Emperor Dezong of Tang (27 May 742[2] – 25 February 805),[3] personal name Li Kuo, was an emperor of the Chinese Tang dynasty. He was the oldest son of Emperor Daizong. His reign of 26 years was the third longest in the Tang dynasty (surpassed only by Emperor Xuanzong and Emperor Gaozong). Emperor Dezong started out as a diligent and frugal emperor and he tried to reform the governmental finances by introducing new tax laws. His attempts to destroy the powerful regional warlords and the subsequent mismanagement of those campaigns, however, resulted in a number of rebellions that nearly destroyed him and the Tang dynasty. After those events, he dealt cautiously with the regional governors, causing warlordism to become unchecked, and his trust of eunuchs caused the eunuchs' power to rise greatly. He was also known for his paranoia about officials' wielding power, and late in his reign, he did not grant much authority to his chancellors.
^According to Li Kuo's biography in the Old Book of Tang, he assumed the throne on the guihai day in the 5th month of the 14th year of the Dali era of Tang Daizong's reign. This date corresponds to 12 June 779 in the Julian calendar.(「大历十四年五月...。癸亥，即位于太极殿」) Old Book of Tang, vol. 12.
^ abAccording to Li Kuo's biography in the Old Book of Tang, he was born on the guisi day in the 4th month of the 1st year of the Tianbao era of Tang Xuanzong's reign. This date corresponds to 27 May 742 in the Julian calendar.(「天宝元年四月癸巳，生于长安大内之东宫。」) Old Book of Tang, vol. 12.
^ abAccording to Li Kuo's biography in the Old Book of Tang, he died on the guisi day in the 1st month of the 21st year of the Zhenyuan era of his reign, at the age of 64 (by East Asian reckoning). This date corresponds to 25 Feb 805 in the Gregorian calendar.「(贞元)二十一年春正月...癸巳，....。是日，上崩于会宁殿，享寿六十四。」) Old Book of Tang, vol. 13.
