Princess Taiping(664 March 2, 2013-August 1, 713) was a female politician in the Tang Dynasty. She was the youngest daughter of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, the sister of Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong of the Tang Dynasty, and the sister of Princess Andingsi. In her life, she was extremely favored by her parents and older brothers, especially her mother Wu Zetian, and was in power for a while.

History books do not record the name of Princess Taiping. Taiwanese scholar Lei Jiaji believes that her real name is based on the article "Quan Tang Wen¡¤Dai Crown Prince Shang Shi Table" Li lingyueHowever, some people think that Lei Jiaji made a mistake in composing the sentence, which should be: I saw my sister Princess Taiping concubine Li and ordered Yue Jiachen to surrender to the imperial family. [Source request] In 713, he was captured by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty on suspicion of rebellion and died at home. After the death of Princess Taiping, the regime of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty declared stability, beginning the rule of Kaiyuan, and ending the phenomenon of multiple mutiny in the capital since the Xuanwu Gate Mutiny in 626.

first marriage

In 681, when Princess Taiping was sixteen years old, she married Xue Shao, the nephew of Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty and the second son of Princess Chengyang. The wedding was held at the Wannian County Hall near Chang 'an. The scene was very luxurious. The illuminated torches even scorched the trees along the way. In order to allow the wide wedding car to pass through, the wall of the county hall had to be demolished. After Princess Taiping married Xue Shao, Princess Taiping and Xue Shao soon gave birth to three sons.

Wu Zetian loved his daughter very much. She believed that Xue Shao's sister-in-law Xiao and Cheng were not noble enough and wanted to force the Xue family to divorce their wives. Someone used the Xiao family's family's surname as Lanling Xiao. It was not a humble family that persuaded her to give up this plan. Princess Taiping and her husband Xue Shao were in love and lived a happy life. However, their marriage ended in 688. Because Xue Shao's eldest brother Xue Yi participated in the rebellion of Li Chong, the imperial family of the Tang Dynasty, and implicated his son-in-law Xue Shao. Wu Zetian ordered Xue Yi to be executed. Xue Shao was beaten with a hundred sticks and starved to death in prison. Princess Taiping was pregnant at that time, and later Princess Taiping gave birth to a daughter. Afterwards, in order to comfort her daughter, Wu Zetian broke the Tang princess's custom of sealing only 350 households with food and made an exception to increase her food city to 1,200 households.

second marriage

Soon after, Wu Zetian planned to marry the widowed Princess Taiping to Wu Chengsi, but gave up because Wu Chengsi was ill (one thing was because Princess Taiping did not like Wu Chengsi). In 690, Princess Taiping remarried to Wu Youji. Wu Zetian executed Wu Youji's wife in order to get Princess Taiping to marry Wu Youji. This marriage is believed to be a measure taken by Wu Zetian to protect Princess Taiping. Wu Zetian officially ascended the throne two months after Princess Taiping's second marriage. Princess Taiping avoided danger because she became the daughter-in-law of the Wu family. After marriage, Princess Taiping gave birth to two sons and a daughter for Wu Youji.

Wu Youji was cautious and modest. During her second marriage, Princess Taiping kept her lover, committed adultery with courtiers, and dedicated her favorite male pet to her mother Wu Zetian. At the very least, Princess Taiping had sexual intercourse with Xue Huaiyi, Monk Huifan, Zhang Changzong, Zhang Yizhi, Gao Jian, Cui Shi and others. These are characters written in the official history, but there are countless other short-term lovers.

Wu and Zhou period

Princess Taiping liked power. Wu Zetian thought that she was beautiful, plump, and resourceful, and was just like him. He often discussed political affairs with her, but Wu Zetian never let Princess Taiping leak out her participation in political affairs during his lifetime. Princess Taiping was afraid of her mother, so she acted more restrained. She only renovated her mansion and bought other businesses to the outside world. During the Wu Zetian Dynasty, Princess Taiping's only achievement in historical books was to eradicate Lai Junchen's power for self-defense. (There are records that she also planned to execute Xue Huaiyi, but there are also accounts that the person who executed Xue Huaiyi was Wu Youning, King of Jianchang. There are also records that Princess Taiping and Prime Minister Li Dan participated in the Wu Li Alliance oath as representatives of the Li family. Similarly, this statement is also controversial.)

In the Wuzhou Year, the conflict between the Wu and Li families intensified. Wu Zetian recalled Li Xian, King of Luling, and appointed him as his successor. He connected the Wu and Li families through a series of marriages in an attempt to eliminate future political struggles. At the same time, she also began to let Princess Taiping, Shangguan Wan 'er, and her two male favorites, Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi, hold power. Although Princess Taiping herself is the daughter-in-law of the Wu family, she has always been a supporter of the Li family politically.

In the first year of Dazu (701), the two Zhang brothers killed the direct heirs of the two families because of slanderous words and offended the Wu and Li families at the same time. In August of the second year of Chang 'an (702), Li Xian, Li Dan and Princess Taiping jointly petitioned to grant Zhang Changzong the title of king. Wu Zetian refused and granted Er Zhang the title of Duke. This memorial eased relations between the two sides. But not long after, in September of the third year of Chang 'an (703), Zhang Changzong falsely accused Wei Yuanzhong and Princess Taiping's lover Gao Jian, which aroused Wu Zetian's anger and imprisoned Wei Gaoer. Er Zhang's relationship with Princess Taiping and the Li family completely broke down.

In 705, five supporters of the Li family, including Zhang Jianzhi, assistant minister of Fengge, Cui Xuanwei, assistant minister of Luantai, Jin Hui, general of Zuo Yulin, Huan Yanfan, general of Right Yulin, and Yuan Shuji, director of the court, launched a mutiny, killed Er Zhang, and forced Wu Zetian to give up the throne to Prince Li Xian. History is known as the Dragon Revolution. Princess Taiping was granted the title for her meritorious participation in the killing of the two Zhang brothers Princess Taiping of Zhenguo, closed 5,000 households.

During the Zhongzong and Ruizong periods

After the restoration of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty, Princess Taiping gradually came to the front of the curtain and actively participated in politics. She was respected by Zhongzong, who had specially issued an edict to prevent her from bowing to Crown Prince Li Chongjun, Princess Changning, Princess Anle and others. During the Zhongzong Dynasty, Empress Wei and Princess Anle interfered in politics and power, but they were afraid that Princess Taiping would be resourceful and resourceful.

In July of the third year of Jinglong (709), Prince Li Chongjun launched a rebellion against Zhongjun, and the matter failed and was killed. Princess Anle and Zong Chuke wanted to take the opportunity to frame Princess Taiping and Prince Li Dan, so they falsely accused them of conspiring with Chongjun. Because the chief censor Zhongcheng Xiao Zhizhong remonstrated with Zhongzong in tears,"Your Majesty is rich all over the world, and cannot tolerate a brother or sister, so that others will harm him! "Princess Taiping and Li Dan survived, but the hostility between Princess Taiping and Princess Anle has become obviously white-hot.

In June of the fourth year of Jinglong (710), Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty was poisoned to death by Empress Wei and Princess Anle. Shangguan Wan 'er and Princess Taiping drafted the edict together, appointing King Li Chongmao of Wen as the Crown Prince. The Queen was in charge of political affairs, and Prime Minister Li Dan advised on political affairs, trying to find a balance between Empress Wei and the royal family. However, Zong Chuke discussed with Empress Wei's followers and changed Prime Minister Li Dan to the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, which undermined Li Dan and broke this balance. In July, Princess Taiping, who had a noble status and had a firm say, sent Liu Youqiu and her son Xue Chongjian to participate in the Tang Long rebellion of Li Longji, who killed Queen Wei, eliminated the Wei family's henchmen, and personally removed Li Chongmao from the throne. Li Dan, the prime minister, was restored to his throne for Tang Ruizong. Because of this contribution, Princess Taiping was awarded the title of Wanhu and her three sons were awarded the title of king, which was the peak of the Tang princess's power.

Princess Taiping broke out with Li Longji after assisting Li Longji in the coup to eliminate Wei Hou. She once asked Ruizong to abolish Prince Li Longji and actively cultivate followers. At this time, five of the seven prime ministers in the court were appointed by Princess Taiping."Zi Zhi Tong Jian" said: "From the prime minister down, advance and retreat depends on his word. The rest of the people who recommend them to have a clear and prominent career are incomparable, and their power overlies the monarch, and those who follow his door are like a market." Except for a few people such as Yao Chong and Song Jing, most of the civil and military officials were attached to Princess Taiping. Ruizong tried to find a political balance between Li Longji and Princess Taiping to avoid hurting anyone.

During this period, Princess Taiping persuaded Tang Ruizong to issue an order to collect and compile Shangguan Wan 'er's works and retain the works of this talented woman.

Death of Princess Taiping

In August of the first year of Yanhe (712), Ruizong ascended the throne and called himself the Taishang Emperor. Prince Li Longji ascended the throne because of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and changed his name to Xiantian. In the same year, Princess Taiping's husband Wu Youji died.

In the second year of Xiantian (713), Princess Taiping planned to seize power from the north with the Imperial Forest Army and from the south with the Southern Ya Army. Li Longji, Guo Yuanzhen, Wang Maozhong, Gao Lishi and others took the initiative to kill and kill the left and right Yulin generals and prime ministers. Seeing that her followers had been killed, Princess Taiping had to flee to Nanshan Buddhist Temple and returned three days later. Emperor Li Dan came forward to ask Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty to pardon his death penalty, but Emperor Xuanzong refused. Princess Taiping was finally ordered to die at home, and the tomb of her husband Wu Youji was razed. "The Biography of Wu Chengsi" records that after Princess Taiping committed suicide, she "registered her family, where wealth and rare treasures were piled up, comparable to the royal mansion, with horses, sheep, pastoral areas, and a warehouse. They were collected and collected for several years.¡»

Controversies and Doubts There have always been doubts about whether Princess Taiping really planned a conspiracy to revolt. Some people think that she is arrogant and dissolute, fierce, vicious, ambitious, and calculating. She and Li Longji have reached the point of being incompatible with each other, and it is impossible for her not to have the intention of rebellion. However, others believe that given the situation that Princess Taiping has the upper hand in the court and her experience of many successful coups, if she really rebelled, she would not be able to be pacified so easily by Li Longji.

Comments:There is no exact word on the year of Princess Taiping's birth. Based on the time of her first marriage and the time when her brother Li Dan was born, she may have been born around 665 and was the last child of Gaozong and Empress Wu. An anthology of the Tang Dynasty records that "On February 11, the second year of Jingyun (711), the princess's birthday was celebrated", which means that Taiping's birthday was February 11. What year was that? Taiping's step-brother Li Dan was born on June 1, the second year of Longshuo (662). Even if Ah Wu became pregnant immediately after confinement, it was impossible for Taiping to be born on February 11, the third year of Longshuo (663). Therefore, Taiping should have been born in the first year of Linde (664) or later, with the first year of Linde being the most likely. Because the "Old Tang Book¡¤Gaozong Benji" records that in the first year of Linde, the eldest daughter was awarded the title of Princess Anding, with the posthumous title of Si. "If you are called the eldest daughter, there must be a second daughter. Therefore, Taiping's birthday was February 11, the first year of Linde (664).