Emperor Gaozu of Tang
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| This article is part of the Transition from Sui to Tang series. |
|
|---|---|
| Sui Dynasty imperials |
|
| Emperor Yang | |
| Empress Xiao | |
| Emperor Gong | |
| Yang Tong | |
| Yang Hao | |
| Tang Dynasty imperials |
|
| Emperor Gaozu | |
| Emperor Taizong | |
| Li Jiancheng | |
| Li Yuanji | |
| Independent contenders |
|
| Dou Jiande | |
| Fu Gongshi | |
| Gao Kaidao | |
| Li Gui | |
| Li Mi | |
| Li Zitong | |
| Liang Shidu | |
| Lin Shihong | |
| Liu Heita | |
| Liu Wuzhou | |
| Shen Faxing | |
| Wang Shichong | |
| Xiao Xi | |
| Xu Yuanlang | |
| Xue Ju | |
| Xue Rengao | |
| Yuwen Huaji | |
| Zhu Can | |
| Other generals or key figures |
|
| Empress Cao | |
| Du Fuwei | |
| Li Jing | |
| Li Shiji | |
| Li Xiaogong | |
| Luo Yi | |
| Yang Xuangan | |
| Yang Yichen | |
| Yuwen Shu | |
| Zhai Rang |
 |
|
| Emperor Gaozu of Tang | |
|---|---|
| Birth and death: | 566–Jun. 25, 635 |
| Family name: | Lǐ (李) |
| Given name: | Yuān (淵) |
| Courtesy name (字): | Shūdé (叔德) |
| Dates of reign: | Jun. 18, 618[1]–Sept. 4, 626[2] |
| Dynasty: | Táng (唐) |
| Temple name: | Gāozǔ (高祖) |
| Posthumous name: |
Emperor Shenyao[3] (神堯皇帝) |
| Posthumous name: |
Emperor Shényáo Dàshèng Dàguāng Xiào.[4] 神堯大聖大光孝皇帝 |
| General note: Dates given here are in the Julian calendar. They are not in the proleptic Gregorian calendar. |
|
Emperor Gāozǔ of Táng (566 - June 25, 635), born Lǐ Yuān, was the founder of the Tang Dynasty of China, and the first emperor of this dynasty from 618 to 626. Under Sui dynasty, Li Yuan was the governor in the area of modern-day Shanxi, and was based in Taiyuan.
In 615, Li Yuan was assigned to garrison Longxi. He gained much experience by dealing with the Göktürks of the north and was able to pacify them. Li Yuan was also able to gather support from these successes and, with the disintergration of the Sui dynasty in July of 617, Li Yuan - urged on by his second son Li Shimin (the eventual Emperor Taizong) - rose in rebellion. Using the title of "Great Chancellor" (大丞相), Li Yuan installed a puppet child emperor, Emperor Gong, but eventually removed him altogether and established the Tang Dynasty in 618 as Emperor Gaozu ("high founder").
Emperor Gaozu's reign was concentrated on uniting the empire under the Tang. Aided by Li Shimin, whom he created the Prince of Qin, he defeated all the other contenders, including Li Gui, Dou Jiande, Wang Shichong, Xue Rengao and Liu Wuzhou. By 628, the Tang Dynasty had succeeded in uniting all of China. On the homefront, he recognized the early successes forged by Emperor Wen of Sui and strived to emulate most of Emperor Wen's policies, including the equal distribution of land amongst his people, and he also lowered taxes. He abandoned the harsh system of law established by Emperor Yang of Sui as well as reforming the judicial system. These acts of reform paved the way for the reign of Emperor Taizong, which ultimately pushed Tang to the height of its power.
In 626, Li Shimin, in a dispute with his brothers Li Jiancheng the Crown Prince and Li Yuanji the Prince of Qi, ambushed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji at the Xuanwu Gate Incident (玄武門之變), killing them. Fearful of what Li Shimin might do next, Emperor Gaozu passed the throne to him and became Taishang Huang (retired emperor). He died in 635.
[edit] Era name
[edit] Personal information
- Father
- Li Bing (李昺), Duke Ren of Tang during Sui Dynasty, posthumously honored as Emperor Yuan (Shizu)
- Mother
- Duchess Dugu, daughter of Dugu Xin (獨孤信) and sister of Empress Dugu of Northern Zhou and Empress Dugu Qieluo of Sui Dynasty, posthumously honored as Empress Dowager Yuanzhen
- Wife
- Duchess Dou, daughter of Dou Wu (竇武) the Duke of Shenwu during Northern Zhou and Sui Dynasty and the Princess Xiangyang, daughter of Yuwen Tai, posthumously honored as Empress Taimushunsheng, mother of Crown Princes Jiancheng and Shimin and Princes Xuanba and Yuanji and Princess Pingyang
- Major Concubines
- Consort Wan, mother of Li Zhiyun
- Consort Yin, mother of Prince Yuanheng
- Consort Mo, mother of Prince Yuanjing
- Consort Sun, mother of Prince Yuanchang
- Consort Yuwen, mother of Princes Yuanjia and Lingkui, daughter of Yuwen Shu
- Consort Cui, mother of Prince Yuanyu
- Consort Yang, mother of Prince Yuanxiang
- Consort Yang, mother of Prince Yuanming
- Consort Guo, mother of Prince Yuanli
- Consort Liu, mother of Prince Yuanqing
- Consort Yang, mother of Prince Feng
- Consort Zhang, mother of Prince Yuangui
- Consort Zhang, mother of Prince Yuanyi
- Consort Liu, mother of Prince Yuanying
- Consort Wang, mother of Prince Yuanze
- Consort Lu, mother of Prince Yuanxiao
- Consort Zhang, mother of Prince Yuanfang
- Children
- Li Jiancheng (李建成), initially the Duke of Longxi (created 617), later the Heir Apparent of Tang (created 617), later the Crown Prince (created 618, killed by Li Shimin 626)
- Li Shimin (李世民), initially the Duke of Dunhuang (created 617), later the Duke of Zhao (created 617), later the Prince of Qin (created 618), later the Crown Prince (created 626), later Emperor Taizong of Tang
- Li Xuanba (李玄霸), died early without issue, posthumously honored 618 as Prince Huai of Wei
- Li Yuanji (李元吉), initially the Duke of Guzang (created 617), later the Duke of Qi (created 617), later the Prince of Qi (created 618, killed by Li Shimin 626)
- Li Zhiyun (李智雲) (603-617), executed by Sui Dynasty official Yin Shishi (陰世師), posthumously created the Duke of Chu 617, posthumously created Prince Ai of Chu 618
- Li Yuanjing (李元景), initially the Prince of Zhao (created 620), later the Prince of Jing (created 636, reduced to commoner rank and forced to commit suicide by Emperor Gaozong of Tang 653), later posthumously created the Prince of Shenli
- Li Yuanchang (李元昌), initially the Prince of Lu (created 620), later the Prince of Han (created 636, forced to commit suicide by Emperor Taizong of Tang 643)
- Li Yuanheng (李元亨), the Prince of Feng (created 620, d. 632)
- Li Yuanfang (李元方), the Prince of Zhou (created 621, d. 629)
- Li Yuanli (李元禮), initially the Prince of Zheng (created 621), later the Prince of Xu (created 636, d. 672)
- Li Yuanjia (李元嘉) (b. 619), initially the Prince of Song (created 621), later the Prince of Xu (created 621), later the Prince of Han (created 636, executed by Wu Zetian 688)
- Li Yuanze (李元則), initially the Prince of Jing (created 621), later Prince Si of Peng (created 636, d. 651)
- Li Yuanyi (李元懿), initially the Prince of Teng (created 621), later Prince Hui of Zheng (created 636, d. 673)
- Li Yuangui (李元軌), initially the Prince of Shu (created 623), later the Prince of Wu (created 625), later the Prince of Huo (created 636, died in exile 688)
- Li Feng (李鳳) (b. 623), initially the Prince of Bin (created 623), later Prince Zhuang of Guo (created 626, d. 674)
- Li Yuanqing (李元慶), initially the Prince of Han (created 623), later the Prince of Chen (created 625), later Prince Xiao of Dao (created 636, d. 664)
- Li Yuanyu (李元裕), initially the Prince of Gui (created 631), later Prince Kang of Deng (created 637, d. 665)
- Li Yuanming (李元名), initially the Prince of Qiao (created 631), later the Prince of Shu (created 637, executed by Wu Zetian 689)
- Li Lingkui (李靈夔), initially the Prince of Wei (created 631), later the Prince of Yan (created 636), later the Prince of Lu (created 640, committed suicide 688)
- Li Yuanxiang (李元祥), initially the Prince of Xu (created 631), later Prince An of Jiang (created 637, d. 680)
- Li Yuanxiao (李元曉), Prince Zhen of Mi (created 631, d. 676)
- Li Yuanying (李元嬰), the Prince of Teng (created 639, d. 684)
- Princess Changsha
- Princess Xiangyang
- Princess Zhao of Pingyang (d. 623)
- Princess Gaomi (d. 655)
- Princess Guiyang, later Princess Changguang
- Princess Wanchun, later Princess Changsha
- Princess Yongjia, later Princess Fangling
- Princess Jiujiang
- Princess Lujiang
- Princess Nanchang
- Princess Anping
- Princess Huainan
- Princess Zhending
- Princess Hengyang
- Princess Danyang
- Princess Linhai
- Princess Guantao
- Princess Qianjin, later Princess Anding
- Princess Changle (committed suicide 688)
[edit] Notes
- ^ Was already in control of Chang'an and de facto ruler of western China since December 12, 617
- ^ Abdicated in favor of his son, and was honored with the title Taishang Huang, a title reserved for retired emperors.
- ^ Given in 674.
- ^ Given in 754.
- ^ During 619-620, the region was ruled by Liu Wuzhou (Dingyang Khan).
- ^ a b From 623 to 624, the region was ruled by Fu Gongshi (Emperor of Song)
 This Chinese royalty-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
