人物生平

早期经历

据《旧唐书》高祖以周天和元年生于长安，太宗在贞观八年三月甲戌（初二）上寿，推其应为天和元年三月初二（566年4月7日）生。据《册府元龟》记载，李渊以北周天和元年十一月丁酉（566年12月21日）生于长安，似有误。父亲李昞，北周安州总管、柱国大将军，袭封唐国公。李渊七岁，父亲去世，李渊世袭为唐国公。

581年，隋文帝逼迫北周静帝禅让，李渊任千牛备身（皇帝的禁卫武官），因李渊母亲为隋文帝独孤皇后姐姐（所以李渊是隋文帝杨坚的外甥），后累任谯、陇、岐三州刺史，荥阳郡太守。604年，隋文帝驾崩，迁楼烦太守，隋炀帝大业元年（605年）迁殿内少监；大业二年，除郑州刺史；大业九年（613年），迁卫尉少卿。是年隋炀帝征高句丽，身为表兄的李渊在怀远镇（今辽宁朝阳附近）负责督运。杨玄感之乱，炀帝诏李渊为弘化留守，知关右诸军事。可见李渊虽为异姓，但因表亲身份而与隋朝宗室关系密切，参与了朝廷的衆多大事，他也趁此机会招纳人才，引起炀帝猜忌，李渊惧而以酗酒、受贿等行为「自污」。

大业十一年（615年）李渊任山西河东郡慰抚大使。大业十二年（616年）升为右骁卫将军。大业十三年（617年）正月迁太原郡留守，7月杀郡丞王威、武牙郎将高君雅，打著勤王定乱，迎回隋天子的旗号正式开始于晋阳县起兵。晋阳起兵即得到李氏宗族及姻亲的响应。他一边招降叛军、流寇，一边派亲族迅速进兵，并且藉助突厥始毕可汗的500骑兵进攻隋大兴城，于12月攻克。

他拥代王杨侑做傀儡皇帝，遥尊隋炀帝为太上皇，受假黄钺、使持节、大都督内外诸军事、大丞相，进封唐王，并在不久后自立为相国。在义宁二年（618年），在李渊的强逼之下，杨侑颁布唐王九锡册文，为李渊加九锡，自此，李渊完成接受禅让前的最后一步。

建立唐朝

隋义宁二年三月十一丙辰日（隋恭皇帝杨侑的年号，公元618年4月11日），隋炀帝在被叛臣宇文化及所弑。隋义宁二年五月二十四日（公元618年6月18日），隋恭帝将皇位禅让，李渊称帝，建立唐朝，隋朝灭亡。称帝后，李渊开始著手消灭其他诸侯、军阀，展开唐朝统一战争，他的儿女李世民、李建成、李元吉、平阳昭公主、侄子李孝恭、名将李靖、李世绩等人的征讨下，用了七年时间，先后消灭薛仁果、薛举、李轨、宋金刚、刘武周、王世充、窦建德、萧铣、杜伏威和梁师都等割据势力。

最后一个梁师都是在贞观二年（628年）被平定的，此时他早已经将皇帝位让给次子李世民了。同时他又利用东突厥和西突厥之间的分裂，维持了北方的边界，这是他有力量能够夺取中原的主要条件（参见唐与突厥的战争）。

在官制上李渊于武德七年（624年）颁布了唐的官僚制度，基本使用了隋的制度。在农业方面他于武德七年（624年）颁布均田制；对税捐他也做了调节，减轻了受田农民的负担。在法律上他废弃了隋炀帝的许多苛政，颁布了武德律。李渊对唐朝的措施，为唐太宗「贞观之治」打下了非常重要的基础。

被迫退位

李渊在位期间，没有能尽早确立及处理好继承人问题，虽然他一早立长子李建成为太子，他眼见皇太子李建成与各儿子明争暗斗却一再绥靖纵容，图让众子互相制衡并未加以控制，同时次子李世民拥护者众多，导致太子李建成与李元吉、李世民等人之间的矛盾激化。

最终，李世民决定先下手为强，于武德九年（公元626年）发动政变，史称玄武门之变，李建成、李元吉被李世民所杀，其军队控制了长安。对上李世民谎称是二人作乱伏诛，加上群臣的支持和拥戴，李渊见状无奈被迫将军国大事交由李世民处理，而李建成、李元吉不但被追废为庶人被除宗籍，二人所出十个儿子也遭诛杀殆尽且皆被除宗籍。

三天后，李渊立已掌握实权的次子李世民为皇太子，三个月后便将帝位内禅给李世民，自己退位为太上皇，贞观三年，移居弘义宫。

去世

贞观九年五月初六日（635年），太上皇李渊逝世，享寿六十九岁。死后諡号太武皇帝，庙号高祖，葬在献陵。唐高宗上元元年（674年）八月，改上諡号为神尧皇帝。唐玄宗天宝十三载（754年）二月，上尊号神尧大圣大光孝皇帝。

宰相

• 李世民（618年－626年尚书令；625年－626年中书令）

• 裴寂（618年－623年尚书右仆射；623年－626年尚书左仆射）

• 刘文静（618年纳言）

• 萧瑀（618年－620年内史令；620年－623年中书令；623年－626年尚书右仆射）

• 窦威（618年内史令）

• 窦抗（618年纳言）

• 陈叔达（618年－620年纳言；620年－626年侍中）

• 杨恭仁（619年－620年纳言；620年－623年侍中；623年－626年中书令）

• 封德彝（620年－626年中书令）

• 裴矩（624年－625年侍中）

• 李元吉（625年－626年侍中）

• 宇文士及（625年－626年侍中；626年－627年中书令）

• 高士廉（626年－627年侍中）

• 房玄龄（626年－629年中书令）

家庭

世系

李渊的祖父李虎曾为尚书左仆射，封陇西郡公，赐姓大野氏，与宇文泰等共八位柱国大将军并称八柱国。宇文泰的家族建立北周后，李虎已经去世，获封陇西郡公。父亲李昞，北周安州总管、柱国大将军，袭封陇西郡公，于550年加封唐国公，是为唐仁公，追封李虎为唐襄公。李渊七岁丧父，袭封唐国公。

李渊是隋炀帝杨广的姨表兄弟。北周明帝的明敬皇后、李渊生母元贞皇后、隋文帝的文献皇后分别是西魏八大柱国之一独孤信的长女、四女、七女。

父系考据

据传统史料所载，唐朝皇室出自陇西李氏，为李暠第二子李歆的后裔，多称陇西狄道（陇西郡狄道县）人，亦可称陇西成纪（陇西郡成纪县）人。

由于唐朝皇室以老子后裔自居，崇尚道教，唐初武德九年太史令傅奕上疏抬道抑佛，引发佛道论争。和尚法琳作《破邪论》《辨证论》反对傅奕。法琳反对唐朝皇室为老子李耳后裔之说，亦与陇西李氏无关，而是拓跋氏后裔，法琳因而触怒唐太宗，被流放益州而死。宋代朱熹与郑思肖以李唐闺门失礼家法缪戾，有李唐源自夷狄的说法。

冯承钧认为李虎的兄弟名为起头与乞豆，怀疑李渊家族有可能出身胡人。陈寅恪在〈三论李唐氏族问题〉中举证李渊先祖李熙出身汉族。刘盼遂与王桐龄考据认为李渊家族应为拓跋氏后裔。刘盼遂之后取消了自己的观点，这个说法已经被研究证明为证伪论，但其学说初期仍引发学界如向达与陈登原等人的讨论。

陈寅恪依据唐祖陵在今河北省境，认为李唐出身赵郡李氏，因宇文泰关中本位政策「以关内诸州为其本望」，所以改赵郡郡望为陇西郡望。实际上不是赵郡李氏破落户，就是广阿庶姓李氏的假冒牌。姚薇元认同此观点，并认为近人对于李唐氏族出于异族的举证虽不无可疑，但终究缺乏实证。

朱希祖经考据认为李熙与李买得不是同一个人，李熙曾作为强宗子弟镇戍武川，后卒于武川。其子李天锡为避六镇兵乱，携父遗骨南迁于赵郡广阿，因以为家，不久亦卒。其子李虎将父祖合葬，即所谓唐祖陵。李氏并非出身赵郡李氏，而确系为陇西李氏。

胡汉混血

陈寅恪认为李虎家族父系先世虽为汉人，但李渊家族长期与鲜卑贵族通婚，母系有外族血统。这个说法得到钱穆、萨孟武等人的支持，如《剑桥中国史》等著作皆采用这个说法。岑仲勉曾讨论缪凤林支持李唐家族为胡汉混血，他列举李唐皇族与鲜卑联婚事迹，但认为血统混合是自古甚多，不值得深究。

甘怀真认为李渊家族来自河西走廊的中亚族裔的可能性较高，但自我认同为陇西李氏，且先祖自十六国时期已以陇西李氏身分加入各凉国政权统治集团。

家世

唐高祖李渊的祖先

后妃

皇后

• 太穆皇后窦氏（569－613），北周神武郡公窦毅与襄阳公主之女。李渊正妻，生隐太子建成、唐太宗李世民、卫怀王李玄霸、巢剌王李元吉和平阳昭公主。李渊称帝前去世，追赠太穆皇后，合葬献陵。

妃

• 万贵妃，李渊登基前妾，生楚哀王李智云，高祖称帝后代掌后宫。后尊封楚国太妃，陪葬献陵。

• 尹德妃，父尹阿鼠，高祖晚年宠妃。勾结隐太子建成谗言攻击李世民。生酆王李元亨。

嫔

• 宇文昭仪（591－634），祖宇文盛，父宇文述，兄宇文士及。生韩王李元嘉、鲁王李灵夔。高祖曾欲立为后，固辞不受。于太安宫病逝，追封徐国太妃。

• 贵嫔莫丽芳（587－618），祖南陈三州刺史莫影龙，父高唐郡太守莫孝恭。高祖称帝前妾，生荆王李元景，因产后病去世，追赠贵嫔。

• 嫔崔商圭（？－636），武德元年进宫选为宝林。武德六年册为嫔。生邓康王李元裕。太宗尊封邓国太妃，协理后宫，病逝于天霞宫。

• 孙嫔，生汉王李元昌。元昌谋反被诛，孙嫔得到宽恕。

• 杨嫔（602－657），父隋楚国公杨素，兄杨玄感。先入隋宫，后被高祖纳为嫔。生江安王李元祥。随子先封许国太妃，后迁江国太妃。病逝于邓州。

• 小杨嫔，生舒王李元名。

• 杨贵嫔（？－634），父隋上明郡公杨文纪，高祖退位后随迁入太安宫，称太安宫嫔杨氏。

• 张嫔 （？－621），祖张据，父宪部郎中张锐。武德四年薨于别馆。有诏赠嫔。葬芷阳县见子原。与高祖晚年宠妃张婕妤并非同一人。与李元方母张氏是否为同一人，无法考证。

世妇

• 张婕妤，姿色妖媚，高祖晚年最受宠爱，勾结隐太子建成谗言攻击李世民。与李元方母张氏是否为同一人，无法考证。

• 薛婕妤，隋临河公薛道衡女，精通经史，唐高宗因受教于薛氏，封二品河东郡夫人，礼敬甚重。后出家为尼。唐高宗麟德元年（664年），薛氏和侄薛元超因与上官仪私下书信来往被削去封号，幽禁于高祖别庙静安宫。

• 郭婕妤，生徐康王李元礼。

• 刘婕妤，生道王李元庆。尊封道国太妃。

• 张美人，生霍王李元轨。

• 杨美人（？－644），生虢庄王李凤。尊封虢国太妃。

• 王才人，父隋朝散大夫王静。生彭思王李元则。尊封彭国太妃。

• 鲁才人，生密贞王李元晓。

御妻

• 宝林张宠则（589－645），父敦煌郡书佐张文成，生郑惠王李元懿，尊封郑国太妃，病逝于潞州。

• 柳宝林 ，生滕王李元婴。

其他

• 张氏，生周王李元方。无法考证与张嫔或张婕妤是否为同一人。

• 辛处俭妻，高祖平长安，夺隋朝太子舍人辛处俭妻，宠爱有加，辛处俭改任万年县丞。

子女

高祖有二十二个儿子：

高祖有十九个女儿，史书未记录具体排行，见于个人记载：

• 长沙公主（下嫁冯少师）

• 襄阳公主（下嫁隋文帝外甥孙窦诞）

• 平阳公主（第三女，谥号「昭」，称平阳昭公主，母窦皇后，下嫁柴绍）

• 高密公主（第四女，唐太宗姐，下嫁长孙孝政，又嫁段纶）

• 长广公主（唐太宗姐，先封为桂阳公主，下嫁赵慈景，又嫁杨师道）

• 房陵公主（第六女，先封为永嘉公主，下嫁窦奉节，又嫁贺兰僧伽）

• 常乐公主（第七女，下嫁赵瑰）

• 九江公主（下嫁执失思力）

• 庐陵公主（下嫁乔师望）

• 南昌公主（下嫁苏勖）

• 安平公主（下嫁杨思敬）

• 淮南公主（李澄霞，第十二女，下嫁封道言）

• 真定公主（下嫁崔恭礼）

• 衡阳公主（下嫁阿史那社尔）

• 丹阳公主（下嫁薛万彻）

• 临海公主（下嫁裴律师）

• 馆陶公主（下嫁崔宣庆）

• 万春公主（先封为万春公主，后来改封长沙公主，下嫁豆卢怀让）

• 安定公主（先封为千金公主，下嫁温挺，又嫁郑敬玄），被武则天收为义女。

死后追赠的封号以粗体字表示。

轶事

雀屏中选

李渊善于骑射，与其妻窦皇后的成亲曾经为一时佳话，窦氏未嫁之时为贵族，样貌艳丽，明艳照人，故其父北周大将窦毅不肯轻易许嫁女儿。故而举办射箭之赛，比武招亲，要求来求亲的公子们，在一「雀屏」（绘有孔雀的屏风）上射箭，以射中孔雀为标准，李渊凭藉准确的目力与劲道，于数步外射箭，竟然成功射中「孔雀的眼睛」，而娶得窦氏，这段佳话流传后世成为成语「雀屏中选」。今陕西省西安市碑林区，一街道名为「窦府巷」，以窦姓府第在此而得名，亦有传说此「窦府」即窦毅之府。

反隋主谋之谜

在《旧唐书》和《新唐书》两者中，李渊都是受到次子李世民的挑唆才起兵反隋。据这两部史书记载，李世民通过裴寂把李渊引进隋炀帝的晋阳行宫，灌醉了李渊，使得李渊酒后与宫女发生了关系，迫使李渊起兵。而在曾效力于李渊的温大雅记载中，反隋是出于李渊本人的决定。

历史学者孟宪实认为，无论从政治影响、军事经验、经济实力还是从社会地位来比较，李世民都无法与李渊相提并论。即便是有人愿意结交李世民，也是因为看重了李世民背后的李渊。李世民要结交那些非法的豪杰、大侠，没有背后李渊的政治经济资源几乎是不可能的。孟宪实认为晋阳起兵的历史真相是，以李渊为首的军事政治集团，看到隋朝大势已去，于是开始谋划夺取最高权力。这个集团的核心人物当然是李渊，作为李渊的次子，李世民不过是李渊手下的一员得力干将而已。因为父子关系，李渊信任李世民，李世民很早就参与了晋阳起兵的谋划，并且承担某些具体的任务。但是，只有李渊才是主谋这个地位是任何人都无法取代的。

影视作品

动画

《隋唐英雄传》(2003年)

备注

Early life and career

According to the official genealogy of the Tang ruling house, Li Yuan's seventh-generation ancestor was Li Gao, the Han Chinese founder of the Dunhuang-based Sixteen Kingdoms state of Western Liang. After Western Liang's destruction by the Northern Liang, Li Gao's grandson Li Zhong'Er (李重耳) served as a Northern Wei official, but for several generations after that, Li Yuan's ancestors had only minor military titles. Li Yuan's paternal grandfather Li Hu (李虎) served as a major general under Western Wei's paramount general Yuwen Tai, and was created the Duke of Longxi and given the Xianbei surname Daye (大野). Li Hu died before Yuwen Tai's son Emperor Xiaomin of Northern Zhou founded Northern Zhou, but was posthumously created the Duke of Tang after Northern Zhou's founding. His son and Li Yuan's father Li Bing (李昞), of Han ethnicity, inherited the title of the Duke of Tang and married one of the Dugu sisters and daughter of the prominent Xianbei general Dugu Xin. Li Bing died in 572, and Li Yuan inherited the title of Duke of Tang, a title he continued to hold after the Northern Zhou throne was seized by Emperor Wen of Sui (Yang Jian) in 581, establishing the Sui dynasty, as Emperor Wen's wife, Empress Dugu, was an aunt of his.

At some point, he married Lady Dou, a daughter of Dou Yi (窦毅) the Duke of Shenwu and Northern Zhou's Princess Xiangyang (Yuwen Tai's daughter) as his wife and duchess.

During Emperor Wen's reign (581–604), Li Yuan served three terms as a provincial governor. Early in the reign of Emperor Wen's son Emperor Yang, Li Yuan served as commandery governor (as Emperor Yang converted provinces into commanderies), but was later recalled to serve as a junior minister within Emperor Yang's administration. When Emperor Yang carried out his second campaign against Goguryeo in 613, Li Yuan was in charge of part of the logistics operation. When the general Yang Xuangan rebelled near the eastern capital Luoyang, Emperor Yang commissioned Li Yuan as a general and made him be in charge of the operations west of the Tong Pass, although Yang Xuangan's rebellion eventually did not involve that region. Li Yuan took the opportunity to recruit talented people to his staff. Later that year, when Emperor Yang summoned him to his presence, he declined, citing ill health—an excuse that Emperor Yang did not believe, as he questioned Li Yuan's niece, Consort Wang (Emperor Yang's concubine), "Will he die?". In fear, Li Yuan took up drinking and receiving bribes to try to show Emperor Yang that he did not have great ambitions. In 615, Emperor Yang placed him in charge of the operations against agrarian rebels in the Hedong (河东) region (roughly modern Shanxi), but recalled him in 616. Later that year, Emperor Yang put him in charge of the key city of Taiyuan (太原, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi).

Rebellion against Emperor Yang of Sui

Emperor Yang grew dissatisfied with Li Yuan and Wang Rengong (王仁恭), the governor of Mayi Commandery (马邑, roughly modern Shuozhou, Shanxi), over their inability to stop incursions by the Eastern Turks (Tujue) and the growing strength of agrarian rebels—particularly the Turk-supported Liu Wuzhou, the Dingyang Khan, who soon rose against Wang and killed him and captured Emperor Yang's secondary palace near Taiyuan. Li Yuan also became fearful due to prophecies circulating throughout the empire that the next emperor would be named Li—and because Emperor Yang had killed another official, Li Hun (李浑) and his clan over his fears that Li Hun's nephew Li Min (李敏, the son-in-law of Emperor Yang's sister Yang Lihua, the Princess Leping) had imperial ambitions.

Traditional accounts, compiled during the reign of Li Yuan's second son by the Duchess Dou, Li Shimin (Emperor Taizong), emphasize the latter's initiative and major role in instigating his father's rebellion. According to these, Li Shimin was secretly planning rebellion against Sui rule with Pei Ji, the majordomo of Emperor Yang's secondary palace, and with Liu Wenjing, the magistrate of Jinyang County (晋阳, i.e., Taiyuan), but at first did not reveal their plans to Li Yuan. At Li Shimin's urging, Pei Ji, who had also earlier, against regulations, allowed Li Yuan to have sexual relations with some of late Emperor Wen's imperial concubines, persuaded Li Yuan that it was necessary for him to rebel. Modern researchers, however, have concluded that the initiative for the revolt came from Li Yuan himself.

Li Yuan began to gather forces from the region, claiming that they were necessary to defend against the Turks, which drew suspicions from his deputies Wang Wei (王威) and Gao Junya (高君雅). Li Yuan, afraid that Wang and Gao would act against him first, then used a Turkic attack as an excuse to falsely claim that Wang and Gao were working in concert with the Turkic khagan, Shibi Khan (Ashina Duojishi), and had them executed. He sent secret messengers to Hedong to recall his sons Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji (both by Duchess Dou) and Li Zhiyun (李智云, by his concubine Lady Wan), whom he had left there to watch over his household, and the capital Chang'an (modern Xi'an) to recall his daughter (the future Princess Pingyang) and her husband Chai Shao (柴绍). Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, leaving Li Zhiyun at Hedong, soon met with Chai, and they arrived together at Taiyuan. Li Yuan's daughter, believing it would be difficult for her to flee with Chai, chose to hide instead.

Once Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji, and Chai arrived at Taiyuan, Li Yuan formally declared his rebellion, but maintained the guise of a Sui loyalist and declared that his intention was simply to install on the throne Emperor Yang's grandson Yang You, the Prince of Dai, who was then at Chang'an, and honor Emperor Yang as Taishang Huang (retired emperor). Li Yuan first secured his northern flank by contacting Shibi Khan, offering tribute, and received men and horses in exchange. He put Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin in charge of his army and, leaving Li Yuanji in charge at Taiyuan, advanced south. Meanwhile, the Sui officials at Hedong arrested Li Zhiyun and delivered him to Chang'an, where he was executed.

His daughter Pingyang sold her possessions to raise an army for him. She persuaded several other leaders to fight under her banner. They took several towns and her army swelled until she had 70,000 troops under her command.

Meanwhile, Li Yuan wrote another rebel leader, Li Mi the Duke of Wei, who was near Luoyang, trying to see if Li Mi would be willing to follow him, but Li Mi, believing in his own strength, had his secretary Zu Junyan (祖君彦) write Li Yuan for him in this way:

Li Yuan was dismayed but, not wanting to make another enemy, wrote back humbly:

Li Mi was pleased with Li Yuan's response, believing that Li Yuan was willing to support him, and from that point on, Li Mi and Li Yuan often exchanged messengers. Li Yuan's campaign against Chang'an thus went without opposition from Li Mi. Meanwhile, however, when Li Yuan arrived near Hedong, his army was bogged down by the weather, and with food running out, there were rumors that Eastern Tujue and Liu Wuzhou would attack Taiyuan. Li Yuan initially ordered retreat, but at the earnest opposition by Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, continued to advance. After defeating Sui forces at Huoyi (霍邑, also in modern Yuncheng), he decided to leave a small contingent to watch over Hedong while advancing across the Yellow River into Guanzhong (i.e., the Chang'an region). Once he did, he headed for Chang'an himself, while sending Li Jiancheng to capture the territory around the Tong Pass region to prevent Sui forces at Luoyang from reinforcing Chang'an and Li Shimin north of the Wei River to capture territory there. Meanwhile, his daughter had also risen in rebellion in support of him, and she was able to gather a sizable army and capture some cities. She joined forces with Li Shimin and her husband Chai Shao. Soon, Li Yuan reconsolidated his forces and put Chang'an under siege. In winter 617, he captured Chang'an and declared Yang You emperor (as Emperor Gong). He had himself made regent (with the title of grand chancellor) and created the Prince of Tang. (Meanwhile, most of Sui territory did not recognize Yang You as emperor and continued to recognize Emperor Yang as emperor and not as retired emperor.) He sent his nephew Li Xiaogong south, and Li Xiaogong was able to persuade the Sui cities in modern southern Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Chongqing to submit.

Establishment of Tang and gradual unification

In spring 618, Emperor Yang was killed at Jiangdu (江都, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) in a coup led by the general Yuwen Huaji. When the news reached Chang'an, Li Yuan had Yang You yield the throne to him, becoming Emperor Gaozu of the Tang dynasty. He restored much of the institutions of Sui's first ruler, Emperor Wen, reversing a number of changes that Emperor Yang made. He created Yang You the Duke of Xi, Li Jiancheng, his oldest son, was named crown prince, while Li Shimin was made the Prince of Qin and Li Yuanji the Prince of Qi. Meanwhile, the Sui officials at Luoyang declared another grandson of Emperor Yang, Yang You's brother Yang Tong, the Prince of Yue, as emperor, and refused to recognize the regime change in Chang'an.

Emperor Gaozu's rule immediately faced a major challenge from Xue Ju, an agrarian leader who had declared himself the Emperor of Qin. During the fall of 618, Xue took advantage of Li Shimin's illness to defeat an army commanded by Li Shimin and Liu Wenjing at Qianshui Plain (in modern Xianyang, Shanxi) and approach Chang'an. In response, Gaozu tried to enter an alliance with Li Gui, the Prince of Liang, between whose ___domain and the Tang Xue's Qin state was located, writing Li Gui and referring to him as cousin. Li Gui briefly submitted to Gaozu. Meanwhile, before he could attack Chang'an, Xue Ju died of illness and was succeeded by his son Xue Rengao, who was a capable commander but who had alienated his generals because of his cruelty. Li Shimin was soon able to attack Xue Rengao at Gaozhi (高墌, in modern Xianyang as well), and force Xue Rengao to surrender.

Meanwhile, Li Mi, having been defeated earlier in the year in a surprise attack (at the Battle of Yanshi) by the Sui general Wang Shichong, fled to Tang territory and submitted to Gaozu. Li Mi's general Xu Shiji, who controlled a major part of Li Mi's former territory, also submitted, and Emperor Gaozu, impressed with Xu's faithfulness to Li Mi, bestowed the imperial surname of Li on Xu. Gaozu created Li Mi the Duke of Xing, but only made him the Minister of Feasts, a post that Li Mi viewed as below his stature. Around New Year 619, Li Mi requested Emperor Gaozu's permission to head east to persuade some of his former subordinates to submit to Tang, but once he left Chang'an, planned to restore his independence. He was ambushed and killed by the Tang general Sheng Yanshi (盛彦师).

In spring 619, Wang Shichong at Luoyang had Yang Tong yield the throne to him, ending the Sui dynasty and establishing a new state of Zheng.

Around the same time, Li Gui, while stating that he wished to be a Tang subject, refused the Tang creation of Prince of Liang, instead declaring himself the Emperor of Tang. In summer 619, Li Gui's official An Xinggui (安兴贵), formerly a Tang official, rebelled against Li Gui and captured him, submitting to Tang. Gaozu executed Li Gui and incorporated his ___domain into Tang. Also around the same time, the rebel leader Du Fuwei, who controlled the modern southern Anhui, submitted to Tang, and Gaozu also bestowed the imperial surname of Li on him, creating him the Prince of Wu. Similarly, Luo Yi, who controlled the modern Beijing region, submitted, was bestowed the imperial surname of Li, and was created the Prince of Yan.

Meanwhile, Tang was facing another serious threat—Liu Wuzhou, now determined to march south against Tang. Emperor Gaozu sent Pei Ji against Liu's advancing army, but Pei was defeated by Liu, who then put Taiyuan under siege. Li Yuanji fled back to Chang'an, and much of modern Shanxi was seized by Liu. Emperor Gaozu then sent Li Shimin against Liu, and by summer 620, Li Shimin had defeated Liu, forcing him to flee to the Eastern Turks. Liu's territory was incorporated into Tang. Around the same time, however, Dou Jiande the Prince of Xia made a major offensive against the cities that had submitted to Tang in modern Hebei and Henan, north of the Yellow River, seizing nearly all of them and taking Emperor Gaozu's cousin Li Shentong (李神通) the Prince of Huai'an, Emperor Gaozu's sister the Princess Tong'an, and Li Shiji's father Li Gai (李盖) captive. With Li Gai in Dou's custody, Li Shiji surrendered to Dou as well. In 620, Li Shiji, in association with another Tang general who surrendered to Dou, Li Shanghu (李商胡), plotted to ambush Dou, but the plot was discovered; Li Shanghu was killed, and Li Shiji fled back to Tang.

In 620, Li Fuwei captured much of the territory of another agrarian ruler, Li Zitong, the Emperor of Wu, in the lower Yangtze River region, in the name of the Tang dynasty. Li Zitong, in turn, defeated and took over the territory of Shen Faxing the Prince of Liang, roughly modern Zhejiang.

After Li Shimin defeated Liu, he started a campaign against Wang's Zheng state in fall 620. He initially could not decisively defeat Zheng, but by spring 621 had put the Zheng capital Luoyang under a tight siege, although he was not able to capture it. Wang sought aid from Dou. The latter agreed, concerned that a Tang victory over Zheng would also mean his own demise, but at the same time was eager to exploit the weakness of the Zheng and claim its domains for himself. Emperor Gaozu was initially fearful that Dou and Wang would be able to sandwich Li Shimin's forces between them and ordered Li Shimin to retreat, but upon Li Shimin's petition changed his mind and permitted Li Shimin to remain in the Luoyang region. Li Shimin, leaving Li Yuanji in charge of the siege of Luoyang, advanced and took up position at Hulao Pass. In summer 621, the Tang and Xia forces engaged at Hulao, and Li Shimin defeated Dou, capturing him. Despairing, Wang also surrendered, and most of the Zheng territory was seized by the Tang. Xia territory was also seized by Tang, but after Emperor Gaozu executed Dou, Dou's general Liu Heita rose against the Tang and seized most of the former Xia territory, while Xu Yuanlang, a rebel leader who had previously submitted to Zheng, also rose in revolt, occupying the modern Shandong region.

Also in 621, Li Xiaogong defeated Xiao Xian the Emperor of Liang, who had controlled the modern Hubei, Hunan, and Guangxi region, forcing Xiao Xian to surrender. On another front, Li Fuwei's lieutenant Fu Gongshi defeated Li Zitong, forcing him to surrender as well. Liang and Wu territory were seized by Tang.

Meanwhile, while not as noted as Emperor Gao of Han's killing of Han Xin and Peng Yue, historians have nevertheless noted that some contributors to Emperor Gaozu's establishment of Tang were wrongly killed by him or killed based on fairly little evidence of wrongdoing:

• Liu Wenjing, in 619, on accusation that he engaged sorcerers.

• Emperor Gaozu's cousin Dugu Huai'en (独孤怀恩), in 620, on accusation of treason.

• Li Zhongwen (李仲文) the Duke of Zhenxiang, in 620, on accusation of collaboration with Eastern Tujue.

• Liu Shirang (刘世让) the Duke of Yingyang, in 623, on accusation of collaboration with Eastern Tujue.

Struggle between sons and the Xuanwu Gate Incident

In spring 622, Li Shimin defeated Liu Heita, forcing him to flee to the Eastern Turks, but Liu Heita soon returned with Turkic reinforcements and killed Emperor Gaozu's nephew Li Daoxuan (李道玄) the Prince of Huaiyang in battle, again seizing former Xia territory, although by this point Li Shimin and Li Yuanji had also defeated Xu Yuanlang and reduced his territory to a few cities.

Meanwhile, an intense rivalry had developed between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, as while Li Jiancheng had some contributions toward Tang's reunification of China, Li Shimin had been the one defeating and capturing the major rivals Xue Rengao, Liu Wuzhou, Dou Jiande, and Wang Shichong, causing him to possess the greater reputation among the army. Li Yuanji, who was also often relied on by Emperor Gaozu as a general, 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.

By winter 622, Liu Heita posed the only remaining major threat against Tang rule. 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. 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 (馆陶, in modern Handan as well), crushing him. Liu fled north toward the Eastern Turks, but was ambushed and captured by his own official Zhuge Dewei (诸葛德威), who delivered him to Li Jiancheng. Li Jiancheng executed Liu. Around the same time, Xu was killed in flight. Meanwhile, Lin Shihong the Emperor of Chu, who had one point controlled modern Jiangxi and Guangdong, had died, and his followers scattered. China was by this point completely unified by Tang except for the ___domain of Liang Shidu the Emperor of Liang, who controlled modern northern Shaanxi and western Inner Mongolia, although, with Li Fuwei at Chang'an, Fu Gongshi rebelled in 623 and declared himself the Emperor of Song. Fu's rebellion, however, was quelled by Li Xiaogong in 624.

Meanwhile, the rivalry between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin intensified. 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. When this was revealed to Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Gaozu rebuked Li Jiancheng and exiled his guard commander Keda Zhi (可达志). When, subsequently, Li Jiancheng nevertheless requested the commandant at Qing Prefecture (庆州, in modern Qingyang, Gansu), Yang Wen'gan (杨文干), to conscript troops, presumably to guard against Li Shimin, the officers Erzhu Huan (尔朱焕) and Qiao Gongshan (桥公山) informed Emperor Gaozu that Li Jiancheng was encouraging Yang to start a rebellion so that they could seize power together. Emperor Gaozu, then at Renzhi Palace (仁智宫, in modern Tongchuan, Shaanxi), was incensed, and summoned Li Jiancheng, then at Chang'an, to Renzhi Palace. 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.) 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. Instead, Emperor Gaozu only blamed the discord between his sons on Li Jiancheng's staff members Wang Gui and Wei Ting (韦挺), and Li Shimin's staff member Du Yan, exiling them. Yang was subsequently assassinated by his own subordinates.

Another problem that Emperor Gaozu faced was constant Eastern Turkic incursions. Emperor Gaozu seriously considered burning Chang'an to the ground and moving the capital to Fancheng (樊城, in modern Xiangfan, Hubei), a suggestion that Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji, and the chancellor Pei Ji agreed with. 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.

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. Li Jiancheng persuaded Emperor Gaozu to remove Fang and Du, as well as Li Shimin's trusted guard officers Yuchi Gong and Cheng Zhijie (程知节), from Li Shimin's staff. Zhangsun, who remained on Li Shimin's staff, continued to try to persuade Li Shimin to attack first.

In summer 626, the Eastern Turkic khaganate was making another attack, and under Li Jiancheng's suggestion, Emperor Gaozu, instead of sending Li Shimin to resist the Turks 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. As Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji approached the central gate leading to Emperor Gaozu's palace, Xuanwu Gate (玄武门), 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. Meanwhile, Li Shimin accused the late Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji of plotting treason, posthumously demoted them to commoners and had their sons all executed as well, with Emperor Gaozu unable to oppose the action. Two months later, Emperor Gaozu passed the throne to Li Shimin (as Emperor Taizong).

As retired emperor

Emperor Gaozu, as retired emperor, did not appear to try to exert much influence in the reign of his son Emperor Taizong, and not much was recorded about his activities. Indeed, Emperor Taizong, almost immediately, began reversing some of his policies, including his policies of creating many relatives to be imperial princes (which Emperor Taizong reversed later in 626, reducing the ranks of most of those princes to dukes) and Emperor Gaozu's gathering of many ladies in waiting (which Emperor Taizong reversed in 628, releasing about 3,000 ladies in waiting from service, although Emperor Taizong himself, later in his reign, appeared to have gathered as many if not more).

In 629, Emperor Gaozu moved from the main palace, Taiji Palace (太极殿) to the subsidiary Hongyi Palace (弘义宫), which was then renamed Da'an Palace (大安宫). Only then was Emperor Taizong able to move from the crown prince's palace to Taiji Palace.

In 630, when Emperor Gaozu, who had been submitting tribute to the Eastern Turks throughout his reign, heard that Emperor Taizong had sent the general Li Jing to defeat and capture the Turkic khagan Jiali Khan (Ashina Duobi), commented, "Gaozu of Han was trapped Baideng (白登, in modern Datong, Shanxi) in 200 BCE by Xiongnu forces and could not avenge himself. Now my son can destroy Tujue. I have entrusted the empire to the right person, and what do I have to worry about?" He subsequently summoned a number of princes and princesses, along with high level officials, to celebrate the victory, playing the pipa himself at the celebration and having the guests dance to it.

As Chang'an was often hot during the summer, Emperor Taizong often invited Emperor Gaozu to go with him to Jiucheng Palace (九成宫, in modern Baoji, Shaanxi), to avoid the heat during the summer. However, as Sui's Emperor Wen had died there (which was named Renshou Palace (仁寿宫) during the Sui dynasty), Emperor Gaozu did not want to visit Jiucheng Palace. Rather, in 634, Emperor Taizong began to construct another summer palace, Daming Palace (大明宫), to serve as Emperor Gaozu's summer palace, but Emperor Gaozu fell ill before it was completed, and he never visited Daming Palace. He died in June 635.

Era name

• Wude (武德 wǔ dé) 618–626

Chancellors during reign

• Li Shimin (618–626)

• Pei Ji (618–626)

• Liu Wenjing (618)

• Xiao Yu (618–626)

• Dou Wei (618)

• Dou Kang (618)

• Chen Shuda (618–626)

• Yang Gongren (619–626)

• Feng Deyi (620–626)

• Pei Ju (624–625)

• Yuwen Shiji (625–626)

• Gao Shilian (626)

• Fang Xuanling (626)

Family

Consorts and issue

• Empress Taimu, of the Dou clan of Henan (太穆皇后 河南窦氏/河南窦氏; c. 569–613)

　• Li Jiancheng, Crown Prince Yin (隐皇太子 李建成/隐皇太子 李建成; 589–626), 1st son

　• Princess Zhao of Pingyang (平阳昭公主; d. 623), 3rd daughter

　　• Married Chai Shao, Duke of Qiao (谯国公 柴绍，d. 638), and had issue (two sons)

　• Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong (太宗 李世民; 598–649), 2nd son

　• Li Xuanba, Prince Huai of Wei (卫怀王 李玄霸/卫怀王 李玄; 599–614), 3rd son

　• Li Yuanji, Prince La of Chao (巢剌王 李元吉; 603–626), 4th son

• Noble Consort, of the Wan clan (贵妃 万氏/贵妃 万氏)

　• Li Zhiyun, Prince Ai of Chu (楚哀王 李智云/楚哀王 李智; 604–617), 5th son

• Virtuous Consort, of the Yin clan (德妃 尹氏)

　• Li Yuanheng, Prince Dao of Feng (酆悼王 李元亨; 619–632), 8th son

• Zhaoyi, of the Yuwen clan (昭仪 宇文氏/昭仪 宇文氏, d. 634)

　• Li Yuanjia, Prince of Han (韩王 李元嘉/韩王; 620–688), 11th son

　• Li Lingkui, Prince of Lu (鲁王 李灵夔/鲁王 李零夔; 625–688), 19th son

• Guipin, of the Mo clan (贵嫔 莫氏/贵嫔 莫氏; 597–618), personal name Lifang (丽芳/丽芳)

　• Li Yuanjing, Prince Jing (荆王 李元景; 618–653), 6th son

• Imperial Concubine, of the Cui clan of Boling (嫔 博陵崔氏/嫔 博陵崔氏； d. 636), personal name Shanggui (商圭)

　• Li Yuanyu, Prince Kang of Deng (邓康王 李元裕/邓康王 李元裕; 624–665), 17th son

• Imperial Concubine, of the Sun clan (嫔 孙氏/嫔 孙氏)

　• Li Yuanchang, Prince of Han (汉王 李元昌/汉王 李元昌; 619–643), 7th son

• Imperial Concubine, of the Yang clan of Hongnong (嫔 弘农杨氏/嫔; 602–657)

　• Li Yuanxiang, Prince Jiang'an (江安王 李元祥; 626–680), 20th son

• Imperial Concubine, of the Yang clan (嫔 杨氏/嫔 杨氏)

　• Li Yuanming, Prince of Shu (舒王 李元名; 624–689), 18th son

• Jieyu, of the Zhang clan (婕妤 张氏/张氏)

　• Li Yuanfang, Prince of Zhou (周王 李元方; 619–629), 9th son

• Jieyu, of the Guo clan (婕妤 郭氏)

　• Li Yuanli, Prince Kang of Xu (徐康王 李元礼/李元礼; 619–672), 10th son

• Jieyu, of the Liu clan (婕妤 刘氏/刘氏)

　• Li Yuanqing, Prince Xiao of Dao (道孝王 李元庆/李元庆; 623–664), 16th son

• Meiren, of the Zhang clan (美人 张氏/张氏)

　• Li Yuangui, Prince Huo (霍王 李元轨/李元轨; 622–688), 14th son

• Meiren, the Yang clan (美人 杨氏/杨氏; d. 644)

　• Li Feng, Prince Zhuang of Guo (虢庄王 李凤/虢庄王 李凤; 622–675), 15th son

• Cairen, of the Wang clan (才人 王氏; 596–662)

　• Li Yuanze, Prince Si of Peng (彭思王 李元则/李元则; 620–651), 12th son

• Cairen, of the Lu clan (才人 鲁氏/鲁氏)

　• Li Yuanxiao, Prince Zhen of Mi (密贞王 李元晓/密贞王 李元晓; 628–676), 21st son

• Baolin, of the Zhang clan (宝林 张氏/宝林 张氏; 589–645), personal name Chongze (宠则/宠则)

　• Li Yuanyi, Prince Hui of Zheng (郑惠王 李元懿/郑惠王 李元懿; 621–673), 13th son

• Baolin, of the Liu clan (宝林 柳氏/宝林 柳氏)

　• Li Yuanying, Prince of Teng (滕王 李元婴/李元婴; 630–684), 22nd son

• Unknown

　• Princess Changsha (长沙公主/长沙公主), 1st daughter

　　• Married Feng Shaoshi of Changle (长乐 冯少师/长乐 风少师)

　• Princess Xiangyang (襄阳公主), 2nd daughter

　　• Married Dou Dan of Henan, Duke of Shen (河南 窦诞/窦诞; 580–648), the third son of Dou Kang, in 617, and had issue (two sons, one daughter)

　• Princess Gaomi (高密公主; d. 655), 4th daughter

　　• Married Zhangsun Xiaozheng of Henan (河南 长孙孝政/长孙孝政), and had issue (one daughter)

　　• Married Duan Lun, Prince of Jinchang (段纶/段纶; d. 642), and had issue (one son, one daughter)

　• Princess Changguang (长广公主/长广公主; d. 648), 5th daughter

　　• Married Zhao Cijing of Tianshui, Duke of Kaihua (天水 赵慈景; d. 618)

　　• Married Yang Shidao of Hongnong, Duke of Ande (弘农 杨师道/弘农 杨师道; d. 647) in 622, and had issue (one daughter)

　• Princess Fangling (房陵公主; 619–673), 6th daughter

　　• Married Dou Fengjie of Henan, Duke of Zan (河南 窦奉节/窦奉节) in 630, and had issue (one son, one daughter)

　　• Married Helan Sengjia, Baron Tonghua (贺兰僧伽/贺兰僧伽), and had issue (one son)

　• Princess Changle (常乐公主/长乐公主; d. 688), 7th daughter

　　• Married Zhao Gui (赵瑰/赵瑰; d. 688)

　• Princess Jiujiang (九江公主), 8th daughter

　　• Married Zhishi Sili, Duke of An (执失思力/安国公 执失思力)

　• Princess Luling (庐陵公主/庐陵公主), 9th daughter

　　• Married Qiao Shiwang, Viscount of Xiangyi (乔师望/乔师望)

　• Princess Nanchang (南昌公主),10th daughter

　　• Married Su Xu (苏勖/苏勖)

　• Princess Anping (安平公主), 11th daughter

　　• Married Yang Sijing of Hongnong (弘农 杨思敬/弘农 杨思敬)

　• Princess Huainan (淮南公主; 622–690), personal name Chengxia (澄霞), 12th daughter

　　• Married Feng Daoyan of Bohai, Duke of Mi (渤海 封道言; 616–699), a son of Feng Lun, in 638

　• Princess Zhending (真定公主), 13th daughter

　　• Married Cui Gongli of Boling (博陵 崔恭礼/崔恭礼)

　• Princess Hengyang (衡阳公主/衡阳公主), 14th daughter

　　• Married Ashina She'er, Duke Bi (阿史那社尔阿史那社尔; 609–655), a son of Ashina Xichun, in 636

　• Princess Danyang (丹阳公主/丹阳公主), 15th daughter

　　• Married Xue Wanche of Hedong, Duke of Wu'an (河东 薛万彻/河东 薛万彻; d. 653) in 644

　• Princess Linhai (临海公主/临海公主), 16th daughter

　　• Married Pei Lüshi of Hedong, Duke of Hedong (河东 裴律师/河东 裴律师), the second son of Pei Ji

　• Princess Guantao (馆陶公主/馆陶公主), 17th daughter

　　• Married Cui Xuanqing (崔宣庆/崔宣庆)

　• Princess Changsha (长沙公主/长沙公主; d. 724), 18th daughter

　　• Married Doulu Huairang of Changli, Duke Rui (昌黎 豆卢怀让/豆卢怀让), and had issue (one son, one daughter)

　• Princess Anding (安定公主), 19th daughter

　　• Married Wen Ting (温挺/温挺), the second son of Wen Yanbo

　　• Married Zheng Jingxuan of Xingyang (荥阳 郑敬玄/荥阳 郑敬玄), and had issue (one son)

Ancestry