Li Tan
| Li Tan | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince of Jianning 建寧王 | |||||
| Died | 757 A.D. | ||||
| Spouse | Lady Zhang (marriage after his death), posthumously honored Empress Gongshun 恭順皇后 | ||||
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| Father | Emperor Suzong of Tang | ||||
| Mother | Consort Zheng | ||||
| Posthumous name | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Qi 齊王 (honored in 768) Emperor Chengtian 承天皇帝 |
Li Tan (李倓) (died 757), known by his princely title of Prince of Jianning (建寧王), posthumously honored as the Prince of Qi (齊王) and then Emperor Chengtian (承天皇帝, literally "the emperor who bore the heaven"), was an imperial prince of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. He was a son of Emperor Suzong who was credited with suggesting to his father the idea of fleeing to Lingwu during the Anshi Rebellion, allowing Emperor Suzong to eventually reestablish a power base and defeat the rebellion. He was also credited with protecting his father on the way to Lingwu. However, he offended Emperor Suzong's favorite concubine Consort Zhang and the powerful eunuch Li Fuguo by accusing them of crimes; in turn, they accused him of having designs on the life of his older brother Li Chu the Prince of Guangping, causing Emperor Suzong to order him to commit suicide. After Li Chu became emperor in 762 (as Emperor Daizong), he posthumously honored Li Tan, first as the Prince of Qi, and then as Emperor Chengtian, to recognize him for his contributions.
It is not known when Li Tan was born. He was the third son of Li Heng, then the Crown Prince under Li Tan's grandfather Emperor Xuanzong. His mother was a Consort Zhang, of whom nothing else was recorded in history, and who was not the same Consort Zhang who Li Tan later offended. During Emperor Xuanzong's Tianbao era (742-756), Li Tan was created the Prince of Jianning, and was known for his decisiveness and abilities. He was also known for archery.
In 755, the general An Lushan rebelled against Emperor Xuanzong's rule, and by 756 was approaching the Tang capital Chang'an, forcing Emperor Xuanzong to flee with his family and close associates. Emperor Xuanzong intended to flee to Jiannan Circuit (劍南, roughly modern Sichuan and Chongqing), but as he reached Mawei (馬嵬, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi), the imperial guards escorting him, blaming An's rebellion on Emperor Xuanzong's favorite concubine Consort Yang Yuhuan and her cousin, the chancellor, Yang Guozhong, slaughtered the Yang household and forced Emperor Xuanzong to execute Consort Yang. After the incident, Emperor Xuanzong was intent on continuing to Chengdu (the capital of Jiannan Circuit). Li Heng did not follow Emperor Xuanzong, and initially remained at Mawei in response to the people of the region's request that he remain to fight against An. Li Heng initially stated that he wished to follow Emperor Xuanzong to Chengdu, but Li Tan convinced him to stay, saying:
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