Later Tang Dynasty
Encyclopedia
The Later Tang Dynasty was a short-lived dynasty that lasted from 923
to 937
one of the five dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was also the first in a series of three dynasties ruled by the Shatuo Turks. At its height, it controlled most of northern China
.
, formed by Zhu Wen and the State of Jin by Li Keyong
in present-day Shanxi. That rivalry was not quelled by the death of Li Keyong
. His son, Li Cunxu
continued to expand Jin territories at the expense of the Later Liang. The fact that an alliance forged by Li Keyong
with the powerful Khitan
, who, like the Shatuo Turks, were also a people of the northern steppe
, was maintained, figured significantly in the expansion and ultimate triumph of the Shatuo Turks.
Li Cunxu
was successful in overthrowing the Later Liang Dynasty
in 923
and proclaimed himself emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty, which he referred to as the “Restored Tang”. As a part of “restoring the Tang”, the capital was moved back to the old Tang eastern capital of Luoyang
.
, this was a short-lived regime lasting only thirteen years. Li Cunxu
himself lived only three years after the founding of the dynasty, having been killed during an officer’s rebellion in 926
.
Li Siyuan, the adopted son of Li Keyong
, took over the dynasty, but relations with the Khitan and had fallen sour. Internal struggles typified the remaining ten years of the dynasty, ending with its toppling in 937
when Shi Jingtang
, son-in-law of Li Siyuan and a fellow Shatuo Turk, rebelled, stormed the capital with the help of Khitan troops, and founded the Later Jin Dynasty
.
. Not only did it control all northern Chinese territories controlled by the previous dynasty, it held onto control of its own base in Shanxi. It also had control over the areas around Beijing
and Shaanxi, which were not entirely under the control of the Later Liang. The largest expansion of the Later Tang occurred in 925
when they conquered the Former Shu State, centered in present-day Sichuan. However, as Later Tang power was waning, a Later Shu
state formed in 934
, one year prior to the fall of the Later Tang.
Northern Zhou
(557-581) of the Northern Dynasties
, where a substantial portion of the Chinese heartland was under the control of a foreign regime. This would be the first of three Shatuo Turk regimes, and would be a precursor to even more powerful foreign regimes to come.
923
Year 923 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* June 15 – Battle of Soissons: King Robert I of France is killed, and King Charles the Simple is arrested by the supporters of Duke Rudolph of Burgundy.- Americas :* Topiltzin Ce Acatl Quetzalcoatl becomes...
to 937
937
Year 937 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Battle of Brunanburh: King Athelstan of England defeats the Viking king of Dublin, the Scots, and Strathclyde....
one of the five dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was also the first in a series of three dynasties ruled by the Shatuo Turks. At its height, it controlled most of northern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Formation of the Later Tang Dynasty
From the fall of the Tang Dynasty in 907, a rivalry had developed between the successor Later Liang DynastyLater Liang Dynasty
The Later Liang was one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. It was founded by Zhu Wen, posthumously known as Taizu of Later Liang, after he forced the last emperor of the Tang dynasty to abdicate in his favour...
, formed by Zhu Wen and the State of Jin by Li Keyong
Li Keyong
Li Keyong was a Shatuo military governor during the late Tang Dynasty and was key to developing a base of power for the Shatuo in what is today Shanxi Province in China...
in present-day Shanxi. That rivalry was not quelled by the death of Li Keyong
Li Keyong
Li Keyong was a Shatuo military governor during the late Tang Dynasty and was key to developing a base of power for the Shatuo in what is today Shanxi Province in China...
. His son, Li Cunxu
Li Cunxu
Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang , personal name Li Cunxu , nickname Yazi , was the Prince of Jin and later became Emperor of Later Tang...
continued to expand Jin territories at the expense of the Later Liang. The fact that an alliance forged by Li Keyong
Li Keyong
Li Keyong was a Shatuo military governor during the late Tang Dynasty and was key to developing a base of power for the Shatuo in what is today Shanxi Province in China...
with the powerful Khitan
Khitan people
thumb|250px|Khitans [[Eagle hunting|using eagles to hunt]], painted during the Chinese [[Song Dynasty]].The Khitan people , or Khitai, Kitan, or Kidan, were a nomadic Mongolic people, originally located at Mongolia and Manchuria from the 4th century...
, who, like the Shatuo Turks, were also a people of the northern steppe
Steppe
In physical geography, steppe is an ecoregion, in the montane grasslands and shrublands and temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biomes, characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes...
, was maintained, figured significantly in the expansion and ultimate triumph of the Shatuo Turks.
Li Cunxu
Li Cunxu
Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang , personal name Li Cunxu , nickname Yazi , was the Prince of Jin and later became Emperor of Later Tang...
was successful in overthrowing the Later Liang Dynasty
Later Liang Dynasty
The Later Liang was one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. It was founded by Zhu Wen, posthumously known as Taizu of Later Liang, after he forced the last emperor of the Tang dynasty to abdicate in his favour...
in 923
923
Year 923 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* June 15 – Battle of Soissons: King Robert I of France is killed, and King Charles the Simple is arrested by the supporters of Duke Rudolph of Burgundy.- Americas :* Topiltzin Ce Acatl Quetzalcoatl becomes...
and proclaimed himself emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty, which he referred to as the “Restored Tang”. As a part of “restoring the Tang”, the capital was moved back to the old Tang eastern capital of Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
.
Course of the Later Tang
As with all of the other dynasties of the Five DynastiesFive Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms was between 907–960/979 AD and an era of political upheaval in China, between the fall of the Tang Dynasty and the founding of the Song Dynasty. During this period, five dynasties quickly succeeded one another in the north, and more than 12 independent states were...
, this was a short-lived regime lasting only thirteen years. Li Cunxu
Li Cunxu
Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang , personal name Li Cunxu , nickname Yazi , was the Prince of Jin and later became Emperor of Later Tang...
himself lived only three years after the founding of the dynasty, having been killed during an officer’s rebellion in 926
926
Year 926 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Balhae is conquered by the Khitan....
.
Li Siyuan, the adopted son of Li Keyong
Li Keyong
Li Keyong was a Shatuo military governor during the late Tang Dynasty and was key to developing a base of power for the Shatuo in what is today Shanxi Province in China...
, took over the dynasty, but relations with the Khitan and had fallen sour. Internal struggles typified the remaining ten years of the dynasty, ending with its toppling in 937
937
Year 937 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Battle of Brunanburh: King Athelstan of England defeats the Viking king of Dublin, the Scots, and Strathclyde....
when Shi Jingtang
Gaozu of Later Jin
Shi Jingtang was the founder of the Later Jin Dynasty , the third of the Five Dynasties that controlled much of northern China from 907 to 960. The Later Jin Dynasty was the second of three successive Shatuo Turk dynasties that made up the middle three of the Five Dynasties.-Background and early...
, son-in-law of Li Siyuan and a fellow Shatuo Turk, rebelled, stormed the capital with the help of Khitan troops, and founded the Later Jin Dynasty
Later Jin Dynasty (Five Dynasties)
Note that there are four periods of Chinese history using the name "Jin" The Later Jìn was one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. It was founded by Shi Jingtang, posthumously known as Gaozu of Later Jin...
.
Extent of Later Tang territories
The Later Tang controlled considerably more territory at its height than did the Later Liang DynastyLater Liang Dynasty
The Later Liang was one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. It was founded by Zhu Wen, posthumously known as Taizu of Later Liang, after he forced the last emperor of the Tang dynasty to abdicate in his favour...
. Not only did it control all northern Chinese territories controlled by the previous dynasty, it held onto control of its own base in Shanxi. It also had control over the areas around Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and Shaanxi, which were not entirely under the control of the Later Liang. The largest expansion of the Later Tang occurred in 925
925
Year 925 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Alfonso IV the Monk becomes king of Leon....
when they conquered the Former Shu State, centered in present-day Sichuan. However, as Later Tang power was waning, a Later Shu
Later Shu
Later Shu was one of the Ten Kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China from 907 to 960. It was located in present-day Sichuan with its capital in Chengdu.-Founding:...
state formed in 934
934
Year 934 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Ziyarid army occupies Ahvaz.* The Goryeo army defeats Hubaekje forces in present-day Hongseong County.- Europe :...
, one year prior to the fall of the Later Tang.
Legacy of the Later Tang
The importance of the Later Tang on Chinese history is far more important than its short thirteen years would imply. This represented the first time in Chinese history, since the XianbeiXianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
Northern Zhou
Northern Zhou
The Northern Zhou Dynasty followed the Western Wei, and ruled northern China from 557 to 581. It was overthrown by the Sui Dynasty.Northern Zhou's basis of power was established by Yuwen Tai, who was paramount general of Western Wei, following the split of Northern Wei into Western Wei and...
(557-581) of the Northern Dynasties
Northern dynasties
The Northern Dynasties included Northern Wei Dynasty, Eastern Wei Dynasty, Western Wei Dynasty, Northern Qi Dynasty, Northern Zhou Dynasty.Also see Southern and Northern Dynasties.-External links:*...
, where a substantial portion of the Chinese heartland was under the control of a foreign regime. This would be the first of three Shatuo Turk regimes, and would be a precursor to even more powerful foreign regimes to come.
Rulers of the Later Tang
| Temple name Temple name Temple names are commonly used when naming most Chinese, Korean , and Vietnamese royalty. They should not be confused with era names. Compared to posthumous names, the use of temple names is more exclusive... s | Posthumous name Posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life... s | Family names and given name Chinese name Personal names in Chinese culture follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western cultures. Most noticeably, a Chinese name is written with the family name first and the given name next, therefore "John-Paul Smith" as a Chinese name would be "Smith John-Paul"... | Chinese naming conventions | Durations of reigns | Era names and their according durations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhuāngzōng (莊宗) | too tedious; thus, not used when referring to this sovereign | Lǐ Cúnxù (李存勗) Li Cunxu Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang , personal name Li Cunxu , nickname Yazi , was the Prince of Jin and later became Emperor of Later Tang... |
Family name and given name | 923 923 Year 923 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* June 15 – Battle of Soissons: King Robert I of France is killed, and King Charles the Simple is arrested by the supporters of Duke Rudolph of Burgundy.- Americas :* Topiltzin Ce Acatl Quetzalcoatl becomes... -926 926 Year 926 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Balhae is conquered by the Khitan.... |
Tóngguāng (同光) 923 923 Year 923 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* June 15 – Battle of Soissons: King Robert I of France is killed, and King Charles the Simple is arrested by the supporters of Duke Rudolph of Burgundy.- Americas :* Topiltzin Ce Acatl Quetzalcoatl becomes... -926 926 Year 926 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Balhae is conquered by the Khitan.... |
| Míngzōng (明宗) | too tedious; thus, not used when referring to this sovereign | Lǐ Sìyuán (李嗣源) or Lǐ Dǎn (李亶) | Family name and given name | 926 926 Year 926 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Balhae is conquered by the Khitan.... -933 933 Year 933 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.-Africa:* Failed attempt by the Fatimid dynasty to seize the Maghreb al-Aqsa from the local rulers allied to the Spain-based Umayyad Caliphate.- Europe :* Cotentin and Jersey are seized by William Longsword, Duke of Normandy.*... |
Tiānchéng (天成) 926 926 Year 926 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Balhae is conquered by the Khitan.... -930 930 Year 930 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* With the establishment of the Althing, now one of the world's oldest parliaments, the Icelandic Commonwealth is founded.... Chángxīng (長興) 930 930 Year 930 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* With the establishment of the Althing, now one of the world's oldest parliaments, the Icelandic Commonwealth is founded.... -933 933 Year 933 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.-Africa:* Failed attempt by the Fatimid dynasty to seize the Maghreb al-Aqsa from the local rulers allied to the Spain-based Umayyad Caliphate.- Europe :* Cotentin and Jersey are seized by William Longsword, Duke of Normandy.*... |
| did not exist | Mǐn (閔) | Lǐ Cónghòu (李從厚) Li Conghou Li Conghou, Emperor Min of Later Tang was an Emperor of the Chinese Later Tang Dynasty, ruling between 933 and 934. He was overthrown by his adopted brother Li Congke.-References:... |
Family name and given name | 933 933 Year 933 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.-Africa:* Failed attempt by the Fatimid dynasty to seize the Maghreb al-Aqsa from the local rulers allied to the Spain-based Umayyad Caliphate.- Europe :* Cotentin and Jersey are seized by William Longsword, Duke of Normandy.*... -934 934 Year 934 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Ziyarid army occupies Ahvaz.* The Goryeo army defeats Hubaekje forces in present-day Hongseong County.- Europe :... |
Yìngshùn (應順) 933 933 Year 933 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.-Africa:* Failed attempt by the Fatimid dynasty to seize the Maghreb al-Aqsa from the local rulers allied to the Spain-based Umayyad Caliphate.- Europe :* Cotentin and Jersey are seized by William Longsword, Duke of Normandy.*... -934 934 Year 934 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Ziyarid army occupies Ahvaz.* The Goryeo army defeats Hubaekje forces in present-day Hongseong County.- Europe :... |
| did not exist | Mòdì (末帝) | Lǐ Cóngkē (李從珂) Li Congke Li Congke, Emperor Mo of Later Tang was the last emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty - the second of the Five Dynasties following the fall of the Tang Dynasty. He was adopted by Emperor Mingzong Li Siyuan. He succeeded to his adoptive brother Li Conghou by dethroning him... |
Family name and given name | 934 934 Year 934 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Ziyarid army occupies Ahvaz.* The Goryeo army defeats Hubaekje forces in present-day Hongseong County.- Europe :... -937 937 Year 937 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Battle of Brunanburh: King Athelstan of England defeats the Viking king of Dublin, the Scots, and Strathclyde.... |
Qīngtaì (清泰) 934 934 Year 934 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Ziyarid army occupies Ahvaz.* The Goryeo army defeats Hubaekje forces in present-day Hongseong County.- Europe :... -937 937 Year 937 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Battle of Brunanburh: King Athelstan of England defeats the Viking king of Dublin, the Scots, and Strathclyde.... |