Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Yang Longyan was born in 897, during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang; he was the second son of Yang Xingmi, who, by the time of his birth, was a major warlord as the military governor ("Jiedushi") of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu). His mother was Yang Xingmi's concubine Lady Shi, who was also the mother of his older brother Yang Wo. (Yang Longyan's four younger brothers all appear to be born of different mothers; Yang Pu was known to be born of Lady Wang, while the mothers of the other three brothers were lost to history.) After Yang Xingmi's death in 905, Yang Wo inherited his domain and carried the title of Prince of Hongnong.