| 網筆號： | 聖文章武明德孝皇帝 | |||||||||
| 廟號： | 高祖 | |||||||||
| 籍貫： | 太原 | |||||||||
| 陵墓： | 顯陵 | |||||||||
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石敬瑭年輕時樸實穩重，寡言笑，喜兵書，重李牧、周亞夫之行事，隸屬李剋用義子李嗣源帳下。當時正值後梁朱溫與李剋用、李存勖父子爭雄，石敬瑭衝鋒陷陣，戰功卓著。後梁貞明元年（915年），李存勖得魏州，梁將劉尋急攻清平（今山東清縣），李存勖急往馳援，為劉尋所圍。石敬瑭率十餘騎擊敗劉尋，救李存勖於危難之中。李存勖拊其背而壯之，由此聲威大振，在軍中名噪一時。他還數次解救李嗣源於危急之中，從而得到器重，逐漸成為李嗣源之心腹。李嗣源遂把女兒永寧公主嫁給他，並讓他統率“左射軍”的親兵。
後唐同光四年（公元926年），效節指揮使趙在禮於魏州發生兵變。李存勖命李嗣源率軍平叛，石敬瑭也一同出徵。在魏州城下，李嗣源的部隊也發生兵變，與魏州的叛軍合兵一處，擁李嗣源為主。李嗣源本想回朝請罪，石敬瑭則勸他奪取開封，以成就大事。李嗣源無奈，衹得接受了這個意見。於是，石敬瑭便自告奮勇，親統驍騎300為前鋒，搶占開封，又回兵渡汜水，直取洛陽。後唐莊宗李存勖被亂兵所殺，李嗣源入洛陽稱帝，即後唐明宗。由於石敬瑭在這次軍事政變中立功頗大，後唐明宗任他為保義軍節度使，賜號“竭忠建策興復功臣”兼六軍諸衛副使。當時，許多官將都不奉公守法，而石敬瑭以廉政聞名，頗受明宗李嗣源褒奬。從此以後，石敬瑭以駙馬兼功臣，逐年升遷，歷任侍衛條軍馬步都指揮使，河東節度使，大同、彰國、振武、威塞等軍藩漢馬步軍總管等職，負責抵禦契丹南下，後又賜封為“耀忠匡定保節功臣”。隨職務和勢力的增長，石敬瑭開始擁兵自重，大有取後唐而自立之勢。
後唐長興四年（933年），明宗李嗣源死，李從厚繼位，為後唐閔帝。當時鳳翔節度使李從珂（李嗣源的養子）和河東節度使石敬瑭都擁兵自重，後唐閔帝對他倆不放心。為削弱他們的勢力，遂下令二人對調。潞王李從珂不服，在鳳翔起兵反叛。閔帝大敗，僅率數騎出逃，路遇石敬瑭，石敬瑭殺其隨從並囚他於衛州。
不久，李從珂殺後唐閔帝，改元清泰，自立為皇帝，即後唐末帝。後唐末帝對石敬瑭猜疑頗大，石敬瑭亦疑心重重，二人矛盾日益尖銳。為試探後唐末帝，早有預謀的石敬瑭於後唐清泰三年（936年）四月，以身體羸弱，乞解兵權，調往他鎮。這正合後唐末帝之意，便順準石敬瑭之請，徙其為天平節度使。群臣得知，相顧失色，均感亂之將至。
石敬瑭認為我不興亂，朝廷發之，安能束手於道路？遂决意謀反。大將劉知遠，掌書記桑維翰也有此意。於是，石敬瑭上表指責後唐末帝是明宗養子，不應承祀，要求讓位於許王（明宗四子）。後唐末帝撕裂其表，削其官爵，並以建雄節度使張敬達為太原四面招討使，將兵三萬築長圍以攻太原。石敬瑭一面於朝廷內部從事策反活動，一面由掌書記桑維翰起草奏章，嚮契丹求援：請稱臣，以父事契丹，約事捷之後，割盧竜一道及雁門關以北諸州與契丹。
對此種認賊作父、賣國求榮的行徑，連其親信都押牙劉知遠也表示反對說：稱臣可矣，以父事之太過，厚以金帛賂之，自足緻兵，不必許其土田，恐異日大為中國之患，悔之無及。然石敬瑭不從，仍一意孤行。契丹主耶律德光得表大喜，以兵援之，大敗後唐張敬達。
同年（936年）十一月，契丹主作册書封石敬瑭為大晉皇帝，改元天福，國號晉，契丹主自解衣冠授之。石敬瑭遂即位於柳林（今山西太原市東南）。
石敬瑭稱帝後，很守“信用”，割燕雲十六州給契丹，承諾每年給契丹布帛30萬匹。燕雲十六州乃北部天然屏障，至此中原完全暴露在契丹鐵蹄之下。以後燕雲十六州成為遼南下掠奪中原的基地，使北方社會經濟遭到嚴重破壞，貽害長達400年。石敬瑭稱帝伊始，盧竜節度使北平王趙德鈞，厚以金帛賄賂契丹，亦欲倚仗契丹以取中原，仍許石敬瑭鎮河東。契丹主因當時睏難重重，欲許趙德鈞之請。石敬瑭聞訊大為驚懼，急令掌書記官桑維翰見契丹主。桑維翰跪於契丹主帳前，自旦至暮，涕泣不立，苦苦哀求契丹放棄趙德鈞之請。契丹主從之，並說桑維翰對石敬瑭忠心不二，應該做宰相。石敬瑭遂以桑維翰為中書侍郎，同平章事。
同月，石敬瑭攻入洛陽，後唐亡。後晉天福二年（937年），後晉遷都汴梁，翌年（938年），升汴梁為東京開封府。時後晉新得天下，藩鎮多未服從，兵火甚多，府庫空虛，民間貧窮，但契丹仍貪求無厭。為解决財政危機、鞏固政權，石敬瑭采納了桑維翰的建議，推誠棄怨，以撫藩鎮；訓卒繕兵，以修武備；務農桑，以實倉庫；通商賈，以事貨財；卑辭厚禮，以事契丹。
石敬瑭對於契丹百依百順，非常謹慎，每次書信皆用表，以此表示君臣有別，稱太宗為“父皇帝”，自稱“臣”，為“兒皇帝”。每當契丹使臣至，便拜受詔敕，除歲輸30萬布帛外，每逢吉兇慶吊之事便不時贈送好奇之物，以致贈送玩好奇異的車隊相繼以道。
石敬瑭雖推誠以撫藩鎮，但藩鎮仍不服，尤恥臣於契丹。大同節度使判官吳巒，閉城不受契丹命。應州指揮使郭崇威，挺身南歸。後普天福二年（937），天雄節度使範廷光反於魏州，石敬瑭令東都巡檢張從賓討伐，但張從賓與之同反。繼而渭州也發生兵變。是年，契丹改國號“遼”。侍衛將軍楊光遠自恃重兵，幹預朝政，屢有抗奏。石敬瑭常屈意服從之。後晉天福四年（940），楊光遠擅殺範廷光，石敬瑭因畏懼楊光遠，以致不敢法問。
後晉天福六年（942年），成德節度使安重榮上表指斥石敬瑭父事契丹，睏耗中原，並表示與契丹决一死戰。石敬瑭發兵斬安重榮，並將其頭送與契丹。
石敬瑭為人辯察，多權術，好自矜大，所聚珍異，窮奢極麗，宮殿悉以金玉珠翠為飾。他對契丹百依百順，但對百姓卻如虎狼一般，兇惡狠毒，用刑十分殘酷。石敬瑭晚年尤為猜忌，不喜士入，專任宦官。由是宦官大盛。由於吏治腐敗，朝綱紊亂，以至民怨四起。遊牧在雁門以北的吐𠔌渾部，因不願降服契丹，酋長白承福帶人逃到了河東，歸劉知遠。後晉天福七年（公元942年），契丹遣使來問吐𠔌渾之鼎，石敬瑭既不敢得罪手握重兵的劉知遠，更不敢得罪“父皇帝”，由此，憂鬱成疾，於六月在屈辱中死去，時年51歲，謚聖文章武明德孝皇帝，廟號高祖，葬於顯陵（河南宜陽縣西北）。
縱觀石敬瑭之一生，初以驍勇善戰發跡，繼因廉政而聞名。在戰亂頻繁之際，他藉重契丹援助得以問鼎、建立後晉王朝。由於割讓燕雲十六州以及歲輸布帛30萬給契丹，並甘當百依百順的“兒皇帝”以換取契丹對自己的支持，將北方百姓置於契丹鐵蹄之下，民心盡失。
Later Tang Dynasty with the light four years (AD 926), the effective section of the command to Zhao Wei Zhou took place in the ceremony at the mutiny. Li Cunxu life Mingzong of Later Tang led his army counter-insurgency, Shi Jingtang also set off together. Wei fuzhoucheng in under Mingzong of Later Tang's troops mutiny occurred, together with Wei Zhou soldier a rebel, mainly owned Mingzong of Later Tang. Mingzong of Later Tang wanted troops to the capital confessing, Shi Jingtang then advised him to capture Kaifeng, in order to accomplish great things. Mingzong of Later Tang no choice but to accept this view. As a result, Shi Jingtang volunteered to forward the pro-unification Xiao Ji 300 to occupy Kaifeng, he returned soldiers crossing sishui straight at Luoyang. Later Tang Zhuangzong of Latter Tang Li Cunxu was killed by rebellious troops, into the Luoyang Mingzong of Later Tang emperor, Tang Mingzong after that. As Shi Jingtang meritorious service in the military coup in a significant, either for his security after the Tang Mingzong Jiedushi volunteer army, giving No. drain "policy Xing Fu Zhong-hero" and six military Zhuweifushi. At that time, many officials will not abide by the law, and Shi Jingtang to the Independent Commission Against famous cases Mingzong of Later Tang Ming popular praise. Since then, Shi Jingtang to Fuma and meritorious promotion year after year, successive military stances Duzhihuishi article guards, Dong Jiedushi, Tatung, Akira States, Zhenwu, Weser and other military-fan Han Ma Bujun Explorer and other staff in charge against Khitan south, then Conferring for "Yiu Festival Marina will ensure hero." With the growth of functions and forces, Shi Jingtang began soldier dead weight, a great tendency to take the Later Tang and self-reliance.
Tang Changxing after four years (933 years), were Mingzong of Later Tang Ming death, Lee from the thick to the throne, as the Later Tang Dynasty Min. Then from Ke Li Fung Cheung Jiedushi (Mingzong of Later Tang's son) and east of the river Jiedushi Shi Jingtang all soldier dead weight, Later Tang Dynasty on They do not trust Min. To weaken their power, then ordered the two reversed. Lu Wang Li Ke refuses to accept from, in Fengxiang rebelled. Min Tai defeat, only the rate of Shu Qi fled, Lu-yu Shi Jingtang, Shi Jingtang kill his followers and his health state prisoners.
Of such Renzeizuofu, traitorous acts of glory, even his close associates are dental charges against Liu Zhi said that: vassal without regret, to Fushi for too thick to Jinbo bribes of, self-sufficient cause soldiers, do not promise the earth field, fear of China suffered greatly different day, Huizhiwuji. However, Shi Jingtang refused, and still insisted. Khitan may form the main Yelv Deguang overjoyed to military aid for, debacle Tang Zhangjing up.
That same month, Shi Jingtang scored Luoyang, Later Tang death. Years after the Jin Tianfu (937 years), moved the capital Houjin Bianliang, the following year (938 years) or Bianliang for the tokyo Kaifeng. Get the world when Houjin new, more is not subject to military governors, Binghuo many, treasuries empty, non-governmental poverty, Khitan is still insatiable. To solve the financial crisis, consolidation of political power, Shi Jingtang sandvig John adopted the recommendation and sincere abandon resentment, to ask military governors; Training Death Calligraphists soldiers to Xiuwu equipment; farming Sang in real storage; through merchants, to do goods Finance; humble words gift to do Khitan.
Jin Tianfu after six years (942 years), into the German military commissioner Ann Jung table denounce Shi Jingtang Fushi Khitan, trapped consumption of the Central Plains, and said that with the Khitan fight to the death. Shi Jingtang his troops beheaded An Jung and his first delivery and Khitan.