to be co-prime minister. Su Wei (蘇威 (542-623 Courtesy name Wuwei (無畏 was a high level official of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty. Whenever other officials made accusations against Gao, Emperor Wen deposed those officials. He also gave a daughter of his son and crown prince Yang Yong to Gao's son Gao Biaoren (高表仁) in marriage. Crown Princess redirects here for the ship see Crown Princess (ship. Yang Yong ( 楊[[wikt 勇|勇]] (d 604 nickname Xiandifa (睍地伐 sometimes known by his posthumous title of Prince of Fangling (房陵王 was a
In 582, Emperor Wen had Gao oversee an operation against rival Chen Dynasty, but when Emperor Xuan of Chen died in early 582, Gao suggested that it was improper to attack a state that had just lost its emperor, and Emperor Wen agreed and withdrew the troops. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Maurice succeeds Tiberius II Constantine as Emperor Chen Dynasty (陳朝 ( Pinyin: Chén cháo (557-589 was the fourth and the last of the Southern dynasties in China, eventually destroyed by the Sui Background Chen Xu was born in 530 as the second son of Chen Daotan (陳道譚 a commander in the Liang Dynasty palace guards Later in 582, it was after consulting Gao and Su that Emperor Wen, who had felt that the city of Chang'an, his capital, was too small, constructed a new capital nearby named Daxing (大興), where he moved the capital in 583. Chang'an ( is an ancient Capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history. Events By Place Byzantine Empire April — Fire devastates Constantinople.
In fall 583, Emperor Wen sent Gao and Yu Qingze (虞慶則) to attack Tujue. Göktürks ( Turkish: Gök Türkler) were a Turkic people of ancient Central Asia.
In 587, while Sui's vassal Emperor Jing of Western Liang was at Daxing, Emperor Jing's uncle Xiao Yan (蕭巖) and brother Xiao Huan (蕭瓛), in charge of his capital Jiangling, feared that the Sui general Cui Hongdu (崔弘度) was going attack, and therefore took the people of Jiangling and surrendered to the Chen general Chen Huiji (陳慧紀, the cousin of Chen's emperor Chen Shubao). For the processor see NexGen Nx587. Events By Place Europe Sledda becomes king of Essex Background It is not known when Xiao Cong was born and his mother's name is also lost in history Background Chen Shubao was born in 553 when his father Chen Xu was serving as a mid-level official under Emperor Yuan of Liang at Emperor Yuan's capital In response, Emperor Wen abolished Western Liang and took its territory under direct control. He sent Gao to Jiangling to comfort the people of the region. Meanwhile, when Emperor Wen asked Gao for tactics in preparing to conquer Chen, Gao suggested harassing Chen's border regions in two ways: sending troops on exercise without actually attacking, to cause Chen's farmers to be on alert and unable to farm and causing Chen's guards to be down when an actual attack would come; and to send spies to burn Chen's border farmlands. Emperor Wen agreed, and these tactics helped damage Chen's resistance capabilities.
In winter 588, Emperor Wen declared the campaign against Chen. DLXXXVIII in Roman numerals Events By Place Byzantine Empire Guaram becomes prince of Iberia. He made Yang Su and his sons Yang Guang the Prince of Jin and Yang Jun the Prince of Qin the commanders of the three main prongs of the operation, with Yang Guang in overall command. Yang Su (楊素 (d August 31, 606) Courtesy name Chudao (處道 formally Duke Jingwu of Chu (楚景武公 was a powerful general Background Yang Guang was born in 569 during the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. Yang Jun (楊俊 (571-600 nickname Azhi (阿祇 formally Prince Xiao of Qin (秦孝王 was an imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty Gao served as Yang Guang's deputy and was responsible for the strategies used in the campaign. When Chen's capital Jiankang fell in spring 589 and the emperor Chen Shubao was captured, Yang Guang ordered that Chen Shubao's concubine Consort Zhang Lihua be spared -- perhaps because he wanted to take Consort Zhang as his own concubine. Jiankang (建康城 in Pinyin: Jiànkāng chéng formerly known as Jianye (建業 Jiànyè until Eastern Jin Dynasty (317 – 420 was an ancient city in Events By Place Europe October 17 — The Adige River overflows its banks flooding the church of St Consort Zhang Lihua (張麗華 (died 589 was an imperial consort of the Chinese dynasty Chen Dynasty. Instead, Gao, comparing Consort Zhang to Daji -- the wicked wife of King Zhou of Shang -- beheaded her. Daji (妲己 Pinyin: Dájǐ was a favorite concubine of King Zhou, the last king of Shang Dynasty in China. King Di Xin of Shang ( Chinese: 帝辛 born Zi Shou (Chinese 子受 was the last Yang Guang thereafter resented Gao greatly, stating sarcastically, "It has been said, 'You should repay every good deed done to you. ' I will repay Duke Gao later. " Gao was responsible for collecting Chen's imperial stores, and was said to be exceedingly scrupulous at it, taking nothing for himself. For Gao's contributions, Emperor Wen promoted him to the greater title of Duke of Qi and awarded him with much silk. When Emperor Wen told him and the general Heruo Bi (賀若弼) to compare their contributions, Gao declined, stating that Heruo fought on the battlefield while he was merelyl serving as a civilian, and could not compare himself to Heruo. Emperor Wen was impressed and honored Gao even more. However, when Emperor Wen wanted to create the official Li Delin a duke as well for his contributions, as Gao had consulted Li during the campaign, Gao persuaded Emperor Wen not to, apparently out of jealousy for Li. Li Delin (李德林 Courtesy name Gongfu (公輔 formally either Duke Wen of Anping (安平文公 (according to the Book of Sui
In 592, Su was removed from his post as co-prime minister, and Yang Su replaced Su. Events By Place Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire regains Singidunum from the Avars. It was commented by traditional historians that Yang Su was more talented and had more foresight than Gao, but that he was not as fairminded or well-behaved as Gao.
In 598, angry that Ying Province (營州, roughly modern Zhaoyang, Liaoning) had been attacked by Goguryeo, Emperor Wen send his son Yang Liang and the general Wang Shiji (王世積) to attack Goguryeo -- a campaign that Gao tried to dissuade Emperor Wen from but Emperor Wen launched anyway, and in fact forced Gao to serve as Yang Liang's deputy. Events Battle of Catraeth at Catterick North Yorkshire: The Celtic British (Brythonic people defeat the Anglo-Saxon Bernicians (approximate Chaoyang may refer to Chaoyang Liaoning, city in Liaoning China Chaoyang County, county in Chaoyang Liaoning Chaoyang ( is a northeastern province of the People's Republic of China. Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and Yang Liang (楊諒 -- Courtesy name Dezhang (德章 alternative name Jie (傑 nickname Yiqian (益錢 -- was an imperial prince of the Due to Yang Liang's young age, Gao was actually in charge of the operation, which ended in failure due to inadequate food supplies due to drought, as well as a storm destroying a large part of the fleet commanded by the former Chen general Zhou Luohou (周羅睺). Yang Liang, disgruntled at how Gao gave him little actual authority on the campaign and frequently disobeyed him, complained to Empress Dugu that he was fortunate to not have been killed by Gao, and this angered Emperor Wen as well.
Meanwhile, the relationships between Gao and the imperial couple were breaking down for other reasons as well. Earlier, there had been a confrontation between Emperor Wen and Empress Dugu over Emperor Wen's sexual relationship with Yuchi Jiong's granddaughter (who had become a palace servant) and Empress Dugu's subsequent killing of Lady Yuchi. Emperor Wen was so angry that he rode away from the palace, requiring Gao and Yang Su to track him down. At Gao and Yang Su's urging, Emperor Wen and Empress Dugu reconciled over a feast that Gao and Yang Su hosted. However, while persuading Emperor Wen to return to the palace, Gao referred to Empress Dugu as "a woman," which, when she found out, she was displeased with. Further, by this point, Yang Yong had lost Emperor Wen and Empress Dugu's favor, over his wastefulness (which displeased Emperor Wen) and having many concubines (which displeased Empress Dugu). Gao, who had also drawn Empress Dugu's ire for having a favorite concubine, thereafter came under suspicion by Emperor Wen and Empress Dugu of being overly supportive of Yang Yong, as he rejected outright the possibility that Yang Yong should be displaced by Yang Guang. In 599, when Emperor Wen sent Gao, Yang Su, and Yan Rong (燕榮) against Tujue's Dulan Khan Ashina Yongyulü, Gao, while on the campaign, requested additional troops, leading to suspicion by Emperor Wen that he was planning a rebellion, but Gao soon returned from the campaign, temporary assuaging Emperor Wen's fears. For the motorcycle see Honda 599 and for the car see Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. Yöngyulü Tülan-Qağan (Tunga-Turan Tulan-Khan 都蘭可汗 雍虞閭 was the son of Ishbara and the seventh qaghan of the Göktürk empire
However, later in 599, after Wang Shiji was executed over suspicions of treason, accusations arose during the investigation of Wang's case that he had heard many palace secrets from Gao. Thereafter, Gao and two other high level officials, Yuan Min (元旻) and Yuan Zhou (元冑), were accused of accepting bribes from Wang, and Yuan Min and Yuan Zhou were removed from their posts. When several other officials, including Heruo, Yuwen Bi (宇文弼), Xue Zhou (薛冑), Hulü Xiaoqing (斛律孝卿), and Liu Shu (柳述), tried to speak on Gao's behalf, Emperor Wen was so angry at them that he briefly threw them all into jail. Soon, Gao was found guilty and removed from his governmental posts, but allowed to keep his title of Duke of Qi. Soon thereafter, however, Gao was accused of comparing himself to Sima Yi, and was reduced to commoner rank. Sima Yi (179 - 251 was a strategist general and politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of China. He thereafter was powerless to prevent Yang Yong's removal and replacement by Yang Guang in 600. Events By Place World The population of the Earth rises to about 208 million people
During Emperor Yang's reign
Gao Jiong's activities for the next several years were not clear. In 604, Emperor Wen died -- a death that most traditional historians, while admitting a lack of direct evidence, believed to be a murder ordered by Yang Guang -- and Yang Guang took the throne as Emperor Yang. Events By Place Ancient Japan Prince Shotoku issues a Seventeen-article constitution. Sometime after Emperor Yang took the throne, he made Gao the minister of ceremonies. When Emperor Yang ordered, in 606, that the former palace musicians from Northern Qi and Northern Zhou be regathered (Emperor Wen, who disfavored music, had disbanded the palace music corps), Gao opposed, without effect. Events By Place Europe Cearl becomes king of Mercia. Asia Shashanka In 607, when Emperor Yang gave great rewards to Tujue's submissive Qimin Khan Ashina Rangan, Gao again opposed, with no effect. Events By Place Europe Ceolwulf of Wessex fights the South Saxons. Göktürks ( Turkish: Gök Türkler) were a Turkic people of ancient Central Asia. It was said that Gao made several comments critical of Emperor Yang's policies, including a comment to his secretary Li Yi (李懿), "Zhou's Emperor Tianyuan [i. e. , Emperor Xuan] destroyed his dynasty over his favor for dances, music, and crafts. The example of his spilled wagon is just in the short past, and how is it that it is being repeated?" He told He Chou (何稠), the minister of palace storage, as to Ashina Rangan, "This barbarian has become knowledgeable about China's strength and geographical features, and I fear that he will become a danger later. " He also spoke to Yang Xiong (楊雄) the Prince of Guan (Emperor Yang's cousin) and said, "Recently, the government's laws are not being enforced. " These comments were reported to Emperor Yang, along with similar comments made by Yuwen Bi and Heruo Bi. In summer 607, Emperor Yang had Gao, Yuwen, and Heruo all beheaded, and Gao's sons were exiled to the border provinces. Events By Place Europe Ceolwulf of Wessex fights the South Saxons. Some traditional historians, however, attribute Gao's death to his earlier killing of Consort Zhang.
The Book of Sui commented, about Gao:
- Gao Jiong was talented in both civilian and military matters and highly observant. The Book of Sui ( was the official history of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty, and it ranks among the official Twenty-Four Histories of imperial Since he received the emperor's confidence, he expended his faithful service and contributed earnestly. He recommended talented people, and he saw saving the world as his responsibility. Su Wei, Yang Su, Heruo Bi, and Han Qinhu [(韓擒虎, another general)] were all brought into the government by Gao, and the officials who contributed because of his recommendations were innumerable. Gao was in power for almost 20 years, and both officials and the people praised and respected him, with no objections. That the empire could become rich and powerful was due to Gao. When he was executed, everyone mourned for him.
Notes and references
- Book of Sui, vol. The Book of Sui ( was the official history of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty, and it ranks among the official Twenty-Four Histories of imperial 41. [1]
- History of Northern Dynasties, vol. The History of Northern Dynasties ( is one of the official Chinese historical works in the Twenty-Four Histories canon 72. [2]
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. The Zizhi Tongjian ( was a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography. 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180.
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