Li Chongfu Explained

Li Chongfu
Father:	Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
Birth Date:	680?
Death Date:	10 September 710 (aged 30)
Prince Tangchang 唐昌王 Prince Pingen 平恩王 Prince Qiao 譙王

Li Chongfu (李重福) (680?^[1] – September 10, 710^[2]) was an imperial prince of the Chinese Tang dynasty. He was a son of Emperor Zhongzong, but was not favored during Emperor Zhongzong's reign and was exiled. After Emperor Zhongzong's death in 710 and a subsequent coup by Li Chongfu's cousin Li Longji the Prince of Linzi and Li Chongfu's aunt Princess Taiping placed Li Longji's father Emperor Ruizong on the throne, Li Chongfu tried to rise against Emperor Ruizong, to claim the throne himself. But, he was quickly defeated, and he killed himself by drowning.

During Emperor Gaozong's reign and the first reigns of Emperors Zhongzong and Ruizong

Li Chongfu was probably born in 680.^[1] His father Li Zhe was then crown prince under his grandfather Emperor Gaozong. His mother's name was not recorded in history, but it is known that he was not a son of Li Zhe's wife Crown Princess Wei. On 1 August 683,^[3] he was created the Prince of Tangchang.^[4] Later that year, when Emperor Gaozong became ill at the eastern capital Luoyang, he summoned Li Zhe from the capital Chang'an to Luoyang; in Li Zhe's absence, Li Chongfu might have been nominally in charge of Chang'an, but with the chancellor Liu Rengui actually in charge.^[5]

Notes and References

1. It is unclear whether Li Chongfu was Emperor Zhongzong's second son, as asserted by Old Book of Tang, vol. 86, as his brother Li Chongrun, described as the first son, was said to have been born in March 682, while Li Chongfu was supposedly 30 when he was killed in 710 -- which would make his birth year 680, two years before Li Chongzhao's. The New Book of Tang avoided the issue by not giving birth ordinals to either Li Chongzhao or Li Chongfu. See New Book of Tang, vol. 81. If Li Chongfu was indeed Emperor Zhongzong's second son, he could not be born any earlier than 682.
2. ([景云元年]八月，庚寅，...。明日，留守大出兵搜捕，重福赴漕渠溺死。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.210
3. ([弘道元年]秋，七月，己丑，立皇孙重福为唐昌王。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.203.
4. The Old Book of Tang recorded the title as "Prince of Tangchang Commandery" (封皇孙重福为唐昌郡王。) Jiu Tang Shu, vol.05
5. The Zizhi Tongjian indicated that Li Chongfu was in charge. See Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 203. However, both the Old Book of Tang and the New Book of Tang indicated that it was Li Chongzhao, son of Crown Princess Wei, who was left in charge, and as Li Chongzhao's position was higher than Li Chongfu's (as he had the unprecedented title of deputy crown prince), it appeared more likely that Li Chongzhao was in charge. See Old Book of Tang, vol.84, and New Book of Tang, vol. 180. The Old Book of Tang did, elsewhere, indicate that Li Chongfu, not Li Chongzhao, was nominally in charge. See Old Book of Tang,