Dynasties of ChinaWestern XiaWestern Xia lineage
Qiandao and others · Reign 1067—1086
He ascended the throne at the age of seven, and his mother Liang and his uncle Liang Yimai took full power. They wanted to perform Han rites and kiss the Song Dynasty but were imprisoned, which triggered a five-pronged expedition by the Song army to Xia.
Li Bingchang, the eldest son of Yizong, his mother is Liang. Yizong died of illness in 1067, and seven-year-old Bingchang came to the throne. Liangtaihou was regent, and his younger brother Liang Yimai was appointed as the prime minister. The Liang family controlled the government, abolished the Han rites promoted by Yizong, restored the Tibetan rites, and repeatedly used troops against the Song Dynasty. As Bingchang grew older, he tended to favor Chinese culture, and the conflict with his mother deepened day by day.
In 1080, he ordered a change to Han rites. The following year, he followed the advice of the Han general Li Qing and planned to return the land south of the Yellow River to the Song Dynasty. When the incident was revealed, Liangtaihou killed Li Qing and imprisoned Bingchang. Song Shenzong used this as an excuse to send troops to attack Xia in five routes. Western Xia built strong walls to clear the fields and cut rivers to irrigate camps. He defeated the Song army in Lingzhou and Yongle City successively. Bingchang was restored to power in 1083, but power was still in the hands of the Liang family. He died of illness in 1086 at the age of twenty-six.
PoliticsAscended to the throne at the age of seven
Yizong died of illness, and Bingchang came to the throne at the age of seven. He changed the name to Yuan Qiandao the following year. Liangtaihou served as regent, and his younger brother Liang Yimai served as prime minister. The Liang family controlled military and political power.
MilitaryAttack the Song Dynasty
Liangtaihou sent troops to attack Huanqing Road in Song Dynasty and besieged Dashun City and other walled cities. The Song army suffered heavy losses. Since then, border conflicts between Song and Xia continued, and the Song Dynasty began to manage Hengshan and Xihe.
MilitaryThe Battle of Luowucheng
General Zhong'e of the Song Dynasty led his troops deep into Hengshan and built Luowu City. Western Xia raised troops to counterattack, but the Song army's reinforcements were blocked and forced to abandon Luowucheng. The Song Dynasty's plan to capture Hengshan failed.
CultureSwitch to Han rites
As an adult, Bingchang ordered the abolition of Tibetan rites and the replacement of Han rites, which intensified the conflict with the Liangtaihou faction who insisted on party-related old customs.
PoliticsHuizong was imprisoned
The Han general Li Qing persuaded Bingchang to return the land south of the Yellow River to the Song Dynasty, so as to use the power of the Song Dynasty to get rid of Liang's control. In order to betray Liangtaihou, Liangtaihou killed Li Qing and imprisoned Bingchang.
MilitaryGreat victory in Lingzhou
Song Shenzong took the opportunity to attack Xia in five directions. Western Xia adopted the old general's strategy to strengthen the walls and clear the country, luring the enemy deep into the city. At the foot of Lingzhou City, the Yellow River water was poured into the Song camp, and the Song army's food route was cut off. The Song army returned in defeat.
MilitaryCapture Yongle City
The Song Dynasty built Yongle City in Hengshan. Western Xia sent troops to besiege and cut off the water source in the city. Many Song troops died of thirst. In September, the city was broken and Song general Xu Xi and others died in battle.
PoliticsBingchang reset
Due to internal and external pressure, the Liang family restored Bingchang and repeatedly requested the Song Dynasty to return the lost land and request the restoration of annual gifts. However, the power was still in the hands of Liang Yimai and his son.
PeopleLiang's death and Huizong's death
In 1085, Liang Yimai and Liangtaihou died one after another, and Liang Qibu, Liang Yimai's son, succeeded him as prime minister. Bingchang died of illness in July of the following year at the age of twenty-six, and his three-year-old son Qianshun came to the throne.
Queen Yizong, Han Chinese. Huizong came to the throne at a young age, and she served as regent as the queen mother. She and her younger brother Liang Yimai took over the power, abolished Han rites and restored Tibetan rites. In 1081, she imprisoned Huizong and defeated the Song army in Lingzhou and Yongle City.
Liangtaihou's younger brother, Huizong, became the prime minister after he came to the throne. He and his sister were in charge of the government together, and presided over many wars against the Song Dynasty. His son Liang Qibu and his daughter Xiaoliangtaihou continued to have exclusive power in the Chongzong Dynasty.
Originally from Qinzhou in the Song Dynasty, he was trusted by Huizong after entering Xia. He persuaded Huizong to return the land south of the Yellow River to the Song Dynasty to get rid of Liang's control. However, he was killed by Liangtaihou.