Emperor Taizong of Tang

Tang Taizong
Hanging scroll, color on silk. Size 271 x 126.8 cm (height x width). Located in National Palace Museum, Taipei.
Emperor of the Tang dynasty
Reign	4 September 626 – 10 July 649
Predecessor	Emperor Gaozu
Successor	Emperor Gaozong
Born	28 January 598 Qingshan Palace in Wugong,Sui China
Died	10 July 649 (aged 51) Cuiwei Palace in Chang'an, Tang China
Burial	Zhao Mausoleum
Spouse	Empress Zhangsun
Full name Family name: Li (李) Given name: Shimin (世民) Era name and dates Zhenguan (贞观; 貞觀): 4 September 626 – 10 July 649 Posthumous name Short: Wen Huangdi (文皇帝) Full: Wen Wu Dasheng Daguang Xiao Huangdi 文武大聖大廣孝皇帝 Temple name Taizong (太宗)
House	House of Li
Father	Emperor Gaozu of Tang
Mother	Duchess Dou

Emperor Taizong of Tang (28 January 598  – 10 July 649), previously Prince of Qin, personal name Li Shimin, was the second emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649. He is traditionally regarded as a co-founder of the dynasty for his role in encouraging Li Yuan, his father, to rebel against the Sui dynasty at Jinyang in 617. Taizong subsequently played a pivotal role in defeating several of the dynasty's most dangerous opponents and solidifying its rule over China.

Taizong is typically considered to be one of the greatest emperors in China's history and henceforth, his reign became regarded as the exemplary model against which all future emperors were measured. His era, the "Reign of Zhenguan" (贞观之治; 貞觀之治; Zhēnguàn Zhī Zhì) is considered a golden age in Chinese history and was treated as required studying material for future crown princes. Under the Zhenguan era, Tang China flourished economically and militarily. For more than a century after his death, China enjoyed prosperity and peace brought about by the solidification of imperial protection over the Chinese regions. In territorial extent, it covered most of the territories previously held by the Han dynasty, including parts of modern Vietnam, Xinjiang, and Central Asian regions as far as eastern Kazakhstan. This era of consolidation and conquest laid the foundation for Xuanzong's reign, which is considered to be the height of the Tang dynasty.

In 630, Emperor Taizong sent his general Li Jing against Eastern Turks, defeating and capturing its Jiali Khan Ashina Duobi and destroying Eastern Turk power. This made Tang the dominant power in East and Central Asia, and Emperor Taizong subsequently took the title of Tengeri Qaghan ("Tenger Khan" or the God like Emperor). He also launched a series of campaigns against the oasis states of the Tarim Basin, and against the armies of their main ally, the Western Turks. During his reign, Tang armies annexed Karakhoja in 640, Karasahr in 644 and Kucha in 648.