背景和早期仕途

唐順宗時進宮，侍太子東宮，授掖庭局宮教博士，賜緋魚袋。唐憲宗登基後，加宣徽供奉官，賜紫金魚袋，元和元年（806年）閏六月轉朝散大夫、內侍省內給事，宣徽供奉官如故。十月拜內常侍，其餘官職如故。三年（808年）以本官充內外五坊使，不久遷宣徽供奉官。曾隨軍參與元和五年（810年）左神策軍護軍中尉吐突承璀抓捕昭義軍節度使盧從史的行動。十年（815年）加大中大夫、內侍省內常侍，不久以本官出京為平盧監軍，次年（816年）奉詔回京，以內侍依前任宣徽供奉官，以本官職充淮西行宣慰使。十五年（820年）遷雲麾將軍、右監門衛將軍，充內外五坊使，賜上柱國，又進封南安縣開國男，食邑三百戶，冬季加冠軍大將軍。

長慶初年，撤銷五坊使，仇士良進封開國子，不久進為侯爵，食邑一千戶，宣徽供奉官等皆如故。二年（822年）除授鳳翔監軍使，又進封開國公，食邑一千五百戶。寶曆二年（826年）征回，複為宣徽供奉，進封郡公，食邑二千戶，不久除授鄂岳監軍使，得武昌軍節度使牛僧孺以禮相待。

太和元年（827年）入為宣徽供奉官，轉內坊典內侍省。不久拜右神策軍副使。二年（828年）升為右領軍衛將軍內外五坊使，所到之處逼小吏供餉，暴行勝過盜賊。六年（832年）真拜內侍知省事。次年（833年）轉大盈庫使，領染坊，仍知省事。

唐文宗年間

甘露之變前

太和九年（835年），文宗與近臣李訓、鄭注等圖謀誅殺王守澄，因王守澄與仇士良不合，李訓、鄭注建議文宗提拔仇士良分王守澄之權，讓他們互相傾軋。五月，仇士良被提拔為左神策軍中尉兼左街功德使，仍為將軍知省事，王守澄不悅。十月，內出曲江新造紫雲樓彩霞亭額，仇士良率百戲于銀台門迎之。同月，王守澄被文宗派仇士良女婿李好古毒殺。仇士良轉左驍衛將軍。

甘露之變

王守澄死後，鄭注被外放為鳳翔節度使，李訓拜宰相。文宗、李訓、鄭注等又圖謀在王守澄葬禮上誅殺仇士良等宦官。但文宗和鄭注不知道的是，李訓嫉妒鄭注，想爭功，召集了邠寧節度使郭行余、河東節度使王璠、京兆少尹羅立言、左金吾衛大將軍韓約、御史中丞李孝本的軍隊，想先殺宦官，事成後再殺鄭注。

十一月，王守澄葬禮前六天，韓約在紫宸殿奏稱左金吾仗院內石榴樹夜生甘露。文宗去附近的含元殿令李訓等朝臣前去驗看。李訓很快回報說沒有甘露，建議文宗派仇士良和右神策軍中尉魚弘志率宦官去驗看。他原本意圖關門殺光宦官，但仇士良和魚弘志到後，卻發現韓約神色慌張，仇士良又因風吹動帷幕而看見聚集的士兵，聽見武器碰撞的聲音。仇士良立刻與右神策軍中尉魚弘志、大盈庫使宋守義出門，在仇士良等的叱責下，守門人來不及關門。仇士良等回含元殿劫持文宗而逃，稱李訓謀反。文宗否認。仇士良親自與李訓搏鬥，摔倒，李訓壓住他，正要從靴中拿出刀，其他宦官來救了仇士良。羅立言和李孝本率兵攻殺了一些宦官，但未能阻止宦官帶走文宗。李訓見大勢已去而出逃。

宦官們意識到文宗同謀殺他們後，咒罵並劫持了他。仇士良命神策軍左、右神策副使劉泰倫、魏仲卿及陳君奕等各率禁兵五百人「平亂」。神策軍趁機殺了很多朝臣和衛軍士兵，殺諸司史六七百人，刑訊宰相王涯、舒元輿。王涯受刑不過，供稱朝臣圖謀弒君擁立鄭注。故嶺南節度使胡証為京城富豪，且生前素日和宰相賈餗交好。這時禁軍貪胡家錢財，稱胡証子胡溵藏匿賈餗，殺入其家，一日之內搶光其家財，軍人擒胡溵入左軍，仇士良命斬之以徇。翰林學士黎埴、左散騎常侍羅讓、太子詹事渾鐬家及故宰相賈耽廟等都被神策軍闖入劫掠。實際參與的舒元輿和並未參與的王涯、賈餗及李孝本、羅立言等眾多朝臣皆被捕。次日上朝，因為宰相和御史中丞都不在，百官沒有班次。文宗御紫宸殿，問宰相們為何沒來，仇士良呈上王涯供狀，稱王涯等謀反下獄，並召左僕射令狐楚、右僕射鄭覃、兵部尚書王源中、吏部侍郎李虞仲等升殿看，君臣確認了供狀是王涯所寫。

李訓在外被捕殺，包括韓約、郭行余、王璠、鳳翔少尹魏逢、左金吾衛將軍李貞素、翰林學士顧師邕等被捕眾朝臣伏誅達十七家，鄭注也被仇士良等派人拿密敕指使手下監軍張仲清殺死，被害者都被滅族，也多有朝臣被貶逐，史稱甘露之變。仇士良掌握朝政，挾持文宗，被加特進兼上將軍、右驍衛大將軍。

李訓弟李元皋原本因自稱是李訓的遠親而得免，但仇士良訊問其奴僕得知甘露之變前夜李元皋住在李訓家，就派人追斬了李元皋。仇士良還派人將藏匿李訓的僧人宗密抓來左軍，要殺他。宗密自稱遇苦即救，甘願受死，得到魚弘志的欣賞，被魚弘志上奏免罪。

先前羅立言為了誅殺宦官召集長安、萬年兩縣吏卒，萬年縣捕賊官鄭洪懼禍託病裝死，被縣令姚中立告發實情。甘露之變後，仇士良追究兩縣捕賊官追隨羅立言之罪，抓鄭洪到神策軍，鄭洪對姚中立懷恨，說自己是聽了姚中立的命令，于是姚中立獲罪被貶，鄭洪免死。

文宗本欲以令狐楚、鄭覃為宰相，但令狐楚認為王涯、賈餗冤死，在敘述王涯、賈餗罪狀時含糊其辭，令仇士良等不悅，于是不得拜相，戶部侍郎判度支事李石拜相。

甘露之變後

從此唐朝宦官更為專橫，幾乎沒有官員敢對抗仇士良，僅年底京兆尹薛元賞將一名不敬李石的神策軍將治罪。其黨羽告訴仇士良，仇士良派宦官召薛元賞，薛元賞說先等公事完結，杖殺軍將後再素服向仇士良謝罪。仇士良指責：「癡書生何敢杖殺禁軍大將！」薛元賞說中尉和宰相都是大臣，無論是宰相的人無禮于中尉還是中尉的人無禮于宰相都不可饒恕，仇士良身為中尉應該守法，自己此來願意領死。仇士良知道軍將不能複生，無可奈何，便與薛元賞飲酒，此事遂作罷。

延英殿議事時，仇士良等經常引李訓、鄭注事折辱宰相。鄭覃、李石則指出李訓、鄭注最初因宦官推薦才得到進身，令仇士良慚愧無言以對，勢頭稍稍得到抑制。

次年（836年）正月，仇士良主張神策軍代替左右金吾軍守殿門，因諫議大夫馮定反對而無果。

由于仇士良暴橫，朝臣們都擔心被其滅門。戶部侍郎判度支王彥威為了討好仇士良，只要宦官有請託，無不如其意，因此被輿論鄙視。二月，昭義軍節度使劉從諫三次上疏指責仇士良並為王涯、賈餗喊冤，說要清君側。百姓傳看劉從諫上書，仇士良害怕，進劉從諫檢校司徒，想讓他不再上書。三月，令狐楚從容奏請收葬王涯、賈餗等人遺骸，文宗慘然久之，詔命薛元賞收葬王涯、賈餗等十一人于城西，各賜衣一襲。仇士良秘密派人發掘，棄骨于渭水。同時，劉從諫堅決推辭加官，仍宣揚仇士良等的罪惡。仇士良因為害怕才有所收斂，文宗和宰相鄭覃、李石才得以行使一些權力。四月，文宗御紫宸殿，宰相們在奏事時拜謝，外界謠傳文宗準備再次讓宰相指揮軍隊對抗宦官而宰相已經下拜謝恩，局勢再度緊張。李石建議文宗召宰相和宦官開會，李石和鄭覃得以向宦官解釋事態，仇士良等人對宰相的疑心也稍釋然了。

鄜坊節度使蕭洪因冒稱文宗舅舅而得官，先前被李訓發現是假冒的，就徵辟李訓的哥哥李仲京。先前，從神策軍中就任的鄜坊節度使都由神策軍準備行裝，到任後三倍補償。前節度使趙儋來不及補償就去世了，神策軍向蕭洪索要，蕭洪仗著李訓庇護拒絕。神策軍又向趙儋的兒子索要，蕭洪又指示趙某去找宰相，李訓判定不給。仇士良因此忌恨蕭洪。文宗母家同鄉蕭本通過仇士良見駕，自稱國舅並揭發蕭洪冒稱國舅。八月，蕭洪獲罪被流放並在途中賜死。由于蕭本已經從文宗舅舅處得到其家庭信息，又有仇士良作保，文宗以為蕭本是自己的親舅舅，予以顯官。又有泉州晉江縣令蕭弘投靠劉從諫自稱國舅，請求劉從諫上言指蕭本也是冒稱，劉從諫上書請求讓二蕭對質，並指責仇士良，最後查出二蕭都是冒稱。

開成三年（838年）正月，李石為士良所忌，仇士良秘密遣刺客刺之，李石大難不死，京城惶恐。即使查出刺客來自禁軍，京兆尹崔珙也沒有抓到刺客，聲望受損。後來都知道是仇士良所為。李石懼而屢次上表稱病辭職。文宗明知緣故卻因害怕而不能追究仇士良，准其辭職，外放為荊南節度使，也沒有為他設宴以示榮寵，京城士人寒心，仇士良也愈發無所忌憚。

仇士良捕得妖人賀蘭進興及黨羽，在軍中問出謀反情狀，文宗親臨問罪，詔命斬殺。御史中丞高元裕認為應該讓刑部、大理寺參與審理，文宗沒有回覆。起居舍人魏謨上言支持高元裕。文宗詔神策軍將囚犯交付御史台。御史台害怕仇士良，不敢有異議，囚犯們仍被誅殺。

開成四年（839年），文宗染風疾，問當值學士周墀：「朕可方前代何主？」墀答：「陛下堯、舜之主也。」文宗嘆道，「朕豈敢比堯、舜，何如周赧，漢獻耳！」墀曰：「彼亡國之主，豈可比聖德？」文宗曰：「赧、獻受制于強諸侯，今朕受制于家奴，以此言之，朕殆不如！」

開成五年（840年）正月，文宗鬱鬱而死。文宗生前因親子全部去世而依宰相李玨建議立兄敬宗子陳王李成美為太子，而楊賢妃和宰相楊嗣複又曾倡立皇弟安王李溶。文宗臨終命寵信的宦官知樞密劉弘逸、薛季稜召李玨、楊嗣複入宮，將以太子託孤。仇士良為圖擁立之功，不顧李玨反對，矯詔仍廢太子為陳王，改立安王弟潁王李瀍為皇太弟，統兵士于十六宅迎李瀍赴少陽院，百官謁見于東宮思賢殿。仇士良收捕仙韶院副使尉遲璋，殺之，並屠其家。文宗駕崩後，仇士良矯遺詔由皇太弟繼位，為了歸功于自己，說了楊賢妃、楊嗣複謀立安王及安王尋求被立儲的事，說服新君賜死陳王、安王、楊賢妃，擁立其為唐武宗。故史稱仇士良于擁立武宗之際，殺二王一妃。仇士良等宦官又大量誅殺貶斥文宗喜愛的宦官和樂工。

唐武宗年間

武宗登基後，加仇士良加開府儀同三司、左衛上將軍，二月遷驃騎大將軍，封楚國公，食邑三千戶，實封三百戶。仇士良仍稱讚牛僧孺。

仇士良請求按開府推薦兒子蔭官的規定推薦自己的養子蔭官千牛備身，給事中李中敏反對，說：「開府的確有兒子蔭官的資格，但謁者監是宦官，怎麼有兒子？」仇士良羞慚而憤怒。當時楊嗣複已被貶，新任宰相李德裕忌恨楊嗣複，認為李中敏是楊嗣複一黨，將其外貶。

仇士良又頻繁誣陷劉弘逸、薛季稜、楊嗣複、李玨。會昌元年（841年）二月，武宗賜仇士良紀功碑，詔右僕射李程作文。三月，武宗賜死劉、薛，派使者去潭州和桂州賜死分別被貶為湖南和桂管觀察使的楊、李。在李德裕、崔珙、崔鄲、陳夷行四宰相勸阻下，楊、李得免，改為遠放。

仇士良被加食實封二百戶。八月，加觀軍容使，兼統左右三軍。他因李德裕掌權而忌恨。會昌二年（842年）四月，武宗計劃受尊號，御丹鳳樓宣布大赦天下。仇士良聽聞宰相、度支商議在大赦詔書中提到削減禁軍的衣食、馬糧等，藉故試圖發動神策軍等大赦令下就去丹鳳樓抗議，李德裕得知之後逃到武宗處，請求在延英殿自辯。武宗怒，出面派宦官宣諭兩軍說赦書沒有這項內容，且赦書是他而非宰相的意思，斥責仇士良和神策軍將領們傳謠，並以滅族恐嚇，士兵於是不敢造次，但知大勢去矣，仇士良也害怕謝罪。

期間仇士良與劉從諫繼續互相攻擊，劉從諫稱仇士良有罪，仇士良稱劉從諫謀反。劉從諫獻上一匹高九尺的馬賀武宗登基，武宗不受，劉從諫認為是仇士良作梗，憤而殺了那匹馬。此後劉從諫與朝廷關係惡化，彼此猜忌，實質獨立于朝廷。他得知仇士良正得寵，擔憂疑惑下想親自入朝，又擔心不能免禍，最後于會昌三年（843年）四月病亡，臨死時尋求以養子也是侄子劉稹繼任。武宗拒絕，命劉稹護喪歸東都洛陽，劉稹抗命，稱與仇士良有仇，不敢離開昭義軍。武宗遂討伐劉稹。

武宗對仇士良表面上示以尊寵，實抑其權。仇士良有所察覺，當月自稱老病請求任散官，于是以左衛上將軍兼內侍監、知省事。六月，以左衛上將軍、內侍監致仕。離朝時，士良叮囑送他回私宅的宦官說，須誘使皇帝縱樂，使其無暇讀書和接見朝臣，以鞏固宦官擅政的局面。宦官們對他再拜誠謝而去。

當月，士良卒于廣化里私宅。贈揚州大都督。次日，武宗誅仇士良孔目官鄭中丞、張端公等四人。七月，劉稹上表說劉從諫因言仇士良罪惡而得罪權貴，所以自己不敢回朝，只求活命。武宗不許。

次年（844年）正月，仇士良歸葬萬年縣寧安鄉鳳棲原社季村。同年，被宦官檢舉家藏武器，搜得兵仗數千件，下詔削官爵，籍沒其家。又次年（845年），劉稹被鎮壓。

大中五年（851年），唐宣宗為仇士良「平反昭雪」，並樹碑紀功。有鄭薰所撰《內侍省監楚國公仇士良神道碑》。

爭議記載

《新唐書·元稹傳》記載：監察御史元稹住在敷水驛，仇士良夜間來到，元稹不把正寢讓給他住，仇士良憤而打傷了他的臉。御史中丞王播奏稱誰先到誰住正寢。唐憲宗偏袒仇士良而貶了元稹。《唐實錄》《新唐書·仇士良傳》同。但按《舊唐書·元稹傳》及白居易奏疏，當事宦官為劉士元。趙翼《廿二史札記》、呂思勉《隋唐五代史》認為當時劉士元和仇士良都來到了敷水驛，仇士良僅為親歷者而非動手者。吳偉斌《元稹評傳》認為仇士良是劉士元的上級，白居易僅提及直接動手的劉士元而迴避了高位的仇士良。吳偉斌更指出，仇士良與大宦官吐突承璀關係密切，而元稹與吐突承璀的政敵宰相李絳為友，元稹在淮西平叛前線突然被召回繼而外貶通州恰在仇士良任淮西行營宣慰使期間，當是吐突承璀和仇士良對元稹的迫害。

《舊唐書·王守澄傳》《資治通鑑》指在王守澄等擁立文宗的過程中，仇士良作為神策軍右領軍將軍也參與其中有功，但王守澄打壓仇士良，不予賞賜，仇士良因此記恨。但按《仇士良神道碑》，仇士良當時任武昌監軍，不在京城，次年才回京，後來才擔任神策軍右領軍衛將軍。神道碑也沒有提及仇士良曾參與擁立文宗。

《新唐書·仇士良傳》稱甘露之變後，仇士良、魚弘志召翰林學士崔慎由到秘殿，詐稱太皇太后有命另立新君，命他草詔。崔慎由驚呼此事會讓自己滅族，寧死不從。仇士良等默然，久後帶崔慎由去小殿見文宗，歷數文宗過失，文宗俯首。仇士良指著文宗說：「如果不是學士，你就不能坐在這裡了。」送崔慎由出去，要他保密，不然禍及宗族。崔慎由將此事記下來，臨死交給兒子崔胤，所以崔胤厭惡宦官。但北宋司馬光《資治通鑑考異》指出這段材料出自皮光業《見聞錄》，崔慎由大中初年才入朝為官乃至擔任翰林學士，開成年間並未入朝，故不可信。

《新唐書·仇士良傳》將劉從諫上書記載在李石遇刺前後。

《舊唐書·武宗紀》《新唐書·武宗紀》《舊唐書·王起傳》、賈緯《唐年補錄》將劉弘逸、薛季稜之死記載為開成五年八月率禁軍護文宗靈駕到陵墓時想趁機起兵殺仇士良、魚弘志，另立新君，失敗伏誅。司馬光《資治通鑑考異》稱他採信《唐實錄》《舊唐書·楊嗣複傳》的版本，故沒有採信此說。

黃樓《神策軍與中晚唐宦官政治》根據仇士良得勢後牛僧孺沒有複出拜相，認為《牛僧孺墓誌》對牛僧孺和仇士良的關係親密程度有所誇大。

評價

司馬光《資治通鑑》認為王涯、賈餗身居高位享受榮華富貴卻與小人為伍，不匡扶社稷，苟且偷安，是上天要族誅他們，而非仇士良。

司馬光《資治通鑑》評價仇士良等為最有代表性的唐朝宦官。

宋徽宗年間，宦官權力漸漸很大，御史中丞豐稷懷抱《唐書·仇士良傳》在徽宗面前讀，讀了數行，徽宗說已經懂了，豐稷像沒聽到一樣讀完才停止。

紹興元年（1131年），宰相范宗尹向宋高宗上奏仇士良告其徒之言，宋高宗以為然。

明景帝登基時，侍講劉定之舉仇士良為惡宦官的例子。

明武宗年間，宦官掌權，南京御史陸昆偕十三道御史薄彥徽、葛浩、貢安甫、王蕃、史良佐、李熙、任諾、姚學禮、張鳴鳳、蔣欽、曹閔、黃昭道、王弘、蕭乾元等上疏極諫，引用了仇士良教宦官引導君主奢靡的話。

明神宗年間，皇太子四年沒有接受講學，禮部左侍郎掌部事楊道賓引用仇士良的話極言上諫。

家族

• 曾祖父仇上客，正議大夫、內給事，賜緋魚袋

• 祖父仇奉詮，朝議大夫、內常侍，賜紫金魚袋

• 父仇文晟，追贈特進、左監門衛將軍，賜紫金魚袋

• 妻魯國夫人安定胡氏（842年去世），故開府儀同三司、檢校太子賓客、兼御史大夫、贈戶部尚書胡承恩之女

• 長子宣徽使、銀青光祿大夫、行內侍省內給事、賜紫金魚袋仇從廣

• 次子光祿大夫、檢校散騎常侍、持節曹州諸軍事、守曹州刺史、兼御史中丞、上柱國、南安縣開國公、食邑一千五百戶仇亢宗

• 三子閣門使、朝散大夫、行內侍省內府局丞、賜緋魚袋仇從源

• 四子邠寧監軍使、中散大夫、行內侍省內侍局丞、賜緋魚袋仇從渭

• 五子仇從潩

• 女兒南安縣君，嫁李好古

學者杜文玉指出宦官仇文義與仇士良同族，又與仇文晟連名，故仇文晟也是宦官。鑑於仇上客、仇奉詮、仇文晟、仇士良為宦官，他們和子女們可能是收養關係。

注釋

Background and early career

It is not known when Qiu Shiliang was born, but it was known that he was from Xun Prefecture (循州, in modern Huizhou, Guangdong). During the brief reign of Emperor Shunzong (805), Qiu became a servant to Emperor Shunzong's crown prince Li Chun, and after Li Chun became emperor later that year (as Emperor Xianzong), he became an imperial attendant, and later served as the eunuch monitor of the army to such circuits as Pinglu (平盧, headquartered in modern Weifang, Shandong) and Fengxiang (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi). On an occasion, when both he and the imperial censor Yuan Zhen happened to be at the imperial messenger outpost Fushui (敷水, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi), he and Yuan got into a dispute over who had the right to use the main bedroom at the outpost, and he battered and injured Yuan. After the incident, Yuan's superior, the deputy chief imperial censor Wang Bo proposed that the matter be handled per the previous formal policy that whenever an imperial censor and an imperial messenger arrived at the same location, the one who arrived first should have precedence. Emperor Xianzong, favoring Qiu, demoted Yuan, rather than to look further into the matter. Through the rest of Emperor Xianzong's reign and the reigns of his son Emperor Muzong and grandson Emperor Jingzong, Qiu often served as the director of the imperial servants (五坊使, Wufangshi), and it was said that he was harsh to the people, often allowing his subordinates to pillage them.

Around new year 827, Emperor Jingzong was assassinated by a group of eunuchs and officers resentful of his harsh temperament. The conspirators initially tried to make Emperor Muzong's brother Li Wu the Prince of Jiàng emperor, but another group of eunuchs — led by the directors of palace communications Wang Shoucheng and Yang Chenghe (楊承和) and the commanders of the Shence Armies Wei Congjian (魏從簡) and Liang Shouqian (梁守謙), and Qiu, who was then a general of the Shence Army as well, was a part of this group — attacked the conspirators, killing them and Li Wu. This group of eunuchs made Emperor Jingzong's younger brother Li Han the Prince of Jiāng (note different tone) emperor (as Emperor Wenzong). Despite Qiu's participation in the counterattack, however, because Wang suppressed Qiu, Qiu was not rewarded, and from this point on he resented Wang.

During Emperor Wenzongs reign

Before the Ganlu Incident

As of 835, Emperor Wenzong was conspiring with the officials Zheng Zhu and Li Xun to slaughter the powerful eunuchs. They first wanted to target Wang Shoucheng, and as they knew that Wang and Qiu Shiliang were enemies, in summer 835 Emperor Wenzong made Qiu the commander of the Left Shence Army so that he would divert Wang's authority. Subsequently, after Wang retired, Emperor Wenzong had the eunuch Li Haogu (李好古) send poisoned wine to Wang, and Wang died shortly thereafter.

The Ganlu Incident

Wang Shoucheng's death, however, was only a small part of Emperor Wenzong's planning with Zheng Zhu and Li Xun — they planned to use the occasion of Wang's funeral to gather the eunuchs, and then have Zheng's troops (as Zheng was then the military governor (Jiedushi) of Fengxiang Circuit) slaughter them. (Unknown to Zheng and Emperor Wenzong, Li Xun had, by this point, grown jealous of Zheng as well, and so was instead gathering troops commanded by his associates Guo Xingyu (郭行餘), Wang Fan (王璠), Luo Liyan (羅立言), Han Yue (韓約), and Li Xiaoben (李孝本) to carry out the slaughter; he planned to, after the slaughter, kill Zheng as well.)

On December 14, 835, six days before the scheduled funeral for Wang, Han reported to Emperor Wenzong, at the imperial meeting hall Zichen Hall (紫宸殿), that there had been sweet dew (甘露, ganlu in Chinese) that appeared on a pomegranate tree outside the headquarters of Zuo Jinwu (左金吾), one of the Wei Army (衛軍) headquarters — viewed as a sign of divine favor. Emperor Wenzong then went to nearby Hanyuan Hall (含元殿) and ordered the imperial officials, including Li Xun, to examine the purported sweet dew. Li Xun soon returned and stated that it appeared that there was no sweet dew; at Li Xun's suggestion, Emperor Wenzong ordered Qiu and his fellow Shence Army commander Yu Hongzhi (魚弘志) to lead the eunuchs in examining the sweet dew. When Qiu and Yu arrived at the Zuo Jinwu headquarters, however, Han had lost his composure, and Qiu realized that something was wrong when he saw soldiers converging and the noise of weapons clanging. He and the other eunuchs immediately ran back to Hanyuan Hall and seized Emperor Wenzong. The soldiers under Luo and Li Xiaoben battled the eunuchs, killing a number of them, but the eunuchs were able to escort Emperor Wenzong back to the imperial palace. Knowing that he had lost this gambit, Li Xun fled.

Once the eunuchs took Emperor Wenzong back to the palace, they realized that Emperor Wenzong was complicit in this plot to slaughter them, and they cursed him and held him. Qiu then ordered the Shence Army officers Liu Tailun (劉泰倫) and Wei Zhongqing (魏仲卿) to search and arrest Li Xun. The Shence Army soldiers took this chance to slaughter many imperial officials and Wei Army soldiers. Eventually, Li Xun and his conspirators were found and executed, along with the chancellors Wang Ya, Jia Su, and Shu Yuanyu, who were not involved in the plot but whom Qiu and the other eunuchs held responsible as well. At Qiu's order, Zheng was killed by the eunuch monitor of Fengxiang, Zhang Zhongqing (張仲卿). From this point on, Qiu was the leading figure at the imperial court, with even Emperor Wenzong under the eunuchs' control. Qiu was given an honorary general title as well as the honorific title of Tejin (特進).

After the Ganlu Incident

From thereon, few officials dared to stand up to Qiu Shiliang, although late in 835, there was an incident in which Xue Yuanshang (薛元賞) the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the region of the capital Chang'an) executed a Shence Army officer who was being disrespectful to the chancellor Li Shi, and then met Qiu to apologize. Qiu, knowing that the officer could not be brought back to life, feasted with Xue. In 836, Qiu suggested that Shence Army soldiers guard the palace, instead of the Jinwu Corps (i.e., Zuo Jinwu and You Jinwu), but at the opposition of the advisory official Feng Ding, Qiu's suggestion was not carried out. At one point, Qiu and Yu Hongzhi were so resentful of Emperor Wenzong that they considered deposing him. They summoned the imperial scholar Cui Shenyou (崔慎由) and asked him to draft an edict in the name of Emperor Wenzong's grandmother Grand Empress Dowager Guo deposing Emperor Wenzong on excuses of his being too ill to govern. Cui resisted, pointing out that it would be inappropriate and that he was willing to risk his own life, but not those of his household of 300 people (i.e., if he committed treason, his household would be slaughtered). Qiu and Yu then led Cui to Emperor Wenzong and, in Cui's presence, made various accusations against Emperor Wenzong, and Emperor Wenzong did not dare to respond. Qiu then stated, "If it were not for the imperial scholar, you would not be allowed to remain on this throne." At Qiu's order, Cui kept this matter secret, but wrote secret records of this incident and left them for his son Cui Yin. (It was said that it was because of this incident that Cui Yin, who would later become chancellor under Emperor Zhaozong, was determined to exterminate eunuchs.)

In spring 836, at the suggestion of the senior official Linghu Chu, Emperor Wenzong ordered that Wang Ya and the other executed officials, whose bodies had been exposed to the elements, be properly buried. Qiu, however, secretly sent soldiers to dig up their bodies and throw the bodies into the Wei River.

Meanwhile, Qiu continued to be largely the power controlling the policies at this point. However, after Liu Congjian the military governor of Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi) submitted several petitions that, in harsh language, defended Wang and accused Qiu and other eunuchs of crimes, Qiu and the other eunuchs began to be apprehensive, and allowed Emperor Wenzong and the chancellors Li Shi and Zheng Tan more room to govern. Soon thereafter, however, there was an incident when there were rumors that Emperor Wenzong was prepared to give the chancellors commands of the armies to again act against the eunuchs, and tensions rose again. It was only after Li Shi proposed that Emperor Wenzong convene a meeting between the chancellors and the eunuchs, allowing Li Shi and Zheng to explain what was happening to the eunuchs, that Qiu and the others were less suspicious of the chancellors.

Meanwhile, Qiu had been resentful of the military governor of Fufang Circuit (鄜坊, headquartered in modern Yan'an, Shaanxi), Xiao Hong (蕭洪) — who was not a real brother of Emperor Wenzong's mother Empress Dowager Xiao but pretended to be and therefore received official commissions — because Xiao had ingratiated Li Xun and, under Li Xun's protection, had refused to pay bribes that his predecessor had promised to pay the officers of the Shence Armies. Qiu found out that Xiao was not really Empress Dowager Xiao's brother and exposed his deceit; Xiao was exiled and, on the way, ordered to commit suicide.

As Li Shi had been willing to stand up to the eunuchs on policy issues, Qiu began to resent him deeply. In 838, Qiu sent assassins to try to kill Li Shi, but the assassination failed. Despite the failure, Li Shi became fearful and offered to resign his chancellor position. Emperor Wenzong reluctantly agreed, making Li Shi the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou, Hubei) instead.

Meanwhile, as Emperor Wenzong's son and crown prince Li Yong died in 838, a question arose as to who would succeed Emperor Wenzong. Emperor Wenzong's favorite concubine Consort Yang supported Emperor Wenzong's younger brother Li Rong the Prince of An, but after opposition by the chancellor Li Jue, Emperor Wenzong created Emperor Jingzong's son Li Chengmei the Prince of Chen crown prince. When Emperor Wenzong became deathly ill in spring 840, he had his trusted eunuchs Liu Hongyi (劉弘逸) and Xue Jileng (薛季稜) summon the chancellors Li Jue and Yang Sifu to the palace, preparing to entrust Li Chengmei to them. Qiu and Yu, however, opposed Li Chengmei, as Emperor Wenzong did not consult them before making Li Chengmei crown prince. They discussed with Li Jue and Yang the possibility of changing the crown prince and, despite Li Jue's opposition, issued an edict in Emperor Wenzong's name deposing Li Chengmei and creating Emperor Wenzong's younger brother Li Chan the Prince of Ying crown prince instead. Soon thereafter, Emperor Wenzong died. At Qiu's urging, Li Chan, even before he would officially take the throne, ordered Consort Yang, Li Rong, and Li Chengmei to commit suicide. It was said that this point, Qiu and the other powerful eunuchs resented Emperor Wenzong so much that any eunuchs and musicians whom Emperor Wenzong favored were being executed and exiled en masse. Soon, Li Chan formally took the throne (as Emperor Wuzong).

During Emperor Wuzongs reign

Qiu Shiliang continued to be powerful, initially, in Emperor Wuzong's administration. Emperor Wuzong created him the Duke of Chu. In 840, there was an incident in which Qiu requested that, per Tang regulations that high-level officials be allowed to recommend their sons for official service, his adopted son become an officer for the imperial guards. The imperial attendant Li Zhongmin (李中敏) opposed the request, stating, in provocative language, "Of course, Kaifu of the honorific titles that Qiu held) qualified one to recommend one's son, but how can an eunuch have a son?" Qiu was insulted and angered, and the new chancellor Li Deyu, who resented Yang Sifu (whom Emperor Wuzong had exiled by this point), believed that Li Zhongmin was an associate of Yang's, and therefore had Li Zhongmin exiled.

Meanwhile, Qiu resented Liu Hongyi and Xue Jileng for their close association with Emperor Wenzong. Qiu therefore repeatedly made accusations against them, as well as Yang and Li Jue. In 841 Emperor Wuzong ordered Liu and Xue to commit suicide and, initially, was set to send eunuchs to Tan Prefecture (in modern Changsha, Hunan, where Yang was then serving as governor of Hunan Circuit (湖南)) and Gui Prefecture (桂州, in modern Guilin, Guangxi, where Li Jue was then serving as the governor of Gui District (桂管)), to order Yang and Li Jue to commit suicide as well. At the intercession of Li Deyu and his fellow chancellors Cui Gong, Cui Dan, and Chen Yixing, Yang and Li Jue were spared their lives, but were further demoted and exiled.

In fall 841, Qiu was given the additional title of the monitor of the Shence Armies (觀軍容使, Guanjunrongshi). However, he began to resent Li Deyu for Li Deyu's hold on power as well. In 842, when Emperor Wuzong was planning to issue a general pardon, rumors got to Qiu that, as part of the edict, the chancellors and the director of finances were planning to reduce Shence Army's clothing and food stipends, Qiu publicly declared, "If this occurred, when the pardon is declared, the soldiers will gather in front of Danfeng Tower the tower from which emperors declared pardons) and demonstrate!" Emperor Wuzong, angered by the remarks, sent eunuchs to rebuke Qiu and the other Shence Army officers for spreading rumors, and Qiu apologized.

Throughout the years, Qiu and Liu Congjian continued to have an adversarial relationship, as Liu repeatedly accused Qiu of crimes, and Qiu repeatedly accused Liu of plotting to rebel against the imperial government. On one occasion, Liu offered Emperor Wuzong a large horse as a tribute, but Emperor Wuzong did not accept it and returned it to Liu. Liu believed that Emperor Wuzong rejected the horse at Qiu's suggestion and, in anger, killed the horse. Thereafter, Liu acted effectively independently from the imperial government. In 843, when Liu fell ill, he wanted to have his adopted son Liu Zhen (the biological son of his brother Liu Congsu (劉從素) and therefore his biological nephew) inherit Zhaoyi Circuit. When Emperor Wuzong subsequently refused the request after Liu Congjian's death and instead ordered Liu Zhen to escort Liu Congjian's casket to the eastern capital Luoyang, Liu Zhen resisted, citing the adversarial relationship between Liu Congjian and Qiu as the reason why he did not dare to leave Zhaoyi Circuit. Emperor Wuzong thus declared a campaign against Liu Zhen. (Eventually, the imperial government would prevail in 845, after Qiu himself had died.)

Meanwhile, although Emperor Wuzong outwardly honored Qiu, he actually was suspicious of and despised Qiu. Realizing this, Qiu claimed to be ill and requested to be given less important offices. Emperor Wuzong agreed. Qiu then retired in summer 843. It was said that when he was retiring, the other eunuchs escorted him back to his mansion, and he advised them:

The other eunuchs thanked him and bowed to him before leaving.

Qiu died later that year. In 844, however, other eunuchs reported to Emperor Wuzong of Qiu's crimes. Emperor Wuzong had Qiu's mansion searched, and several thousand sets of armors were found. Emperor Wuzong had Qiu posthumously stripped of his titles, and his assets were confiscated.

Notes and references

• New Book of Tang, vol. 207.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 245, 246, 247.