Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Li Xian, also known as Li Zhe, was the seventh son of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and the third son of Wu Zetian. Emperor Zhongzong of Tang ascended to the throne twice in his lifetime, and was deposed once, but he reigned for less than seven years, and died suddenly in 710 AD at the age of 55.
Li Xian's first succession to the throne, after less than two months as emperor, was deposed by his mother Empress Wu Zetian, demoted to the rank of King of Luling, and sent to Fangzhou (房州, in modern Beifang County, Hubei), where he spent 15 years in captivity.
Why was Emperor Zhongzong of Tang deposed when he first became emperor? The main reason for this is that, in addition to having a strong mother, he is also self-inflicted. Why?
When Li Xian first succeeded to the throne, to tell the truth, he picked up a big leak, originally he was not a candidate for the crown prince, and the princes that Emperor Gaozong of Tang had successively established were Li Zhong, Li Hong, and Li Xian, and how to talk about it was not the turn of the seventh son Li Xian. However, these princes were deposed for various reasons, so Li Xian took this as a warning, knowing what he could do to win the favor of his mother and father, fortunately, Li Xian's wife was happy to have a noble son, and Emperor Gaozong of Tang especially liked this grandson, so he made this grandson the emperor's grandson for the first time in the world. His own son became the emperor's grandson, and Li Xian's status naturally rose, and soon Li Xian was made crown prince, the natural heir of Emperor Cheng.
In 683, Emperor Gaozong died in Luoyang, and according to the edict of the crown prince Li Xian, he succeeded to the throne, that is, the historical Emperor Zhongzong of Tang.
Li Xian ascended to the heavens one step at a time, if this person did not have a city government, once he gained power, people would float away, and Li Xian was such a person. Several elder brothers were deposed as princes one after another, and the dead were abolished, so Li Xian had the opportunity to ascend to the emperor's throne. Therefore, his throne came too easily, without much effort, and it was equivalent to picking up an emperor. So Li Xian did not know to cherish at all, he did not know what is called sitting in the country, Li Xian did not play cards according to the routine during his reign, you said that you are good when your emperor is finished, you have to be more true with the mother Empress Wu Zetian, the result is that the chicken and egg lost the throne, not to mention, but also by Wu Zetian to Go to Fangzhou, Hubei Province.
In fact, Li Xian was not the material for being an emperor at all, he had no ability to say that he did not have the heart, let alone talk about any major governance of the country. In fact, Emperor Gaozong clearly pointed out in his will: "If there is a major matter of the military state that is undecided, it will be handled by the Queen of Heaven (Wu Zetian). This means that during Li Xian's reign, if there were major state affairs, setting up officials to serve in office, going out to fight wars, and other unresolved matters, they had to listen to the opinions of his mother, Empress Wu Zetian. The meaning of the former emperor was obvious, and the power of the dprk still let Wu Zetian have the final say.
However, as soon as this Li Xian sat on the dragon chair, he didn't know the north, and he thought that when he was in power, he could forget about it! Therefore, Li Xian did not care about the existence of his mother Empress Wu Zetian at all, in order to consolidate his position, he unusually began to wantonly win people's hearts and minds, and win over his own concubines. All those who are related to themselves and are good to themselves, regardless of their ability, are all promoted to the rank of knight. He even promoted one of his old father-in-law from the original Puzhou army to the history of Yuzhou, and later he was also named prime minister. This can make Wu Zetian angry, how can Wu Zetian let Li Xian behave like this, so he sent someone into the palace to take Li Xian down, deposed Tang Zhongzong as the king of Luling, and immediately sent him to Fangzhou, Hubei Province, to find you a place to retire, don't give me the whole thing in the palace! In this way, Li Xian, who had been emperor for less than two months, was expelled.
In fact, I think Li Xian is a bearish and dishonest nest waste, either you honestly become your emperor, or you have something to do. He is not a wing who does not have long achievements and wants to fly, what is Wu Zetian, that is a generation of empresses, fierce in heart, six relatives do not recognize the Lord, is that what ordinary people dare to move? Dare Wu Zetian to shout, aren't you obviously looking for death?
Fortunately, Wu Zetian finally made a kind heart, and fifteen years later, Wu Zetian issued an edict recalling his son Li Xian, the King of Luling, who was far away in Fangzhou, back to Luoyang. Soon Li Xian was again made crown prince, and in 705, after the "Shenlong Coup", Wu Zetian had no choice but to return the throne to the crown prince Li Xian.
Li Xian's restoration was successful, and from then on he had a long memory, no longer dared to confront his mother Empress Wu Zetian, and learned to be flattered and obediently be his emperor, and 6 years later, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang died, ending his short career as emperor.