Early career

Wang Dun was the son of the Jin official Wang Ji (王基), and he married Emperor Wu of Jin's daughter Princess Xiangcheng. He served as an assistant to Emperor Hui's crown prince Sima Yu, and when Sima Yu was falsely accused of crime by Empress Jia Nanfeng and deposed, he risked his life to attend the crown prince's farewell, and received renown from that. He later served as the governor of Yang Province (扬州, modern Zhejiang and southern part of Jiangsu and Anhui). After Sima Rui, then the Prince of Langye, became in charge of the military operations in the area in 307, both Wang Dun and his cousin Wang Dao became key assistants to him, and it was said at the time that the domain was ruled equally by the Simas and the Wangs.

Later, as Jiang (江州, modern Jiangxi and eastern Hubei) and Jing (荆州, modern Hubei and Hunan) Provinces became overrun by agrarian rebels, the strongest of whom was Du Tao (杜弢), the leader of Yi Province (modern Sichuan and Chongqing) refugees who had fled from Cheng Han, Sima Rui put Wang Dun in charge of the western province operations, and Wang's effective coordination allowed the rebels to be eventually suppressed. After suppressing Du Tao, in particular, however, Wang Dun became arrogant and began to see the western provinces as his own domain. After Sima Rui declared himself emperor in 318 (after Emperor Min's execution by Han Zhao), Wang Dun nominally submitted to him, but continued to strengthen his own domain.

First campaign against the Jin imperial government

Seeing Wang Dun's ambition, Emperor Yuan began to fear him, and he began to group men around him who were against Wang Dun as well, such as Liu Huai (刘隗) and Diao Xie (刁协) -- men of mixed reputation who, in their efforts to suppress the Wangs' power offended many other people. He also reduced the roles that Wang Dun's relatives, including Wang Dao, had in his government, which angered Wang Dun further. Wang Dun was further encouraged by his assistants Qian Feng (钱凤) and Shen Chong (沈充), both of whom persuaded him to plan a military confrontation with Emperor Yuan. In 320, however, when Emperor Yuan, against Wang's request, made Sima Cheng (司马承) the Prince of Qiao the governor of Xiang Province (湘州, modern Hunan) instead of Shen, Wang Dun was not yet ready to fully break with Emperor Yuan, and therefore allowed Sima Cheng to take his post. In 321, Emperor Yuan further commissioned Dai Yuan (戴渊) and Liu with substantial forces, claiming that they were to defend against Later Zhao attacks, but instead was intending to have them defend against a potential Wang Dun attack.

In spring 322, Wang Dun started his campaign against Emperor Yuan, claiming that Emperor Yuan was being deluded by Liu and Diao, and that his only intent was to clean up the government. He tried to persuade Gan Zhuo (甘卓), the governor of Liang Province (梁州, then consisting of modern northwestern Hubei and southeastern Shaanxi) and Sima Cheng (司马承) the governor of Xiang Province to join him, and while both resisted, neither was effective in their campaigns against his rear guards. Wang quickly arrived in Jiankang, defeating Emperor Yuan's forces and entering and pillaging Jiankang easily. Liu fled to Later Zhao, while Diao, Dai, and Zhou Yi (周顗) were killed. Emperor Yuan was forced to submit and grant Wang Dun additional powers in the west. Wang Dun, satisfied, allowed Emperor Yuan to remain on the throne (and although he toyed with the idea of removing Sima Shao the Crown Prince, fearful of Crown Prince Shao's decisiveness and diligence, he ended up not carrying out the idea), and personally withdrew back to his home base of Wuchang (武昌, in modern Ezhou, Hubei). His forces then defeated and killed Sima Cheng, while a subordinate of Gan's, acting on Wang's orders, assassinated Gan.

Second campaign against the Jin imperial government

After his defeat, Emperor Yuan grew despondent and ill. Around the new year of 323, he died. Crown Prince Shao succeeded to the throne as Emperor Ming. Emperor Ming largely acted as if he were respectful of Wang Dun, yielding many military and governance decisions to him. Wang Dun became even more arrogant than before, and his subordinates, headed by Qian and Shen, became exceeding corrupt and violent. In 324, apprehensive of the powerful native Zhou clan (from which Zhou Yi came), Wang Dun had many of its members killed.

Later in 324, Wang Dun grew increasingly ill. He commissioned his nephew Wang Ying (王应), whom he adopted as his own son because he was sonless, to be his deputy, and also commissioned Wen Jiao as the mayor of Jiankang, with intent to have Wen keep an eye on the emperor. He intended that after he died, Wang Ying would lead his army to Jiankang and usurp the throne. However, he did not know that Wen had actually been working with Emperor Ming's brother-in-law Yu Liang, and once Wen arrived in Jiankang, he revealed Wang Dun's illness and his plan, and Emperor Ming decided to take preemptive action, declaring Wang Dun a renegade and summoning the generals on the northern border to come to his aid. Wang, upon hearing this, sent his brother (Wang Ying's biological father) Wang Han (王含) and Qian eastward to again attack Jiankang, but unlike what happened in his first campaign, Wang's forces ran into severe resistance from the imperial troops, greatly enhanced by the battle-tested northern defense troops, and suffered many losses. Upon hearing the bad news, Wang Dun died. Wang Ying did not declare that he had died and tried to carry on the campaign, but was eventually defeated. Wang Ying and Wang Han were captured and killed, and Wang Dun's body was put into a kneeling position and then beheaded, but then returned to the Wang clan for burial.

生平

立身乱局

王敦娶晋武帝司马炎之女襄城公主为妻，官拜驸马都尉，后任太子舍人。元康九年（299年），皇后贾南风废太子司马遹，迁他于许昌，并不许东宫官属送行，王敦则与太子洗马江统、潘滔、太子舍人杜蕤、鲁瑶等违命去送行，得到当时议论者的称许。后王敦改任给事黄门侍郎。

永宁元年（301年），赵王司马伦篡夺帝位，并派王敦到兖州慰劳担任兖州刺史的叔父王彦。三个月后，齐王司马冏兴兵讨伐司马伦，诸王都响应，此时王彦收到齐王的檄命，邀请一同起兵；王彦畏惧司马伦兵力强盛，不敢应命。王敦此时劝王彦响应，最终齐王击败司马伦，王彦亦获功勋。司马伦失败后，晋惠帝复位，王敦迁任散骑常侍、左卫将军、大鸿胪、侍中。

永嘉元年（307年），司徒王衍推荐他做青州刺史，拜广武将军。不久又徵命王敦为中书监，王敦将襄城公主的侍婢都分发给将士，又向人分发金银财宝给部众后才回到洛阳。此时在荥阳遥控政权的太傅司马越来朝，王敦认为他此行一定时有诛杀处罚，后司马越果然收捕中书令缪播等十馀人，并处死。司马越任命王敦为扬州刺史；潘滔认为让王敦到外偏远地会令他肆意妄为，成为无法制约的地方豪强。但司马越不听。

助建东晋

王敦到扬州后与堂弟王导一起辅助司马睿在江南地区建立名望，为著中兴晋朝；因司马睿依靠王敦及王导才能建立力量，所以当时人有说：「王与马，共天下。」之后被徵拜尚书，但王敦坚持留在扬州不上任。司马睿于是任命王敦为安东军谘祭酒。永嘉五年（311年），当时扬州刺史刘陶逝世，司马睿于是任命王敦为扬州刺史，加广武将军。后更升任左将军、都督征讨诸军事、假节。永嘉之乱后，晋怀帝被掳，司空荀藩推司马睿为盟主；但当时的江州刺史华轶不肯顺从司马睿的指挥，司马睿于是派王敦与历阳内史甘卓和扬烈将军周访一起进攻华轶，并将他击败，华轶败走被杀。

同时，不久以前杜弢在湘州作乱，后又攻破零陵，侵扰武昌、长沙、宜都、邵陵等郡，荆州刺史周顗因而退走。司马睿于是又派王敦、陶侃等进攻，王敦让陶侃等进讨，而自在豫章作援。最终杜弢被击破，王敦因功任镇东大将军、开府仪同三司，加都督江扬荆湘交广六州诸军事、江州刺史，封汉安侯。

王敦自此开始自选官员，兼统属下州郡。后来杜弢部将杜弘南走广州，请求收降并愿意讨伐在桂林的盗贼，之后又与交州刺史王机图谋叛变，但遭陶侃讨平。杜弘最终向零陵太守尹奉投降，尹奉将杜弘送给王敦，王敦于是收他为部将，甚为宠信。另南康人何钦当时据险聚众数千人，王敦私下加任他四品将军。王敦专擅的迹象渐见明显。堂弟王棱知道王敦野心，曾不断劝谏王敦，但却遭到王敦暗杀。

叛乱根源

建武元年（317年），因晋愍帝被掳，司马睿改封晋王，统摄万机。王敦此时获进位征南大将军。次年司马睿因晋愍帝被杀而即位，是为晋元帝，东晋建立，王敦改拜侍中，升任大将军、江州牧。王敦以他讨伐杜曾失利而请求自贬，免任侍中并不拜州牧。后司马睿又加任王敦为荆州牧，王敦又辞让州牧，仅听任刺史。

之后元帝渐渐重用刘隗，同时疏远一开始扶持他而名声似乎比皇族更高的琅琊王氏士族，王敦因而上书为王导抱不平。而其实元帝重用刘隗、刁协等人就是为了减弱立下大功而又有极高名声的琅邪王氏势力，而面对在外地专权而手握强兵，更有意图专擅朝政的王敦就更为畏惧和厌恶。太兴三年（320年），元帝任命湘州刺史甘卓改任梁州刺史，王敦要求以从事中郎陈颁代替甘卓担任原本湘州刺史的位置《晋书·谯王逊传》称王敦要求以沈充代任湘州刺史，但遭拒绝，元帝更派谯王司马承移镇湘州。王敦见此，上表陈说古今被皇帝猜疑的忠臣和小人如何离间忠臣和皇帝的关系，想要感动元帝。元帝见奏表后更为忌惮王敦，表面上增加他的属官和尊贵待遇，但同时又任命刘隗和戴渊领兵到外，表面上是要抵抗北方胡族政权的入侵，实际上是要防备王敦。

王敦之乱

永昌元年（322年）正月，王敦从江州武昌起兵，以诛刘隗为名进攻建康。司马睿闻讯大怒，命刘隗等人回建康准备防守，司马睿更亲自披甲出镇城郊。王敦率军一路前进到石头城（建康西边的军事要塞），原本打算进攻刘隗镇守的金城，但杜弢劝他攻石头城，先攻破周札。王敦听从并进攻石头城，守将周札开城门投降，王敦又击败了戴渊、刘隗、王导、周顗、郭逸和虞潭的进攻，刘隗和刁协北走。

王敦入石头城后，并不立刻到建康朝见司马睿，反而拥兵石头城，更纵兵四处劫掠。官众因乱逃走，只馀安东将军刘超领兵与两名侍中一同侍奉司马睿，司马睿只得求和。王敦见王导时又怪责他当日在司马睿继位前不听自己劝告，改立幼主使他能专擅朝政，致使内乱发生，几乎令王氏覆灭；但王导仍秉正地与王敦议论，王敦无法争辩。之后王敦自任丞相、江州牧，进封武昌郡公，又加羽葆鼓吹，让太常荀崧拜授，王敦则假意辞让。王敦又杀周顗、戴渊；更因太子司马绍为人有勇略，意图诬陷他不孝而废掉他，但遭温峤大力反对而不能成事。王敦不久即回到武昌，遥控朝政。王敦得势后，谋害易雄等忠良之士，又在朝中树立党羽，将相州牧都是王氏族人，而且又以沈充、钱凤二人为谋主，纵容手下为非作歹，无法无天；有识之士都知道王敦很快会败亡。王敦后又自领宁州和益州都督。同年，司马睿因忧愤而死，由太子司马绍继位，是为晋明帝。

太宁元年（323年），王敦谋求篡位，讽谏朝廷徵召自己，司马绍于是手诏徵召王敦。又拜受加黄钺、班剑武贲二十人，奏事不名，入朝不趋，剑履上殿。王敦到姑孰时，司马绍派侍中阮孚设牛酒犒劳王敦，但王敦却称病不见，只派主簿接受，不久王敦自任扬州牧。后王敦侄儿王允之听到钱凤与王敦讨论夺权的计划，王允之后即告诉父亲王舒，而王舒及王导就告诉司马绍，让朝廷上下准备应付王敦。

太宁二年（324年），王敦患病，部将钱凤和沈充暗中筹划王敦死后的对策，最终决定在王敦死后作乱，颠覆东晋，并劝王敦铲除有名望的周札以及司马睿心腹冉曾和公乘雄，王敦都一一照做。及至王敦病情转坏，司马绍一方面派侍中陈晷等人问候王敦病况，另一方面却暗地里打算讨伐，并微服到芜湖察看王敦军的营垒，又派大臣查问王敦起居。

王敦任命温峤为丹阳尹，意图监察朝廷动静。但温峤却向司马绍告发王敦夺位的图谋，司马绍于是下令讨伐，并伪称王敦己死，激厉将士讨伐王敦部众。此时王敦病重，根本不能统率军队，于是以诛温峤等奸臣为名，以哥哥王含为元帅，命钱凤、邓岳、周抚等率兵五万，水陆并进攻向建康。后中军司马曹浑在越城击败王含，王敦闻讯大怒，欲亲自领兵作战，但因病重乏力而无法下床。另一方面，钱凤等人率军到建康，屡遭司马绍亲率的军队击败。此时王敦逝世，享年五十九岁。王敦死前仍然和养子王应及羊鉴说他死后要先置文武百官，然后再处理葬事。但王应之后秘不发丧，用席包裹尸身后在外涂腊，再埋在屋中，即与诸葛瑶等人纵情酒色。不久王含、沈充、钱凤诸军皆败，王敦之乱遂平。之后王敦即被起出尸身，烧毁衣冠，并摆成长跪的姿势戮尸，头颅被斩下后与沈充等人的头颅一同被挂在城南朱雀桁上，向平民展示。之后王敦的尸首无人敢收葬，最后在尚书令郗鉴的建议下才让王敦家属收葬。

王敦覆亡后，王敦各党羽都被追捕，但琅琊王氏并未被牵连，如王导等人更获加官晋爵。

性格特徵

• 史载王敦眉目疏朗，性格简脱，有鉴裁，并通《春秋左氏传》。王敦亦从不说钱财，同时喜好清谈。

• 王敦亦爱音乐，曾当众表演击鼓，而且音节谐韵，神情自得，旁若无人，在坐观看的人都称他雄爽。

• 石崇以生活奢华见称，厕所都常有十多名有美貌的婢女侍奉，并放置甲煎粉和沈香汁；而如厕后的人都会更换新衣。很多客人都因为要在众侍婢前脱衣而感到害羞，但王敦则一直神情自若。

• 对比王导的宽厚，王敦显得冷血无情。王恺有一次设置酒宴，王敦和王导都在座，当时有一名女艺伎吹笛吹错了，王恺就立刻将她杀害，此举令在座众人都失色，唯独王敦神态自若。又一次到王恺家作客，王恺命美人劝酒，并命令若客人不喝酒美人就要死，王导为了不让美人枉死强忍醉意把酒喝光，传到王敦那里时王敦坚决不肯喝，令劝酒的美人恐惧色变，王敦便冷眼看著美人被拖出去杀头。

• 王敦曾经十分荒淫，家中拥有美妾侍婢数十名。其他人因而劝谏他，王敦说：「这很简单。」于是遣散家中数十名婢妾离开，当时的人都十分惊异。

• 王敦杀害周顗后，有次玩樗蒲，见到棋子被打回，联想到周家的衰败，因此流泪。

• 宋禕为当世美女，曾从绿珠处学笛，先归王敦，后属谢尚。谢尚问宋禕自己与王大将军比如何？，宋玮回答说王与谢尚相比，就如同是乡下人与贵人一样。时人认为宋这样回答的原因是「镇西妖冶故」。

评价

• 《晋书》史臣曰：琅邪之初镇建邺，龙德犹潜，虽当璧膺图预定于冥兆，丰功厚利未被于黎氓。王敦历官中朝，威名夙著，作牧淮海，望实逾隆，遂能托鱼水之深期，定金兰之密契，弼成王度，光佐中兴，卜世延百二之期，论都创三分之业，此功固不细也。既而负勋高而图非望，恃劫逼而肆骄陵。衅隙起自刁刘，祸难成于钱沈。于晋阳之甲，缠象魏之兵。蜂目既露，豺声又发，擅窃国命，杀害忠良，逐却篡盗乘舆，逼迁龟鼎。赖嗣君英略，晋祚灵长，诸侯释位，股肱戮力，用能运兹庙算，殄彼凶徒，克固源图，载清天步者矣。

• 《晋书》赞曰：播越江濆，政弱权分。元子恃力，处仲矜勋。迹既陵上，志亦无君。罪浮浞𧴒，心窥舜禹。树威外略，称兵内侮。惟身与嗣，竟权齐斧。

• 潘滔：处仲蜂目己露，但豺声未振，若不噬人，亦当为人所噬。

• 王导：处仲若当世，心怀刚忍，非令终也。

• 周顗：贼臣王敦，倾覆社稷，杀枉忠臣。

外部链接

• 《资治通鉴》卷八十三 至卷九十三

• 《晋书·卷九十八·王敦 桓温列传 》

• 《晋书·元帝 明帝纪 》