Cao Ang
Encyclopedia
Cao Ang was the eldest son of the late Han Dynasty
warlord
Cao Cao
. He was killed during the Battle of Wancheng
after giving up his horse to his father during their escape.
and Lady Liu. Little was documented about his early life except that he was recommended as xiaolian
¹ at nineteen.
In 197, Cao Ang followed his father on a campaign to take the province of Jingzhou (荆州, present day Hubei
and Hunan
). Zhang Xiu
, a minor warlord who occupied Wancheng (宛城, present day Nanyang
, Henan
), surrendered to Cao Cao. Cao Cao then took the wife of Zhang Xiu's late uncle as a concubine, which made Zhang Xiu very displeased. When Cao Cao learnt of this, he secretly plotted to murder Zhang Xiu. However, the plan leaked out and Zhang Xiu took the initiative to attack Cao Cao's camp.
Caught by surprise, Cao Cao's troops were overwhelmed by the enemy. During the frantic retreat, Cao Cao's horse was badly wounded by stray arrows and could not carry him further. Cao Ang then offered his horse to Cao Cao, who managed to escape.
However, Cao Ang and his cousin Cao Anmin
(曹安民) were killed by the enemy. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms
he is shot to death by archers.
Cao Ang was not survived by any sons. Therefore Cao Pi
, after he ascended the throne, decreed his brother Cao Jun's (曹均) son Cao Wan (曹琬) to succeed Cao Ang.
¹ During the Han Dynasty
, entry to official posts was mostly based on recommendations. Each commandery was given an annual quota to recommend talented and morally upright youths, known as xiaolian, literally meaning filial and honest.
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
. He was killed during the Battle of Wancheng
Battle of Wancheng
The Battle of Wancheng or Battle of Wan City was a battle fought between the warlords Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu in 197 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
after giving up his horse to his father during their escape.
Biography
Cao Ang was born to Cao CaoCao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
and Lady Liu. Little was documented about his early life except that he was recommended as xiaolian
Xiaolian
Xiaolian , was the standard of nominating civil officers started by Emperor Wu of Han in 134 BC. It lasted until its replacement by the imperial examination system during the Sui Dynasty....
¹ at nineteen.
In 197, Cao Ang followed his father on a campaign to take the province of Jingzhou (荆州, present day Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
and Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
). Zhang Xiu
Zhang Xiu
Zhang Xiu was a minor warlord during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He eventually surrendered to Cao Cao in 200. Having contributed greatly to the decisive Battle of Guandu and subsequent campaigns against the heirs of Yuan Shao, Zhang Xiu died en route Liucheng on a campaign to...
, a minor warlord who occupied Wancheng (宛城, present day Nanyang
Nanyang, Henan
Nanyang is a prefecture-level city in the southwest of Henan province, People's Republic of China. The city with the largest administrative area in Henan, Nanyang borders Xinyang to the southeast, Zhumadian to the east, Pingdingshan to the northeast, Luoyang to the north, Sanmenxia to the...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
), surrendered to Cao Cao. Cao Cao then took the wife of Zhang Xiu's late uncle as a concubine, which made Zhang Xiu very displeased. When Cao Cao learnt of this, he secretly plotted to murder Zhang Xiu. However, the plan leaked out and Zhang Xiu took the initiative to attack Cao Cao's camp.
Caught by surprise, Cao Cao's troops were overwhelmed by the enemy. During the frantic retreat, Cao Cao's horse was badly wounded by stray arrows and could not carry him further. Cao Ang then offered his horse to Cao Cao, who managed to escape.
However, Cao Ang and his cousin Cao Anmin
Cao Anmin
Cao Anmin was the nephew of the warlord Cao Cao, who lived during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history.In 197, Cao Anmin followed Cao Cao on a campaign to conquer Jing Province . Zhang Xiu, a minor warlord who occupied Wancheng , surrendered to Cao Cao...
(曹安民) were killed by the enemy. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
he is shot to death by archers.
Cao Ang was not survived by any sons. Therefore Cao Pi
Cao Pi
Cao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
, after he ascended the throne, decreed his brother Cao Jun's (曹均) son Cao Wan (曹琬) to succeed Cao Ang.
¹ During the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
, entry to official posts was mostly based on recommendations. Each commandery was given an annual quota to recommend talented and morally upright youths, known as xiaolian, literally meaning filial and honest.
Family
- Father: Cao CaoCao CaoCao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
- Mother: Lady Liu (劉夫人), Lady Ding's servant, later became Cao Cao's concubine, died of illness at a young age
- Foster mother: Lady Ding (丁夫人), Cao Cao's first wife, raised Cao Ang. She fell out with Cao Cao after Cao Ang's death.
- Siblings:
- Cao Shuo (曹鑠), younger brother, died at a young age
- Princess Qinghe (清河長公主), younger sister, married to Xiahou Mao
- Descendants:
- Cao Wan (曹琬), son of Cao Ang's younger half-brother Cao Jun (曹均), continued Cao Ang's family line
- Cao Lian (曹廉), son of Cao Wan
Titles held
- All the following titles were granted to Cao Ang posthumously
- Duke Dao of Feng (豐悼公)
- Prince Dao of Feng (豐悼王)
- Prince Min (愍王)