Emperor Xianzong of Tang

{{Short description|Emperor of Tang China from 805 to 820}} {{Infobox royalty | name = Emperor Xianzong of Tang {{nobold|唐憲宗}} | image =Image:TangXianzong.jpg | image_size= | caption = [[Ming Dynasty]] portrait of Emperor Xianzong | succession = [[Emperor of the Tang dynasty]] | reign = September 5, 805<ref name=startreign/><ref name=ZZTJ236>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷236|vol. 236]].</ref> – February 14, 820<ref name=death/> | predecessor = [[Emperor Shunzong of Tang|Emperor Shunzong]] | successor = [[Emperor Muzong of Tang|Emperor Muzong]] | birth_date = 4 March to 1 April 778<ref name=BT14/><ref name=Birth>According to Xianzong's biography in the ''[[Old Book of Tang]]'', he was born in the 2nd month of the 13th year of the Dali era of Tang Daizong's reign. This corresponds to 4 Mar to 1 Apr 778 in the Julian calendar. (大历十三年二月生于长安之东内) ''Old Book of Tang'', vol. 14.</ref> | death_date = February 14, 820<ref name=death>Volume 241 of the ''[[Zizhi Tongjian]]'' recorded that Xianzong died suddenly on the ''gengzi'' day of the 1st month of the 15th year of the Yuanhe era of his reign. This corresponds to 14 Feb 820 in the Julian calendar. Xianzong's biography in the ''[[Old Book of Tang]]'' added that he died in the evening, aged 43 (by East Asian reckoning).[(元和十五年正月)庚子，暴崩于中和殿。] ''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 241</ref><ref name=ZZTJ241>''[[Zizhi Tongjian]]'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷241|vol. 241]].</ref> (aged 41) | burial_place = Jing Mausoleum (景陵) | family_name = [[Li (李)|Lǐ]] (李) | clan_name = | given_name = Chún (淳), later changed to Chún (純) (changed 805) | house = [[House of Li|Li]] | dynasty = [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] | era name = Yúanhé (元和) | era dates = January 25, 806<ref>Volume 237 of the ''[[Zizhi Tongjian]]'' recorded that the Yuanhe era was proclaimed on the ''dingmao'' day of the 1st month of the 1st year of the Yuanhe era of Xianzong's reign. This corresponds to 25 Jan 806 in the Julian calendar. [(元和元年正月)丁卯，...，改元。] ''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 237</ref><ref name=ZZTJ237>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷237|vol. 237]].</ref> – February 14, 820<ref name=ZZTJ241/><ref>Volume 241 of the ''[[Zizhi Tongjian]]'' recorded that Xianzong died suddenly on the ''gengzi'' day of the 1st month of the 15th year of the Yuanhe era of his reign. This corresponds to 14 Feb 820 in the Julian calendar. [(元和十五年正月)庚子，暴崩于中和殿。] ''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 241</ref> | temple name = Xiànzōng (憲宗) | posthumous name = Emperor Zhangwu (章武皇帝) (short) Emperor Zhaowen Zhangwu Dasheng Zhishen Xiao (昭文章武大聖至神孝皇帝) (full) | father = [[Emperor Shunzong of Tang|Emperor Shunzong]] | mother = [[Empress Dowager Wang (Xianzong)|Empress Zhuangxian]] | spouse = [[Empress Dowager Guo (Tang dynasty)|Empress Yi'an]] (m. 793–820) [[Empress Dowager Zheng|Empress Xiaoming]] (m. –820) | spouse-type = Consorts | issue = [[Li Ning (Tang dynasty)|Li Ning]] Li Yun [[Emperor Muzong of Tang|Emperor Muzong]] Li Cong Li Xin [[Li Wu]] Li Ke Li Jing Li Yue Li Xun Li Yi Li Yin [[Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (9th century)|Emperor Xuanzong]] Li Xie Li Dan Li Chong Li Zhui Li Ti Li Tan Li Ce Princess Lianghuikang Princess Yongjia Princess Xuancheng Princess Zhengwenyi Princess Qiyang Zhuangshu Princess Chenliu Princess Zhenning Princess Nankang Princess Linzhen Princess Zhenyuan Princess Yongshun Princess Anping Princess Yong'an [[Princess Taihe|Princess Ding'an]] }}

{{Infobox Chinese |title='''Tang Xianzong''' |c={{linktext|唐憲宗}} |l="Constitutional Ancestor of the Tang" |p=Táng Xiànzōng |altname=Li Chun |c2={{linktext|李純}} |l2=(personal name) |p2=Lǐ Chún }}

'''Emperor Xianzong of Tang''' (4 March to 1 April 778<ref name=BT14>''[[Old Book of Tang]]'', [[:zh:s:舊唐書/卷14|vol. 14]].</ref><ref name=Birth /> – 14 February 820;<ref name=death /> r. 805 – 820), personal name '''Li Chun''', né '''Li Chun''' ({{lang|zh|李淳}}), was an [[Emperor of China|emperor]] of the Chinese [[Tang dynasty]]. He was the eldest son of [[Emperor Shunzong of Tang|Emperor Shunzong]], who reigned for less than a year in 805 and who yielded the throne to him late that year.

Once emperor, Emperor Xianzong set out to curb the power of the military governors (''[[Jiedushi]]''), and, when they would not heed his orders, he waged wars against them. His initial campaigns were quite successful, and Xianzong's army defeated warlords such as [[Liu Pi (official)|Liu Pi]], Yang Huilin ({{lang|zh-Hant|楊惠琳}}) in 806 and [[Li Qi (Tang dynasty)|Li Qi]] in 807. In 813, after the submission of one of the key holdouts, Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern [[Handan]], [[Hebei]]) under [[Tian Hongzheng|Tian Xing]], Emperor Xianzong appeared poised to reunite the empire, many parts of which had effectively been ruled independently by regional warlords. Xianzong's first setback was in 813 when he failed to defeat military governor [[Wang Chengzong]]. However, by 817, after the defeat of [[Li Shidao]] and Wang's submission, all of the empire was under imperial authority again. Later historians referred to Emperor Xianzong's reign as the Yuanhe Restoration ({{lang|zh|元和中興}}).<ref>E.g., ''[[Bo Yang]] Edition of the Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 57, preface.</ref>

Emperor Xianzong's reign briefly stabilized Tang from the destructive forces of the military governors, but saw the rise of the power of [[Eunuch (court official)|eunuch]]s. Emperor Xianzong himself was allegedly murdered by the eunuch Chen Hongzhi ({{lang|zh-Hant|陳弘志}}) in 820. (There were nagging suspicions, never proven, that Xianzong's wife [[Empress Dowager Guo (Tang dynasty)|Consort Guo]] and her son [[Emperor Muzong of Tang|Li Heng]] (the later Emperor Muzong) were involved.)

== Background == Li Chun was born in 778, during the reign of his great-grandfather [[Emperor Daizong of Tang|Emperor Daizong]], at the Eastern Palace (i.e., the palace of his grandfather, then-[[Crown Prince]] [[Emperor Dezong of Tang|Li Kuo]]). His father [[Emperor Shunzong of Tang|Li Song]] was Li Kuo's oldest son, and he himself was Li Song's oldest son. His mother was Li Song's [[concubine]] [[Empress Dowager Wang (Xianzong)|Consort Wang]]. When Li Chun was five or six, by which time Li Kuo was emperor (as Emperor Dezong), there was an occasion when Emperor Dezong held Li Chun on his lap and asked, "Who are you, such that you are in my lap?" His response of, "I am the third [[Emperor of China|Son of Heaven]]" surprised Emperor Dezong, who thereafter showed him much favor.<ref name=BT14/>

== As the Prince of Guangling and Crown Prince == In 788, by which time Li Song (Shunzong) was crown prince, Li Chun was created the Prince of Guangling.<ref name=BT14/> In 793, he married [[Empress Dowager Guo (Tang dynasty)|Lady Guo]], a daughter of the deceased general Guo Ai ({{lang|zh-tw|郭曖}}) and Emperor Daizong's daughter Princess Shengping, as his wife and princess.<ref name=ZZTJ234>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷234|vol. 234]].</ref><ref>''Old Book of Tang'', [[:zh:s:舊唐書/卷52|vol. 52]].</ref>

In 804, Li Song (Shunzong)<ref>{{Cite book|title = Worlds Together Worlds Apart|last = Pollard|first = Elizabeth|publisher = W.W. Norton & Company|year = 2015|isbn = 978-0-393-92207-3|pages = 317}}</ref> suffered a stroke and became unable to speak. When Emperor Dezong fell gravely ill in spring 805, Li Song was unable to visit him, and Emperor Dezong, distressed over this, died soon thereafter. After Emperor Dezong's death, the [[eunuch]]s in the palace initially considered supporting another person as emperor, but due to the objections of the imperial scholars Wei Cigong ({{lang|zh-tw|衛次公}}) and [[Zheng Yin (Middle Tang)|Zheng Yin]], Li Song was able to assume the throne (as Emperor Shunzong), although during Wei and Zheng's discussion with the eunuchs, the possibility of having Li Chun take the throne directly was mentioned.<ref name="ZZTJ236"/>

As Emperor Shunzong continued to be seriously ill and unable to speak, a group of his close associates—the eunuch Li Zhongyan ({{lang|zh-tw|李忠言}}), his [[concubine]] [[Consort Niu]], the imperial scholars [[Wang Shuwen]] and [[Wang Pi]], and the [[chancellor of the Tang dynasty|chancellor]] [[Wei Zhiyi]]—became the key decision-makers. It was said that this group of individuals feared Li Chun for his intelligence and decisiveness, and initially, Li Chun was not created crown prince. However, the eunuchs Ju Wenzhen ({{lang|zh|俱文珍}}), Liu Guangqi ({{lang|zh-Hant|劉光琦}}), and Xue Yingzhen ({{lang|zh-tw|薛盈珍}}), all of whom were favored by Emperor Dezong and who lost their power in the new regime, summoned the imperial scholars Zheng, Wei Cigong, [[Li Cheng (Tang dynasty)|Li Cheng]], and [[Wang Ya]] to the palace to draft an edict for Emperor Shunzong creating Li Chun as crown prince, anyway. Zheng showed a piece of paper to Emperor Shunzong reading, "The Crown Prince should be the oldest son." Emperor Shunzong, who was unable to speak, nodded, and an edict was thereafter issued in late spring 805 creating Li Chun crown prince. The edict also changed Li Chun's name (from 淳 to 純—both rendered "Chun" in modern [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]]). It was said that Wang Shunwen was so concerned about Li Chun that he was heard reading from [[Du Fu]]'s poem about the [[Shu Han]] [[regent]] [[Zhuge Liang]]—"He had not even succeeded in his campaigns when he died. This often caused heroes to weep onto their collars." Wang Shuwen and Wei Zhiyi tried to see if their group could persuade Li Chun to favor their positions by having their associate Lu Zhi ({{lang|zh-tw|陸質}}) serve as the attendant to Li Chun's studies. However, it appeared that Li Chun disliked Wang Shunwen and his associates, and whenever Lu tried to speak to him on political matters, Li Chun angrily responded, "His Imperial Majesty commissioned you, sir, to teach me about the [[Chinese classics|classics]]. Why do you discuss other matters?"<ref name=ZZTJ236/>

By summer 805, a group of military governors (''[[Jiedushi]]'') that Wang Shuwen had disputes with—[[Wei Gao]], Pei Jun ({{lang|zh-tw|裴均}}), and Yan Shou ({{lang|zh-tw|嚴綬}})—were submitting petitions to Emperor Shunzong requesting that he let Li Chun serve as regent, and Wei Gao further submitted a petition to Li Chun as well requesting that he take power away from Wang Pi, Wang Shuwen, and Li Zhongyan. On August 26, an edict was issued in Emperor Shunzong's name for Li Chun to serve as regent. Thereafter, the imperial officials began to report to Li Chun. On August 31, Emperor Shunzong further issued an edict yielding the throne to Li Chun, taking for himself the title of "Retired Emperor" (''[[Taishang Huang]]'') and creating Li Chun's mother Consort Wang "Retired Empress." On September 5, Li Chun took the throne (as Emperor Xianzong).<ref name=startreign>Volume 236 of the ''[[Zizhi Tongjian]]'' recorded that Xianzong assumed the throne on the ''yisi'' day of the 8th month of the 1st year of the Yongzhen era of Shunzong's reign. This corresponds to 5 Sep 805 in the Julian calendar. [(永贞元年八月)乙巳，宪宗即位于宣政殿。] ''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 236</ref><ref name=ZZTJ236/>

==As Emperor==

=== Early reign === Immediately after Emperor Xianzong's ascension to the throne, he purged the government of Wang Shuwen and Wang Pi's associates, exiling them. (He would later order Wang Shuwen to commit suicide.)<ref name=ZZTJ236/> Emperor Xianzong's father Emperor Shunzong died in spring 806.<ref name="ZZTJ237"/> Some later historians would come to believe that Emperor Shunzong did not die of natural causes, but was murdered by the same eunuchs who had supported Emperor Xianzong's ascension.<ref>(时以暴崩，皆言内官陈弘志弑逆，史氏讳而不书。) ''[[Old Book of Tang]]'', vol. 15.</ref><ref>(时人皆言内常侍陈弘志弑逆，其党类讳之，不敢讨贼，但云药发，外人莫能明也。) ''[[Zizhi Tongjian]]'', vol. 241</ref>

Meanwhile, Wei Gao died late in 805, and his deputy [[Liu Pi (official)|Liu Pi]] seized power of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern [[Chengdu]], [[Sichuan]]), which Wei had governed, rejecting the replacement that Emperor Xianzong sent, [[Yuan Zi]]. Emperor Xianzong, believing himself to lack the power to attack Liu at this point, initially made Liu the acting military governor.<ref name=ZZTJ236/> However, Liu then made further demands to be given two neighboring circuits—Dongchuan (東川, headquartered in modern [[Mianyang]], [[Sichuan]]) and Shannan West (山南西道, headquartered in modern [[Hanzhong]], [[Shaanxi]])—as well. When Emperor Xianzong refused his demand, he launched an attack on Dongchuan's capital prefecture Zi Prefecture ({{lang|zh|梓州}}) in spring 806. At the suggestion of the chancellor [[Du Huangchang]], Emperor Xianzong commissioned the general [[Gao Chongwen]] to attack Liu, assisted by the generals Li Yuanyi ({{lang|zh|李元奕}}) and Yan Li ({{lang|zh|嚴礪}}). In fall 806, Gao captured Xichuan's capital Chengdu and delivered Liu to the capital [[Chang'an]] to be executed.<ref name=ZZTJ237/>

Also in spring 806, Yang Huilin, the nephew of the general Han Quanyi ({{lang|zh-Hant|韓全義}}) the military governor of Xiasui Circuit (夏綏, headquartered in modern [[Yan'an]], [[Shaanxi]]), seized control of the circuit after Han had been ordered to retire and resisted imperial orders. With imperial forces approaching Xiasui's capital Xia Prefecture ({{lang|zh|夏州}}), Yang was quickly killed by his own subordinate Zhang Chengjin ({{lang|zh-Hant|張承金}}), ending his rebellion. Around the same time, the warlord [[Li Shigu]], the military governor of the powerful Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern [[Tai'an]], [[Shandong]]), died, and his subordinates supported his brother [[Li Shidao]] to succeed him. Du advocated trying to divest Pinglu of some of its territory, but Emperor Xianzong, believing that with the campaign against Liu not over by that point, that he should not wage another campaign, and therefore allowed Li Shidao to inherit Pinglu.<ref name=ZZTJ237/>

After Liu's and Yang's destruction, another warlord, [[Li Qi (Tang dynasty)|Li Qi]] the military governor of Zhenhai Circuit (鎮海, headquartered in modern [[Zhenjiang]], [[Jiangsu]]) became apprehensive, and, as a means of showing loyalty, requested to go to Chang'an to pay homage to Emperor Xianzong. He did not actually intend to do so, however, and after Emperor Xianzong not only approved, but issued an edict summoning him when he did not depart Zhenhai immediately, rebelled against the imperial government. Before imperial troops could attack him, however, he was captured by his own subordinates and delivered to Chang'an to be executed. Around that time, another warlord, [[Yu Di (Tang dynasty)|Yu Di]] the military governor of Shannan East Circuit (山南東道, headquartered in modern [[Xiangfan]], [[Hubei]]), fearing Emperor Xianzong, went to Chang'an and yielded control of the circuit to the imperial government, after Emperor Xianzong had ensured Yu's loyalty by marrying his daughter Princess Puning to Yu's son Yu Jiyou ({{lang|zh|于季友}}).<ref name=ZZTJ237/>

In 808, an incident occurred that, as later historians opined, precipitated the later [[Niu-Li Factional Struggles|partisan struggles]] between the "Niu Party" and the "Li Party" that would eventually occur throughout the reigns of the five emperors after Emperor Xianzong.<ref name=ZGRSG568>E.g., Bo Yang, ''Outlines of the History of the Chinese'' (中國人史綱), vol. 2, pp. 568–571.</ref> At a special [[imperial examinations]] where Emperor Xianzong ordered that low-level officials submit honest opinions about the government, several of the examinees—[[Niu Sengru]], [[Li Zongmin]], and Huangfu Shi ({{lang|zh|皇甫湜}}) stated, without using any veiled language, the issues they saw with the governance at the time. The officials that Emperor Xianzong put in charge of the examinations, Yang Yuling ({{lang|zh-Hant|楊於陵}}) and [[Wei Guanzhi]] ranked them high. However, the chancellor [[Li Jifu]] saw these as severe criticisms of himself, and, weeping, accused the reviewing officials, the imperial scholars [[Pei Ji (Late Tang)|Pei Ji]] and [[Wang Ya]], of conflict of interest—as Huangfu was a nephew of Wang's. As a result of Li Jifu's accusations, Wang, Pei, Yang, and Wei were all demoted, and it was said that while no harm came to Niu, Li Zongmin, and Huangfu at that time, they were effectively stuck at the positions they previously served without promotion. As a result, they all sought positions as staff members of military governors.<ref name=ZZTJ237/> (Niu and Li Zongmin would later become key leaders of the "Niu Party," while Li Jifu's son [[Li Deyu]] would become a key leader of the "Li Party.")<ref name=ZGRSG568/>

Also around that time, the [[Shatuo]] tribes, which had long been vassals of Tang's long-term adversary [[Tibetan Empire|Tufan]], fearing that Tufan was set to move them to the interior of the Tufan state, rebelled against Tufan and surrendered to Tang, under the leadership of Zhuxie Zhiyi ({{lang|zh|朱邪執宜}}). They were initially settled at [[Shuofang]] Circuit (朔方, headquartered in modern [[Yinchuan]], [[Ningxia]]) and later moved to Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern [[Taiyuan]], [[Shanxi]]); their chieftains of the Zhuxie clan were given the area of Huanghuadui (黃花堆, in modern [[Shuozhou]], [[Shanxi]]) as their base of operations.<ref name=ZZTJ237/> (The Shatuo would eventually become a major part of the Tang army, and would yet later yield the ruling families of [[Later Tang]], [[Later Jin (Five Dynasties)|Later Jin]], and [[Later Han (Five Dynasties)|Later Han]], after Tang's end.)<ref>Bo, ''Outlines of the History of the Chinese'', vol. 2, p. 574.</ref><ref>Bo, ''Outlines of the History of the Chinese'', vol. 2, pp. 592–603.</ref>

In 809, after much urging by the imperial scholars (翰林學士, ''Hanlin Xueshi''), led by [[Li Jiang (born 764)|Li Jiang]], that he needed to have a crown prince, Emperor Xianzong created his oldest son [[Li Ning (Tang dynasty)|Li Ning]], born of his concubine Consort Ji, crown prince.<ref name=ZZTJ237/>

Also in 809, after the death of another warlord, [[Wang Shizhen (Tang dynasty)|Wang Shizhen]] the military governor of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern [[Shijiazhuang]], [[Hebei]]), Emperor Xianzong was initially poised to let Wang Shizhen's son [[Wang Chengzong]] inherit Chengde, after Wang Chengzong offered to surrender two of his six prefectures to imperial control. However, after Wang Chengzong reneged on his promise, Emperor Xianzong commissioned the [[eunuch]] [[Tutu Chengcui]] to command the imperial troops to attack Chengde.<ref name=ZZTJ237/><ref name=ZZTJ238>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷238|vol. 238]].</ref> (As a result of this campaign's launch, when another warlord, [[Wu Shaocheng]] the military governor of Zhangyi Circuit (彰義, headquartered in modern [[Zhumadian]], [[Henan]]) subsequently died, he was unable to act against Wu Shaocheng's subordinate [[Wu Shaoyang]], who seized control of the circuit, and was forced to commission Wu Shaoyang, much to the lament of his imperial scholar advisors, who viewed Zhangyi as a far easier target than Chengde.) The campaign against Chengde stalled, however, with one of its original major proponents, Lu Congshi ({{lang|zh-Hant|盧從史}}) the military governor of Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern [[Changzhi]], [[Shanxi]]), secretly communicating with Chengde and interfering with the campaign. In summer 810, after Tutu arrested Lu at a feast and allowed the imperial general Meng Yuanyang ({{lang|zh|孟元陽}}) to take control of Zhaoyi, Wang agreed to formally submit to Emperor Xianzong, claiming that it was Lu who interfered in his relationship with the imperial government. Emperor Xianzong, seeing that the campaign was making no advances, ended it and made Wang the military governor of Chengde.<ref name=ZZTJ238/>

=== Middle reign === After the end of the Chengde campaign, Zhang Maozhao ({{lang|zh-Hant|張茂昭}}) the military governor of Chengde's neighboring Yiwu Circuit (義武, headquartered in modern [[Baoding]], [[Hebei]]), who had inherited his position from his father [[Zhang Xiaozhong]],<ref name=ZZTJ234/><ref>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷233|vol. 233]].</ref> offered to yield the circuit to imperial control, and Emperor Xianzong agreed, sending the official Ren Dijian ({{lang|zh|任迪簡}}) to replace Zhang Maozhao. (After Zhang's departure from Yiwu, however, the Yiwu soldiers mutinied against Ren and put him under house arrest, although eventually another group of soldiers then countered their mutiny and restored Ren, allowing Yiwu to be in imperial hands from this point on.) Also in the aftermaths of the Chengde campaign, Tutu Chengcui was demoted and, later, after he was involved in a corruption scandal, sent out of the capital to serve as the eunuch monitor for Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern [[Yangzhou]], [[Jiangsu]]).<ref name=ZZTJ238/>

In 811, at Li Jifu's suggestion, Emperor Xianzong appointed several officials—Duan Pingzhong ({{lang|zh|段平仲}}), Wei Guanzhi, Xu Mengrong ({{lang|zh|許孟容}}), and Li Jiang—to review the governmental structure, to streamline it, reduce the number of officials who were not carrying out any crucial tasks, and revise the officials' wage scale. Later in the year, with Emperor Xianzong believing that Li Jifu had often used his own personal likes and dislikes to decide on his policies, he promoted Li Jiang to be a chancellor as well, to counterbalance Li Jifu.<ref name=ZZTJ238/>

Around the new year 812, Li Ning died. In fall 812, Emperor Xianzong created another son [[Emperor Muzong of Tang|Li You]] the Prince of Sui, born of his wife, Consort Guo (formerly the Princess of Guangling), crown prince and changed Li You's name to Li Heng, even though he had an older son, Li Kuan ({{lang|zh|李寬}}) the Prince of Li, as it was viewed by officials such as [[Cui Qun]] that Li Heng, born of a wife rather than a concubine, was the proper heir.<ref name=ZZTJ238/> Still, despite repeated petitions by the officials to create Consort Guo empress, Emperor Xianzong was apprehensive that, because of the prominent bloodlines that Consort Guo represented (being the granddaughter of the great general [[Guo Ziyi]] and the daughter of a princess), if she were created empress, other consorts would not dare to have sexual relations with him, and therefore repeatedly formed excuses with regard to not being able to find the right date to do so. He would eventually never create her (or any other consort) empress.<ref name=ZZTJ239>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷239|vol. 239]].</ref>

Later in 812, the warlord [[Tian Ji'an]] the military governor of Weibo Circuit died. With Tian Ji'an's son and designated successor [[Tian Huaijian]] being young, soon thereafter, the soldiers mutinied and supported Tian Ji'an's relative [[Tian Hongzheng|Tian Xing]].<ref name=ZZTJ238/><ref name=ZZTJ239/> Tian Xing offered to subject Weibo to imperial commands, and soon thereafter, Emperor Xianzong made Tian Xing the military governor of Weibo and changed his name to Tian Hongzheng. With Tian Hongzheng as Weibo's military governor, for the rest of Emperor Xianzong's reign, Weibo became obedient to the imperial government.<ref name=ZZTJ239/>

In 814, Wu Shaoyang died. Emperor Xianzong did not confirm Wu Shaoyang's son [[Wu Yuanji]] as his successor. In response, Wu Yuanji began attacking the nearby circuits to create pressure on the imperial government. Emperor Xianzong declared a general campaign against Wu Yuanji. Wu sought aid from Li Shidao and Wang Chengzong, who repeatedly petitioned Emperor Xianzong to pardon Wu Yuanji, to no avail. Li Shidao thereafter retained a group of assassins to carry out [[guerilla warfare]] tactics around the eastern capital [[Luoyang]], to try to disrupt the campaign against Zhangyi and to create a sense of terror among the officials and the people. When the imperial pressure on Zhangyi still being unrelenting, with the imperial generals [[Wu Chongyin]] and [[Li Guangyan]] frequently dealing Zhangyi troops defeats (although imperial troops were unable to decisively defeat Zhangyi), Li Shidao decided to assassinate the chancellor [[Wu Yuanheng]], whom Emperor Xianzong had put in charge of the campaign against Zhangyi, as well as the official [[Pei Du]], a major proponent of the campaign. In summer 814, assassins that Li Shidao sent killed Wu Yuanheng and wounded Pei, terrifying the officials and the people at Chang'an. Emperor Xianzong's resolve against Zhangyi did not change, however, and when he came to believe that Wang was responsible for the assassination, he declared a general campaign against Wang as well. He also promoted Pei to be a chancellor. (Later, after investigations by Lü Yuanying ({{lang|zh-Hant|呂元膺}}) the defender of Luoyang after a plot by Li Shidao's subordinates to riot at Luoyang was foiled, Emperor Xianzong found out that Li Shidao was responsible for Wu Yuanheng's assassination, but by that point, as he was already waging campaigns against Wu Yuanji and Wang, he could not, and did not, declare yet another campaign against Li Shidao as well at that point.)<ref name=ZZTJ239/>

=== Late reign === The imperial forces sent against Zhangyi and Chengde were unsuccessful in quickly achieving final victory against them, however. In 817, with suggestion from the chancellor [[Li Fengji]] that he should concentrate on one campaign, Emperor Xianzong called off the campaign against Chengde (although he did not pardon Wang). Meanwhile, Pei Du volunteered to head to the Zhangyi front to oversee the operation, and Emperor Xianzong agreed. Later in the year, [[Li Su (Tang dynasty)|Li Su]] the military governor of Tangsuideng Circuit (唐隨鄧, headquartered in modern [[Zhumadian]]) launched a surprise attack against Zhangyi's capital Cai Prefecture ({{lang|zh|蔡州}}), catching its defenders off guard and capturing it, seizing Wu Yuanji. Wu was subsequently delivered to Chang'an to be executed, and the imperial troops under Pei took over Zhangyi.<ref name=ZZTJ240>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷240|vol. 240]].</ref>

After Wu Yuanji's execution, Li Shidao and Wang Chengzong both became fearful. In 818, Wang offered to surrender two prefectures to imperial control and send his two sons to Chang'an to serve as [[hostage]]s. He also sought intercession from Tian Hongzheng. With Tian also requesting that Emperor Xianzong accept his offer, Emperor Xianzong did so, merging the two prefectures that Wang surrendered into neighboring Henghai Circuit (橫海, headquartered in modern [[Cangzhou]], [[Hebei]]), which had been obedient to the imperial government. Li Shidao also offered to surrender three of his 12 prefectures to imperial control and send his son as a hostage—but soon reneged on the offer. Emperor Xianzong thus declared a general campaign against his Pinglu Circuit, and soon, the imperial forces were repeatedly dealing defeats to Pinglu troops.<ref name=ZZTJ240/>

Meanwhile, it was said that after the victory over Zhangyi, Emperor Xianzong began to be arrogant and extravagant in his lifestyle, and he favored such officials as [[Huangfu Bo]] and [[Cheng Yi (Tang dynasty)|Cheng Yi]], whom he believed to be capable of increasing revenues for palace use. He eventually made both Huangfu and Cheng chancellors, despite earnest pleas by Pei and Cui Qun, who was a chancellor by this point as well, against the move. It was said that Huangfu soon was speaking against Cui and Pei, causing both to be sent out of the capital.<ref name=ZZTJ241/><ref name=ZZTJ240/> In spring 819, there was an occasion when Emperor Xianzong had what was alleged to be [[Gautama Buddha]]'s finger bone escorted from a temple in Fengxiang (鳳翔, in modern [[Baoji]], [[Shaanxi]]) to the palace in a grand ceremony, kept the bone in the palace for three days, and encouraged the people to worship it and make donations to the temples. When the official [[Han Yu]] spoke against it, Han was exiled to be the prefect of Chao Prefecture (潮州, in modern [[Chaozhou]], [[Guangdong]]).<ref name=ZZTJ240/>

Also in spring 819, after Li Shidao became suspicious of his officer [[Liu Wu (general)|Liu Wu]], who was then resisting Tian's attack, and secretly ordered Liu's deputy Zhang Xian ({{lang|zh-Hant|張暹}}) to execute Liu and take over the troops. Zhang, who was friendly with Liu, revealed Li Shidao's orders to Liu. Liu responded by launching a surprise attack on Pinglu's capital Yun Prefecture ({{lang|zh|鄆州}}), capturing Li Shidao and his sons and executing them, delivering their heads to Chang'an. Emperor Xianzong made Liu, who had expected to succeed Li Shidao, the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern [[Anyang]], [[Henan]]), and divided Pinglu into three circuits to weaken it and keep its territory under imperial control.<ref name=ZZTJ241/>

By this point, Emperor Xianzong was taking medicines made by the [[Chinese alchemy|alchemist]] Liu Mi ({{lang|zh|柳泌}}), who claimed that he could bring the emperor [[immortality]]. It was said that as a result of these medicines, Emperor Xianzong was becoming increasingly thirsty and irritable. It was said that he was so easily angered that the eunuchs serving him were often punished or even executed for minor faults, causing them to be fearful of him. In spring 820, he died suddenly, and it was commonly believed that he was assassinated by the eunuch Chen Hongzhi. It was said, however, that Chen's eunuch colleagues declared that Emperor Xianzong had died from [[Chinese alchemical elixir poisoning]] due to the medicines that he was taking. Tutu Chengcui tried to support Li Kuan, who had been renamed Li Yun ({{lang|zh|李惲}}), to succeed Emperor Xianzong, but the other eunuchs Liang Shouqian ({{lang|zh|梁守謙}}), Ma Jintan ({{lang|zh-Hant|馬進潭}}), Liu Chengjie ({{lang|zh-Hant|劉承偕}}), Wei Yuansu ({{lang|zh|韋元素}}), and [[Wang Shoucheng]], supported Li Heng, and they killed Tutu and Li Yun. Li Heng thereafter became emperor (as Emperor Muzong).<ref name=ZZTJ241/> (Another son of Emperor Xianzong's, [[Emperor Xuānzong of Tang|Li Yi]], after he became emperor in 846, would come to suspect that Consort Guo and Li Heng were involved in Emperor Xianzong's assassination, but no direct evidence tied them to the assassination.)<ref>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷248|vol. 248]].</ref><ref>''Bo Yang Edition of the Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 60 [858].</ref>

== Chancellors during reign == * [[Du You]] (805–812) * [[Jia Dan]] (805) * [[Wei Zhiyi]] (805) * [[Du Huangchang]] (805–807) * [[Yuan Zi]] (805) * [[Zheng Yuqing]] (805–806) * [[Zheng Yin (Middle Tang)|Zheng Yin]] (805–809) * [[Wu Yuanheng]] (807, 813–815) * [[Li Jifu]] (807–808, 811–814) * [[Yu Di (Tang dynasty)|Yu Di]] (808–813) * [[Pei Ji (Late Tang)|Pei Ji]] (808–810) * [[Li Fan (Tang dynasty)|Li Fan]] (809–811) * [[Quan Deyu]] (810–813) * [[Li Jiang (born 764)|Li Jiang]] (811–814) * [[Zhang Hongjing]] (814–816) * [[Wei Guanzhi]] (814–816) * [[Pei Du]] (815–819) * [[Li Fengji]] (816–817) * [[Wang Ya]] (816–818) * [[Cui Qun]] (817–819) * [[Li Yong (chancellor)|Li Yong]] (817–818) * [[Li Yijian]] (818) * [[Huangfu Bo]] (818–820) * [[Cheng Yi (Tang dynasty)|Cheng Yi]] (818–819) * [[Linghu Chu]] (819–820) * [[Han Hong (Tang dynasty)|Han Hong]] (819–820)

==Family== * [[Empress Dowager Guo (Tang dynasty)|Empress Yi'an]], of the Guo clan of Huayin ({{lang|zh|懿安皇后華陰郭氏/懿安皇后华阴郭氏}}; d. 851), first cousin once removed, personal name Nianyun ({{lang|zh|念雲/念云}}) ** [[Emperor Muzong of Tang|Li Heng]], Muzong ({{lang|zh|穆宗李恆}}; 795–824), third son ** Princess Qiyang Zhuangshu ({{lang|zh|岐陽莊淑公主/岐阳庄淑公主}}; d. 837), 11th daughter *** Married [[Du Cong]] of Jingzhao, Duke Bin ({{lang|zh|京兆}}; 794–873) in 814, and had issue (two sons, two daughters) ** [[Li Wu]], Prince Jiang (絳王李悟/绛王李悟; 797–827), sixth son * [[Empress Dowager Zheng|Empress Xiaoming]], of the Zheng clan ({{lang|zh|孝明皇后鄭氏}}; d. 865) ** [[Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (9th century)|Li Chen]], Xuanzong ({{lang|zh|宣宗李忱}}; 810–859), 13th son ** Princess Anping ({{lang|zh|安平公主}}) *** Married Liu Yi ({{lang|zh|劉異/刘異}}) * ''Able Consort'', of the Wang clan (王贤妃) * ''Taiyi'', of the Xu clan ({{lang|zh|太儀許氏/太仪许氏}}) ** Princess Nankang ({{lang|zh|南康公主}}) *** Married Shen Fen ({{lang|zh|沈汾}}) * ''Taiyi'', of the Yang clan ({{lang|zh|太仪杨氏}}) ** Li Yue, Prince Qiong ({{lang|zh|瓊王李悅/琼王李悦}}; d. 840), ninth son * ''Meiren'', of the Ji clan ({{lang|zh|美人纪氏}}) ** [[Li Ning (Tang dynasty)|Li Ning]], Crown Prince Huizhao ({{lang|zh|惠昭皇太子李寧/惠昭皇太子李宁}}; 793–812), first son * [[Du Qiuniang|Lady, of the Du clan]] ({{lang|zh|杜氏}}) ** Li Xun, Prince Mian ({{lang|zh|沔王李恂}}; 808–844), tenth son * Lady, of the Zhao clan ({{lang|zh|赵氏}}) ** Li Yin, Prince Mao ({{lang|zh|茂王李愔}}; 809–853), 12th son *Lady, of Zheng clan ({{lang|zh|郑氏}}) ** Princess Zhengwenyi ({{lang|zh|鄭溫儀公主/郑温仪公主}}) *** Married Wei Rang ({{lang|zh|韋讓/韦让}}) in 816, and had issue (four sons, three daughters) * Unknown ** Li Yun, Prince Li ({{lang|zh|澧王李惲/澧王李恽}}; d. 820), second son ** Li Cong, Prince Shen ({{lang|zh|深王李悰}}), fourth son ** Li Xin, Prince Yang ({{lang|zh|洋王李忻}}; 801–828), fifth son ** Li Ke, Prince Jian ({{lang|zh|建王李恪}}; 805–821), seventh son ** Li Jing, Prince Fu ({{lang|zh|鄜王李憬}}; d. 839), eighth son ** Li Yi, Prince Wu ({{lang|zh|婺王李懌/婺王李译}}), 11th son ** Li Xie, Prince Zi ({{lang|zh|淄王李恊/淄王李协}}; d. 836), 14th son ** Li Dan, Prince Heng ({{lang|zh|衡王李憺}}), 15th son ** Li Chong, Prince Chan ({{lang|zh|澶王李㤝}}), 16th son ** Li Zhui, Prince Di ({{lang|zh|棣王李惴}}), 17th son ** Li Ti, Prince Peng ({{lang|zh|彭王李惕}}), 18th son ** Li Tan, Prince Xin ({{lang|zh|信王李憻}}; d. 867), 19th son ** Li Ce, Prince Rong ({{lang|zh|榮王李㥽/荣王李㥽}}; 815–880), 20th son ** Princess Lianghuikang ({{lang|zh|梁惠康公主}}), first daughter *** Married Yu Jiyou of Henan ({{lang|zh|河南於季友/河南于季友}}), the fourth son of [[Yu Di (Tang dynasty)|Yu Di]], in 807 ** Princess Yongjia ({{lang|zh|永嘉公主}}) ** ''Princess Hengyang'' ({{lang|zh|衡陽公主/衡阳公主}}) ** Princess Xuancheng ({{lang|zh|宣城公主}}), sixth daughter *** Married Shen Chai ({{lang|zh|沈𥐟}}) ** Princess Chenliu ({{lang|zh|陳留公主/陈留公主}}) *** Married Pei Sun of Hedong ({{lang|zh|河東裴損/河东裴损}}) ** Princess Zhenning ({{lang|zh|真寧公主/真宁公主}}), second daughter *** Married Xue Hong of Hedong ({{lang|zh|河東薛翃/河东薛翃}}) in 806 ** Princess Linzhen ({{lang|zh|臨真公主/临真公主}}) *** Married Wei Zhu ({{lang|zh|衛洙/卫洙}}) ** ''Princess Pukang'' ({{lang|zh|普康公主}}) ** Princess Zhenyuan ({{lang|zh|真源公主}}) *** Married Du Zhongli ({{lang|zh|杜中立}}) ** Princess Yongshun ({{lang|zh|永順公主/永顺公主}}) *** Married Liu Hongjing ({{lang|zh|劉弘景/刘弘景}}) ** Princess Yong'an ({{lang|zh|永安公主}}), ninth daughter ** ''Princess Yining'' ({{lang|zh|義寧公主/义宁公主}}) ** [[Princess Taihe|Princess Ding'an/Princess Taihe]] ({{lang|zh|定安公主}}/太和公主), tenth daughter *** Married [[Chongde Qaghan]] ({{lang|zh|崇德可汗}}; d. 824) of the [[Uyghur Khaganate]] in 821 ** ''Princess Gui'' ({{lang|zh|貴公主/贵公主}})

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{S-start}} {{s-reg}} {{succession box | before = [[Emperor Shunzong of Tang]]| title = [[Tang dynasty|Emperor of the Tang dynasty]]|years=805–820| after = [[Emperor Muzong of Tang]]}} {{S-end}} {{Tang emperors}} {{Tang dynasty Buddhists}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xianzong of Tang}} [[Category:778 births]] [[Category:820 deaths]] [[Category:Emperors of the Tang dynasty]] [[Category:Tang dynasty Buddhists]] [[Category:Chinese Buddhist monarchs]] [[Category:9th-century Chinese monarchs]]