Li Jiancheng was the oldest son of the founding emperor Emperor Gaozu and the crown prince after the founding of the dynasty in 618 CE.
28 Facts About Li Jiancheng
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Li Jiancheng's sons were subsequently executed or excluded from the imperial clan.
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Li Jiancheng was born in 589 during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui.
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Li Jiancheng was the oldest son of Li Yuan, then Duke of Tang, who was a hereditary noble, and Li Yuan's wife Duchess Dou, who was the daughter of Dou Yi, the Duke of Shenwu and Northern Zhou's Princess Xiangyang.
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Li Jiancheng gave birth to a girl who eventually became Princess Pingyang, although it is not clear whether she was older or younger than Li Jiancheng.
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At some point, Li Jiancheng received the title of Heir apparent of Tang.
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Li Jiancheng was therefore put in charge of the estate and became the head of the house of Hedong while Li Yuan was away.
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Li Jiancheng made Li Jiancheng the Duke of Longxi and Li Shimin the Duke of Dunhuang.
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Li Jiancheng sent Li Shimin north of the Wei River to seize territory.
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Li Jiancheng established the Tang dynasty, and declared himself emperor.
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Meanwhile, Li Jiancheng was developing a reputation for leniency but was addicted to drinking and hunting.
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Li Jiancheng added his key ministers Li Gang and Zheng Shanguo to Li Jiancheng's staff.
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Li Jiancheng captured a number of the Xiongnu and released their leaders.
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In 622, Li Jiancheng was one of the commanders that Li Yuan sent, along with Li Shimin, Li Zihe, and Duan Decao, to counter an Eastern Tujue incursion.
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Li Jiancheng had been a Xia general, and rose against Tang after Li Yuan had executed Dou Jiande.
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Li Jiancheng had been defeated by Li Shimin earlier in the year.
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In 624, Li Jiancheng requisitioned a number of soldiers from the general Li Yi, the Prince of Yan, to supplement his guard corps.
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Nevertheless, Li Jiancheng later requested the commandant at Qing Prefecture, Yang Wen'gan to conscript troops, presumably to guard against Li Shimin.
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The officers Erzhu Huan and Qiao Gongshan informed Li Yuan that Li Jiancheng was encouraging Yang to start a rebellion so that they could seize power together.
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Li Jiancheng briefly flirted with the idea of occupying Chang'an instead of accepting the order, but eventually reported to Renzhi Palace to request forgiveness.
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Li Jiancheng persuaded Li Yuan to remove Fang and Du, as well as Li Shimin's trusted guard officers Yuchi Gong and Cheng Zhijie, from Li Shimin's staff.
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Li Yuan was initially inclined to send Li Shimin to resist them, but at Li Jiancheng's suggestion sent Li Yuanji instead.
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Li Jiancheng personally fired the arrow that killed Li Jiancheng, and Yuchi killed Li Yuanji.
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Li Jiancheng buried Li Jiancheng with the ceremonies due to an imperial prince.
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However, Li Jiancheng was never fully rehabilitated and his daughters still had the status of daughters of a common prince, rather than a crown prince.
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Li Jiancheng served as Li Yuan's staff of records and witnessed the establishment of Tang dynasty in 618.
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Li Jiancheng's work was finished before Li Shimin began censoring the official imperial records.
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Li Jiancheng knew how to recruit talented people and did well in his early political career as a crown prince.