Background

Huo Yanwei was born in 872, during the reign of Emperor Yizong of Tang. He was from Quzhou (曲周, in modern Handan, Hebei), but his birth name is lost to history. When he was 13 (i.e., in 885), he was either captured by or taken in by Huo Cun (霍存), then a general under the major warlord Zhu Quanzhong the military governor (Jiedushi) of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan), and who was also from Quzhou. He became a soldier under Huo Cun, and Huo Cun, favoring him for his good disposition and good looks, adopted him as a son.

Even before Huo Yanwei had his guan li (coming of age ceremony at or before age 19), he became known to Zhu Quanzhong, and Zhu Quanzhong made Huo Yanwei a member of his guard corps. During Zhu Quanzhong's subsequent battles, Huo had accomplishments and therefore was gradually promoted in the ranks. (His father Huo Cun would die in battle against Zhu Quanzhong's enemies Shi Pu the military governor of Ganhua Circuit (感化, headquartered in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu) and Zhu Jin the military governor of Taining Circuit (泰寧, headquartered in modern Jining, Shandong) in 893, when Huo Yanwei was 21.) During this early stage of Huo Yanwei's career — either while serving under his father Huo Cun or under Zhu Quanzhong — Huo Yanwei suffered an arrow wound in one of his eyes while in battle and became blind in that eye.

During Later Liang

In 908, by which time Zhu Quanzhong had seized the Tang throne, ending Tang and starting Later Liang as its Emperor Taizu, Huo Yanwei was serving as a commander of the police for the eastern capital Kaifeng and a commander of the emperor's guards. That year, he was made one of the two commanders of the elite Longxiang Army (龍驤軍). In 909, he was made one of the commanders of Tianwu Army (天武軍), and then as a grand general of the guards.

In 912, Emperor Taizu's son Zhu Yougui the Prince of Ying assassinated Emperor Taizu and took the throne himself. Shortly after, 3,000 Longxiang Army soldiers stationed at Huai Prefecture (懷州, in modern Luoyang, Henan) mutinied under the officer Liu Chongyu. Zhu Yougui sent Huo and Du Yanqiu against the Longxiang mutineers. Huo and Du defeated the mutineers and captured and executed Liu.

In 913, another son of Emperor Taizu's, Zhu Youzhen the Prince of Jun, rose against Zhu Yougui along with Emperor Taizu's nephew Yuan Xiangxian, and Zhu Yougui committed suicide, allowing Zhu Youzhen (who changed his name to Zhu Zhen shortly after) to take the throne. Huo was cooperating with Yuan in the plot, and shortly after was made the prefect of Ming Prefecture (洺州, in modern Handan, Hebei), and later the acting military governor of Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Jiaozuo, Henan).

In 914, Li Jihui the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi), which was then part of one of Later Liang's rival states, Qi, was poisoned to death by his son Li Yanlu, who took control of the circuit. In 915, Li Jihui's adoptive son Li Baoheng (李保衡) killed Li Yanlu and surrendered Jingnan's two prefectures (its capital Bin Prefecture and Ning Prefecture (寧州, in modern Qingyang, Gansu)) to Later Liang. Zhu Zhen made Huo the military governor of Jingnan. Qi's prince Li Maozhen (Li Jihui's adoptive father) subsequently sent the general Liu Zhijun to put Bin Prefecture under siege, and after half a year, after Liu was unable to capture it and after Qi suffered large losses in an unrelated attack by Former Shu — costing Qi its Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered in modern Tianshui, Gansu) and causing Liu's family, who lived at Tianxiong's capital Qin Prefecture (秦州), to become captives of Former Shu — Liu withdrew (and subsequently defected to Former Shu, to protect his family members). Huo was therefore able to hold Jingnan. (Huo's biographies in the History of the Five Dynasties and the New History of the Five Dynasties, however, attributed this to Huo's releasing Qi soldiers that he captured to gain Qi's goodwill.)

Huo was later made the military governor of Xuanyi Circuit (宣義, headquartered in modern Anyang, Henan) and then Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an, Shandong). He later became the commander of all Later Liang forces on its northern border with its archrival Jin. However, after a number of losses in battles against Jin, he was demoted to be the acting military governor of Zhenguo Circuit (鎮國, headquartered in modern Sanmenxia, Henan). In 921, when Zhu Zhen's cousin Zhu Youneng (朱友能) the Prince of Hui rebelled against Zhu Zhen at Chen Prefecture (陳州, in modern Zhoukou, Henan), Zhu Zhen sent Huo, as well as Wang Yanzhang and Zhang Hanjie, against Zhu Youneng. They quickly defeated Zhu Youneng and forced him to return to Chen, where they put him under siege and forced him to surrender.

In 923 — shortly after Jin's prince Li Cunxu declared himself emperor of a new Later Tang (as Emperor Zhuangzong) — the new Later Liang commander of the army against Later Tang, Duan Ning, made a plan for a four-prong assault on Later Tang. As part of Duan's plan, Huo was supposed to head toward Zhen Prefecture (鎮州, in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei). However, before Duan could actually launch the attack, Emperor Zhuangzong crossed the Yellow River, bypassing Duan's main army (which Duan had intended to command to confront him), and headed directly for Daliang (i.e., Kaifeng), which Zhu Zhen had made capital (after Emperor Taizu and Zhu Yougui had both had their capital at Luoyang), which was defenseless since Duan had taken all the available troops. Zhu Zhen, facing defeat, committed suicide, ending Later Liang.

During Later Tang

During Emperor Zhuangzongs reign

Early in Emperor Zhuangzongs reign

Emperor Zhuangzong entered Daliang and announced a general pardon for Later Liang subjects. Huo Yanwei was among the first Later Liang local governors to head to Daliang to show submission to him, arriving only after Yuan Xiangxian. Emperor Zhuangzong held a feast for the Later Liang generals who submitted to him, and at the feast, praised his adoptive brother Li Siyuan, stating to Li Siyuan:

Upon hearing these words, Huo and the other former Later Liang generals, worried that Emperor Zhuangzong still bore grudges, bowed down and begged forgiveness. Emperor Zhuangzong pointed out that that was all in the past, and awarded them with clothes and money, before sending them back to their circuits.

In 924, when Khitan forces made an incursion into Later Tang territory and attacked You Prefecture (幽州, in modern Beijing), Emperor Zhuangzong sent Li Siyuan north to relieve You Prefecture and to repel the attack, with Huo serving as his deputy. It was said that because of this opportunity to serve under Li Siyuan, and because Li Siyuan liked Huo's personality, they became friends. Shortly after, Emperor Zhuangzong bestowed on Huo the imperial surname of Li and gave him a new name of Shaozhen. Later in the year, after he served under Li Siyuan in quelling a mutiny at Lu Prefecture (潞州, in modern Changzhi, Shanxi), he was made the military governor of Wuning Circuit (武寧, headquartered in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu).

Role in Emperor Zhuangzongs defeat

In 926, after Emperor Zhuangzong killed the major general Guo Chongtao, the army was much perturbed, and mutinies occurred in many places throughout the realm. One of the mutinies was led by the officer Zhao Tai at Xing Prefecture (邢州, in modern Xingtai, Hebei). Emperor Zhuangzong sent Li Shaozhen against the Xing rebels, and he quickly defeated them, capturing Zhao. He then took Zhao and the other rebels, joined forces with Li Siyuan (who was then attacking rebels at Yedu), and executed Zhao and the other Xing rebels in the presence of the Wei rebels, to try to shake their resolve. Nevertheless, the Yedu rebels did not crumble, and shortly after, Li Siyuan's own troops mutinied and forced him (and Li Shaozhen) to join the Yedu rebels in the city. The Yedu rebels' leader, Zhao Zaili, however, allowed Li Siyuan and Li Shaozhen to leave the city, where 5,000 soldiers from Zhen Prefecture who had previously been under Li Siyuan's and Li Shaozhen's command joined them.

Li Siyuan pondered his next step. He considered returning to Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered at Zhen Prefecture), which he was the military governor of, and then submitting a report to Emperor Zhuangzong begging forgiveness for the defeat. Li Shaozhen and Li Siyuan's strategist An Chonghui advised against it — pointing out that another general, Li Shaorong, who had also retreated in light of Li Siyuan's army's mutiny, would then use this opportunity to accuse Li Siyuan of rebelling himself. Rather, they advised heading south toward Luoyang (which Emperor Zhuangzong had made capital) to see if he could explain the situation personally to Emperor Zhuangzong. Li Siyuan accepted their suggestion. Meanwhile, the eunuch monitor of the Wuning army at Wuning's capital Xu Prefecture (徐州), believing that Li Siyuan and Li Shaozhen had both rebelled, wanted to slaughter Li Shaozhen's family and close associates, but the acting military governor Chunyu Yan (淳于晏) acted first, killing the eunuch monitor, to avoid this.

Shortly after, Emperor Zhuangzong was killed in a mutiny at Luoyang itself. Li Siyuan thereafter arrived at Luoyang and took control of the city, initially only claiming the title of regent. Part of the orders he issued was to look for and welcome the imperial princes back to the palace. Two of Emperor Zhuangzong's biological brothers, Li Cunque (李存確) the Prince of Tong and Li Cunji (李存紀) the Prince of Ya, were then hiding among the common people. Li Shaozhen and An located them, but instead of taking them back to the palace as Li Siyuan had instructed, they opined that Li Siyuan should next take the throne and that these imperial princes' presence would interfere with that plan, so they killed Li Cunque and Li Cunji without approval from Li Siyuan.

Meanwhile, while the situation was still calming down in Luoyang, Li Shaozhen was in charge of many of the key decisions. Despising Duan Ning (whose name Emperor Zhuangzong had changed to Li Shaoqin) and another former Later Liang general, Li Shaochong (李紹沖, né Wen Tao (溫韜)), he arrested Li Shaoqin and Li Shaochong, intending to put them to death. An, however, questioned him on it, pointing out that Li Shaoqin's and Li Shaochong's crimes occurred during Later Liang and that, in effect, Li Shaozhen was carrying out personal vendettas. Li Shaoqin and Li Shaochong were subsequently stripped of their imperially-bestowed names, but (at that point) allowed to live.

During Emperor Mingzongs reign

Shortly after, Li Siyuan was finally resolved to take the throne (after first repelling the forces of Emperor Zhuangzong's son Li Jiji the Prince of Wei, forcing Li Jiji to commit suicide). Li Shaozhen and another former Later Liang official that he recommended, Kong Xun, believed that Tang's Mandate of Heaven (which Emperor Zhuangzong claimed to inherit) has already ended and that Li Siyuan should start a new dynasty of his own, but other officials and Li Siyuan himself, pointing out that he was adopted into the family of Emperor Zhuangzong's grandfather Li Guochang and father Li Keyong and believing that he could legitimately claim succession from Emperor Zhuangzong, rejected the idea. Li Siyuan subsequently claimed the Later Tang throne (as Emperor Mingzong). Shortly after, a number of generals, including Li Shaozhen, who had been bestowed imperial clan names by Emperor Zhuangzong, requested to have their original names restored, and Emperor Mingzong granted the request, so Li Shaozhen again assumed the name Huo Yanwei.

Huo was thereafter made the military governor of Tianping. However, at that time, Emperor Mingzong was faced with a mutiny at Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Weifang, Shandong), where, late in Emperor Zhuangzong's reign, the officer Wang Gongyan (王公儼) had killed the eunuch monitor Yang Xiwang and seized control of the circuit. Wang subsequently refused to let the military governor Fu Xi (符習), who had been away on a campaign against another mutiny, to return to Pinglu, and refused to yield control of the circuit to the imperial government. Emperor Mingzong commissioned Wang as the prefect of Deng Prefecture (登州, in modern Yantai, Shandong), but Wang refused to report there. Emperor Mingzong thereafter moved Huo to Pinglu as its military governor, and Wang, fearing Huo's reputation, left Pinglu's capital Qing Prefecture (青州) to head for Deng. Huo ambushed him and killed him, along with his coconspirators.

Huo died in late 928, while still serving as the military governor of Pinglu. Emperor Mingzong mourned him, posthumously created him the Duke of Jin, and gave him the posthumous name of Zhongwu ("faithful and martial"). Later, during the reign of Emperor Taizu of Song, when the Song emperor built a temple dedicated to Later Tang's Emperor Mingzong, Huo was one of the officials enshrined at Emperor Mingzong's temple.

Notes and references

• History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 64.

• New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 46.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 268, 269, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276.

家世

霍彥威生于唐懿宗咸通十三年（872年），曲周人氏，本名失載。十四歲時（即885年），被大軍閥宣武軍節度使朱全忠部將、同為曲周人氏的霍存所得，從此從霍存征討。霍存憐其爽邁，養為自己的兒子。

霍彥威未及弱冠，已為朱全忠所知，擢在左右。在朱全忠後來的戰鬥中，霍彥威漸漸積功升官。其養父霍存在景福二年（893年）對朱全忠的敵人感化軍節度使時溥和泰寧軍節度使朱瑾作戰時陣亡。霍彥威早期跟隨霍存征戰時中箭，因此瞎了一隻眼。

霍彥威還是小校時，明經淳于晏寄食于門下。霍彥威曾經兵敗，隻身逃走，左右沒有跟隨的，只有淳于晏仗劍隨其徒步穿越草莽，霍彥威因而高其義，相得甚歡。

後梁年間

朱全忠篡唐建立後梁，為太祖皇帝。開平二年（908年），霍彥威在開封府押衙、右親從指揮使、檢校司空任上被授右龍驤軍使（《新五代史》作左龍驤軍使）。三年（909年），在右監門衛將軍任上被授左天武軍使，遷右監門上將軍。

乾化二年（912年），太祖子郢王朱友珪弒太祖，自己奪位。不久，都將劉重遇率領下戍懷州的三千龍驤軍作亂，朱友珪派時任東京馬步軍都指揮使的霍彥威和左耀武指揮使杜晏球討伐之。霍、杜擊破亂軍于鄢陵，俘斬劉重遇。

鳳曆元年（913年），太祖另一子開封尹、東都留守均王朱友貞與太祖甥左龍虎統軍、侍衛親軍都指揮使袁象先一同起事反對朱友珪，朱友珪自殺，朱友貞奪位，不久改名朱瑱。霍彥威參與袁象先之謀，被授洺州刺史，轉河陽留後。

乾化四年（914年），後梁敵國之一岐國的一部分靜難軍的節度使李繼徽被兒子李彥魯毒殺，李彥魯自任留後。貞明元年（915年）李繼徽養子李保衡（《十國春秋·劉知俊傳》作李彥康）殺李彥魯，以靜難軍轄下軍部邠和寧二州降梁。朱瑱任霍彥威為靜難軍節度使。李繼徽養父岐王李茂貞隨後派彰義節度使劉知俊圍邠州，歷經半年（一作十四月），不能克，而岐國也在前蜀的另一場進攻中大損，天雄軍及住在軍部秦州的劉知俊一家都被蜀所得，劉知俊撤軍，後來為了保護家人也叛變投蜀。霍彥威與諸軍都指揮使黃貴等因而守住靜難軍。而據兩五代史霍彥威本傳，霍彥威每每釋放被俘的岐國士兵，岐軍感恩而不攻打他。

貞明二年（916年），霍彥威結束邠州戰事後被改任宣義軍節度副大使、知節度事、北面行營副招討等使、特進、檢校太傅，貞明三年（917年）為天平軍節度副大使，知節度事。又兼北面行營招討，對梁大敵晉國作戰。但他總被晉所敗。龍德元年（921年）四月，朱瑱堂兄陳州刺史惠王朱友能反叛，朱瑱因此罷免朱友能的弟弟鎮國軍節度使邵王朱友誨，因霍彥威屢敗，降其為鎮國軍留後，派霍彥威、宣義軍節度使王彥章、控鶴指揮使張漢傑分別為招討使、副招討使、陳州行營都指揮討伐朱友能。他們很快打敗朱友能，迫其退回陳州，圍之，迫其投降。朱瑱賞賜諸軍。

龍德三年（923年），晉王李存勖建立後唐稱帝即莊宗皇帝後不久，梁新任北面招討使段凝定計四路攻唐。作為段凝計劃的一部分，霍彥威將受段凝節制，統關西、汝、洛之眾從相州、衛州進軍鎮州、定州。但段凝還未真正展開進攻，莊宗就渡過黃河，繞過段凝所統領的本欲與之迎戰的主力大軍，直趨朱瑱所定的都城大梁（即開封；太祖和朱友珪都定都洛陽）。當時因段凝已帶走了所有可用的軍隊，大梁無防。朱瑱面臨敗局，自殺，梁亡。

後唐年間

莊宗年間

莊宗前期

莊宗入大梁，赦免梁部眾。霍彥威是最早一批入朝大梁歸降的節度使，僅比宣武軍節度使袁象先後到。莊宗為梁降將設宴于梁崇元殿，席間褒揚養兄蕃漢馬步副總管天平軍節度使李嗣源：「這場宴席上的客人去年都是我們的勁敵，現在和我們一起宴會，是你為我做前鋒之功。」霍彥威和戴思遠等其他梁舊將聞言，以為莊宗還記恨，伏地請罪。莊宗說這都是過去的事了，賞賜他們御衣、器幣，不久放他們歸本鎮。十二月，鎮國軍改保義軍，霍彥威改保義軍節度留後。

同光二年（924年）正月，契丹犯唐，攻幽州，莊宗派李嗣源為北面行營都招討使北上解圍退敵，以霍彥威為副。李嗣源愛霍彥威為人，很親近厚待他。橫海軍節度使安元信和霍彥威一起與李嗣源屯常山，仗著自己有功，以成敗勇怯之辭戲弄侮辱霍彥威，霍彥威不敢回答，在李嗣源說介入下，安元信才起身謝罪不複戲弄之。二月，李紹琛被任為保義軍節度使，霍彥威不再任保義軍留後。四月，莊宗賜霍彥威國姓李，賜名紹真。五月，李嗣源、李紹真作為正副招討使平定潞州小校楊立兵變，李紹真授武寧軍節度使。十二月，以為北面行營副招討使。

三年（925年）三月，莊宗又召侍中成德軍節度使趙郡公郭崇韜，說想起自己當初思在德勝寨時，霍彥威、段凝等都是勁敵，終日格鬥，戰聲相聞，卻不知兩年之間都收入麾下，想前往德勝故寨與郭崇韜敘舊事。郭崇韜同意，認為再觀戰地更能知道王業艱難，是好事。于是車駕從鄴宮出發到德勝城，莊宗登城四望，指戰陣之處以諭宰相，渡河南觀廢柵舊址直至楊村寨，再沿河至戚城，置酒作樂而罷。四月，以李嗣源兼北面水陸轉運使，李紹真為副。

同光四年（926年）正月，時任北面招討使的李紹真奏北來奚首領說：契丹首領耶律阿保機寇渤海國。

在莊宗之死中扮演的角色

當月，莊宗殺郭崇韜，軍心不安，唐治下多處發生兵變，如邢州左右步直兵趙太于二月發起的邢州之變，魏州皇甫暉發起的鄴都之變，皇甫暉自稱「天雄軍馬步都指揮使」，斬殺主帥楊仁晸，立偏將趙在禮為大帥，攻下鄴都。

莊宗派時任東北面招討副使的李紹真攻伐邢州。三月，李紹真很快打敗了邢州變兵，俘趙太，帶著趙太等前去與奉命攻打鄴都叛軍的李嗣源合兵，比李嗣源先到，在叛軍面前將趙太等邢州叛將磔死于軍門，想懾服他們。但鄴都叛軍沒有瓦解，不久，李嗣源軍到，但他的本部軍也兵變，為首者從馬直軍吏張破敗迫使他和李紹真與城中鄴都叛軍合兵。李紹真與中門使安重誨踩李嗣源腳，說服李嗣源答應。

鄴都叛軍不接納城外的變兵，反而斬殺張破敗，城外變兵潰散。鄴都之變發起者皇甫暉尤其忌憚李紹真，想殺他，李紹真以口才開脫，最終免于一死。鄴都留守趙在禮卻允許李嗣源和李紹真離開。當時在外的部卒聽聞李嗣源造反，都散去，只有在城西北列營的原屬李嗣源和李紹真統領的五千鎮州兵不動。兩天後，李嗣源出城，被李紹真護衛到魏縣時，手下不滿百人，也沒有兵器，幸得這支鎮州兵聞訊來歸，軍勢才稍稍振作。

李嗣源思考下一步行動。他哭著對諸將說想回到自己任節度使的成德（軍部在鎮州），然後上表莊宗為自己兵敗謝罪聽候發落。李紹真和安重誨反對：另一將歸德軍節度使李紹榮在李嗣源兵變時撤軍，會趁機彈劾李嗣源反叛。他們建議李嗣源南下進軍莊宗所定的都城洛陽，親自面見莊宗，再行自明。李嗣源採納。

李紹真歷任各鎮節度使，都以淳于晏為從事，從軍府事到家事都由淳于晏決定，名義上淳于晏只是幕賓，其實有如家宰，李紹真治下大治，皆淳于晏之力。當時武寧軍監軍宦官認為李嗣源和李紹真都已反叛，想屠戮李紹真的家人和親近者，權知留後的淳于晏搶先率諸將殺了監軍。

後李嗣源自知不能自明，決定舉兵。當時平盧節度使符習亦在外討鄴都兵變，青州指揮使王公儼殺監軍使宦官楊希望，據軍鎮，不讓符習歸鎮。李嗣源遣使召符習，符習沒有按時趕到，最後在胙縣謁見之，仍有所猶豫，李紹真騙他說：「主上要殺十人，公是第四個，為何猶豫！」于是符習決定跟隨李嗣源，隨其奪取汴州。

四月，莊宗在洛陽的興教門之變中被殺。李嗣源隨後到洛陽，控制都城，雖然李紹真首率卿相勸進于至德宮，他起初只稱監國。下令尋找諸王迎歸宮中。莊宗的兩個親弟通王李存確、雅王李存紀當時藏在民間。李紹真和安重誨查得他們的所在，但沒有如李嗣源所令帶他們回宮，而是認為李嗣源下一步要登基，諸王存世會成為阻礙，于是他們未得李嗣源許可即殺了李存確、李存紀。

當時，內外機事皆決于李紹真。李紹真與威勝軍節度使李紹欽（即段凝，被莊宗改名）和另一梁舊將太子少保李紹衝（本名溫韜）有隙，逮捕了他們，想處死。但安重誨卻就此責問他，稱李紹欽、李紹衝所犯罪惡都發生在梁朝，李紹真是在公報私仇。李嗣源下令剝奪李紹欽、李紹衝的御賜姓名，放歸田裡，（在當時）饒過了他們的性命。

明宗年間

莊宗子魏王李繼岌認為自己繼位無望，在渭南自殺。李嗣源聞訊後，決定自己登基。李紹真與自己推薦的另一梁舊臣樞密副使孔循認為唐朝（莊宗宣稱繼承唐朝）天命已盡，李嗣源應自建新朝，但其他官員和李嗣源自己指出李嗣源被莊宗祖父李國昌和父親李克用收養，認為李嗣源可以合法宣稱繼承莊宗，拒絕了。李嗣源隨後即唐帝位，即唐明宗。五月，李紹真等被莊宗賜以國姓名的眾將請求恢複本名，莊宗同意，于是李紹真複名霍彥威。

霍彥威加兼侍中，除天平軍節度使。明宗詔除王公儼登州刺史，王公儼拒絕赴任。明宗徙霍彥威為平盧節度使，聚兵淄州，王公儼懼其威，離開軍部青州，赴任登州。霍彥威與宣徽使范延光設伏在北海縣生擒之，殺其與族黨指揮使李謹、王居厚等八人于州東。霍彥威上任後，以淳于晏為副使。從事張可複滑稽好避事，霍彥威視他為「奸兔兒」。孔目郭彥夔因犯霍彥威名諱，改名郭致雍，安重誨認為不可，僅准其在青州暫時自稱郭致雍。

次年三月，加檢校太尉、兼中書令。十月，宣武軍節度使朱守殷反叛伏誅，霍彥威遣使者馳騎獻兩箭為賀，唐明宗賜兩箭以報之。夷狄之法，起兵令眾以傳箭為號令，但不是下級能對上級用的，而明宗出自夷狄，霍彥威是武人，君臣都不知禮，多如此類。十一月，覲明宗于汴州，明宗接遇甚厚，詔其歸藩。

天成三年（928年）十一月，在平盧節度使任上過世。唐明宗當時才出近郊射獵，得青州馳騎奏知霍彥威死訊，掩泣回宮，輟朝三日，至月底不舉樂。詔以三公禮葬，冊贈太師、晉國公，謚忠武。太子少傅李琪原是後梁宰相，奉詔撰寫《霍彥威神道碑》時敘述霍彥威在梁歷任官職且沒有稱梁為偽朝，因而于四年（929年）八月被馮道以碑文不分真偽混功名為由提出改撰，唐明宗從之。

霍彥威的兒子霍承訓和弟弟霍彥珂都累官至刺史。後周樞密直學士陳觀曾在霍承訓門下，見霍氏門戶孤弱，進言于宰相王峻，因王峻上奏，廣順二年（952年）十二月，後周太祖詔以霍彥威嫡孫霍緒為弘文館校書郎，侄霍承慶為秘書省正字。

北宋太祖乾德年間，太祖于洛州立唐明宗廟，詔以霍彥威等人配饗廟庭。

注釋及參考文獻