Li Shimin 李世民, Emperor Taizong of Tang

Wikipedia Biographical Summary:

"...Emperor Taizong of Tang (Chinese: 唐太宗; pinyin: Táng Tàizōng, Wade-Giles: T'ai-Tsung) (January 23, 599 – July 10, 649), personal name Lǐ Shìmín (Chinese: 李世民), was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649. As he encouraged his father, Li Yuan (later Emperor Gaozu) to rise against Sui Dynasty rule at Taiyuan in 617 and subsequently defeated several of his most important rivals, he was ceremonially regarded as a co-founder of the dynasty along with Emperor Gaozu.

He is typically considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest, emperors in Chinese history..."

"...Lǐ Shìmín was born in 599 at Wugong (武功, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi). His father Li Yuan the Duke of Tang was a general of the Sui Dynasty and a nephew, by marriage, to Sui's founding emperor Emperor Wen, as Li Shimin's grandmother Duchess Dugu was a sister of Empress Dugu Qieluo -- both were daughters of Dugu Xin (獨孤信), a major general during Sui's predecessor dynasty Northern Zhou. Li Shimin's mother was Li Yuan's wife Duchess Dou, who was a daughter of Dou Yi (竇毅) the Duke of Shenwu and Dou Yi's wife, Northern Zhou's Princess Xiangyang. Duchess Dou bore Li Yuan four sons—an older brother to Li Shimin, Li Jiancheng, and two younger brothers, Li Xuanba (李玄霸, who would die in 614) and Li Yuanji -- and at least one daughter (the later Princess Pingyang). Li Yuan named Li Shimin "Shimin" as a shortened form of the phrase "save the earth and pacify the people" (濟世安民, jishi anmin)..."

SOURCE: Wikipedia contributors, 'Emperor Taizong of Tang', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 3 September 2011, 20:32 UTC, <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Emperor_Taizong_of_Tang&o...> [accessed 5 September 2011]

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Li Shimin - Birth date: January 23, 599. Death date: July 10, 649. Chinese emperor. Born on January 23, 599, into an aristocratic family of mixed Turkic and Han Chinese ancestry in Xianyang (Hsien-yang), Shaanxi (Shensi) province, Li Shimin (Li-Shih-Min, later known as Emperor Taizong, or T’ ai Tsung) was the second son of Li Yuan (Li Yuan), duke of Tang (T’ ang), who became the Emperor Gaozu. The second ruler of the Tang dynasty, Li Shimin is considered one of the greatest Chinese emperors…. Reference: https://books.google.com.my/books?id=h5_tSnygvbIC&pg=PA405&lpg=PA40... emperor of tang dynasty 599 - 649&f=false