Wang Sengbian 王僧辯

Wang Sengbian 王僧辯 (d. 555), courtesy name Juncai 君才, was a general of the Liang empire 梁 (502-557), one of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420-589).

He hailed from the people of the Xianbei 鮮卑 and originally bore the family name Wuwan 烏丸, living in Qixian 祁縣 in the commandery of Taiyuan 太原 (in today's Shanxi province). In the early 6th century, his father Shennian 神念 resettled from the Northern Wei empire 北魏 (386-534) to the south, where Wang Sengbian was appointed left attendant-in-ordinary (zuo changshi 左常侍) of Xiao Yi 蕭繹, the Prince of Xiangdong 湘東 and eventual Emperor Yuan 梁元帝 (r. 552-554), cavalry commander of the princely establishment (wangfu sima 王府司馬), and then governor (taishou 太守) of the commandery of Jingling 竟陵.

In 549, Xiao Yi sent him out with a riverine fleet of 10,000 men to bring relief to the capital Jiankang 建康 (Nanjing 南京, Jiangsu), which was besieged by the rebel Hou Jing 侯景 (503-552). However, the city had already fallen into the rebel‘s hands when Wang arrived. He returned to Jiangling 江陵 and was made General of the Palace Guard (lingjun jiangjun 領軍將軍). In 550, he fought for Prince Xiao Yi against Xiao Yu 蕭譽 (519-550), Prince of Hedong 河東 and regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of Xiangzhou 湘州. In 501, the usurper Hou Jing advanced with an army of 200,000 towards central China. Wang Sengbian was appointed Superior Commander-in-chief (da dudu 大都督) and defeated Hou Jing, rescuing the middle Yangtze region. His army liaised with that of Chen Baxian 陳霸先 (the eventual Emperor Wu 陳武帝, r. 557-559, of the Chen dynasty 陳, 557-589) at Shipankou 師湓口 (close to Jiujiang 九江, Jiangxi) and they marched downwards the river, liberating the capital Jiankang.

In 552, Xiao Yi assumed the title of emperor, invested Wang Sengbian as King of the Commandery of Yongning 永寧郡王 and appointed him palace attendant (shizhong 侍中) and Director of the Imperial Secretariat (shangshu ling 尚書令).

A new threat endangered the Liang empire in 554, when the army of the Western Wei invaded the Liang and occupied Jiangling 江陵. Wang contributed to repelling the invader. Shortly after, Xiao Yi died, and Wang Sengbian and Chen Baxian enthroned his son, Xiao Fangzhi 蕭方智 (Emperor Jing 梁敬帝, r. 555-557). Wang was appointed Cavalry General (piaoji jiangjun 驃騎將軍), and Supervisor of the Palace Secretariat (zhongshu jian 中書監). Not long thereafter, Chen Baxian then decided to end the Liang and establish his own dynasty, the Chen. He conquered Jiankang, and the loyal Wang Sengbian perished in the fights.