History UsefulNotes / TaizongOfTang

!! Is depicted in:
[[folder: Literature]]

[[/folder]]
[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

[[/folder]]
[[folder: Manhua]]

[[/folder]]
[[folder: Video Games]]

[[/folder]]

* In ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'', Taizong is the representative Chinese leader in the Chinese versions of ''III'' and ''IV'' (replacing UsefulNotes/MaoZedong). He also appears in the second mobile spin-off game, ''Civilization Revolution 2''.

Emperor Taizong of Tang (598/9 - 649), personal name Li Shimin, was the second emperor of the UsefulNotes/TangDynasty, and considered one of the greatest Chinese emperors ever.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'', Taizong is the representative Chinese leader in the Chinese version of ''III'' and ''IV'' (replacing UsefulNotes/MaoZedong). He also appears in the second mobile spin-off game, ''Civilization Revolution 2''.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' Taizong is the representative Chinese leader in the Chinese version of ''III'' and ''IV'' (replacing UsefulNotes/MaoZedong). He also appears in the second mobile spin-off game, ''Civilization Revolution 2''.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' games, for the third and fourth games, Taizong is the representative Chinese leader when the game is ported to China, replacing UsefulNotes/MaoZedong in other versions (For reasons unknown. Mao would still appear in the earlier games before, and latter games used neither Mao or Taizong). The fifth and sixth game had several GameMod to have him replace the Chinese leaders. His actual official appearance is in the second mobile spin-off game, ''Civilization Revolution 2''.

His biggest stain is probably his failed expedition into the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo. Taizong had always wished to do what Emperor Yang of Sui couldn't (Emperor Yang had launched several failed attempts on Goguryeo). When Taizong's ally [[UsefulNotes/{{Seondeok}} Seondeok of Silla]] (who he had [[ValuesDissonance initially refused to recognise as ruler]] [[HeirClubForMen due to her gender]]) was invaded by Goguryeo and Baekje, Taizong sent an envoy to order that the attacks stop. When Goguryeo's Yeon Gaesomun continued attacking, Taizong launched a full-on invasion. He enjoyed initial success, but was forced to retreat after a failed siege on the Ansi Fortress. He allegedly got blinded in one eye by an arrow, but this record is not in Chinese, or other foreign sources. Given the metropolitan nature of Tang at the time, if this was actually true, foreign dignitaries visiting China would have taken note even if it was absent from Chinese records. In fact, the Korean allegation that Taizong was blinded by an arrow was not from contemporary sources, but came much later after the death of Taizong.

He fell ill in 649, likely due to the mercury pills he took from alchemists (death by mercury poisoning was common for emperors, as they thought taking it would make them immortal), and died that year. After his death, Li Zhi took the throne and became Emperor Gaozong.

Because of the violent way in which he became emperor, it's suggested that the reason he was so determined to be a good emperor was because he wanted to save his reputation from being destroyed by his usurpation of the throne. When he became emperor, he readily accepted the advice of his officials, and even asked for them to point out the flaws of his plans. The most famous of these advisors was Wei Zheng, who had previously served under Li Jiancheng and encouraged Li Jiancheng to kill Li Shimin. Although Li Shimin [[VitriolicBestBuds had resolved to kill Wei Zheng a few times under his governance, he was extremely grateful for Wei Zheng's advice when he calmed down his temper.]]

Under his reign, he was able to vanquish the Eastern Gokturks, and eventually pushed Tang borders as far as Russia. However he pushed religious tolerance and allowed other ethnicities high government offices, two of his favoured generals being Turkic. He pushed China to an economic high after 400 years of disunity and the Sui Dynasty falling apart, and he cared deeply for the people, enacting measures to help them, and they enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity (well, the rich people did). He was known for being lenient in justice cases - according to one source, he only executed 29 people one year - a [[ValuesDissonance very low amount for the 7th century]]. He also enhanced China's international trade and diplomacy, striking an alliance with Silla, Tibet and the Uyghurs, and exchanging envoys with the Byzantine Empire and India. Like Emperor Yang of Sui and his father Emperor Gaozu, he only used one era name 'Zhen'guan' (hence his rule being known as the 'prosperity of Zhen'guan').

!! Tropes associated with him:
* AntagonisticOffspring: He forced his father to abdicate, which made the relationship between him and Emperor Gaozu cold and distant, Even though he invited Gaozu closer to him to escape the summer heat, Gaozu refused to accompany him. His son Li Chengqian was later this to him.
* CainAndAbel: Killed two of his brothers for the throne.
* EyeScream: According to popular Korean tales, was blinded by an arrow in his failed invasion of Goguryeo.
* HonestAdvisor: Had an entire council of these. It's seen as a major reason as to why he was such a good emperor.
* ImprobableAge: Wasn't even out of his teens when he helped his father launch a rebellion, the most decorated military commander by age 23, and became emperor by age 28.
* ParentalFavouritism: He adored his children by Empress Zhangsun more than he did the children of his concubines. He spoiled his children with Empress Zhangsun, even spared Li Chengqian after a full on rebellion was exposed, and was so devastated when his daughter Princess Jinyang died that he cried so much that he was noticeably thinner after a month.
* PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: With his wife Empress Zhangsun. Despite his affairs (which were normal for a 7th century Chinese emperor) he and Empress Zhangsun were very close, and he frequently turned to her for advice, and respected her very much in court. When she died, he was devastated, raised two of her children himself (a rarity for Chinese emperors; the daughter, Princess Jinyang, is said to be the only Chinese princess raised by the emperor himself).
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Considered one of the greatest emperors of Chinese history ever.
* WrittenByTheWinners: Is suspected to have tampered with the record of the founding of the Tang dynasty to exaggerate his own achievements and downplay his father and older brother's.

[[caption-width-right:350:Taizong as depicted in a Ming-era painting]]

Under his reign, he was able to vanquish the Eastern Gokturks, and eventually pushed Tang borders as far as Russia. However he pushed religious tolerance and allowed other ethnicities high government offices, two of his favoured generals being Turkic. He pushed China to an economic high after 400 years of disunity and the Sui Dynasty falling apart, and he cared deeply for the people, enacting measures to help them, and they enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity (well, the rich people did). He was known for being lenient in justice cases - according to one source, he only executed 29 people one year - a [[ValuesDissonance very low amount for the 7th century]]. He also enhanced China's international trade and diplomacy, striking an alliance with Silla, Tibet and the Uyghurs, and exchanging envoys with the Byzantine Empire and India. Like Emperor Yang of Sui and his father Emperor Gaozu, he only used one era name 'Zhenguan' (hence his rule being known as the 'prosperity of Zhenguan').

His biggest stain is probably his failed expedition into the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo. Taizong had always wished to do what Emperor Yang of Sui couldn't (Emperor Yang had launched several failed attempts on Goguryeo). When Taizong's ally [[UsefulNotes/{{Seondeok}} Seondeok of Silla]] (who he had [[ValuesDissonance initially refused to recognise as ruler]] [[HeirClubForMen due to her gender]]) was invaded by Goguryeo and Baekje, Taizong sent an envoy to order that the attacks stop. When Goguryeo's Yeon Gaesomun continued attacking, Taizong launched a full-on invasion. He enjoyed initial success, but was forced to retreat after a failed siege on the Ansi Fortress. He allegedly got blinded in one eye by an arrow, but this record is not in Chinese sources.

Under his reign, he was able to vanquish the Eastern Gokturks, and eventually pushed Tang borders as far as Russia. However he pushed religious tolerance and allowed other ethnicities high government offices, two of his favoured generals being Turkic. He pushed China to an economic high after 400 years of disunity and the Sui Dynasty falling apart, and he cared deeply for the people, enacting measures to help them, and they enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity (well, the rich people did). He was known for being lenient in justice cases - according to his state manual on governance, he only executed 29 people one year - a [[ValuesDissonance very low amount for the 7th century]]. He also enhanced China's international trade and diplomacy, striking an alliance with Silla, Tibet and the Uyghurs, and exchanging envoys with the Byzantine Empire and India. Like Emperor Yang of Sui and his father Emperor Gaozu, he only used one era name 'Zhenguan' (hence his rule being known as the 'prosperity of Zhenguan').

Under his reign, he was able to vanquish the Eastern Gokturks, and eventually pushed Tang borders as far as Russia, which created a multi-ethnic and diverse empire, even styling himself as 'Heavenly Khagan'. He pushed China to an economic high after 400 years of disunity and the Sui Dynasty falling apart, and he cared deeply for the people, enacting measures to help them, and they enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity (well, the rich people did). He was known for being lenient in justice cases - according to his state manual on governance, he only executed 29 people one year - a [[ValuesDissonance very low amount for the 7th century]]. He also enhanced China's international trade and diplomacy, striking an alliance with Silla and getting into contact with the Byzantine Empire. Like Emperor Yang of Sui and his father Emperor Gaozu, he only used one era name 'Zhenguan' (hence his rule being known as the 'prosperity of Zhenguan').

He was the second son of Li Yuan (later Emperor Gaozu of Tang) and his wife Lady Dou. He had four full siblings, Li Jiancheng, Princess Pingyang, Li Xuanba (who died young) and Li Yuanji. Through his paternal grandmother Lady Dugu he was related to the Sui's Emperor Yang, whose mother was Lady Dugu's sister Dugu Qieluo. When he was 15 years old, he was married to Lady Zhangsun, the niece of Li Yuan's friend Gao Shilian. Lady Zhangsun would become Li Shimin's empress, and Gao Shilian would serve under both Gaozu and Taizong.

* AntagonisticOffspring: He forced his father to abdicate, which made the relationship between him and Emperor Gaozu cold and distant, Even thoughhe invited Gaozu closer to him to escape the summer heat, Gaozu refused to accompany him. His son Li Chengqian was later this to him.

* ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'' has him as a minor character.

His biggest stain is arguably his failed expedition into the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo. Taizong had always wished to do what Emperor Yang of Sui couldn't (Emperor Yang had launched several failed attempts on Goguryeo). When Taizong's ally [[UsefulNotes/{{Seondeok}} Seondeok of Silla]] (who he had [[ValuesDissonance initially refused to recognise as ruler]] [[HeirClubForMen due to her gender]]) was invaded by Goguryeo and Baekje, Taizong sent an envoy to order that the attacks stop. When Goguryeo's Yeon Gaesomun continued attacking, Taizong launched a full-on invasion. he enjoyed initial success, but was forced to retreat after a failed siege on the Ansi Fortress. He allegedly got blinded in one eye by an arrow, however this record is not in Chinese sources.

* PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: With his wife Empress Zhangsun. Despite his affairs (which were normal for a 7th century Chinese emperor) he and Empress Zhangsun were very close, and he frequently turned to her for advice, and respected her very much in court. When she died, he was devastated, raised two of her children himself (a rarity for Chinese emperors; the daughter, Princess Jinyang, is said to be the only Chinese princess raised by the emperor himself), and walked a long distance to see her tomb every day (despite burying her with simple ceremonies according to her wishes).

In 617, Emperor Gaozu rebelled against Sui (Li Shimin was suspected to have coerced his father into rebellion), and with the help of Li Jiancheng, Princess Pingyang and Li Shimin, he soon conquered Chang'an. After founding the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu sent Li Shimin to deal with several other warlords. By 621, his military merits were so great (he had once decisively defeated an army of more than 100,000 with a force of (according to some sources ''less than 5,000'') to reunify China) that he was honoured more than any other commander. [[ImprobableAge He was only 23.]]

Under his reign, he was able to vanquish the Eastern Gokturks, and created a multi-ethnic and diverse empire, even styling himself as 'Heavenly Khagan'. He pushed China to an economic high after 400 years of disunity and the Sui Dynasty falling apart, and he cared deeply for the people, who enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity (well, the rich people). He was known for being lenient in justice cases - according to his state manual on governance, he only executed 29 people one year - a very low amount for the 7th century. Like Emperor Yang of Sui and his father Emperor Gaozu, he only used one era name 'Zhenguan' (hence his rule being known as the 'prosperity of Zhenguan').

Like his father Gaozu, he experienced problems with the SiblingRivalry between his eldest son Li Chengqian and his second son by Empress Zhangsun, Li Tai. Li Chengqian was originally a promising crown prince, but he began dressing up as a Turkic Khan, refusing to speak Chinese, pretended to be dead, and sent assassins after his teacher. The final straw was when he had his male favourites engage in sorcery, which drew Taizong's ire, and he had them executed. Li Chengqian was furious at his father, and suspected Li Tai of snitching to him. Eventually, Li Chengqian was found out to have been attempting to kill Li Tai and force Taizong to abdicate to him. Taizong executed his accomplices, but spared Li Chengqian. After Li Tai told Taizong he'd kill all his sons and make his brother (Taizong and Empress Zhangsun's third son) Li Zhi the emperor, Taizong gave up the idea of making him crown prince and [[TakeAThirdOption made Li Zhi the crown price]].

* ParentalFavouritism: He adored his children by Empress Zhangsun more than he did the children of his concubines.

Unfortunately, his military accomplishments made his older brother Li Jiancheng, the crown prince, afraid that he would be replaced in favour of Li Shimin, and with his other brother Li Yuanji, he plotted to have Li Shimin assassinated. When Li Shimin found out, he [[CainAndAbel ambushed and killed them at the Xuanwu Gate]], in the infamous Xuanwu Gate Incident. After killing his brothers, he then [[EvilUncle killed their sons to avoid problems later down the line]][[AFamilyAffair took his sister-in-law Lady Yang as a concubine (though he never gave her a formal title)]], and forced his father to [[AbdicateTheThrone abdicate to him.]]