Emperor Huanzong of Western Xia

Who was Emperor Huanzong of Western Xia?

Emperor Huanzong of Western Xia lived from 1177 to 1206 and reigned from 1193 to 1206.

He was the son of Emperor Renzong, and tried to follow the policies dictated by his father. However, the high-ranking officials in the Western Xia government became more corrupt as time passed, starting the irreversible decline of the Western Xia. The rising of the Mongols under Genghis Khan began to pose threats as Mongols began raiding border villages. In 1205, Huanzong changed the name of the Western Xia capital to Zhongxing. Also in 1205, the Mongols began their first invasion of the Western Xia, pillaging and burning many outlying villages and cities. In 1206, his cousin Li Anchaun started a coup d'état and took power from Huanzong. Huanzong died in the same year.