Princess Anle

Princess Anle
安樂公主
Born684?
Fang Prefecture, Tang China
Died21 July 710 (aged about 26) [1]
SpouseWu Chongxun (武崇訓)
Wu Yanxiu (武延秀)
Issueone son[2]
Names
Li Guo'er (李裹兒)
Posthumous name
悖逆庶人 ("rebellious commoner")
HouseTang dynasty
FatherEmperor Zhongzong of Tang
MotherEmpress Wei

Princess Anle (安樂公主; 684?[3] – 21 July 710), personal name Li Guo'er (李裹兒), was a Chinese princess of the Tang dynasty. She was the youngest daughter of Emperor Zhongzong and his wife Empress Wei. Popular history holds that she was doted upon heavily by her parents and siblings, which contributed to her later drive for power.[4]

After Emperor Zhongzong died in 710 — a death that traditional historians assert was due to poison, and carried out by Empress Wei and Li Guo'er. A coup led by Li Guo'er's cousin Li Longji, the Prince of Linzi, and Princess Taiping, Li Guo'er's paternal aunt, overthrew and killed Empress Wei and Li Guo'er.

  1. ^ According to her mother Lady Wei's biography in the Old Book of Tang, Li Guo'er was killed on the dingwei day of the 6th month of the 4th year of the Jinglong era of Tang Zhongzong's reign. This date corresponds to 28 July 710 in the Gregorian calendar. However, volume 209 of the Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Li was killed on the gengzi day of the 6th month of the 1st year of the Jingyun era of Tang Ruizong's reign; this date corresponds to 21 July 710 on the Gregorian calendar.[(景龙四年六月)丁未，...,安乐公主皆为乱兵所杀。] Old Book of Tang vol 51. / [(景云元年六月)庚子,...安乐公主方照镜画眉，军士斩之.] Zizhi Tongjian vol. 209.
  2. ^ Fathered by Princess Anle's first husband; he was created Duke of Gao
  3. ^ Accounts of Li Guo'er's birth imply, but do not definitively state, that she was born during her parents' journey to their place of exile, which would make her birth in 684. See New Book of Tang, vol.83.
  4. ^ (安乐恃宠骄恣) Old Book of Tang, vol 51