Emperor Shenzong of Western Xia (1163–1226), born Li Zunxu (), was the eighth

emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...

of the Tangut-led Chinese

Western Xia dynasty The Western Xia or the Xi Xia (), officially the Great Xia (), also known as the Tangut Empire, and known as ''Mi-nyak''Stein (1972), pp. 70–71. to the Tanguts and Tibetans, was a Tangut-led Buddhist imperial dynasty of China tha ...

. He ruled from 1211 to 1223.

Reign

Shenzong took power after a ''

coup d'état A coup d'état (; French for 'stroke of state'), also known as a coup or overthrow, is a seizure and removal of a government and its powers. Typically, it is an illegal seizure of power by a political faction, politician, cult, rebel group, m ...

'' and continued Xiangzong's policy of invading Jin Empire. He started many campaigns against Jin before the Jin Emperor counterattacked, killing many Western Xia soldiers. However, Shenzong continued to attack Jin despite the poor economy, causing high discontent among his people complaining of high taxes. He did not listen to those who advised peace with Jin Empire, and Western Xia sped up its decline. He passed power onto his son Lǐ Déwàng in 1223, and died in 1226.

Family

Father: Prince Zhongwu of Qi (齊國忠武王) ; Issue # Emperor Xianzong of Western Xia Dewang (西夏襄宗德旺) # Prince of Qingping commandery (清平郡王)

References

1163 births 1226 deaths Western Xia emperors 13th-century Chinese monarchs 13th-century Tangut rulers 12th-century Tangut people {{China-royal-stub