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The Chinese Emperors

 

Western Xia Dynasty
 
The History of Western Xia Dynasty
The Tangut Empire (literally "Western Xia") was an empire that existed from 1032 up to 1227 in what are now the northwestern Chinese provinces of Gansu, Shaanxi, and Ningxia. It was populated by Tangut tribes and spoke Tangut. Established in the 11th century, it flourished through the early 13th century until conquest by the Mongols. Occupying the area along the trade route between Central Asia and the West, the Tangut were neighbors to Northern China, controlled by Song China and, later on, the Jurchen Empire.

Name
The English name "Tangut" comes from the Mongolian name for the country Tang . The Chinese name is Xi-Xia , literally "Western Xia", and thus that name is often used in Sinological literature. The Tanguts called their own state "phiow1-bjij2-lhjij-lhjij2" which translates as "The Great State of the White and the Lofty".

Foundations
After coming under millitary pressure from the Tibetan Empire some Tangut tribes submitted to Tang China under Emperor DeZong in 799. The Tanguts who submitted were moved to the Ordos region near Ningxia, whereas those who stayed, accepted Tibetan political dominance, and became known in Chinese as Mi-yao.

The Tanguts remained loyal to the Tang during the revolt of Huang Chao, but established de-facto independence when Tang fell in 906. They retained their de-facto independence throught the Five Dynasties period. During this period, their chieftain had the title of Dingnan Jiedushi and nominally remained under the Five Dynasties. Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang made an unsuccessful attempt to conquer Dingnan in 932 after believing incorrectly that Dingnan was about to enter an alliance with Liao.

The foundation of a Tangut state as such goes back to the year 982 under Li Deming . However, it would not be until 1038 that the Tangut chieftain Li Yuanhao Li Deming's son, who also ordered the creation of a Tangut writing system and the translation of Chinese classics into Tangut, named himself emperor, and demanded of Song emperor the recognition as an equal. The Song court accepted the recognition of Li Yuanhao as 'governor', but not like 'emperor', that title considered exclusive to the Song emperor. After intense diplomatic contacts, in 1043 the Tangut state accepted the recognition of the Song emperor as emperor in exchange for an annual tribute, which supposed a tacit recognition on the part of the Song of the military power of Tangut.

The Tanguts and the Mongols
The Mongol Empire campaigned six time against the Tanguts (1202, 1207, 1209-10, 1211-13, 1214-19, 1225-26).

In 1207 Li An-ch'uan submitted to the Mongols, and gave his daughter to ?inggis Qa?an (commonly known as Genghis Khan) in marriage. Li An-ch'uan abdicated, and then died, in 1211.

The Mongols asked their allies and tributaries for military aid in the campaign against the Islamic countries, although the Tangut emperor Li Zunxu was willing, his court and in particular his general A?a-gambu recommended against it. When ?inggis Qa?an returned from his campaign the new emperor Li Dewang pled with him, but the general A?a-gambu challenged ?inggis. The emperor Dewang died during the fighting and was succeeded by Li Xian, the last of the Tangut rulers. Li Xian sued for peace, which was accepted, but he was then executed by Tolui the son of ?inggis, and the Tangut state was fully incorporated into Mongolian administration. (cf. Kwanten 1974)

The Sovereigns of Western Xia Dynasty
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Western Xia 1032-1227
Temple names Posthumous names Chinese family name and first names Reigns
Chinese convention: "Western Xia" + temple name or "family name + first names"
JingZong
Wuliedi
LiYuanhao
1032-1048
 
YiZong
ZhaoYingdi
LiLiangzuo
1048-1067
HuiZong
Kangjingdi
LiBingchang
1067-1086
ChongZong
Shengwendi
LiQianshun
1086-1139
RenZong
Shengzhendi
LiRenxiao
1139-1193
HuanZong
Zhaojiandi
LiChunyou
1193-1206
ShenZong
Yingwendi
LiZunxu
1206-1211
XiangZong
Jingwudi
LiZunzu
1211-1223
XianZong
did not exist
LiDewang
1223-1226
Mozhu
did not exist
LiXian
1226-1227
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