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 dynasty Liang Dynasty who later became an official for Sui Dynasty and Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor at times during the reigns of Emperor Gaozu of Tang and Emperor Taizong of Tang. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Emperor Justin II retires choosing Tiberius II Constantine as his heir For the Canadian area code see Area code 416/647. Events By Place Asia A stone tower Astronomical A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name ( zì) is a given name to be used later in life Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River ( valley in the Neolithic era Liang Dynasty ( 梁[[wikt 朝|朝]] Pinyin: Liáng cháo (502-557 also known as Southern Liang Dynasty (南梁 was the third of Southern dynasties The Sui Dynasty ( 581 - 618 AD and in the undertaking of other construction projects including the reconstruction of the Great Wall. 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 The chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (唐朝宰相 was an office that was semi-formally designated for a number of high level officials at one time during the Chinese 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

Background

Xiao Yu was born in 574, during the reign of his father Emperor Ming of Western Liang, who claimed the throne of Liang Dynasty but whose territory was limited to a small amount of territory around his capital Jiangling. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Emperor Justin II retires choosing Tiberius II Constantine as his heir Background Xiao Kui was born in 542 during the reign of his great-grandfather Emperor Wu of Liang. Liang Dynasty ( 梁[[wikt 朝|朝]] Pinyin: Liáng cháo (502-557 also known as Southern Liang Dynasty (南梁 was the third of Southern dynasties Emperor Ming was at that time also a vassal of the much larger Northern Zhou, and received protection from Northern Zhou forces against rival Chen Dynasty. The Northern Zhou Dynasty (Chinese北周 followed the Western Wei, and ruled northern China from 557 to 581. Chen Dynasty (陳朝 ( Pinyin: Chén cháo (557-589 was the fourth and the last of the Southern dynasties in China, eventually destroyed by the Sui (As Emperor Ming and his father Emperor Xuan had little territory and relied on protection by Northern Zhou and its predecessor state Western Wei and successor state Sui Dynasty (which took over Northern Zhou in 581), traditional historians often did not consider them true emperors of Liang Dynasty. Early life Xiao Cha was born in 519 as the third son of Xiao Tong, then the Crown prince to Liang Dynasty 's founder Emperor Wu. The Western Wèi Dynasty (Chinese西魏 followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 535 to 556. The Sui Dynasty ( 581 - 618 AD and in the undertaking of other construction projects including the reconstruction of the Great Wall. Events By Place Europe Tauric Chersonesus is besieged by the Gokturks. ) In 582, Xiao Yu was created the Prince of Xin'an. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Maurice succeeds Tiberius II Constantine as Emperor He was known for his filial piety.

During Emperor Wen's reign

In or around 582, Xiao Yu's older sister married Yang Guang the Prince of Jin, a son of Sui's founder Emperor Wen of Sui, to be his princess. Background Yang Guang was born in 569 during the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. Background Yang Jian's clan was from Hongnong Commandery (弘農 roughly modern Sanmenxia, Henan) Xiao Yu followed her to the Sui capital Chang'an, and he became known for studiousness and proper actions there. Chang'an ( is an ancient Capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history. He was particularly attentive in studying Buddhist sutras and became a devout Buddhist, spending much of his time discussing Buddhism with monks. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Displeased with the work Essay on Predestination (辯命論, Bianming Lun), authored by the Liang Dynasty author Liu Xiaobiao (劉孝標), he wrote a work entitled, Essay on Non-Predestination (非辯命論, Fei Bianming Lun) intended to refute it. Liang Dynasty ( 梁[[wikt 朝|朝]] Pinyin: Liáng cháo (502-557 also known as Southern Liang Dynasty (南梁 was the third of Southern dynasties (Only the first paragraph of the preface survives, and it states, "Man is born from heaven and earth. Of course predestination is involved. However, good fortune and ill fortune also depend on man himself. If one believes that it is all predestination, he would be foolish. ") The work was praised by the scholars on Yang Guang's staff.

In 585, Emperor Ming died and was succeeded by his oldest son and Xiao Yu's older brother Xiao Cong (as Emperor Jing). Events By Place Europe The Suebi kingdom on the Iberian peninsula is conquered by the Visigoths under King Background It is not known when Xiao Cong was born and his mother's name is also lost in history In 587, when Emperor Wen summoned Emperor Jing to Chang'an to meet him, Xiao Yu's uncle Xiao Yan (蕭巖) and brother Xiao Huan (蕭瓛), believing that a Sui army sent to Jiangling was intending to attack it, surrendered to Chen. For the processor see NexGen Nx587. Events By Place Europe Sledda becomes king of Essex When Emperor Wen heard of this, he abolished Liang and annexed its territory, creating Emperor Jing the Duke of Ju. Liang was at its end, although its imperial clan members, including Xiao Yu, continued to be treated well by Emperor Wen. In 600, after Yang Guang displaced his older brother Yang Yong as crown prince, Xiao Yu continued to serve on Yang Guang's staff, as a guard commander. Events By Place World The population of the Earth rises to about 208 million people Yang Yong ( 楊[[wikt 勇|勇]] (d 604 nickname Xiandifa (睍地伐 sometimes known by his posthumous title of Prince of Fangling (房陵王 was a Crown Princess redirects here for the ship see Crown Princess (ship.

During Emperor Yang's reign

In 604, Emperor Wen died -- a death that traditional historians generally believed to be a murder ordered by Yang Guang but admitted a lack of direct evidence -- and was succeeded by Yang Guang (as Emperor Yang). Events By Place Ancient Japan Prince Shotoku issues a Seventeen-article constitution. Xiao Yu, whose sister Crown Princess Xiao became empress, was made a military recruiting officer. An emperor (from the Latin " Imperator " is a (male Monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an Empire or another type of When, at one point, Xiao Yu became suddenly ill, he ordered that no medical treatment be carried out, believing that this would be a good time for him to be relieved from governmental service. However, when Empress Xiao heard this, she visited him and rebuked him, pointing out that this kind of behavior might in fact bring punishment from Emperor Yang. After he recovered, he became more interested in governmental service, and was at one point made the Neishi Shilang (內史侍郎), the assistant head of the legislative bureau of government, and Emperor Yang entrusted him with many secret matters, as Xiao Yu was his brother-in-law. However, later on he was demoted because he often gave suggestions that offended Emperor Yang.

In 615, when Emperor Yang was visiting Yanmen (雁門, in modern Xinzhou, Shanxi), on the northern border, Eastern Tujue's Shibi Khan, Ashina Duojishi, launched a surprise attack and put Yanmen under siege. Events By Place Europe The Edict of Paris grants extensive rights to the Frankish nobility Xinzhou ( Chinese: 忻州 Pinyin: Xīnzhōu is a Prefecture-level city of the People's Republic of China province of Shanxi. ( Postal map spelling: Shansi) is a province in the northern part of the People's Republic of China. Göktürks ( Turkish: Gök Türkler) were a Turkic people of ancient Central Asia. Shibi or Tujieli (Tuochich shipi ship-qaghan 始畢可汗 Duojishi 咄吉世 611 - 619 AD succeeded Kimen khagan as the ninth Khagan of the Emperor Yang panicked and did not know what to do. Xiao Yu, who had accompanied Emperor Yang to Yanmen, suggested that messengers be sent to Ashina Duojishi's wife, the Sui princess Princess Yicheng, as Tujue customs dictated that the khan's wife be in charge of military matters at home while he was away. Princess Yicheng subsequently sent false information to Ashina Duojishi, stating that Eastern Tujue was under attack from the north, and Ashina Duojishi lifted the siege. However, after the siege was lifted, Emperor Yang, instead of rewarding Xiao Yu, became embarrassed, stating, "Tujue forces were simply being rebellions and lacked tactical cohesion, and would have soon scattered. Just because they did not do so immediately, Xiao Yu was frightened; this is unforgiveable. " He demoted Xiao Yu to the governorship of Hechi Commandery (河池, in modern Baoji, Shaanxi) and immediately ordered him to get on his way. Baoji (宝鸡 Pinyin: bǎo jī is a Prefecture-level city in southwest Shaanxi province, China. ( Postal map spelling: Shensi) is a north-central province of the People's Republic of China, and includes portions of the Loess When Xiao Yu got to Hechi Commandery, there were agrarian rebels in the mountains, numbering over 10,000, whom the commandery government was unable to control. Xiao Yu reorganized the commandery militia and attacked them, forcing them to surrender. Subsequently, when Xue Ju rebelled at Jincheng Commandery (金城, roughly modern Lanzhou, Gansu) and attacked east, Xiao Yu blocked Xue's path, and Xue was not able to advance further at that point. 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 Lanzhou ( Postal map spelling: Lanchow is a Prefecture-level city and capital of Gansu province in northwestern China. ( is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.

During Emperor Gong's reign

In winter 617, the general Li Yuan the Duke of Tang, who had rebelled at Taiyuan earlier that year, captured Chang'an and declared Emperor Yang's grandson Yang You the Prince of Dai emperor (as Emperor Gong). Background and early career Li Yuan's seventh-generation ancestor was Li Gao, the founder of the Sixteen Kingdoms state Western Liang. Taiyuan ( lit "Great Plains" is a Prefecture-level city and the capital of Shanxi province China. 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. Li Yuan assumed power as regent, and he wrote to Xiao Yu, requesting that Xiao submit. 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 Xiao agreed, and was made the minister of census and created the Duke of Song. In spring 618, during an abortive campaign where Li Yuan sent his sons Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin with an army to the eastern capital Luoyang to try to get Sui officials there to submit, Xiao served on Li Shimin's staff. Events By Place Asia The Sui Dynasty ends and the Tang Dynasty begins in China. Li Jiancheng (李建成 ( 589 - July 2, 626) formally Crown Prince Yin (隱太子 literally "the hidden crown prince" nickname Emperor Taizong of Tang ( January 23, 599 &ndash July 10 649) personal name Lǐ Shìmín ( was the second emperor of the Luoyang ( is a Prefecture-level city in western Henan province, People's Republic of China.

During Emperor Gaozu's reign

Also in spring 618, Emperor Yang was killed at Jiangdu (江都, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) in a coup lead 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 reached 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 He made Xiao Yu Neishi Ling (內史令), the head of the legislative bureau of the government (內史省, Neishi Sheng) and a post considered one for a chancellor, and he entrusted Xiao with some of the most important matters of state. The chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (唐朝宰相 was an office that was semi-formally designated for a number of high level officials at one time during the Chinese Whenever Emperor Gaozu held imperial gatherings, he would allow Xiao to sit next to him, and particularly, because Xiao had married a member of the Dugu clan, from which Emperor Gaozu's mother Lady Dugu also came, Emperor Gaozu referred to him endearingly as "Master Xiao. " Xiao took the matters of state seriously and was not afraid of offending others in offering suggestions, and people feared him. When Li Shimin was made the governor of the capital prefecture Yong Prefecture (雍州, i. e. , Chang'an and its surrounding counties), Xiao was given the additional title of commandant of Yong Prefecture. In 619, he and Pei Ji were in charge of interrogating one of the major initial contributors to Emperor Gaozu, Liu Wenjing, who had been arrested on suspicion of treason. Events By Place Byzantine Empire The Avars attack Constantinople. 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 Liu Wenjing (劉文靜 (568-619 Courtesy name Zhaoren (肇仁 formally the Duke of Lu (魯公 was an important official and one-time chancellor Both he and Li Gang (李綱), as well as Li Shimin, tried to intercede on Liu's behalf, but Emperor Gaozu nevertheless executed Liu on Pei's recommendations. Later, after the legislative bureau was renamed Zhongshu Sheng (中書省) in 620, Xiao Yu remained its head with the new title of Zhongshu Ling (中書令). Events By Place Byzantine Empire The Slavs attack Thessaloniki. Per Xiao's recommendations, Emperor Gaozu made Feng Deyi Zhongshu Ling as well, sharing the position with Xiao. 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 In 621, he was similarly put in charge, along with Pei and Chen Shuda, of interrogating Li Zhognwen (李仲文) the Duke of Zhenxiang, who was also charged with treason, and while Xiao's recommendations were unclear, Li Zhongwen was also executed. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Byzantine Emperor Heraclius invades Persia. 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

At times, when Emperor Gaozu issued edicts, he wanted the legislative bureau to promulgate them quickly, but Xiao did not do so. When Emperor Gaozu rebuked him, Xiao pointed out that during Emperor Yang's reign, the edicts were issued quickly, and while officials had valid reservations, they did not dare to speak against it. He wanted the edicts to be issued only after greater examination, and so was not issuing them as quickly. Emperor Gaozu agreed. Meanwhile, as Xiao's property was initially seized by Emperor Gaozu when he first entered Chang'an to be awarded to the military officers with accomplishments, Emperor Gaozu returned the property to Xiao. Xiao divided the property and distributed it to his clan members, only keeping the family shrine so thathe could sacrifice to the ancestors. After Li Shimin destroyed a major rival, Wang Shichong the Emperor of Zheng, in 621, Xiao, who served under Li Shimin during the campaign and was credited with some of the strategies (as well as charged with collecting the Sui imperial treasury stores at the Zheng capital Luoyang), was given 2,000 additional households as part of his fief and made one of the deputy heads of the important executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), Shangshu Pushe, still considered a chancellor position. Early career Wang Shichong's ancestors were surnamed Zhi (支 originally from the Xiyu region and were not Han. As Shangshu Pushe, Xiao was considered diligent but biased, as well as harsh, and he did not have as good of a reputation.

In 626, when Fu Yi (傅奕) the director of the imperial astronomical observatory, a Confucian, submitted a proposal to ban Buddhism on the grounds that Buddhism was leading to corruption and abuses within the government, Xiao, as a devout Buddhist, debated with Fu earnestly before Emperor Gaozu. Events By Place Byzantine Empire The Byzantines defeat the Avars and Slavs, who were besieging Constantinople Confucianism ( is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the fifth century B He was unable to prevail over Fu in the debate, and Emperor Gaozu issued an edict severely limiting the number of Buddhist temples, although the edict did not appear to be seriously carried out.

Later in 626, Li Shimin, then in an intense rivalry with Li Jiancheng, who had been made crown prince as the oldest son, feared that Li Jiancheng was about to kill him. He submitted a secret petition to Emperor Gaozu accusing Li Jiancheng and another brother, Li Yuanji the Prince of Qin, who supported Li Jiancheng, of committing adultery with Emperor Gaozu's concubines and plotting to kill him. 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 Concubinage is the state of a woman or youth in an ongoing quasi-matrimonial relationship with a man of higher social status Emperor Gaozu, shocked by the accusations, summoned Xiao, along with Pei and Chen, to prepare to act on the accusations the next morning. Meanwhile, Li Shimin set an ambush for Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji at Xuanwu Gate outside Emperor Gaozu's palace, and when Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji approached Xuanwu Gate in the morning, Li Shimin killed them, and then sent his general Yuchi Jingde into the palace, claiming to be protecting Emperor Gaozu. 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 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 Emperor Gaozu, realizing how serious the situation was, asked Pei, Xiao, and Chen for advice, and Xiao and Chen advised him to create Li Shimin crown prince to placate him. Emperor Gaozu did so, and two months later passed the throne to Li Shimin, who took the throne as Emperor Taizong.

During Emperor Taizong's reign

Initially, Xiao Yu remained chancellor, but was soon conflicting with Feng Deyi, who was also chancellor, as Shangshu Pushe (by this point heads of the executive bureau, as Li Shimin previously was head of the executive bureau, but his title Shangshu Ling had thus become a title that his subjects did not dare to take), over Feng's frequent changes of things that they had already agreed on, as well as some other new chancellors that Emperor Taizong had trusted and commissioned, including Fang Xuanling and Gao Shilian. 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 Gao Shilian (高士廉 ( 576 - February 14, 647) formal name Gao Jian (高儉 but went by the Courtesy name of Shilian formally In anger, Xiao submitted a secret petition to Emperor Taizong denouncing Feng, but the petition was inartfully written, offending Emperor Taizong. Meanwhile, an incident occurred where Xiao and Chen Shuda argued before Emperor Taizong, and both were removed from their posts. In summer 627, however, after Feng's death, Emperor Taizong against made Xiao Shangshu Pushe. Events By Place Byzantine Empire December 12 — Battle of Nineveh: Emperor Heraclius defeats the Persians ending Later that year, Emperor Taizong discussed attacking Eastern Tujue, which Xiao favored, but Zhangsun Wuji opposed, and therefore Emperor Taizong did not carry out the attack. 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 However, when Emperor Taizong asked Xiao how he felt that the life of the dynasty could be extended, Xiao suggested enfeoffing the imperial princes, and Emperor Taizong agreed and began considering doing so. Around the new year 628, Xiao was again removed from his position, for reasons not stated in history, although in spring 630 he was made a de facto chancellor as imperial censor. Events By Place Europe Pippin of Landen becomes Mayor of the Palace in Austrasia. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Serbs settle in the Balkans having been invited by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius Later that year, he accused the general Li Jing, after defeating and capturing Eastern Tujue's Jiali Khan Ashina Duobi, of allowing his soldiers to plunder Tujue's treasures, but Emperor Taizong took no actions against Li Jing, on account of Li Jing's great accomplishment. Li Jing (李靖 Pinyin: Lǐ Jìng ( 571 - July 2, 649) né Yaoshi (藥師/药师 Pinyin: Yàoshī formally Jiali Khan ( Bagatur-Shad Il-khan Chieli Kara-Khieli Hieli Jiele Duobi 咄苾 Illig-Qaghan Kara Kagan) later Tang posthumous title Prince Huang of Guiyi (歸義荒王 Meanwhile, Xiao continued to be arrogant and harsh and was again not getting along with the other chancellors. It was said that when Fang, Wei Zheng, and Wen Yanbo had minor faults, Xiao submitted accusations against them which Emperor Taizong did not act on, and Xiao became displeased from it. 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 Wen Yanbo (溫彥博 (575-637 formal name Wen Dalin (溫大臨 but went by the Courtesy name of Yanbo formally Duke Gong of Yu (虞恭公 was a key In fall 630, Emperor Taizong made him an advisor to his son and crown prince Li Chengqian, no longer a chancellor. Li Chéngqián (李承乾 (619?- January 5, 645) Courtesy name Gaoming (高明 formally Prince Min of Hengshan (恆山愍王

In 634, Emperor Taizong commissioned 13 officials to examine the circuits in the empire, to see whether the local officials were capable, to find out whether the people were suffering, to comfort the poor, and to select capable people to serve in civil service. Events By Place Oswald of Northumbria defeats Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd in the Battle of Heavenfield and Xiao Yu was made the examiner of Henan Circuit (河南道, roughly modern Henan and Shandong), but on his mission, he overly punished an official who did not listen to the people under him about their suffering by putting him in a block, causing that official's death. Henan ( is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country ( is a coastal province of eastern People's Republic of China. Emperor Taizong, however, did not punish him. In 635, Emperor Taizong again made him de facto chancellor, once stating:

After the sixth year of the Wude era [i. Events By Topic Religion Saint Aidan founds Lindisfarne in Northumbria, England e. , 623], Emperor Gaozu considered deposing the crown prince and making me crown prince, but could not resolve to do so. Events By Place Europe Clotaire II, king of the Franks, makes his son Dagobert I king of Austrasia I was not tolerated by my brothers, and I often feared that instead of being rewarded for my accomplishments, I would be punished. But Xiao Yu was not tempted by material goods or threatened by death, and he was truly a pillar for the empire.

He also wrote a poem to Xiao Yu, including these two lines:

Only in a gust of wind can the strong among the grass be known,

Only in turmoil can the faithful subjects be seen.

He further stated to Xiao, "Your faithfulness and honesty cannot be exceeded even by the holy men of old times. However, your overzealousness to distinguish good and bad sometimes makes you difficult to tolerate. "

In 643, Emperor Taizong commissioned 24 portraits at Lingyan Pavilion to commemorate the contributions of the 24 great contributions to Tang Dynasty. Events By Place Europe Rothari King of the Lombards, issues the Lombard law code The Portraits at Lingyan Pavilion (凌煙閣畫像 refer to the 24 portraits that Emperor Taizong of Tang commissioned the great painter Yan Liben to paint on Lingyan Xiao's was one of the portraits. Later that year, Li Chengqian, fearful that Emperor Taizong was considering replacing him with his younger and more favored brother Li Tai the Prince of Wei, plotted with the general Hou Junji to overthrow Emperor Taizong. Li Tai (李泰 Pinyin: Lǐ Tài (618- December 15, 652) Courtesy name Huibao (惠褒 nickname Qingque (青雀 formally Hou Junji (侯君集 (d April 29, 643) was a major general and chancellor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, particularly known When the plot was discovered, Emperor Taizong commissioned Xiao, along with Zhangsun, Fang, Li Shiji, and officials from the supreme court, the legislative bureau, and the examination bureau, to investigate. 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 As a result of the investigation, Hou and many other conspirators were ordered to commit suicide or were executed, while Li Chengqian was reduced to commoner rank. Soon thereafter, Emperor Taizong, believing that Li Tai had played a role in Li Chengqian's downfall, created another son, Li Zhi the Prince of Jin, crown prince, instead of Li Tai, and Xiao was made a senior advisor of the new crown prince. Background and life as Prince of Jin Li Zhi was born in 628 He was the ninth son of his father Emperor Taizong, and the third son of his mother Emperor Taizong's wife Xiao was given a newly created title for a de facto chancellor as well, Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品). In 645, when Emperor Taizong commanded a major campaign against Goguryeo, he put Xiao in charge of Luoyang as well as the logistics of shipping supplies to the frontline. Events By Place Byzantine Empire The Byzantines recapture Alexandria from the Arabs Asia

In 646, Xiao was again in discord with the other chancellors, going as far as accusing Fang of factionalism bordering on treason. Events An edict of the Taika Reforms is promulgated in Japan Alexandria is recaptured by the Arabs after a Byzantine Emperor Taizong was also displeased with Xiao over his requesting to become a Buddhist monk at one point around this time and then changing his mind. In winter 646, he issued an edict extensively accusing Xiao of being overly obsessed with Buddhism -- citing Xiao's ancestor Emperor Wu of Liang and Emperor Wu's son Emperor Jianwen of Liang as examples that Xiao was falling into the traps of. Background Xiao Yan was born in 464 during the reign of Emperor Xiaowu of Liu Song. Background Xiao Gang was born in 503 as the third son of Emperor Wu. He demoted Xiao to the post of prefect of Shang Prefecture (商州, roughly modern Shangluo, Shaanxi), but also cancelled Xiao's title as Duke of Song. Shangluo ( Chinese: 商洛 Pinyin: Shāngluò is a Prefecture-level city in Shaanxi province of the People's Republic of China. ( Postal map spelling: Shensi) is a north-central province of the People's Republic of China, and includes portions of the Loess In 647, however, Emperor Taizong recalled Xiao to be an imperial advisor (but not chancellor) and restored his title of Duke of Song. For the Canadian area code see Area code 416/647. Events By Place Asia A stone tower Astronomical

In 648, while accompanying Emperor Taizong at Yuhua Palace (玉華宮, in modern Tongchuan, Shaanxi), Xiao grew ill and died. Events By Topic Religion Pope Theodore I excommunicates Patriarch Paul II of Constantinople 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 The ministry of ceremonies suggested, as a posthumous name, De (德, meaning "virtuous"), while the executive bureau suggested Su (肅, meaning, "solemn"). A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty nobles and sometimes others in some cultures after the person's death Emperor Taizong, however, disagreed with both, stating that posthumous names should be particularly reflective of people's characters, and he chose Zhenbian (貞褊, meaning "honest but harsh") instead.

References

• Book of Sui, vol. The Book of Sui ( was the official history of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty, and it ranks among the official Twenty-Four Histories of imperial 79. [1]
• History of Northern Dynasties, vol. The History of Northern Dynasties ( is one of the official Chinese historical works in the Twenty-Four Histories canon 93. [2]
• Book of Tang, vol. The Book of Tang ( or the Old Book of Tang (舊唐書/旧唐书 is the first classic work about the Tang Dynasty. 63. [3]
• New Book of Tang, vol. The New Book of Tang ( is a classic work of history about the Tang Dynasty edited by Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi (宋祁 and other official scholars of the 101. [4]
• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. The Zizhi Tongjian ( was a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography. 182, 184, 185, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 196, 197, 198, 199.