Qin and Han · General

Gongsun Ao 公孫敖

Gōngsūn Áo

Attested BC 129 - BC 119

Passages: 2
Chapters: 2
Histories: 1

Overview

Gongsun Ao was a general.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 119 元狩四年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 109, passage 124
BC 129 車騎將軍衛青擊匈奴
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 108, passages 123, 125

Key source chapters

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 108 Biography of Han Changru 1 passage
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 109 Biography of General Li 1 passage

Career and standing

Lost
Lost marquisate
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 109, passage 124
liable to execution, redeemed to commoner 當斬，贖為庶人
Sentenced
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 108, passage 125

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 108Biography of Han Changru · 1 passage

公孫敖大亡卒：皆當斬，贖為庶人。 Gongsun Ao lost many of his troops: both were liable to execution but redeemed their sentences and were reduced to commoners.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 109Biography of General Li · 1 passage

而是時公孫敖新失侯，為中將軍從大將軍，大將軍亦欲使敖與俱當單于，故徙前將軍廣。 Moreover, Gongsun Ao had recently lost his marquisate and was serving as General of the Center under the Grand General. The Grand General wished to give Ao the chance to face the Chanyu alongside him, and so he reassigned Guang from the vanguard.