Emperor Xiangzong of Western Xia

Emperor Xiangzong of Western Xia (1170–1211), born Li Anquan (Chinese: 李安全), was the seventh emperor of the Tangut-led Western Xia dynasty of China, reigning from 1206 to 1211. He launched attacks on the Jin dynasty, but eventually surrendered to the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan.

Emperor Xiangzong of Western Xia
西夏襄宗
Emperor of the Western Xia dynasty
Reign1206–1211
PredecessorEmperor Huanzong
SuccessorEmperor Shenzong
Born1170
Died1211 (aged 40–41)
Burial
Kangling Mausoleum (康陵, presumptively the No. 9 tomb of Western Xia mausoleums[1])
Names
Weiming Anquan (嵬名安全)[2]
Li Anquan (李安全)
Era dates
  • Yingtian (應天): 1206–1209
  • Huangjian (皇建): 1210–1211
Posthumous name
Emperor Jingmu (敬慕皇帝)
Temple name
Xiangzong (襄宗)

Reign

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Li Anquan was a nephew of the Emperor Renzong. After the death of his father, Renyou, Li Anquan requested Huanzong to allow him inherit father's title. After Huanzong disagreed and bestowed upon him a title of Prince of Zhenyi commandery (镇夷郡王), Li Anquan has been harbouring an intention to seize the imperial throne. Emperor Xiangzong came into power after a coup d'état with his first cousin Huanzong's birth mother, Empress Luo against Huanzong.

Many historians regarded him as incompetent.

Xiangzong attacked the Jin dynasty, destroying the years of peace between these two countries. He tried to become an ally of the Mongol Empire, but Genghis Khan regarded Western Xia as a roadblock to China and repeatedly invaded Western Xia.

Eventually, Li Anquan surrendered to the Mongols, gave his daughter, Chaka, in marriage to Genghis, and paid tribute of camels, falcons, and textiles.[3]

In 1211, Xiangzong's nephew Lǐ Zūnxū initiated a coup d'état against Xiangzong and took power. Xiangzong died a month later.

Family

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Father: Li Renyou, Prince of Yue (越王李仁友)

Consorts and issue:

Daughter:

  1. Princess Char (察合皇后, Mongolian: Чар хатан). Married Genghis Khan in 1209.

References

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  1. ^ "西夏王陵简介" (in Chinese (China)). 宁夏西夏陵. 2012-12-14. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-20.
  2. ^ 辞海编辑委员会 [Ci hai bian ji wei yuan hui] (2000). 辞海:1999年版缩印本 [Ci hai: 1999 nian ban suo yin ben]. Shanghai: 上海辞书出版社 [Shanghai ci shu chu ban she]. p. 2548. ISBN 7532608395. OCLC 222462793. 襄宗(嵬名安全)
  3. ^ Man, John (2004). Genghis Khan: Life, Death, and Resurrection. New York City: St. Martin's Press. p. 133. ISBN 9780312366247.