Meng Zhixiang

Meng Zhixiang (孟知祥) (May 10, 874–September 7, 934), courtesy name Baoyin (保胤), formally Emperor Gaozu of (Later) Shu ((後)蜀高祖), was the founder of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Later Shu. He was initially a Later Tang Dynasty general and had married a cousin of Later Tang's founding emperor Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang and served as the military governor (Jiedushi) of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan) after Emperor Zhuang's conquest of Former Shu, but after Emperor Zhuangzong's death became distant from Emperor Zhuangzong's adoptive brother and successor Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang. Later, fearing accusations by Emperor Mingzong's chief advisor An Chonghui, rebelled in alliance with Dong Zhang the military governor of neighboring Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan). The Meng-Dong alliance were able to repel the subsequent Later Tang attempts to suppress them, and Meng later defeated Dong and took Dong's domain under his control. After being a titular vassal to Emperor Mingzong for the rest of Emperor Mingzong's reign, he declared his own domain an independent state in 934, forming Later Shu.