Emperor Xianzong

Emperor Xianzong – Tang Dynasty

Emperor Xianzong was one of the rulers of China’s Tang Empire. He was Emperor Shunzong’s oldest son, a ruler who only reigned for less than a year.

The empire under Xianzong of Tang regained a huge level of power that they somehow lost. The Tang Empire ruler was ruthless and tough. He kept a firm grip on stately affairs and was noted for his successful policies.

Before Rising to the Throne

Xianzong of Tang was born in 778 under the name Li Chun. It was the time when his great grandfather, Emperor Daizong, still ruled as the Tang emperor. His father was Emperor Shunzong, while his mother was concubine Consort Wang.

In 788, during the time when Li Song was crown prince, Li Chun was made Prince of Guangling. After a few years, he married Lady Guo, the deceased general Guo Ai’s daughter.

In 804, Li Song suffered a stroke that prevented him from speaking. Due to his situation, he was unable to visit Emperor Dezong, who was slowly becoming ill.

When the emperor died, the palace eunuchs somehow considered supporting someone else as emperor. Because of objections from the imperial scholars Zheng Yin and Wei Cigong, Li Song assumed the throne as Emperor Shunzong. Yet during their discussions with the eunuchs, they’ve mentioned the possibility of Li Chun taking the throne.

A Shift in Leadership

Despite being emperor, Shunzong eventually became seriously ill, thus, preventing him from speaking further. Because of this, a number of his close associates became the primary decision-makers. These were the eunuch Li Zhongyan, scholars Wang Shuwen & Wang Pi, chancellor Wei Zhiyi, and concubine Consort Niu.

Claims stated that these people were fearful of Li Chun’s decisiveness and intelligence. That’s the reason why he wasn’t made the crown prince. However, the imperial scholars informed Emperor Shunzong that the eldest son should be seated and eventually lead the Tang empire.

Under Emperor Shunzong’s name, an edict was issued to have Li Chun function as the regent. Then eventually, the imperial officials started reporting directly to Li Chun.

Soon after, Emperor Shunzong issued another edict where he would yield the throne to Li Chun. From there, he would take on the title of retired emperor instead.

After a month or so, Li Chun ascended the throne and ruled as Emperor Xianzong.

Reign of Emperor Xianzong

When Xianzong ascended the throne, he immediately expelled the government of Wang Pi and Wang Shuwen’s associates. Then, Emperor Shunzong died in the spring of 806.

A few later historians believed that Shunzong didn’t die from natural causes. Instead, they felt he was murdered by the eunuchs who supported the ascension of Emperor Xianzong.

Once he became emperor, Xianzong of Tang restrained the power of the Jiedushi or military governors. When they didn’t follow his orders, he waged war against them.

Xianzong’s first campaigns were successful, and his army defeated several warriors in 807.

Military Authority of the Eunuchs

Xianzong’s rule stabilized the Tang empire from the eunuch’s destructive forces for a short period. But this changed in the mid-9th century when corrupt eunuchs gained control. By that time, the Tang Dynasty’s centralized power had weakened.

During his rule, Xianzong granted the eunuchs military authority, giving them great power. With that, they were able to remove and murder any emperor they disliked.

Emperor Xianzong’s reign is also credited for immediately putting down the rebellions in Sichuan and Yangtze Delta. Around 809, the court was forced to compromise with Hebei’s governors due to a eunuch commander mishandling an abortive campaign.

Around 814 to 817, more trouble came in with a rebellion in Huaixi, which threatened the canal route. This revolt was eventually crushed, and the province was divided among its neighbors.

In 818, the Pinglu army in Shandong staged a revolution and suffered the same fate. Thus, Xianzong of Tang brought back the central government’s authority throughout the empire.

The influence of the eunuchs was formalized and established in the palace council. With that, the emperor was provided with another personal secretariat who handled the conduct of official business. He was also linked with the eunuch’s command of powerful palace armies.

At this time, the eunuch’s influence in the government steadily increased. However, this changed when Emperor Xianzong’s successors reigned. After his rule, the eunuch’s influence in politics became a disaster.

Death of Xianzong of Tang

Around 819, Emperor Xianzong took medicines made by Liu Mi, an alchemist claiming to make the emperor immortal. It was said that the medicines caused Xianzong to be extremely thirsty and irritable. Some claim that he was easily angered, causing him to often punish and execute eunuchs for minor faults.

In the next year, the emperor suddenly died. A lot believed that the eunuch Chen Hongzhi assassinated him. However, Chen’s fellow eunuchs declared that Xianzong of Tang died from Chinese alchemical elixir poisoning from the medicines he took.

The emperor was also allegedly murdered by Chen Hongzhi. There were unproven suspicions that Xianzong’s wife, Consort Guo, and their son, Li Heng, were involved.