Prince Zhanghuai
Li Xian | |
---|---|
Crown Prince Zhanghuai | |
Crown Prince of the Tang dynasty | |
Reign | 675–680 |
Predecessor | Li Hong |
Successor | Emperor Zhongzong of Tang |
Prince of Yong 雍王 | |
Reign | 673–675 |
Prince of Pei 沛王 | |
Reign | 662–673 |
Prince of Lu 潞王 | |
Reign | 655–662 |
Born | 29 January 655 |
Died | 13 March 684 | (aged 29)
Spouse | Lady Fang (Princess of Yong) Lady Zhang (Liangdi) |
Issue | Li Guangshun, Prince of Lu Li Shouli Li Shouyi, Prince of Bi Princess Changshun |
Father | Emperor Gaozong of Tang |
Mother | Wu Zetian |
Li Xian (Chinese:
In 706, his younger brother Emperor Zhongzong provided Li Xian with an honorable burial by interring his remains at the Qianling Mausoleum.
Background
[edit]Li Xian was born on 29 January 655, as the sixth son of Emperor Gaozong and the second son of his then-favorite concubine Consort Wu (later known as Wu Zetian). There were, however, persistent rumors inside the palace that he was not actually born of Consort Wu but of her older sister Wu Shun (who was later created the Lady of Han).
In 655, the same year that his mother Consort Wu displaced Emperor Gaozong's first wife Empress Wang as empress, Li Xian was created the Prince of Lu. In 656, he was initially titularly given the post of prefect of Qi Prefecture (岐州, roughly modern Baoji, Shaanxi), and then the dual posts as prefect of the capital prefecture Yong Prefecture (雍州, roughly modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) and commandant at You Prefecture (
It was said that his behavior was elegant, even in his youth, and, according to a comment that Emperor Gaozong made to the chancellor Li Ji, he had studied the Classic of History, Classic of Rites, Analects, and a number of ancient poems and could remember them clearly. In 661, his title was changed to Prince of Pei, and he was given the titles of commandant at Yang Prefecture (
Around this time, the princes were apparently often engaged in cockfighting. Wang Bo wrote a playful piece entitled the Declaration Against the Prince of Zhou's Cock (
In 672, Li Xian's title was changed to Prince of Yong, and he was given the titles of commandant at Liang Prefecture (
As crown prince
[edit]In 675, Li Xian's older brother Li Hong the crown prince died—a death that traditional historians generally believed to be a poisoning ordered by Empress Wu. On July 3,[1] Li Xian was created crown prince to replace Li Hong. Emperor Gaozong soon ordered that much of government matters be ruled on by Li Xian, But because most of the imperial work was done by Empress Wu, his decisions were under her mother's control. But Li Xian was praised for making good decisions. Also around this time, Li Xian led a group of scholars, including Zhang Da'an, Liu Nayan (
Meanwhile, Li Xian's relationship with Empress Wu began to deteriorate, as Li Xian had heard the rumors that he was actually the son of Lady of Han, and had become fearful. Empress Wu, detecting this, had her literary staff write two works entitled, Good Examples for Shaoyang (
Meanwhile, Li Xian was also known for his liking of music and women. (Some historians, pointing to oblique references that he was "particularly close" to a number of male servants, also believe that he liked sexual relations with both women and men.) When Empress Wu heard this, she had people report the news to Emperor Gaozong, who then ordered an investigation, led by the officials Xue Yuanchao, Pei Yan, and Gao Zhizhou. When they searched the crown prince's stables, they found several hundred suits of black armor, and they believed this to be evidence of a coup. After interrogation, one of Li Xian's favorite servants, Zhao Daosheng (
After removal
[edit]In 683, Li Xian was moved from Chang'an to Ba Prefecture (
Ancestry
[edit]16. Li Bing, Duke Ren of Tang | |||||||||||||||||||
8. Emperor Gaozu | |||||||||||||||||||
17. Duchess Dugu | |||||||||||||||||||
4. Emperor Taizong | |||||||||||||||||||
18. Dou Yi, Duke of Shenwu | |||||||||||||||||||
9. Empress Taimushunsheng | |||||||||||||||||||
19. Princess Xiangyang of Northern Zhou | |||||||||||||||||||
2. Emperor Gaozong | |||||||||||||||||||
20. Zhangsun Si | |||||||||||||||||||
10. Zhangsun Sheng | |||||||||||||||||||
5. Empress Wendeshunsheng | |||||||||||||||||||
22.Gao Jingde or Gao Mai | |||||||||||||||||||
11. Lady Gao | |||||||||||||||||||
1. Li Xian, Crown Prince Zhanghuai | |||||||||||||||||||
24. Wu Jian | |||||||||||||||||||
12. Wu Hua | |||||||||||||||||||
25. Lady Song | |||||||||||||||||||
6. Wu Shiyue, Duke Ding of Ying | |||||||||||||||||||
13. Lady Zhao | |||||||||||||||||||
3. Empress Wu Zetian | |||||||||||||||||||
28.Yang Shao | |||||||||||||||||||
14. Yang Da | |||||||||||||||||||
7. Lady Yang | |||||||||||||||||||
Family
[edit]Wife
[edit]Princess Fang of Yong→Crown Princess→commoner→Princess of Yong (again)→Princess Dowager of Bin→Crown Princess Jing(posthumous)
Concubine
[edit]Consort Zhang
Issue
[edit]- Li Guangshun(
李 光 顺), Prince of Le'an, later emigrated to Yifeng and killed. Posthumously honored Prince of Ju - Li Shouli(
李 守 礼 ), born Li Guangren(李 光 仁 ), born by Consort Zhang. He would be created Prince of Bin and treated as son of an emperor when his cousin Emperor Xuanzong was reigning - Li Shouyi(
李 守 义), Prince of Qianwei, later emigrated to Guiyang and died there. Posthumously honored Prince of Bi - Lady Changxin(长信
郡 主 ), she was demoted to xianzhu (literally mistress of prefecture), and her later fate was unknown
None of the sons was born by Princess Fang. Whether Princess Fang mothered Lady Changxin was also unknown.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Volume 202 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Li was made crown prince on the wuyin day of the 6th month of the 2nd year of the Shangyuan era of Tang Gaozong's reign. This date corresponds to 3 Jul 675 on the Gregorian calendar. [(
上 元 二 年 )六 月 ,戊 寅 ,立 雍王贤为皇太子 ...] - ^ Volume 202 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Li was deposed on the jiazi day of the 8th month of the 1st year of the Yonglong era of Tang Gaozong's reign. This date corresponds to 20 Sep 680 on the Gregorian calendar. [(
永 隆 元年 八 月 )甲子 ,废太子 贤为庶人...]
References
[edit]- Old Book of Tang, vol. 86.
- New Book of Tang, vol. 81.
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 200, 202, 203.