Early life and career

Wang Jun was born to a concubine of Wang Chen of the prominent Wang clan of Jinyang county (晉陽), Taiyuan commandery. As his mother came from a poor commoner family, his father resented and refused to acknowledge him. His uncle, Wang Hun once remarked about him to Wang Chen and the rest of his family, 「You men should not lightly esteem Pengzu. This boy, in a time of peace will be no less than a regional dignitary of an expansive province; in an age of chaos he could become an inspector general or one of the Three Eminences.」 It was not until when Wang Chen died in 266 with no other issue that Wang Jun was formally recognized by his family to succeed him.

In 282, he was sent to the northern tribes as a mediator. This was Wang Jun's first contact with the barbarians. In 291, he became Commandant of the Surpassing Riders and General of the Right and some time later he also became the Imperial Corps Commander tasked in defending Xuchang.

War of the Eight Princes

Consolidating Youzhou

During Empress Jia's paramount rule over the dynasty, Wang Jun assisted her and the eunuch Sun Lü (孫慮) in poisoning the Crown Prince, Sima Yu in 300. Through this, he received the title General Who Pacifies the North and Imperial Inspector of Qingzhou. In addition to that, he was sent to Youzhou to direct military affairs when he became General Who Pacifies the Beginning. Meanwhile, the recent death of the crown prince at the hands of the Empress was riling up the princes and officials in the capital. Wang Jun was keen in securing an alliance with the northern tribes to secure his influence and territories in You and Qing. He married his two daughters; one to the chieftain of the Duan tribe, Duan Wuwuchen and another to the chieftain of the Yuwen tribe, Sunuyan (素怒延). He also petitioned for Duan Wuwuchen to be given Liaoxi commandery and appointed Duke of Liaoxi. When Sima Lun usurped the throne from Emperor Hui of Jin 301, Wang Jun initially backed him and ignored the call to arms from the coalition against him. However, due to pressure from Sima Ying, he was forced to switch sides, although he made very minimal contribution. Nevertheless, he was still awarded the title of General Who Secures the North after Sima Lun was overthrown.

War with Sima Ying (304)

After Sima Ai's demise in 304, Sima Ying sought to eliminate Wang Jun, not forgetting his reluctance in the coalition a few years back. He plotted with He Yan (和演) and the Wuhuan Chanyu Shen Deng (審登) but the plan failed as a heavy storm drenched the troop's equipments. Furthermore, Shen Deng, believing this to be a sign that heaven sided with Wang Jun, revealed the plot to Wang. Wang Jun allied himself with the Inspector of Bingzhou, Sima Teng (司馬騰), and with his tribal allies they attacked and killed He Yan before heading out against Sima Ying.

Sima Ying tried to summon Wang Jun as he entered Jizhou but Wang ignored it and continued his march towards Ye. Thus, he sent his generals Shi Chao (石超) and Wang Bin (王斌) to intercept Wang Jun but Wang defeated both of them. Panicked, Sima Ying abandoned Ye and fled to the capital Luoyang with Emperor Hui of Jin. Wang Jun captured and sacked Ye in Sima Ying's absence. Wang allowed the Xianbei and Wuhuan to pillage the city and abduct the women for themselves. He threatened civilians who tried to hide anything from his army with execution. At least 8,000 people were killed and their bodies were used to fill the Yi River. Wang returned to Jicheng soon after.

Sima Yues coalition (304-306)

Wang Jun entered a coalition against Sima Yong where he and a few others acclaimed the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue as their leader in 305. For the rest of the war he assisted his allies in reclaiming Chang'an and the emperor from Sima Yong. When one of the coalition members, Sima Xiao (司馬虓), sent his marshal Liu Kun to request aid from Wang Jun, Wang granted Liu his Xianbei and Wuhuan cavalries and together they defeated Sima Yong's general Wang Chan (王闡). He also sent his general Qi Hong (祁弘) to bring his barbarian cavalries to serve as Sima Yue's vanguard and in 306, he quelled a rebellion led by Liu Bogen (劉柏根) in Qingzhou. After Sima Yue captured Chang'an the same year, Wang Jun was showered with promotions, being appointed as Grand General of Agile Cavalry, Commander over the eastern tribes and the military affairs of Hebei, and acting Inspector of Youzhou.

Conflicts with Shi Le and Liu Kun

Early success with Han Zhao

Despite the end of the civil war, the Jin government must now face the issues of the two newly established barbarian states in China, the Xiongnu Han Zhao and the Ba-Di Cheng Han. Han Zhao, established and led by the Xiongnu noble Liu Yuan, threatened northern China. In 308, Wang Jun repelled Han's general Shi Le from Changshan and in 309 Wang sent his general Qi Hong and Xianbei ally Duan Wuwuchen to defeat Shi at Mount Feilong (飛龍山, in present-day Xinzhou, Shanxi). After Shi Le invaded Xinyu and killed the Inspector of Jizhou, Wang Bin the next year, Wang Jun replaced him as acting command of the province. His colleague, Li Zhen (李臻) tried to stage a revolt to stop his growing influence but he was killed by the Administrator of Liaodong, Pang Ben (龐本) before it could take place. In 310, Wang Jun's general Qi Hong scored another victory against Han by defeating their Inspector of Jizhou Liu Ling (劉靈) at Guanzong.

Conflict with Liu Kun

However, Wang Jun soon found himself in a dispute with his colleague and former ally, the now Inspector of Bingzhou Liu Kun later that year. Liu Kun had allied himself with the chieftain of the Tuoba Xianbei, Tuoba Yilu to campaign against the Tiefu Xiongnu leader Liu Hu (劉虎) . After Tuoba Yilu assisted Liu Kun in his campaign against him, Liu Kun petitioned that Tuoba Yilu should receive Dai commandery, which was a part of Wang Jun's territory in Youzhou. Wang Jun was not consulted in the matter, so he sent his troops to attack with Tuoba Yilu but they were driven back. Because of this, Wang Jun bore a grudge for Liu Kun and the two developed an exploitable rivalry for the Han forces.

The following year, Emperor Huai of Jin gave out numerous promotions to his officials and Wang Jun was further promoted as Grand Marshal, Palace Attendant, Grand Commander, and Commander of military affairs in Youzhou and Jizhou. However, before the commendation order could arrive to any of his selected officials, the emperor and Luoyang were captured by Liu Yao during the Disaster of Yongjia. After the emperor's capture, Wang Jun chose an unknown candidate as the new Crown Prince and claimed that he has an imperial edict to grant appointments. He appointed himself as Prefect of Master of Writings and gave a few other officials new offices, even appointing the future Emperor Yuan of Jin, Sima Rui as Grand General.

The same year, Wang Jun fought with Liu Kun once more. As Bingzhou's population declined, Liu Kun sent his kinsman Liu Xi (劉希) to gather men from Wang Jun's territory in the commanderies of Dai, Shanggu and Guangning (廣寧郡, in present-day Hebei and Beijing). When Wang Jun discovered the intrusion, he was furious. He sent Hu Ju (胡矩) and Duan Jilujuan (Duan Wuwuchen's son who succeeded him as chieftain of the Duan tribe after his father's death some time between 310 and 311) to deal with Liu Xi and the two men killed him in battle.

Downfall and death

Losing support from the Xianbei and Wuhuan

Although Wang Jun was initially successful against Shi Le, the tide shifted in favor of Shi Le in 312. After Han's city of Yuanxiang (苑鄕, in present-day Hebei and Beijing) surrendered to Wang Jun, Shi Le laid siege on the city. In response, Wang Jun sent Wang Chang (王昌) and Duan Jilujuan to attack Shi Le's base at Xiangguo. However, Duan Jilujuan's cousin, Duan Mopei was captured in battle. Shi Le used this as an opportunity to win over the Duan tribe to his side. He sent Jilujuan gifts and treated Mopei with courtesy. Jilujuan was charmed with Shi's actions and withdrew his troop. Later, Shi Le led a few skirmishes against Wang Jun and killed Wang's Inspector of Jizhou and Inspector of Qingzhou on two separate occasions. When Wang Jun was planning to attack Shi Le again the same year, Duan Jilujuan refused to comply with Wang. Wang Jun was insulted by Jilujuan's reaction, and riled up their rival Xianbei tribes, the Tuoba and Murong to attack the Duan but they repelled the attackers.

Losing the support of his powerful Xianbei allies, Wang Jun also began to lose the favour of his Wuhuan troops to Shi Le. Consecutive droughts, floods and locust infestations caused poor crop yields which weakened his armies and left his populace discontent. Furthermore, Wang Jun's poor administration in contrast with Murong Hui's benevolent rule in Liaodong convinced many to migrate over to the latter』s territory from the former.

Capture by Shi Le

Despite the setbacks, Wang Jun only became more arrogant and prouder. Subscribing to a prophecy that the one to replace Han bears the name 'High Road', Wang Jun considered taking the imperial title for himself in 313. He had many of his officials executed for criticizing his imperial ambition. The gentry was disturbed by Wang Jun violent impulses and distanced themselves from him. Wang Jun also began to neglect political affairs, leaving them in the hands of his corrupted and heinous officials such as Zao Song (棗嵩), Zhu Shuo (朱碩) and Tan Heng (貪橫). The three men's policies were so troublesome that many of Wang Jun's people fled to the Xianbei.

Hearing Wang Jun's situation, Shi Le wondered if he should strike at him. At the advice of Zhang Bin, Shi Le pretended to appear weak, sending gifts and offering his surrender to Wang Jun through letter in 313. As Wang Jun was in need of a talented figure after having lost most of his subordinates at the time, he was delighted by his surrender and accepted it without a doubt. To show his loyalty, Shi Le declined an offer from Wang Jun's general You Tong (游統) to rebel against Wang. The next year, when Wang Jun's envoy went to Shi Le's headquarters in Xiangguo, Shi Le hid his strongest troops to further give the implications that he was weaker than Wang. When presented with an elk tail by Wang Jun, Shi Le pretended to be afraid to grasp and instead hung it on a wall to show his respect to him. Finally, Shi Le sent a petition to visit Wang Jun intending to submit and hail him as emperor later that year.

With the petition, Wang Jun was ready to accept Shi Le into his ranks. Before arriving at Jicheng, Wang Jun killed You Tong's brother You Lun (游綸) when passing at Bairen to prevent the plan from leaking. Shi Le also sent letter to Wang Jun's rival Liu Kun, asking permission to attack Wang to which Liu allowed. As Shi Le drew closer, Wang Jun's generals and advisers insisted him to immediately attack Shi but Wang scolded them and threatened to execute anyone who disobeys him. Once he arrived, Wang Jun ordered the gatekeepers to let him in. Shi Le flooded the city with cattle and sheep seemingly as offerings to Wang Jun but his true intention was to block the exits so that Wang could not escape. Wang Jun began to panic when he realized this but it was too late. Shi Le entered the city, where he let loose his soldiers and sacked the place.

Wang Jun retreated to his chambers but was eventually arrested along with his wife by Shi Le's men. When brought face to face with Shi Le, Wang scolded him and said, "How dare a barbarian like you make a fool of me? What wicked treason is this?" Shi Le replied:

Aftermath

Wang Jun was sent to Xiangguo to be executed. On the way, Wang Jun attempted suicide by drowning in a river, but the guards managed to restrain him. Once at Xiangguo, Wang Jun was beheaded in the marketplace and his head was presented to the Han emperor Liu Cong as a gift. After his death, many of Wang Jun's underlings were also executed by Shi Le. One of Wang Jun』s subordinate, Shao Xu, continued to resist Shi Le until his capture in 320 and execution the following year.

Hua Fangs epitaph

Hua Fang (華芳) was the third wife of Wang Jun who died in 307. On July 1965, her tombstone was discovered in Babaoshan Cemetery inscribed with an epitaph written by her husband.The stone which the epitaph is inscribed on measures 130 x 56 cm, and it is the largest excavated inscription from Wang Jun's period so far. Apart from details of Hua Fang, the epitaph also contains information of Wang Jun and his life, casting them in a positive light that contrasts the presentation of him in historical records.

生平

庶子入嗣

王浚母親趙氏出身貧賤，作為小妾進入王沈家生下王浚，王沈不將庶子王浚序齒。直至泰始二年（266年）王沈逝世，因王沈無子，親戚才立王浚為子嗣，繼承父親博陵公爵位，拜駙馬都尉。太康三年（282年）授員外散騎常侍。元康元年（291年）轉員外常侍，遷越騎校尉、右軍將軍。後王浚轉任東中郎將，鎮守許昌。賈后於元康九年（299年）廢太子司馬遹後，於次年將司馬遹幽禁在許昌的宮殿中，並下旨王浚協助她派的宦官孫慮毒殺司馬遹。

出鎮北境

王浚後遷寧北將軍、青州刺史，及後再調遷寧朔將軍、持節都督幽州諸軍事。當時正值八王之亂，朝廷內鬥嚴重，四方盜賊冒起，王浚為了自保而以通婚向外族交好。趙王司馬倫於永康二年（301年）稱帝，令齊王司馬冏等三王起兵討伐，王浚此時支持司馬倫，沒收所有發到幽州的討伐檄書，令境內人士都不能前往支援齊王等，此舉惹來成都王司馬穎不滿並打算討伐，但因要專心戰事而無暇出兵。趙王倫兵敗被殺後，王浚進位安北將軍。

引胡亂華

永興元年（304年），河間王司馬顒和成都王司馬穎聯手攻洛陽，最終擊敗並殺害當政的長沙王司馬乂，成功奪權，這令王浚很不滿。同時司馬穎又以右司馬和演為幽州刺史，並且密令和演刺殺王浚並吞併他的部眾。和演於是勾結烏丸單于審登，乘一次與王浚同游薊城南邊的清泉時刺殺王浚；但當天下雨令兵器全部沾濕，計劃失敗。事後審登認為計劃不成是因為上天幫助王浚，於是決定改站在王浚那一邊，並把和演的意圖告訴王浚。王浚於是與東嬴公司馬騰秘密起兵與審登圍攻和演，和演被逼投降，王浚於是殺死和演，自領幽州。和演死後，司馬穎徵召王浚，王浚卻在冀州停駐不動，更聯結司馬騰、段務勿塵和烏桓羯朱共討司馬穎，並擊敗司馬穎派來迎擊的王斌；後以主簿祁弘為前鋒，擊破石超，並且逼近鄴城。司馬穎倉皇回洛陽而王浚攻陷鄴城，破城後鮮卑士兵在城內大肆擄掠，當王浚下令嚴懲私藏戰利品的行為時，鮮卑人竟然將所強擄的婦女投入易水溺死。胡人對中原百姓的暴行由此起始。

仗夷建威

王浚回到幽州後聲威和兵力都大增。永興二年（305年），王浚與范陽王司馬虓推司馬越為共主，要將被張方挾持到長安的晉惠帝帶回洛陽。及後王浚又給予兵馬支援因豫州刺史劉喬襲擊而逃到河北的司馬虓，後又命祁弘率領烏丸突騎作為司馬越的先驅，助司馬越進攻長安。司馬越成功帶晉惠帝還都洛陽後，王浚轉驃騎大將軍、都督東夷河北諸軍事，領幽州刺史，並以燕國併入博陵公的封地。

永嘉二年（308年），石勒侵襲常山郡，王浚領兵擊破。次年石勒再攻常山郡，王浚派鮮卑騎兵支援常山，最終在飛龍山大敗石勒，同年冀州刺史王斌被石勒殺害，王浚又領冀州。永嘉四年（310年），石勒攻襄城郡，王浚又派鮮卑段文鴦領騎兵營救，將石勒擊退。永嘉四年（310年），晉懷帝進王浚為司空，加領烏丸校尉。永嘉五年（311年）朝延下詔升王浚為大司馬，加侍中、大都督、督幽冀諸軍事，但使者尚未出發，洛陽就已被漢國劉曜等人攻陷。晉懷帝被擄。王浚此時樹立軍令，主征伐，並派督護王昌、中山太守阮豹等率諸軍以及段疾陸眷、段文鴦和段末柸一同攻擊在襄國的石勒。石勒雖然屢被擊敗，但還是能設計生擒段末柸。段部鮮卑見此唯有求和，段疾陸眷更送了馬匹和金銀作為禮品，又與石勒結盟，及後石勒又安撫了段末柸，不但任官亦將他送回遼西，令段末柸大為感動，對王浚亦漸見離心。

同時，王浚又與劉琨爭奪冀州。當時劉琨族人劉希奉劉琨命在中山聚集兵眾，代郡、上谷郡和廣甯郡都投向劉琨。王浚認為劉琨是侵入他的領地，為了奪回更不惜撤回原本正在進討石勒的軍隊，轉以命他們對抗劉琨，又派燕相胡矩與段疾陸眷合力攻破並殺害劉希，又驅散原本聚集的部眾。劉琨見此亦無力與他爭奪，只有忍讓。但此行為則令劉琨和王浚成為仇敵，在日後被石勒加以利用，以消滅王浚。

攻破劉希後，王浚打算再次討伐石勒，於是命女婿棗嵩督諸軍屯易水，並召合段疾陸眷一同進攻石勒。但段疾陸眷已多次違命，害怕應召會被誅殺；同時石勒亦以厚資賄賂，於是段疾陸眷等都不應召。王浚知道後大怒，利誘代王拓跋猗盧兒子，右賢王拓跋日律孫攻打段疾陸眷，但反被段氏所擊敗。

圖謀僭號

因晉懷帝被擄，而當時并州刺史劉琨被劉聰領導下的漢國威脅，士民多數都走到王浚勢力下，王浚勢力漸盛。王浚於是乘機承制假立太子，備置百官，列署征鎮，由自己自領尚書令，後又安插自己手下親信出任各個職位。王浚又以父親王沈表字為處道，認為是應了「當塗高」的預言而有不臣之心，其他人勸諫不是被外調就是被誅殺；同時又繼續濫殺，如借別的事誅殺素來不滿的長史王悌，以及在北方名賢霍原前表示想稱帝後，見霍原不答就將他殺害。種種行為皆令士人憤怒。王浚為政苛暴，將吏又貪污殘忍，對地方工事連連令人民苦不堪言，被逼逃到鮮卑，加上有旱災和蝗災，又失去了段部鮮卑的支持，於是內外離心，士卒疲弱。

中計敗死

王浚承制時手下參佐大都在內任職，但司馬游統卻被外調，因而令他恨怨王浚，更與石勒勾結要謀害王浚。石勒於是向王浚詐降，承諾以王浚為主。石勒又對王浚言辭卑屈，又獻上珍寶及通訊不斷，令失去段部鮮卑和烏桓支持的王浚十分高興，不設防備。建興二年（314年），石勒屯兵易水，督護孫緯懷疑石勒有詐，跑來告訴王浚，要求出兵反抗石勒。但王浚不聽，更讓石勒直接前來，群下勸諫更遭恐嚇，並命人準備好迎接石勒。但石勒進場後大肆搶掠，見王浚後更與王浚妻並坐，令王浚十分憤怒，但石勒則數落王浚不忠於晉室，又指王浚漠視百姓，既有大量儲糧仍不施濟給受天災影響的災民，於是命五百騎押王浚到襄國，又盡殺其手下精兵萬人。到襄國後石勒就殺王浚，而王浚死前仍然不屈，大罵石勒。石勒其後將王浚的頭顱送給漢國君主劉聰。

王浚死後，幽州刺史由段匹磾所領。

後代

按《晉書》記載，王浚並無子嗣，但據《華芳墓誌》與《王溫墓誌》記載，王浚有庶子五人，嫡子二人，庶女二人，嫡女三人。東晉孝武帝太元二年（377年）才封王沈從孫王道素為博陵公。

家族

曾祖

• 王柔，字叔優，東漢護匈奴中郎將、雁門郡太守。

• 李氏

祖

• 王機，字產平，曹魏東郡太守。

• 郭氏

父

• 王沈

妻

• 文粲（或文榮），字世暉，濟陰人，父溫令文猗、母孫氏。王浚元配，生三女。

• 衛琇，字惠英，河東人，父散騎常侍、聞陽鄉侯衛寔、母劉氏，司空衛瓘侄女。王浚繼妻，無子女。

• 華芳（271-307），字敬華，平原高唐人，父侍御史、安鄉亭侯華衍、母劉氏。王浚繼妻，生二子，永嘉元年二月病死。王浚在華芳死後再娶。她的墓誌《華芳墓誌》是有關王浚家人的重要資料。

• 崔氏，《華芳墓誌》未提到她，應為華芳死後再娶之妻或當時還在生（華芳墓誌所載王浚三任夫人均是已過世）。

子輩

• 王韶，字韶英，王浚和文粲的長女，嫁散騎常侍棗嵩（字台產）

• 王麗，字韶榮，王浚和文粲的次女，嫁廷尉卞俊之子、卞敦之弟卞稚仁。

• 王則，字韶儀，王浚和文粲的三女，嫁平南將軍孫旂幼子孫回（字公淵）。

有一女嫁鮮卑段務目塵，一女嫁蘇恕延

• 王胄，字道世，王浚和華芳的長子，博陵公世子

• 王裔，字道賢，王浚和華芳的次子

王浚另有庶子五人以上

• 王道素，王沈從孫，晉孝武帝時受封為博陵公。

孫輩

• 王崇之，王道素子，襲博陵公，義熙十一年改封東莞郡公。晉亡後，國除。

注釋