Li Xián

Who was Li Xián?

Li Xian, courtesy name Mingyun, formally Crown Prince Zhanghuai, named Li De from 672 to 674, was a crown prince of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. He was the sixth son of Emperor Gaozong, and the second son of his second wife Empress Wu. He was known for writing commentaries for the Book of Later Han, the official history of the Eastern Han Dynasty. He became crown prince in 675 after his older brother Li Hong's death, but soon fell out of favor with Empress Wu himself. In 680, Empress Wu had her associates accuse Li Xian of treason, and he was demoted to commoner rank and exiled. In 684, after Emperor Gaozong's death, Empress Wu, then empress dowager, had her associate Qiu Shenji visit Li Xian to force him to commit suicide.

In 706, his younger brother Emperor Zhongzong provided Li Xian with an honorable burial by interring his remains at the Qianling Mausoleum.