Emperor Dezong of Tang

**Tang Dezong**
Tang Dezong
Chinese	唐德宗
Literal meaning	"Virtuous Ancestor of the Tang"
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Táng Dézōng
Li Kuo
Chinese	李适
Literal meaning	(personal name)
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Lǐ Kuò

Full name
	Family name: Lǐ (李); Given name: Kuò (适);
Era dates
	Jiànzhōng (建中) 780–783; Xīngyuán (興元) 784; Zhēnyuán (貞元) 785–805
Posthumous name
	Emperor Shenwu Xiaowen; (神武孝文皇帝)
Temple name
	Dézōng (德宗)

Emperor Dezong of Tang
唐德宗
Emperor Dezong of Tang ; 唐德宗
Emperor of the Tang dynasty
Reign	June 12, 779 – February 25, 805
Predecessor	Emperor Daizong
Successor	Emperor Shunzong
Born	May 27, 742
Died	February 25, 805 (aged 62)
Burial	Chong Mausoleum (崇陵)
Consorts	Empress Zhaode; (died 786)
Issue	See § Family
Full name
Full name
	Family name: Lǐ (李); Given name: Kuò (适);
Era dates
	Jiànzhōng (建中) 780–783; Xīngyuán (興元) 784; Zhēnyuán (貞元) 785–805
Posthumous name
	Emperor Shenwu Xiaowen; (神武孝文皇帝)
Temple name
	Dézōng (德宗)
House	Li
Dynasty	Tang
Father	Emperor Daizong
Mother	Empress Ruizhen

Emperor Dezong of Tang (27 May 742^[2] – 25 February 805),^[3] personal name Li Kuo, was an emperor of the Chinese Tang dynasty and 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.
^ ^a ^b According 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.
^ ^a ^b According 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.

[Reign_Start-1] 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.

[Birth-2] According 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.

[Death-3] According 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.

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