Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Encyclopedia
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang (March 31, 867 – September 22, 904), né Li Jie (李傑), name later changed to Li Min (李敏), yet later name changed to Li Ye , was the penultimate emperor of the Tang Dynasty
of China
. He reigned from 888 to 904 (although he was briefly deposed by the eunuch Liu Jishu
in 900 and restored in 901). Zhaozong was the seventh son of Emperor Yizong of Tang
and younger brother of Emperor Xizong of Tang
.
During Emperor Zhaozong's reign, Tang Dynasty fell into total disarray and rebellions, which had been ongoing since the reign of his older brother Emperor Xizong, broke out throughout the country while the imperial government's authority effectively disappeared. In the midst of all this, Emperor Zhaozong tried to salvage the dying dynasty. His efforts to reassert imperial power, however, generally backfired, as his unsuccessful campaigns against Li Keyong
, Chen Jingxuan
, and Li Maozhen
, merely allowed Li Keyong and Li Maozhen to reaffirm their power by prevailing over imperial forces, while Chen was merely conquered and replaced by Wang Jian. Eventually, the major warlord Zhu Quanzhong seized control of the imperial government and in 904 had Emperor Zhaozong killed as the prelude of taking over the Tang throne. Zhu also killed many of Emperor Zhaozong's ministers, including the chancellor, Cui Yin
. Zhu then placed Zhaozong's 13 year old son as a puppet emperor (as Emperor Ai
). (By 907, Zhu himself took over the throne, ending Tang and starting a new Later Liang Dynasty
.) Emperor Zhaozong's reign lasted almost 16 years and he was buried in Heling (和陵). He was 37.
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Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
of China
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. He reigned from 888 to 904 (although he was briefly deposed by the eunuch Liu Jishu
Liu Jishu
Liu Jishu was an eunuch late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who, as a powerful commander of the Shence Armies, briefly deposed Emperor Zhaozong in 900 and replaced Emperor Zhaozong with Emperor Zhaozong's son Li Yu, but was soon killed in a countercoup, allowing Emperor Zhaozong to return to...
in 900 and restored in 901). Zhaozong was the seventh son of Emperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...
and younger brother of Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
.
During Emperor Zhaozong's reign, Tang Dynasty fell into total disarray and rebellions, which had been ongoing since the reign of his older brother Emperor Xizong, broke out throughout the country while the imperial government's authority effectively disappeared. In the midst of all this, Emperor Zhaozong tried to salvage the dying dynasty. His efforts to reassert imperial power, however, generally backfired, as his unsuccessful campaigns against Li Keyong
Li Keyong
Li Keyong was a Shatuo military governor during the late Tang Dynasty and was key to developing a base of power for the Shatuo in what is today Shanxi Province in China...
, Chen Jingxuan
Chen Jingxuan
Chen Jingxuan was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who came to control Xichuan Circuit Chen Jingxuan (陳敬瑄) (d. April 26, 893) was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who came to control Xichuan Circuit Chen Jingxuan (陳敬瑄) (d. April 26, 893) was a general of the Chinese...
, and Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen , né Song Wentong , courtesy name Zhengchen , formally Prince Zhongjing of Qin , was the only ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Qi...
, merely allowed Li Keyong and Li Maozhen to reaffirm their power by prevailing over imperial forces, while Chen was merely conquered and replaced by Wang Jian. Eventually, the major warlord Zhu Quanzhong seized control of the imperial government and in 904 had Emperor Zhaozong killed as the prelude of taking over the Tang throne. Zhu also killed many of Emperor Zhaozong's ministers, including the chancellor, Cui Yin
Cui Yin
Cui Yin , courtesy name Chuixiu , nickname Zilang , formally the Duke of Wei , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
. Zhu then placed Zhaozong's 13 year old son as a puppet emperor (as Emperor Ai
Emperor Ai of Tang
Emperor Ai of Tang , also known as Emperor Zhaoxuan , born Li Zuo, later Li Zhu , was the last emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 904 to 907. The Ai Emperor was the son of Emperor Zhaozong....
). (By 907, Zhu himself took over the throne, ending Tang and starting a new Later Liang Dynasty
Later Liang Dynasty
The Later Liang was one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. It was founded by Zhu Wen, posthumously known as Taizu of Later Liang, after he forced the last emperor of the Tang dynasty to abdicate in his favour...
.) Emperor Zhaozong's reign lasted almost 16 years and he was buried in Heling (和陵). He was 37.
Chancellors during reign
- Wei ZhaoduWei ZhaoduWei Zhaodu , courtesy name Zhengji , formally the Duke of Qi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong...
(888, 893-895) - Kong WeiKong WeiKong Wei , courtesy name Huawen , formally the Duke of Lu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong.- Background and early career :Kong Wei's family was descended from the Spring...
(888-891, 895) - Du RangnengDu RangnengDu Rangneng , courtesy name Qunyi , formally the Duke of Jin , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong...
(888-893) - Zhang JunZhang Jun (Tang Dynasty)Zhang Jun , courtesy name Yuchuan , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong...
(888-891) - Liu ChongwangLiu ChongwangLiu Chongwang , courtesy name Xitu , formally the Baron of Pengcheng , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.- Background :...
(889-892) - Cui ZhaoweiCui ZhaoweiCui Zhaowei , courtesy name Yunyao , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
(891-895) - Xu YanruoXu YanruoXu Yanruo , courtesy name Yuzhi , formally the Duke of Qi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.- Background and early career :...
(891-893, 894-900) - Zheng YanchangZheng YanchangZheng Yanchang , courtesy name Guangyuan , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.- Background :It is not known when Zheng Yanchang was born...
(892-894) - Cui YinCui YinCui Yin , courtesy name Chuixiu , nickname Zilang , formally the Duke of Wei , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
(893-895, 896-899, 900-904) - Zheng QiZheng QiZheng Qi , courtesy name Yunwu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as chancellor in 894 during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
(894) - Li XiLi XiLi Xi or Li Qi , courtesy name Jingwang , nicknamed Li Shulou , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
(894, 895) - Li ZhirouLi ZhirouLi Zhirou , formally the Prince of Xue , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor in 895 during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong, to whom he was a distant relative.- Background :...
(895) - Lu XishengLu XishengLu Xisheng was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.- Background :It is not known when Lu Xisheng was born...
(895) - Wang TuanWang TuanWang Tuan , courtesy name Zhaoyi , formally the Duke of Lu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor from 895 to 900, during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
(895-896, 896-900) - Sun WoSun WoSun Wo , courtesy name Longguang , formally the Marquess of Le'an , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor from 895 to 897 during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.- Background :...
(895-897) - Lu YiLu Yi (Tang Dynasty)Lu Yi , né Lu Yundi , courtesy name Xiangwen , formally the Duke of Wu Commandery , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor for two terms during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.- Background :Lu Yi was born in 847, during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong; he was...
(896, 899-903) - Zhu PuZhu PuZhu Pu was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly from 896 to 897 as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
(896-897) - Cui YuanCui Yuan (Late Tang)Cui Yuan , courtesy name Changzhi , formally the Baron of Boling , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving two terms as chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Zhaozong and Emperor Zhaozong's son Emperor Ai...
(896-900, 904) - Pei ZhiPei ZhiPei Zhi , courtesy name Jingchen , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor from 900 to 903 during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
(900-903) - Wang BoWang Bo (Late Tang)Wang Bo , courtesy name Mingyang , formally Duke Jing of Taiyuan , was an official of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Muzong and Emperor Wenzong...
(901-903) - Pei ShuPei ShuPei Shu , courtesy name Jisheng or Huasheng , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving two terms as chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Zhaozong and Emperor Zhaozong's son Emperor Ai, near the end of the dynasty...
(901, 903-904) - Lu GuangqiLu GuangqiLu Guangqi , courtesy name Zizhong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as chancellor from 901 to 902, while Emperor Zhaozong was under the physical control of the warlord Li Maozhen the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit and Li's eunuch allies, led by Han...
(901-902) - Wei YifanWei YifanWei Yifan , courtesy name Chuixian , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as chancellor in 902, while Emperor Zhaozong was under the physical control of the warlord Li Maozhen the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit and Li's eunuch allies, led by Han...
(902, 902) - Su JianSu JianSu Jian , courtesy name Shengyong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as chancellor from 902 to 903, while Emperor Zhaozong was under the physical control of the warlord Li Maozhen the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit and Li's eunuch allies, led by Han...
(902-903) - Dugu SunDugu SunDugu Sun , courtesy name Yousun , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Zhaozong and Emperor Zhaozong's son Emperor Ai, near the end of the dynasty...
(903-904) - Liu CanLiu Can (Tang Dynasty)Liu Can , courtesy name Zhaozhi , formally the Baron of Hedong , nicknamed Liu Qiezi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Zhaozong and Emperor Zhaozong's son Emperor Ai, near the end of the dynasty...
(904)
Personal information
- Father
- Emperor Yizong of TangEmperor Yizong of TangEmperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...
- Emperor Yizong of Tang
- Mother
- Consort Wang, posthumously honored Empress Gongxian (honored 888)
- Wife
- Empress HeEmpress He (Zhaozong)Empress He , semi-formally known as Empress Jishan , was the wife of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang near the end of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, and the mother of two of his sons, Li You/Li Yu and Emperor Ai of Tang...
(created 897), mother of Crown Princes Yu and Zhu and Princess Pingyuan
- Empress He
- Major Concubines
- Consort Chen, the Lady of Wei, later concubine to Li KeyongLi KeyongLi Keyong was a Shatuo military governor during the late Tang Dynasty and was key to developing a base of power for the Shatuo in what is today Shanxi Province in China...
- Lady of Zhao
- Lady of Fengyi
- Consort Ke Zheng (可證), the Lady of Jin (killed by Zhu Quanzhong 904)
- Consort Pei Zhenyi (裴貞一) (killed by Zhu Quanzhong 904)
- Consort Li Jianrong (李漸榮) (killed by Zhu Quanzhong 904)
- Consort Chen, the Lady of Wei, later concubine to Li Keyong
- Children
- Li You (李祐, note different person than his brother), later renamed Li YùLi Yu (prince)Li Yu , né Li You , briefly Li Zhen , formally the Prince of De , was an imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was the oldest son of the penultimate emperor Emperor Zhaozong and Empress He and was Crown Prince from 897 to 900...
(李裕, note different tone than his brother, renamed 897), later briefly known as Li Zhen (李縝) (900-901), originally the Prince of De (created 890), later the Crown Prince (created 897), later emperor (proclaimed 900, deposed 901), later Prince of De (demoted 901, killed by Zhu Quanzhong 905) - Li Yǔ (李祤, note different tone than his brother), the Prince of Di (created 894, killed by Zhu Quanzhong 905)
- Li Xi (李禊), the Prince of Qian (created 894, killed by Zhu Quanzhong 905)
- Li Yan (李禋), the Prince of Yi (created 894, killed by Zhu Quanzhong 905)
- Li Yi (李禕), the Prince of Sui (created 894, killed by Zhu Quanzhong 905)
- Li Mi (李秘), the Prince of Jing (created 897, killed by Zhu Quanzhong 905)
- Li Qi (李祺), the Prince of Qi (created 897, killed by Zhu Quanzhong 905)
- Li Zuo (李祚, note different character than his brother), later renamed Li Zhu (李柷, renamed 904), initially the Prince of Hui (created 897), later Crown Prince (created 904), later Emperor Ai of TangEmperor Ai of TangEmperor Ai of Tang , also known as Emperor Zhaoxuan , born Li Zuo, later Li Zhu , was the last emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 904 to 907. The Ai Emperor was the son of Emperor Zhaozong....
- Li Zhen (李禛, note different character than his brother), the Prince of Ya (created 898, killed by Zhu Quanzhong 905)
- Li Xiang (李祥), the Prince of Qiong (created 898, killed by Zhu Quanzhong 905)
- Li Zhen (李禎), the Prince of Duan (created 904)
- Li Qi (李祁, note different character than his brother), the Prince of Feng (created 905)
- Li Fu (李福), the Prince of He (created 905)
- Li Xi (李禧), the Prince of Deng (created 905)
- Li Hu (李祜), the Prince of Jia (created 905)
- Li Shi (李禔), the Prince of Ying (created 906)
- Li You (李祐, note different person than his brother), the Prince of Cai (created 906)
- Princess Xin'an
- Princess Pingyuan
- Princess Xindu
- Princess Yichang
- Princess Tangxing
- Princess Deqing
- Princess Taikang
- Princess Yongming, died early
- Princess Xinxing
- Princess Pu'an
- Princess Leping
- Li You (李祐, note different person than his brother), later renamed Li Yù
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