Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
唐中宗
“Deposed by his mother, restored by a coup, poisoned in his own palace”
Emperor twice, and never in control either time. His first reign lasted fifty-five days before Wu Zetian removed him for saying he might give the empire to his father-in-law. He spent fourteen years in exile in Fangzhou with his wife, was restored by the coup that ended his mother's dynasty in 705, and died five years later.
The exile is the part worth knowing. He and Empress Wei lived those years expecting a summons to suicide; he is said to have promised her that if he ever ruled again she could do as she liked. When the coup of 705 put him back on the throne, he kept the promise.
Empress Wei and their daughter Princess Anle ran the court on the model Wu Zetian had left, and in 710 Zhongzong died suddenly. The account written afterwards — by the faction that then killed Wei — says the two of them poisoned him. It is the version we have.
The empress of this reign
Painted on silk in gemstone mineral pigments by Xiang Li.
About this page
Written for this site to place Zhongzong's reign around the paintings. For the full biography, the dynastic histories and the scholarship behind them, start at Wikipedia.
Every Tang emperor
| Reign | Emperor | Painted empresses |
|---|---|---|
| 618 – 626 | Gaozu 唐高祖 Li Yuan 李淵 / 李渊 | |
| 626 – 649 | Taizong 唐太宗 Li Shimin 李世民 | |
| 649 – 683 | Gaozong 唐高宗 Li Zhi 李治 | |
| 690 – 705 | Wu Zetian 武則天 / 武则天 Wu Zhao 武曌 | |
| 684, and 705 – 710 | Zhongzong 唐中宗 Li Xian 李顯 / 李显 | |
| 684 – 690, and 710 – 712 | Ruizong 唐睿宗 Li Dan 李旦 | |
| 712 – 756 | Xuanzong (Li Longji) 唐玄宗 Li Longji 李隆基 | |
| 756 – 762 | Suzong 唐肅宗 / 唐肃宗 Li Heng 李亨 | |
| 762 – 779 | Daizong 唐代宗 Li Yu 李豫 | |
| 779 – 805 | Dezong 唐德宗 Li Kuo 李适 | |
| 805, for 186 days | Shunzong 唐順宗 / 唐顺宗 Li Song 李誦 / 李诵 | |
| 805 – 820 | Xianzong 唐憲宗 / 唐宪宗 Li Chun 李純 / 李纯 | |
| 820 – 824 | Muzong 唐穆宗 Li Heng 李恆 / 李恒 | |
| 824 – 826 | Jingzong 唐敬宗 Li Zhan 李湛 | |
| 826 – 840 | Wenzong 唐文宗 Li Ang 李昂 | |
| 840 – 846 | Wuzong 唐武宗 Li Yan 李炎 | |
| 846 – 859 | Xuanzong (Li Chen) 唐宣宗 Li Chen 李忱 | |
| 859 – 873 | Yizong 唐懿宗 Li Cui 李漼 | |
| 873 – 888 | Xizong 唐僖宗 Li Xuan 李儇 | — |
| 888 – 904 | Zhaozong 唐昭宗 Li Ye 李曄 / 李晔 | |
| 904 – 907 | Ai (Aidi) 唐哀帝 Li Zhu 李柷 | — |