Do you really understand Li Xian’s rise to power? The history encyclopedia editor provides detailed related content for everyone. Why was Li Xian able to ascend to the throne again after being deposed by Empress Wu Zetian?
To be honest, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Li Xian, had little ability and could even be described as incompetent. But being able to regain the throne after being deposed by Empress Wu Zetian was due to both inevitable factors and luck.
Necessary factors.
1. Most of the courtiers in the court supported Empress Wu Zetian in passing the throne to the descendants of the Wu family.
Wu Zetian had the idea of passing on the throne to her nephew, and had repeatedly tested whether the courtiers supported the succession of Wu’s descendants to the throne, both openly and secretly.
And Wu Zetian did indeed take action.
One is Wu Zetian’s cruel suppression and elimination of the Li Tang royal family, including her own son; The second is to support the children of the Wu family in obtaining official titles and granting them positions of real power in the court; The third is to deal with those ministers who oppose the descendants of the Wu family, who are exiled and killed; The fourth is to help the children of the Wu family establish military achievements, but unfortunately, the children of the Wu family are too useless and cannot hold onto the military achievements they have obtained.
Even though Wu Zetian spared no effort to support the children of the Wu family, those ministers in the court still only obeyed Wu Zetian and did not obey the children of the Wu family. So, many ministers did not oppose Wu Zetian’s coronation but strongly opposed passing the throne to the Wu family.
The common people only recognize the Li Tang royal family and do not recognize Wu Zetian, and there are occasional cases of rebellion against Wu Zetian. So whether it is the court or the people, returning the throne to the Li family is a popular desire.
So it is the trend for Li Xian to regain the throne after losing it.
2. Having the advantage of being older.
Wu Zetian and Li Zhi had four sons, namely Li Hong, Li Xian, Li Xian, and Li Dan. The first two died before becoming emperors, so Li Xian became Wu Zetian’s eldest son.
In ancient China, the system of eldest son succession has always been implemented, and according to the rules, Li Xian became the first in line heir to the throne. So when Wu Zetian decided to pass on the throne to the Li Tang royal family, her first thought was naturally Li Xian.
So whether from the perspective of the people’s hearts and rules, Li Xian’s restoration is inevitable.
Of course, it cannot be denied that there is a element of luck involved.
1. In fact, Wu Zetian had other options besides Li Xian to pass on the throne to the Li Tang royal family, which was her youngest son Li Dan.
After Li Dan was deposed from the throne and demoted to heir, he stayed in the capital and was constantly monitored by Wu Zetian. Li Dan was also very aware of his situation, so he kept a low profile and rarely went out. However, as Li Dan was located in the capital city, he naturally had contact with the courtiers, who also had a good impression of him. If you want to compete for the position of crown prince, there is still a possibility of success. Even if you don’t succeed, it won’t make Li appear so easy.
But this guy is very smart. Not only did he fail, but he also took the initiative to propose that Wu Zetian pass the throne to Li Xian. There are two reasons why Li Dan did not compete for the throne: first, even if he became the crown prince, it would not be easy. Not to mention Wu Zetian, the Wu family and her male favorite Zhang brothers would not make it easy for him; Secondly, even if he can ascend to the throne smoothly, the Tang Dynasty will still experience a bloody storm, which is not what he wants to face. It is better to make concessions proactively.
2. During the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, the Turkic and Khitan ethnic minorities in the north of the Tang Dynasty were very restless. Soon, the northern ethnic minorities subdued by Li Zhi began to rebel, and the Tang Dynasty lost a large piece of land.
That’s not all, the Khitans often marched south to attack the northern part of the Tang Dynasty under the banner of wanting to have Li Xian, who was demoted to the throne of Luling at that time, succeed. Although it is well known that the Khitans were looking for an excuse to rob the north of the Tang Dynasty in the south, if the throne is passed on to Li Dan, no one can guarantee that the Khitans or Turks will use the same excuse to invade the Tang Dynasty. If the Khitans or Turks really use this as an excuse to attack the Tang Dynasty, it will be a great blow to the newly crowned Tang Dynasty.
Brothers do not fight for themselves but instead support them, and there are “teammates” in the north, so Li Xian’s accession to the throne is blessed with luck.
Write it at the end.
For Li Xian, who had mediocre abilities, not being killed by his mother Wu Zetian and being deposed and reinstated as emperor was already fortunate enough. This life is enough.
