Origins & Early Life

Emperor Dezong of Tang (27 May 742 – 25 February 805), personal name Li Kuo, was an emperor of the Chinese Tang dynasty. He was the oldest son of Emperor Daizong. His reign of 26 years was the third longest in the Tang dynasty. Emperor Dezong started out as a diligent and frugal emperor and he tried to reform the governmental finances by introducing new tax laws.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His attempts to destroy the powerful regional warlords and the subsequent mismanagement of those campaigns, however, resulted in a number of rebellions that nearly destroyed him and the Tang dynasty. After those events, he dealt cautiously with the regional governors, causing warlordism to become unchecked, and his trust of eunuchs caused the eunuchs' power to rise greatly. He was also known for his paranoia about officials' wielding power, and late in his reign, he did not grant much authority to his chancellors. Li Kuo was born in 742, during the reign of his great-grandfather Emperor Xuanzong. His father was Li Chu the Prince of Guangping—the oldest son of Emperor Xuanzong's son and crown prince Li Heng, and he was Li Chu's oldest son.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

His mother was a consort of Li Chu's, Consort Shen. He was born at...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Trisong Detsen — Contemporary (Born in 742) (742): 5th Tibetan Emperor and 38th King of Tibet, pivotal to Tibetan Buddhism's establishment.
• Ajahn Buddhadasa — Shared historical date (05-27 · Born) (1906): Pioneering Thai Buddhist monk known for reinterpreting doctrine and fostering religious reformation.
• Ben Feldman — Shared historical date (05-27 · Born) (1980): American actor known for roles in Superstore, Mad Men, and Silicon Valley.
• Albrecht von Wallenstein — Shared historical date (02-25 · Died) (1634): Bohemian military leader and statesman, key figure in the Thirty Years' War.
• Benedetto Croce — Shared historical date (02-25 · Born) (1866): Italian idealist philosopher, historian, and political liberal.
• Christopher Lee — Shared historical date (05-27 · Born) (1922): Iconic English actor known for commanding villain roles in horror cinema.
• Clive Granger — Shared historical date (05-27 · Died) (2009): Pioneering econometrician known for nonlinear time series analysis and Nobel laureate.
• Cornelius Vanderbilt — Shared historical date (05-27 · Born) (1794): American railroad and shipping magnate, known as "the Commodore".
• Dashiell Hammett — Shared historical date (05-27 · Born) (1894): Pioneering hard-boiled detective fiction and influential screenwriter.
• Donna Strickland — Shared historical date (05-27 · Born) (1959): Pioneering optical physicist known for pulsed lasers and Nobel laureate.
• 742 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 742
• May 27 (05-27) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on May 27
• 805 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 805
• February 25 (02-25) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 25