Emperor Xianzong of Western Xia

Summary

Emperor Xianzong of Western Xia (1181–1226), born Li Dewang (Chinese: 李德旺), was the ninth and penultimate emperor of the Western Xia dynasty of China, reigning from 1223 to 1226. He was the second son of the Emperor Shenzong who had abdicated in his favor.

Emperor Xianzong of Western Xia
西夏獻宗
Emperor of the Western Xia dynasty
Reign1223–1226
PredecessorEmperor Shenzong
SuccessorEmperor Mo
Born1181
Died1226 (aged 44–45)
Burial
Unknown, possibly the No. 161 attendant tomb of Western Xia mausoleums[1]
Names
Weiming Dewang (嵬名德旺)[2]
Li Dewang (李德旺)
Era name and dates
Qianding (乾定, 𘀗𗪚): 1223–1226
Posthumous name
None
Temple name
Xiànzōng (獻宗, lit. "Dedicated Ancestor")
FatherEmperor Shenzong

Reign edit

Emperor Xianzong inherited a weak empire as his predecessors' Emperor Xiangzong and Emperor Shenzong whose reckless attacks on the Jin dynasty and attempts to ally with the Mongols drained the economy. Emperor Xianzong changed his predecessors' policies and decided to ally with Jin dynasty. However, the Jin dynasty was under a barrage of assault from the Mongol Empire and was unable to help out Western Xia. Emperor Xianzong also changed the policy for Mongols. He decided to fight against the Mongol invaders instead of allying with them. However, the Western Xia armies were exhausted from long, incessant, and costly wars against the Jin, and were unable to repel the Mongol assaults. Xianzong died in 1226.

References edit

  1. ^ 岳键 (2007). "161号陪葬墓应为西夏"10号"帝陵". 宁夏师范学院学报 (in Chinese). 28 (1): 119–122. ISSN 1674-1331. Retrieved 2014-11-24.
  2. ^ 辞海编辑委员会 [Ci hai bian ji wei yuan hui] (2000). 辞海:1999年版缩印本 [Ci hai: 1999 nian ban suo yin ben]. Shanghai: 上海辞书出版社 [Shanghai ci shu chu ban she]. p. 2548. ISBN 7532608395. OCLC 222462793. 献宗(嵬名德旺)