Emperor Taizong of Tang
The Tangkaiser Taizong (唐太宗, Táng Taizong, born January 23, 599; † July 10 649 ) was one of the most important rulers of China. He reigned from 626 to 649
Taizong was the son of lǐ yuan; his original name was lǐ Shimin (Chinese李世民). He was behind many of his father's success and whose troops already in command at the capture of Chang'an ( 617) and the associated fall of the Sui dynasty. In 621, Li Shimin succeeded in defeating the warlords Dou Jiande and Wang Sichong, the last major opponent of his father. To reward him made Li Yuan, who had assumed the name of Emperor Gaozu, for civil and military governor of the eastern plain. Li Shimin soon began with the expansion of its headquarters in Luoyang. His senior staff consisted of proven officers and officials. In addition, he built an academy in Luoyang.
This resulted to the bitter confrontation between him and the crown prince Li Jiancheng the actual in which protected him his father only insufficiently. In July 626 Li Shimin assassinated the crown prince himself in a scuffle at Xuanwumen Gate, the entrance to the imperial palace, which he had occupied with his followers. One of his aides killed a younger brother. The families of the two princes were turned off, excited the people through general amnesty and temporary tax relief and forced his father to abdicate so.
In the same year Göktürks moved to under the Xieli Khan (r. 619-630 ), to collect tribute. Taizong - now Emperor - rejected the proposal to entrench themselves with his few troops in the capital and joined the Khan offensive on Weihe River ( Bian Bridge ) counter. His bluff succeeded Xieli withdrew - 629/30, he was finally deposed and captured by Chinese troops.
Taizong was not groundless as far-sighted and just. As Emperor he limited the ambition of his noble commander by constant employment and maneuvers. He appointed military preferred low origin and gave them only limited time commands, such as the northern borders. His father, Emperor Gaozu had bloated the government to satisfy as many former rebel leader from the time of the dynasty change with administrative posts. Since the Tang power was now secured, Taizong was able to reorganize and streamline the administration. At the end, he also brought the examination system for government officials in a binding form, so that a maximum of 10 % of the candidates passed the tests.
Although he was not sonderlicher friend of Buddhism, Taizong received but the well-traveled monk Xuanzang at court.
636 AD, he received the Nestorian Christians Olopön ( Alopen ). He let his Christian writings translated into Chinese and checked the teachings in his private chambers. When the Emperor recognized their accuracy and truth, he ordered that they should be preached and disseminated. He was a patron of Christian doctrine, and at his command was 638 in Singanfu a magnificent church built. Also in other cities churches arose. For the next two centuries, Christianity flourished in China until it because of profound Christian and Buddhist persecutions and church destruction under Emperor Wuzong ( 841-846 ) was almost completely wiped out.
In Taizong's last years of reign came to an estrangement of his advisers, who disapproved of his constant wars.