- Mingzong of Later Tang
Li Siyuan was emperor of the
Later Tang Dynasty from 926 to 936.Family
Li Siyuan was the adopted son of
Li Keyong , a Shatuo Turk who served under theTang Dynasty and established the State of Jin upon the demise of theTang Dynasty . With the help of Khitan leader Abaoji, his son,Li Cunxu was able to establish theLater Tang Dynasty in 923.Ascension to the Throne
Li Cunxu had destroyed theLater Liang Dynasty in 923 and established his capital inLuoyang , to signify a restoration of the Tang Dynasty, called theLater Tang Dynasty . His rule only lasted three years as he was killed during an officer’s rebellion in 926. AsLi Keyong ’s adopted son, Li Siyuan ascended the throne.Reign
By the time Li Siyuan had assumed the throne of the
Later Tang Dynasty , relations with the powerful Khitan to the north had deteriorated. In accordance with custom, an ambassador was sent to the Khitan Supreme Capital to informAbaoji of the death of the emperor. However,Abaoji used the occasion to try to gain territory from theLater Tang Dynasty , especially the strategicSixteen Prefectures , and even briefly imprisoned the envoy.Though
Abaoji soon died, the enmity that had been developing between the two did not fade. However, the major challenges to his rule came from the south and from within.Li Cunxu had brought the State of Shu into the domains of theLater Tang Dynasty . However, in 935, the kingdom, based inSichuan in the southwest, reasserted its independence and formed theLater Shu state.End of the Dynasty
The death knell of the dynasty would come from within with Khitan help. Shi Jingtang, the son-in-law of Li Siyuan himself, launched a rebellion against his rule. With Khitan help, he successfully overthrew the Later Tang throne and established his own dynasty, the Later Jin.
References
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