Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi
| Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi | |||||||||||||||||
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| Reign | June 9, 550 – November 25, 559 | ||||||||||||||||
| Born | 526 | ||||||||||||||||
| Died | November 25, 559 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Dynasty | Northern Qi | ||||||||||||||||
| Full name | |
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| Era name and dates | |
| Tīanbǎo (天保): June 9, 550 – February 12, 560 | |
| Posthumous name | |
| Emperor Wénxuān (文宣皇帝) ("civil and responsible"), briefly Emperor Jǐngliè (景烈皇帝) ("decisive and achieving") (565–570) | |
| Temple name | |
| Xiǎnzu (顯祖), briefly Wēizōng (威宗) (565–570) |
Emperor Wenxuan of (Northern) Qi ((北)齊文宣帝) (526–559), personal name Gao Yang (高洋, Wade–Giles: Kao Yang), courtesy name Zijin (子進), was the first emperor of the Northern Qi. He was the second son of Eastern Wei's paramount general Gao Huan, and the death of his brother and Gao Huan's designated successor Gao Cheng in 549 became the regent of Eastern Wei. In 550, he forced Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei to yield the throne to him, ending Eastern Wei and starting Northern Qi.
Early in Emperor Wenxuan's reign, he was known for attentiveness to military matters, and the strength of the Northern Qi military was at its prime. He also tried to equalize the tax burden and reduce corruption by offering officials sufficient salary. He entrusted most governmental matters to the capable Yang Yin, and for a while, the government was effective, and the military was strong. In his later years, Emperor Wenxuan suffered from alcoholism and possibly insanity. Chinese historical annals recorded his bloody rages, nevertheless his reign, with assistance from his Chinese advisers, was considered well-administered and effective.
Gao Yang was born in 526, while his father Gao Huan was a Han chinese general under Northern Wei's paramount general Erzhu Rong. His mother Lou Zhaojun was Gao Huan's wife, on whose financial support Gao's early career had relied on. Lou Zhaojun was an ethnic Xianbei. He was their second son, after his older brother Gao Cheng. After Erzhu Rong's death in 530, Gao Huan overthrew Erzhu's family and became Northern Wei's paramount general, and after Northern Wei divided into Eastern Wei and Western Wei in 534 became the actual power controlling Eastern Wei. Gao Yang thus grew up in a household of power. In 535, he was created the Duke of Taiyuan.
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