| This article is part of the Transition from Sui to Tang series. The transition from Sui to Tang (隋末唐初 refers to a period in which the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty disintegrated into a number of short-lived states |
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| Sui Dynasty imperials |
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| Emperor Yang | |
| Empress Xiao | |
| Emperor Gong | |
| Yang Tong | |
| Yang Hao | |
| Tang Dynasty imperials |
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| Emperor Gaozu | |
| Emperor Taizong | |
| Li Jiancheng | |
| Li Yuanji | |
| Princess Pingyang | |
| Independent contenders |
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| 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 |
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| Empress Cao | |
| Du Fuwei | |
| Li Jing | |
| Li Shiji | |
| Li Xiaogong | |
| Luo Yi | |
| Yang Xuangan | |
| Yang Yichen | |
| Yuwen Shu | |
| Zhai Rang |
Li Jiancheng (李建成) (589-July 2, 626[1]), formally Crown Prince Yin (隱太子, literally, "the hidden crown prince"), nickname Pishamen (毗沙門), was a crown prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. The Sui Dynasty ( 581 - 618 AD and in the undertaking of other construction projects including the reconstruction of the Great Wall. Background Yang Guang was born in 569 during the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. Empress Xiao (蕭皇后 personal name unknown (566?-648 formally Empress Min (愍皇后 literally "the suffering empress" was an Empress of the During Emperor Yang's reign Yang You was born in 605 as a son of Yang Zhao, the son and Crown prince of Emperor Yang. During Emperor Yang's reign Yang Tong was born in 605 He was the second of three sons of Yang Zhao, Emperor Yang 's son and Crown prince. Background Yang Hao was a grandson of Sui's founder Emperor Wen. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by Background and early career Li Yuan's seventh-generation ancestor was Li Gao, the founder of the Sixteen Kingdoms state Western Liang. Emperor Taizong of Tang ( January 23, 599 &ndash July 10 649) personal name Lǐ Shìmín ( was the second emperor of the Li Yuanji (李元吉 ( 603 - July 2, 626) formally Prince La of Chao (巢剌王 more commonly known by the title of Prince of Qi Princess Píngyáng ( formally Princess Zhao of Pingyang (平陽昭公主 (d Initial uprising and service under Gao Shida Dou Jiande was born in 573 when his birth area Zhangnan County (漳南縣 in modern Handan, Hebei) was under Initial uprising Fu Gongshi was from Qi Province (齊州 roughly modern Ji'nan, Shandong) Initial uprising Little is known about Gao Kaidao's background and his birth year is not known As prince Li Gui was from Wuwei Commandery (武威 roughly modern Wuwei, Gansu) and he served as a militia officer in the local government Background Li Mi came from a line that was part of the nobility during successive dynasties Western Wei, Northern Zhou, and Sui Dynasty. Initial uprising Li Zitong was from Donghai Commandery (東海 roughly modern Lianyungang, Jiangsu) Initial uprising Liang Shidu was from a prominent Clan of Xia Province (夏州 roughly modern Yulin, Shaanxi) and during the reign of Initial uprising Virtually nothing is known about Lin Shihong's background other than that he was from Rao Province (饒州 roughly modern Shangrao, Jiangxi Service under Hao Xiaode Li Mi Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande Little is known about Liu Heita's background and it is not known when he was born Initial establishment of Dingyang Liu Wuzhou's clan was originally from Hejian Commandery (河間 roughly modern Baoding, Hebei) Initial uprising Shen Faxing was from Hu Province (湖州 roughly modern Huzhou, Zhejiang) Early career Wang Shichong's ancestors were surnamed Zhi (支 originally from the Xiyu region and were not Han. Background Xiao Xi was a great-grandson of Emperor Xuan of Western Liang -- a vassal of Western Wei and Northern Zhou who claimed Liang imperial Initial uprising Nothing is known about Xu Yuanlang's background other than that he was from Yan Province (兗州 roughly modern Jining, Shandong) As hegemonic prince of Western Qin Xue Ju's clan was originally from Hedong Commandery (河東 roughly modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) but his father Xue Wang Under Xue Ju As of 617 Xue Rengao's father Xue Ju was a commander of the local militia at Jincheng (金城 in modern Lanzhou, Gansu) when Background It is not known when Yuwen Huaji was born He was the oldest son of the Sui Dynasty official Yuwen Shu, a close associate of Yang Guang Initial uprising Zhu Can was from Bo Province (毫州 roughly modern Bozhou, Anhui) and he was initially a minor official with his local county government Empress Cao (曹皇后 personal name unknown was the wife of Dou Jiande, an agrarian rebel leader who claimed the title of Prince of Xia at the end of the Chinese Du Fuwei (598?-624 known during service to Tang Dynasty as Li Fuwei (李伏威 was an agrarian leader who rose against the rule of Emperor Yang of Sui Li Jing (李靖 Pinyin: Lǐ Jìng ( 571 - July 2, 649) né Yaoshi (藥師/药师 Pinyin: Yàoshī formally Li Shiji (李世勣 (594- December 31, 669) né Xu Shiji (徐世勣 later known in the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang as Li Ji Li Xiaogong (李孝恭 (591-640 formally Prince Yuan of Hejian (河間元王 often referred to by his earlier title as Prince of Zhao Commandery (趙郡王 Luo Yi (羅藝 (d 627 known during service to Tang Dynasty as Li Yi (李藝 Courtesy name Ziyan (子延 or Ziting (子廷 Yang Xuangan (楊玄感 (d 613 was an official of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty. Yang Yichen (楊義臣 (d 617? né Yuchi Yichen (尉遲義臣 was a general of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty. Yuwen Shu (宇文述 (d 616 Courtesy name Botong (伯通 formally Duke Gong of Xu (許恭公 was an official and general of the Chinese Zhai Rang (翟讓 (d December 14, 617) was a key agrarian rebel leader near the end of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty. Events By Place Europe October 17 — The Adige River overflows its banks flooding the church of St Events 310 - Pope Miltiades is elected 626 - In fear of assassination Li Shimin ambushes and kills his rival Events By Place Byzantine Empire The Byzantines defeat the Avars and Slavs, who were besieging Constantinople Crown Princess redirects here for the ship see Crown Princess (ship. Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River ( valley in the Neolithic era The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by He was the oldest son of the founding emperor Emperor Gaozu (Li Yuan) and therefore was designated crown prince after the founding of the dynasty in 618. Background and early career Li Yuan's seventh-generation ancestor was Li Gao, the founder of the Sixteen Kingdoms state Western Liang. Events By Place Asia The Sui Dynasty ends and the Tang Dynasty begins in China. However, although he himself was fairly capable as a general, he was overshadowed by the contributions of his younger brother Li Shimin the Prince of Qin, and the brothers contended for power for years, with Li Jiancheng aided by another younger brother, Li Yuanji the Prince of Qi. Emperor Taizong of Tang ( January 23, 599 &ndash July 10 649) personal name Lǐ Shìmín ( was the second emperor of the Li Yuanji (李元吉 ( 603 - July 2, 626) formally Prince La of Chao (巢剌王 more commonly known by the title of Prince of Qi In 626, Li Shimin, fearing that Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were about to kill him, laid an ambush for them at Xuanwu Gate outside the palace and killed them. The Incident at Xuanwu Gate (玄武門之變 refers to an incident on July 2, 626, when Li Shimin the Prince of Qin a son of Emperor Gaozu of Tang Li Shimin then effectively forced Emperor Gaozu to yield the throne to him (as Emperor Taizong).
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Background
Li Jiancheng was born in 589, during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui. Events By Place Europe October 17 — The Adige River overflows its banks flooding the church of St Background Yang Jian's clan was from Hongnong Commandery (弘農 roughly modern Sanmenxia, Henan) He was the oldest son of Li Yuan the Duke of Tang, a hereditary noble, and Li Yuan's wife Duchess Dou, who was herself the daughter of Dou Yi (竇毅) the Duke of Shenwu and Northern Zhou's Princess Xiangyang. Background and early career Li Yuan's seventh-generation ancestor was Li Gao, the founder of the Sixteen Kingdoms state Western Liang. The Northern Zhou Dynasty (Chinese北周 followed the Western Wei, and ruled northern China from 557 to 581. Duchess Dou would subsequently give birth to three of Li Jiancheng's younger brothers -- Li Shimin, Li Xuanba (李玄霸, who died in 614), and Li Yuanji. Emperor Taizong of Tang ( January 23, 599 &ndash July 10 649) personal name Lǐ Shìmín ( was the second emperor of the Events By Place Europe The Palace of Diocletian is damaged by the Avars who sack nearby Salona. Li Yuanji (李元吉 ( 603 - July 2, 626) formally Prince La of Chao (巢剌王 more commonly known by the title of Prince of Qi She also gave birth to a sister of Li Jiancheng's, the eventual Princess Pingyang, although it was not clear whether she was older or younger than Li Jiancheng. Princess Píngyáng ( formally Princess Zhao of Pingyang (平陽昭公主 (d At some point, Li Jiancheng received the title of Heir Apparent of Tang. An heir apparent is an Heir who (short of a fundamental change in the situation cannot be displaced from inheriting the term is used in contrast to Heir presumptive
In 616, with agrarian rebellions beginning to engulf northern China and frequent Eastern Tujue incursions across the border, Emperor Yang of Sui commissioned Li Yuan to be the commander of the forces at Taiyuan, guarding it against both agrarian rebels and Eastern Tujue. Events By Place Europe Eadbald succeeds Ethelbert as king of Kent. Göktürks ( Turkish: Gök Türkler) were a Turkic people of ancient Central Asia. Background Yang Guang was born in 569 during the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. Taiyuan ( lit "Great Plains" is a Prefecture-level city and the capital of Shanxi province China. At that time, Li Yuan took Li Shimin with him to Taiyuan, but left Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji, another son Li Zhiyun (李智雲), and the rest of his household at Hedong (河東, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi). Yuncheng ( is the southernmost Prefecture-level city in Shanxi Province, China. ( Postal map spelling: Shansi) is a province in the northern part of the People's Republic of China. In 617, Li Yuan, fearful that Emperor Yang might punish him for his inability to suppress the rebels led by Liu Wuzhou the Dingyang Khan, was persuaded by Li Shimin to rebel against Sui rule. Events By Place Europe Heathens revolt in Kent under king Eadbald. Initial establishment of Dingyang Liu Wuzhou's clan was originally from Hejian Commandery (河間 roughly modern Baoding, Hebei) He then sent secret messengers to Hedong to summon his sons and to the capital Chang'an to summon his daughter and son-in-law Chai Shao (柴紹). Chang'an ( is an ancient Capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history. Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji secretly travelled to Taiyuan, but left the 13-year-old Li Zhiyun at Hedong.
Participation in Tang's founding
Even before Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji, and Chai Shao (who, at the urging of Li Yuan's daughter, left Chang'an on his own while she went into hiding) arrived at Taiyuan, Li Yuan rebelled, declaring that he wanted to support Emperor Yang's grandson Yang You the Prince of Dai, then nominally in charge at Chang'an, as emperor, while honoring Emperor Yang as Taishang Huang (retired emperor). During Emperor Yang's reign Yang You was born in 605 as a son of Yang Zhao, the son and Crown prince of Emperor Yang. An emperor (from the Latin " Imperator " is a (male Monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an Empire or another type of Taishang-huang ( was a Chinese title sometimes translated in English as Retired Emperor, Grand Emperor or Emperor Emeritus used throughout In response, Sui officials arrested Li Zhiyun, took him to Chang'an, and executed him.
Li Yuan made both Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin key generals, and in nine days, they captured Xihe Commandery (西河, roughly modern Lüliang, Shanxi), impressing their father. Lüliang (吕梁; Pinyin: Lǚlíang is a Prefecture-level city in Shanxi province in China. ( Postal map spelling: Shansi) is a province in the northern part of the People's Republic of China. Subsequently, Li Yuan divided his forces into six armies, having Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin command three each. He also created Li Jiancheng the Duke of Longxi and Li Shimin the Duke of Dunhuang. Subsequently, Li Yuan advanced toward Chang'an, but when he got near to Hedong, his army could not advance due to torrential rains. With rumors running rampant that Liu Wuzhou and Eastern Tujue were about to attack Taiyuan, Li Yuan began ordering a retreat back to Taiyuan; it was only at Li Jiancheng's and Li Shimin's urging (that retreating back to Taiyuan would mean sure defeat) that Li Yuan changed his mind and stayed, and Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin then captured the fortress of Huoyi (霍邑, in modern Linfen, Shanxi), eventually convincing Li Yuan to bypass Hedong and directly advance toward Chang'an. Linfen ( is a Prefecture-level city in southern Shanxi province People's Republic of China. ( Postal map spelling: Shansi) is a province in the northern part of the People's Republic of China. After he crossed the Yellow River into Guanzhong (i. The Yellow River or Huang He / Hwang Ho ( Hatan Gol Queen river) is the second-longest river in China (after the Yangtze River) and the Guanzhong ( 關中) ( lit Center of Passes or Guanzhong Plain historically refers to an area that was closed by Hangu Pass to the east Dasan Pass e. , the Chang'an region), he sent Li Jiancheng with Liu Wenjing (劉文靜) east to guard Tong Pass and Yongfeng Storage (永豐倉) and to stop any potential Sui reinforcements from the eastern capital Luoyang. Tongguan County ( Chinese: 潼关县 Pinyin: Tóngguān Xiàn literally meaning Tong Pass County is a county in Weinan, Shaanxi Luoyang ( is a Prefecture-level city in western Henan province, People's Republic of China. Once Li Yuan himself approached Chang'an, he summoned both Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin (whom he had sent north of the Wei River to seize territory) to Chang'an to join him in sieging Chang'an. The Wei River ( Simplified Chinese:渭河 Pinyin: Wei He Wade-Giles: Wei Ho is a River in west-central China and is the largest In winter 617, Li Yuan captured Chang'an and declared Yang You emperor (as Emperor Gong). He had himself created the Prince of Tang, become the regent over Emperor Gong. A regent, from the Latin regens "who reigns" is a person selected to act as Head of state (ruling or not because the ruler is a minor
In spring 618, Li Yuan sent Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin toward Luoyang, which was then under attack by the rebel leader Li Mi the Duke of Wei, ostensibly to help Sui forces there. Events By Place Asia The Sui Dynasty ends and the Tang Dynasty begins in China. Background Li Mi came from a line that was part of the nobility during successive dynasties Western Wei, Northern Zhou, and Sui Dynasty. The Sui forces at Luoyang rejected the overture, and Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin subsequently returned to Chang'an.
Later in spring 618, Emperor Yang, then at Jiangdu (江都, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu), was killed in a coup led by the general Yuwen Huaji. Administration The Prefecture-level city of Yangzhou administers 7 county-level divisions. ( Postal map spelling: Kiangsu) is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country Background It is not known when Yuwen Huaji was born He was the oldest son of the Sui Dynasty official Yuwen Shu, a close associate of Yang Guang When the news arrived at Chang'an, Li Yuan had Emperor Gong yield the throne to him, establishing Tang Dynasty as its Emperor Gaozu. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by Emperor Gaozu created Li Jiancheng crown prince. Crown Princess redirects here for the ship see Crown Princess (ship.
In 619, Emperor Gaozu sent Li Jiancheng to attack the agrarian leader Zhu Shanhai (祝山海) the Duke of Huxiang, and Li Jiancheng defeated Zhu. Events By Place Byzantine Empire The Avars attack Constantinople. Later that year, when Li Gui the Emperor of Liang was captured in a coup by his official An Xinggui (安興貴), who then submitted to Tang, Emperor Gaozu sent Li Jiancheng to welcome An and to escort Li Gui to Chang'an, where Emperor Gaozu executed him. As prince Li Gui was from Wuwei Commandery (武威 roughly modern Wuwei, Gansu) and he served as a militia officer in the local government
Meanwhile, Li Jiancheng was developing a reputation for leniency but favoring drinking and hunting. Emperor Gaozu, worried that he was not paying sufficient attention to the important matters of state, had the key ministers Li Gang (李綱) and Zheng Shanguo (鄭善果) join Li Jiancheng's staff.
In fall 620, believing in reports that Li Zhongwen (李仲文), who was then in charge at Taiyuan, was collaborating with Eastern Tujue, was planning to rebel, Emperor Gaozu sent Li Jiancheng to Pufan (蒲反, i. Events By Place Byzantine Empire The Slavs attack Thessaloniki. e. , Hedong) to guard against Li Zhongwen, while summoning Li Zhongwen back to the capital. Li Zhongwen complied and was subsequently executed.
In spring 621, when the Xiongnu chieftain Liu Xiancheng (劉仚成) harassed Tang's border territory, Emperor Gaozu sent Li Jiancheng to attack Liu. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Byzantine Emperor Heraclius invades Persia. The Xiongnu ( Turkish: Doğu Hun were a confederation of nomadic tribes from Central Asia with a ruling class of unknown origin and other subjugated tribes When Li Jiancheng subsequently captured a number of the Xiongnu, he initially released their leaders, leading them to surrender in large numbers, and he then massacred them. Only Liu escaped and fled to Liang Shidu the Emperor of Liang. Initial uprising Liang Shidu was from a prominent Clan of Xia Province (夏州 roughly modern Yulin, Shaanxi) and during the reign of In 622, Li Jiancheng was one of the commanders that Emperor Gaozu sent, along with Li Shimin, Li Zihe (李子和), and Duan Decao (段德操), to counter an Eastern Tujue incursion. Events Religion July 16 — Year one of the Islamic calendar begins during which the Hijra occurs — Prophet Muhammad
Rivalry with Li Shimin
Meanwhile, an intense rivalry had developed between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, who carried the title of Prince of Qin, as while Li Jiancheng had some contributions toward Tang's reunification of China, a number of the more major contenders, including Xue Rengao the Emperor of Qin, Wang Shichong the Emperor of Zheng, and Dou Jiande the Prince of Xia, were all defeated and/or captured by Li Shimin, causing him to possess the greater reputation among the army. Under Xue Ju As of 617 Xue Rengao's father Xue Ju was a commander of the local militia at Jincheng (金城 in modern Lanzhou, Gansu) when Early career Wang Shichong's ancestors were surnamed Zhi (支 originally from the Xiyu region and were not Han. Initial uprising and service under Gao Shida Dou Jiande was born in 573 when his birth area Zhangnan County (漳南縣 in modern Handan, Hebei) was under Li Yuanji, who was also often relied on by Emperor Gaozu as a general and had been created the Prince of Qi, supported Li Jiancheng in this rivalry, and often pushed Li Jiancheng toward a more hardline position against Li Shimin, wanting to be crown prince when Li Jiancheng would become emperor. Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji had better relations with Emperor Gaozu's favored young concubines than Li Shimin did (as their mother Duchess Dou had died before Tang's establishment), and those concubines helped rehabilitate Li Jiancheng's standing before Emperor Gaozu, causing him to no longer consider making Li Shimin crown prince instead, as he considered at one point. Concubinage is the state of a woman or youth in an ongoing quasi-matrimonial relationship with a man of higher social status
By winter 622, Liu Heita the Prince of Handong, previously a Xia general who rose against Tang after Emperor Gaozu had executed Dou Jiande, posed the only remaining major threat against Tang rule even though he had been defeated by Li Shimin earlier in the year. Events Religion July 16 — Year one of the Islamic calendar begins during which the Hijra occurs — Prophet Muhammad Service under Hao Xiaode Li Mi Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande Little is known about Liu Heita's background and it is not known when he was born At the suggestion of his staff members Wang Gui and Wei Zheng, who argued that Li Jiancheng needed some victories himself to establish his reputation, Li Jiancheng volunteered to command the army against Liu Heita. Wang Gui (王珪 (571-639 Courtesy name Shujie (叔玠 formally Duke Yi of Yongning (永寧懿公 was a chancellor during the reign Wei Zheng ( 580-643 Courtesy name Xuancheng (玄成 formally Duke Wenzhen of Zheng (鄭文貞公 was a Chinese politician and the lead editor Emperor Gaozu thus sent Li Jiancheng, assisted by Li Yuanji. Around the new year 623, with Liu's forced bogged down while attacking Tang's Wei Prefecture (魏州, in modern Handan, Hebei), Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji engaged him at Guantao (館陶, in modern Handan as well), crushing him. Events By Place Europe Clotaire II, king of the Franks, makes his son Dagobert I king of Austrasia Handan ( is a Prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China. ( Postal map spelling: Hopeh) is a northern province of the People's Republic of China. Liu fled north toward Eastern Tujue, but was ambushed and captured by his own official Zhuge Dewei (諸葛德威), who delivered him to Li Jiancheng. Li Jiancheng executed Liu. China was by this point almost completely unified by Tang.
In 623, when Eastern Tujue made another incursion into Tang territory, Emperor Gaozu again sent Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin to guard against the attack. Events By Place Europe Clotaire II, king of the Franks, makes his son Dagobert I king of Austrasia Meanwhile, at one point, Li Yuanji tried to persuade Li Jiancheng to have Li Shimin assassinated when Li Shimin was visiting Li Yuanji's mansion, but Li Jiancheng, not having the heart to kill a brother, stopped Li Yuanji from doing so.
In 624, Li Jiancheng requisitioned a number of soldiers from the general Li Yi the Prince of Yan, to supplement his guard corps, against Emperor Gaozu's regulations. Events By Place Byzantine Empire After 70 years of Visigothic rule the Byzantine Empire recaptures Andalusia Luo Yi (羅藝 (d 627 known during service to Tang Dynasty as Li Yi (李藝 Courtesy name Ziyan (子延 or Ziting (子廷 When this was revealed to Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Gaozu rebuked Li Jiancheng and exiled his guard commander Keda Zhi (可達志). When, subsequently, Li Jiancheng nevertheless requested the commandant at Qing Prefecture (慶州, in modern Qingyang, Gansu), Yang Wen'gan (楊文幹), to conscript troops, presumably to guard against Li Shimin, the officers Erzhu Huan (爾朱煥) and Qiao Gongshan (橋公山) informed Emperor Gaozu that Li Jiancheng was encouraging Yang to start a rebellion so that they could seize power together. Qingyang ( Simplified Chinese: 庆阳 Pinyin: Qìngyáng is a Prefecture-level city in China 's Gansu province ( is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China. Emperor Gaozu, then at Renzhi Palace (仁智宮, in modern Tongchuan, Shaanxi), was incensed, and summoned Li Jiancheng, then at Chang'an, to Renzhi Palace. Tóngchuān (铜川 pinyin: Tóngchuān Shì is a Prefecture-level city located in central Shaanxi Province on the southern fringe of the Northern Shaanxi ( Postal map spelling: Shensi) is a north-central province of the People's Republic of China, and includes portions of the Loess Li Jiancheng briefly flirted the idea of occupying Chang'an and not accepting the order, but eventually reported to Renzhi Palace to request forgiveness. Emperor Gaozu put him under arrest. When Yang heard this, Yang rebelled, and Emperor Gaozu, after promising Li Shimin that he would be made crown prince, sent Li Shimin to attack Yang. (Under Emperor Gaozu's promise, Li Jiancheng would be removed as crown prince and created the Prince of Shu instead. He would then send Li Jiancheng to the modern Sichuan region. ( Postal map spelling: Szechwan and Szechuan) is a province in western China with its capital in Chengdu. ) Once Li Shimin left, however, Li Yuanji, Emperor Gaozu's concubines, and the chancellor Feng Deyi, all spoke on Li Jiancheng's behalf, and Emperor Gaozu changed his mind, released Li Jiancheng, and allowed him to return to Chang'an and remain as crown prince. Chancellor or chancellour (archaic ( Latin: cancellarius) is an official Title used in countries whose civilization has arisen Feng Deyi (封德彝 (568-627 formal name Feng Lun (封倫 but went by the Courtesy name of Deyi formally initially Duke Ming of Mi (密明公 later Instead, Emperor Gaozu only blamed the discord between his sons on Li Jiancheng's staff members Wang Gui and Wei Ting (韋挺), and Li Shimin's staff member Du Yan, exiling them. Du Yan (杜淹 (died 628 Courtesy name Zhili (執禮 formally Duke Xiang of Anji (安吉襄公 was a chancellor during the reign of Yang was subsequently assassinated by his own subordinates.
Later that year, Emperor Gaozu, troubled by repeated Eastern Tujue incursions, seriously considered burning Chang'an to the ground and moving the capital to Fancheng, a suggestion that Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji, and the chancellor Pei Ji agreed with. Fancheng District ( Chinese: 樊城区 is a district of Xiangfan, Hubei, China. Pei Ji (裴寂 (570-629 Courtesy name Xuanzhen (玄真 formally (posthumously created the Duke of Hedong (河東公 was an important official and Li Shimin opposed, however, and the plan was not carried out. Meanwhile, Li Shimin himself was sending his confidants to Luoyang to build up personal control of the army there. After an incident in which Li Shimin suffered a severe case of food poisoning after feasting at Li Jiancheng's palace -- an event that both Emperor Gaozu and Li Shimin apparently interpreted as an assassination attempt -- Emperor Gaozu considered sending Li Shimin to guard Luoyang to prevent further conflict, but Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, after consulting each other, believed that this would only give Li Shimin an opportunity to build up his personal power there, and therefore opposed it. Emperor Gaozu therefore did not carry out the plan.
Death
- See also: Incident at Xuanwu Gate
By 626, Li Shimin was fearful that he would be killed by Li Jiancheng, and his staff members Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Zhangsun Wuji were repeatedly encouraging Li Shimin to attack Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji first -- while Wei Zheng was encouraging Li Jiancheng to attack Li Shimin first. The Incident at Xuanwu Gate (玄武門之變 refers to an incident on July 2, 626, when Li Shimin the Prince of Qin a son of Emperor Gaozu of Tang Events By Place Byzantine Empire The Byzantines defeat the Avars and Slavs, who were besieging Constantinople Fang Xuanling (房玄齡 (579–648 formal name Fang Qiao (房喬 but went by the Courtesy name of Xuanling formally Duke Wenzhao of Liang (梁文昭公 Du Ruhui (杜如晦 (585-630 Courtesy name Keming (克明 formally Duke Cheng of Lai (萊成公 was one of the most celebrated chancellors Zhangsun Wuji (長孫無忌 (d 659 Courtesy name Fuji (輔機 formally Duke of Zhao (趙公 was a chancellor of the Chinese Li Jiancheng persuaded Emperor Gaozu to remove Fang and Du, as well as Li Shimin's trusted guard officers Yuchi Jingde and Cheng Zhijie (程知節), from Li Shimin's staff. Yuchi Jingde (尉遲敬德 (585-658 formal name Yuchi Gong (尉遲恭 but went by the Courtesy name of Jingde formally Duke Zhongwu of E (鄂忠武公 Zhangsun, who remained on Li Shimin's staff, continued to try to persuade Li Shimin to attack first.
In summer 626, Eastern Tujue was making another attack, and under Li Jiancheng's suggestion, Emperor Gaozu, instead of sending Li Shimin to resist Eastern Tujue as he first was inclined, decided to send Li Yuanji instead. Li Yuanji was given command of much of the army previously under Li Shimin's control, further troubling Li Shimin, who believed that with the army in Li Yuanji's hands, he would be unable to resist an attack. Li Shimin had Yuchi summon Fang and Du back to his mansion secretly, and then on one night submitted an accusation to Emperor Gaozu that Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were committing adultery with Emperor Gaozu's concubines. Emperor Gaozu, in response, issued summonses to Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji for the next morning, convening the senior officials Pei Ji, Xiao Yu, and Chen Shuda to examine Li Shimin's accusations. Xiao Yu (蕭瑀 (574-647 Courtesy name Shiwen (時文 formally Duke Zhenbian of Song (宋貞褊公 was an imperial prince of the Chinese Chen Shuda (陳叔達 (died 635 Courtesy name Zicong (子聰 formally initially Duke Miao of Jiang (江繆公 later Duke Zhong of Jiang As Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji approached the central gate leading to Emperor Gaozu's palace, Xuanwu Gate (玄武門), Li Shimin carried out the ambush he had set. He personally fired an arrow that killed Li Jiancheng. Subsequently, Yuchi killed Li Yuanji. Li Shimin's forces entered the palace and, under the intimidation of Li Shimin's forces, Emperor Gaozu agreed to create Li Shimin crown prince, and two months later passed the throne to him (as Emperor Taizong). Li Jiancheng's five sons were all executed as well.
Li Jiancheng was initially posthumously reduced to commoner rank. After Emperor Taizong took the throne, he posthumously created Li Jiancheng the Prince of Xi and adopted his own son Li Fu (李福) into Li Jiancheng's line as Li Jiancheng's heir. He also buried Li Jiancheng with ceremonies due an imperial prince. In 642, he restored Li Jiancheng's crown prince title. Events By Place Europe August 5 — In the Battle of Maserfield, Penda, king of Mercia defeats and
Notes
- ^ The date of the incident at Xuanwu Gate was the fourth day of the sixth month of the Wude era, which translates to July 2, 626, according to the Academia Sinica. The Incident at Xuanwu Gate (玄武門之變 refers to an incident on July 2, 626, when Li Shimin the Prince of Qin a son of Emperor Gaozu of Tang The Academia Sinica ( "Chinese Academy" in Latin) headquartered in the Nangang District of Taipei, is the National academy [1].
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