Emperor Yizong of Western Xia (1047–1067) was Emperor of the Western Xia from 1048 to 1067. After his father's death in 1048, Yizong assumed the throne at the age of one, but most of the power laid in the hands of the Dowager. In 1049, the Liao Dynasty attacked Western Xia and forced it to become a vassal state. In 1056, the Dowager was killed and Yizong's uncle became the regent. In 1061, Yizong's uncle and cousin plotted against him, so he had them executed and assumed direct control of Western Xia.
Yizong expanded the central government, adding many offices. He made the armies more efficient and improved his control over faraway states. Yizong began to attack Song Dynasty and raided their villages. He also forced the Turpan leader to surrender. In later years, Yizong began to improve diplomatic relationships with the Song and Liao dynasties. He died suddenly in 1067.
Alternate names
- Posthumous name - ZhāoyīngHuangdì
- Chinese surname with first name - Lǐ Liàngzuò
Eras of Emperor Yizong
- Yánsìníngguó (1048–1049)
- Tiānyòuchuíshèng (1050–1052)
- Fúshèngchéngdào (1053–1056)
- Duǒdū (1057–1062)
- Gǒnghuà (1063–1067)
Famous quotes containing the words emperor and/or western:
“Even the emperor has straw-sandaled relatives.”
—Chinese proverb.
“Ex oriente lux may still be the motto of scholars, for the Western world has not yet derived from the East all the light which it is destined to receive thence.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)