Emperor Zhongzong of Tang

Zhongzong (656-710) was fourth and seventh Emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling briefly in 684 and again from 705 to 710.

Born Li Xian, he was son of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu. He succeeded his father in 684. His mother however soon deposed him in favor of his younger brother Emperor Ruizong of Tang. Later, Ruizong was also deposed and Wu took the throne for herself.

After being secluded for over twenty years, Zhongzong was caught in the middle of a bitter power struggle within the court. The Empress Wu and her nephew, Wu Sansi, ran the court with a great deal of corruption. She sold Buddhist Monkhoods and positions at court while taking child slaves.

He eventually succeeded his own mother in 705 and reigned until 710. In 710, Emperor Zhongzong was poisoned to death by his Empress Wei (韦皇后). Empress Wei then installed her 16-year-old son to be the new Emperor Shao Di, so she could take control of the nation. Li Longji (李隆基), the nephew of Emperor Zhongzong, son of Emperor Ruizong, planned a coup with his aunt Princess Taiping (太平公主) and they overthrew Empress Wei's regime and the emperor (Princess Taiping said to the young emperor:" you shall not sit on the emperor's seat"). Li Dan, the father of Li Longji and the older brother of Princess Taiping, was installed to be the Emperor Ruizong of Tang (�"�睿宗).

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