Li Cou
Encyclopedia
Li Cou (died February 10, 835), formally Crown Prince Huaiyi (懷懿太子), was an imperial prince of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
who became implicated in an alleged plot that the chancellor Song Shenxi
was supporting him to be emperor. He was, as a result, demoted by his brother Emperor Wenzong
. After his death, Emperor Wenzong, coming to believe that the allegations were false, posthumously honored him as crown prince
.
(the later Emperor Wuzong), was born in 812
, he must have been born after that point. He was the sixth son of Emperor Muzong
, although the identity of his mother had been lost to history. He was said to be mild in temperament and appropriate in his behavior in his youth. In 821
, when Emperor Muzong created his sons, as well as a number of younger brothers who had not been created titles, imperial princes, Li Cou was created the Prince of Zhang.
, an older brother of Li Cou's, Emperor Wenzong
, was emperor. Emperor Wenzong, apprehensive of how much control the powerful eunuchs had on his government at the time, had been planning with the chancellor Song Shenxi
a way to eliminate the powerful eunuchs. As part of the plan, Song recommended Wang Fan (王璠) to be the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the region of the capital Chang'an
) and informed him of the plan. Wang Fan, instead, leaked the plan, and the powerful eunuch Wang Shoucheng
and Wang Shoucheng's strategist Zheng Zhu
came to know about the plan. Zheng reacted by ordering the Shence Army
officer Doulu Zhu (豆盧著) to falsely accuse Song of plotting treason to put Li Cou on the throne. When Wang Shoucheng relayed the accusation to Emperor Wenzong, Emperor Wenzong believed it and was angry. Wang Shoucheng initially wanted to take this opportunity to massacre Song's household, but was stopped by another powerful eunuch, Ma Cunliang (馬存亮). However, during the subsequent investigations by Shence Army officers, after an attendant official to the imperial princes, Yan Jingze (晏敬則), and Song's associate Wang Shiwen (王師文) were tortured and confessed to serving as conduits for messages between Song and Li Cou, Song was found to be guilty and was set to be executed. The advisorial officials Cui Xuanliang (崔玄亮), Li Guyan
, Wang Zhi (王質), Lu Jun (盧均), Shu Yuanbao (舒元褒), Jiang Xi (蔣係), Pei Xiu (裴休), and Wei Wen (韋溫) urged caution, however, believed there were substantial questions in the matter and urged a reinvestigation by imperial government officials. The chancellor Niu Sengru
also took the same view. Zheng, fearing that a reinvestigation would lead to discovery of the truth, suggested to Wang Shoucheng that he recommend to Emperor Wenzong that neither Song nor Li Cou be executed. Li Cou was thus demoted to the title of Duke of Chao County (巢縣, in modern Chaohu, Anhui
) while Song was demoted to be the military advisor to the prefect of Kai Prefecture (開州, in modern Chongqing
). (There was suggestion in Li Cou's biography in the Book of Tang that Li Cou might have been ordered to report to Chao County and given 10 houses there, although the edict assured that there would be no additional punishment (e.g., forced suicide) coming.)
, Li Cou died, and was posthumously created the Prince of Qi. In 836
, after Emperor Wenzong came to believe that Song Shenxi was innocent of wrongdoing, he ordered Song's posthumous rehabilitation. In 838
, he further ordered that Li Cou be posthumously honored Crown Prince Huaiyi.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
who became implicated in an alleged plot that the chancellor Song Shenxi
Song Shenxi
Song Shenxi , courtesy name Qingchen , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong...
was supporting him to be emperor. He was, as a result, demoted by his brother Emperor Wenzong
Emperor Wenzong of Tang
Emperor Wenzong of Tang , personal name Li Ang , né Li Han , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 827 to 840. Emperor Wenzong was the second son of Emperor Muzong and younger brother of Emperor Jingzong...
. After his death, Emperor Wenzong, coming to believe that the allegations were false, posthumously honored him as crown prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
.
Background
It is not known when Li Cou was born — but as his youngest known older brother, Li ChanEmperor Wuzong of Tang
Emperor Wuzong of Tang , né Li Chan , later changed to Li Yan just before his death, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, reigning from 840 to 846. Emperor Wuzong is mainly known in modern times for the religious persecution that occurred during his reign...
(the later Emperor Wuzong), was born in 812
812
Year 812 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The second Battle of Roncevaux Pass is fought between the Basques and the Franks....
, he must have been born after that point. He was the sixth son of Emperor Muzong
Emperor Muzong of Tang
Emperor Muzong of Tang , personal name Li Heng , né Li You , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 821 to 824. Emperor Muzong was the son of Emperor Xianzong...
, although the identity of his mother had been lost to history. He was said to be mild in temperament and appropriate in his behavior in his youth. In 821
821
Year 821 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Tang Mu Zong becomes emperor of China.* First recorded session of the Parliament of Croatia- Byzantine Empire :...
, when Emperor Muzong created his sons, as well as a number of younger brothers who had not been created titles, imperial princes, Li Cou was created the Prince of Zhang.
The Song Shenxi incident
By 831831
Year 831 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* In this year, an Uyghur Turk sues the son of a Chinese Tang Dynasty grand general who had failed to repay a debt of 11 million government-issued copper coins...
, an older brother of Li Cou's, Emperor Wenzong
Emperor Wenzong of Tang
Emperor Wenzong of Tang , personal name Li Ang , né Li Han , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 827 to 840. Emperor Wenzong was the second son of Emperor Muzong and younger brother of Emperor Jingzong...
, was emperor. Emperor Wenzong, apprehensive of how much control the powerful eunuchs had on his government at the time, had been planning with the chancellor Song Shenxi
Song Shenxi
Song Shenxi , courtesy name Qingchen , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong...
a way to eliminate the powerful eunuchs. As part of the plan, Song recommended Wang Fan (王璠) to be the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the region of the capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
) and informed him of the plan. Wang Fan, instead, leaked the plan, and the powerful eunuch Wang Shoucheng
Wang Shoucheng
Wang Shoucheng was a powerful eunuch of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, wielding substantial powers during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong, Emperor Muzong, Emperor Jingzong, and Emperor Wenzong...
and Wang Shoucheng's strategist Zheng Zhu
Zheng Zhu
Zheng Zhu , probably né Yu Zhu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He became a trusted advisor to Emperor Wenzong due to treatments he provided Emperor Wenzong for the emperor's illnesses, and thereafter plotted with Emperor Wenzong and Li Xun to slaughter the powerful eunuchs...
came to know about the plan. Zheng reacted by ordering the Shence Army
Shence Army
The Shence Army was a Tang Dynasty Chinese army unit based in Chang’an City which formed the primary imperial guard responsible for protecting the emperor. It was set up in 754 CE by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and placed under the command of Longyou Military Governor Geshu Han...
officer Doulu Zhu (豆盧著) to falsely accuse Song of plotting treason to put Li Cou on the throne. When Wang Shoucheng relayed the accusation to Emperor Wenzong, Emperor Wenzong believed it and was angry. Wang Shoucheng initially wanted to take this opportunity to massacre Song's household, but was stopped by another powerful eunuch, Ma Cunliang (馬存亮). However, during the subsequent investigations by Shence Army officers, after an attendant official to the imperial princes, Yan Jingze (晏敬則), and Song's associate Wang Shiwen (王師文) were tortured and confessed to serving as conduits for messages between Song and Li Cou, Song was found to be guilty and was set to be executed. The advisorial officials Cui Xuanliang (崔玄亮), Li Guyan
Li Guyan
Li Guyan , courtesy name Zhongshu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving two terms as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong.- Background and early career :It is not clear when Li Guyan was born...
, Wang Zhi (王質), Lu Jun (盧均), Shu Yuanbao (舒元褒), Jiang Xi (蔣係), Pei Xiu (裴休), and Wei Wen (韋溫) urged caution, however, believed there were substantial questions in the matter and urged a reinvestigation by imperial government officials. The chancellor Niu Sengru
Niu Sengru
Niu Sengru , courtesy name Si'an , formally Duke Wenzhen of Qizhang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Muzong and his sons Emperor Jingzong and Emperor Wenzong...
also took the same view. Zheng, fearing that a reinvestigation would lead to discovery of the truth, suggested to Wang Shoucheng that he recommend to Emperor Wenzong that neither Song nor Li Cou be executed. Li Cou was thus demoted to the title of Duke of Chao County (巢縣, in modern Chaohu, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
) while Song was demoted to be the military advisor to the prefect of Kai Prefecture (開州, in modern Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
). (There was suggestion in Li Cou's biography in the Book of Tang that Li Cou might have been ordered to report to Chao County and given 10 houses there, although the edict assured that there would be no additional punishment (e.g., forced suicide) coming.)
Aftermaths
In 835835
Year 835 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ragnar Lodbrok rises to power ....
, Li Cou died, and was posthumously created the Prince of Qi. In 836
836
Year 836 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Abbasid caliph al-Mutasim establishes a new capital at Samarra, Iraq.- Europe :...
, after Emperor Wenzong came to believe that Song Shenxi was innocent of wrongdoing, he ordered Song's posthumous rehabilitation. In 838
838
Year 838 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Byzantine emperor Theophilos is heavily defeated at the Battle of Anzen by the Abbasids...
, he further ordered that Li Cou be posthumously honored Crown Prince Huaiyi.