Princess Anle, the daughter of Emperor Tang Zhongzong Li Xian and born to Lady Wei, is known as the most beautiful woman of the Tang Dynasty. What comes to everyone’s mind when it comes to this
Speaking of the Tang Dynasty, with the precedent of Empress Wu Zetian, it seems that the women in the palace have become restless, and Princess Anle is a typical example of this. But once caught up in the vortex of power, it’s not so easy to escape. Although Princess Anle and Empress Wei had ambitions, they did not have the ability to match them. During that period when various forces were intertwined, the Wei family group did not establish a solid foundation and influence. Once the big tree of Tang Zhongzong collapsed, the Wei family group could not resist attacks from other forces.
Princess Anle’s involvement in the vortex of power was the main reason for her tragic death
Without Wu Zetian’s abilities, it gave rise to her ambition
Princess Anle was the daughter of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Li Xian, and Empress Wei. She was born on Li Xian’s way to Fangling, and was named Bao’er because Li Xian took off his clothes to wrap her at birth. The New Book of Tang describes it as “dazzling and moving the world”, and is known as the first beauty of the Tang Dynasty.
When Li Shou’er was born, Li Xian had already lost power and lived in Fangling with fear and anxiety. Perhaps due to their debt to their daughter, Li Xian and Wei Shi doted on her from a young age, allowing her to do whatever she wanted. This led to Li Shou’er developing a proud, willful, and domineering temperament from a young age.
In the first year of the Holy Calendar (698 AD), Li Xian’s family was brought back to Luoyang, and Li Xian was re crowned as the Crown Prince. The sudden elevation of her status should have had a significant impact on Li Hou’er, making her even more reckless. In her later years, Empress Wu Zetian devoted herself to connecting the Wu family with the Li Tang royal family. She married Princess Taiping to Wu Youji, and later married Li Hou’er to Wu Chongxun. The difference was that Princess Taiping was forced to marry, while Li Hou’er had to get married because she was pregnant with Wu Chongxun.
In the first year of the Shenlong era (705 AD), Zhang Jianzhi, Li Duozuo, and others launched a Shenlong coup, forcing Wu Zetian to abdicate to Li Xian. However, due to living under the shadow of Empress Wu Zetian for many years, Li Xian had a somewhat timid personality. Despite his return to the throne, he did not show any great talent or strategy. Instead, it was Empress Wei and Princess Anle who, with their changing identities, began to frequently intervene in court affairs.
However, although Queen Wei and Princess Anle had great ambitions, they did not have the corresponding abilities. Princess Taiping was awarded the title of “Princess Taiping of Zhenguo” for her meritorious service in the Shenlong Coup, and gradually walked up to the front of the screen after Li Xian’s restoration. Princess Anle also learned from Princess Taiping to establish government offices, but unlike Princess Taiping who recruited capable officials, most of the officials under Princess Anle’s command came from the families of butchers and merchants, and were appointed as officials through donations of funds. Although Li Xian’s favor allowed more powerful officials to come from her family, it was not just a matter of riding a monkey’s crown.
The power in the court is complex and intricate, and Princess Anle is no match for Princess Taiping and Li Longji
Since the outbreak of the Shenlong Coup and the forced abdication of Empress Wu Zetian, the various factions in the court have undergone rapid changes. However, from the development of the situation, Empress Wei and Princess Anle are simply unable to effectively respond, and compared to Princess Taiping and Princess Li Longji, they are no match.
During the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, the Taiping Princess Group versus the Wu Family Group. At that time, the largest force in the court was undoubtedly the Wu family group. With the favor of Empress Wu Zetian and the identity of the Li Tang royal family, Princess Taiping was able to intervene in court affairs. However, facing the huge Wu family group, the clever Princess Taiping chose to hide her strength and bide her time, secretly developing her power. Until the successful coup of the Divine Dragon, Princess Taiping finally stepped onto the stage.
After Empress Wu Zetian abdicated, the Taiping Princess Group vs. the Wu Group+Wei Group. After Empress Wu Zetian abdicated, the Wu family group weakened, while the Wei family group rose to power with the favor of Emperor Tang Zhongzong. However, they were also in a weak position. Due to the marital relationship between Li Wan’er and Wu Chongxun, the Wu family group and the Wei family group quickly formed an alliance.
Before and after the Jinglong coup, the Taiping Princess Group+Li Longji Group VS the Wu Group+Wei Group. Due to Princess Anle and Wu Chongxun frequently insulting Li Chongjun in person, Empress Wei was extremely dissatisfied with her. Princess Anle even demanded that Tang Zhongzong establish her as the Crown Princess. Li Chongjun, who was worried about his position as Crown Prince and his life, immediately launched the Jinglong Coup. Although the coup ultimately failed, Wu Sansi and Wu Chongxun were killed one after another, and the Wu family group was almost destroyed. At this time, Li Longji’s choice was similar to that of Princess Taiping. Knowing the art of keeping a low profile, he did not stand up to compete with other forces for the support of courtiers. Instead, he focused on the influential but crucial Forbidden Army and Wanqi (Emperor’s personal army). By wooing these low-level officers, he actually had the ability to launch a fatal blow.
Unlike Princess Taiping and Princess Li Longji, who kept a low profile and secretly developed their power, Empress Wei and Princess Anle’s performance was too high-profile. Although they successfully won over the ally of the Wu family group, due to their coercion of Crown Prince Li Chongjun and their misconduct in the court, they successfully pushed all the courtiers and important officials who had a sense of justice towards the Li Tang royal family to the opposite side. You should know that in the Jinglong Coup, if it weren’t for Tang Zhongzong’s last-minute twist of events, the Wei family’s mother and daughter would have been decapitated.
After the death of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang (suspected to have been poisoned by Empress Wei and Princess Anle), they lost this source of power. Although they handed over all the political positions of the Taige, the power of internal and external troops, and the Central Forbidden Army to their own followers and clan members, how could the Wei family and Princess Anle win against Princess Taiping, who had the support of a large number of important courtiers, and Li Longji, who had the support of the Forbidden Army and low-level military officers of the Ten Thousand Cavalries?
After the death of Emperor Tang Zhongzong, Shangguan Wan’er and Princess Taiping drafted a posthumous edict appointing Li Chongmao as the Crown Prince, Li Dan as the regent, and Empress Wei as the regent to balance various forces. However, Prime Minister Zong Chuke and Empress Wei Wen, two pig teammates, misjudged the situation and intended to change the edict, urging Empress Wei to emulate Wu Zetian. Upon learning of the news, Li Longji and Princess Taiping immediately joined forces to launch the Tang Long coup. Empress Wei, Princess Anle, Shangguan Wan’er, and others were all killed, with almost no resistance.
