Historical Figures

The Princess of Pingyang, in command of the "lady's army"

Daughter of Emperor Tang Gaozu, Princess Pingyang (平陽公主 / 598 – 623) helps her gain power by organizing and leading a "lady's army" herself into battle.

The Sui Dynasty

The second of the five children of Li Yuan, Duke of Tang, and his wife, Lady Dou, Princess Zhao of Pingyang was born in 598 in China. The short-lived Sui dynasty, which reunited China after centuries of division, was then in power in the person of Sui Wendi. Founder of the dynasty, he subjugated southern China and imposed the city of Daxing (renamed Chang'an, present-day Xi'an) as its capital.

In 604, Sui Yangdi succeeded his father. He continued his major construction projects (Grand Canal of China, Great Wall of China) and undertook others, such as the creation of a war fleet. Wanting to submit the kingdom of Korea, he launched several expeditions which were so many costly failures in human lives. The politics of big projects stifled the economy of the empire and exhausted the workers, leading to a period of revolts.

Little is known about the life of Princess Zhao of Pingyang, who grew up during this time of transition, from a divided China to a unified China, from a period of stability to general revolt. Her father gives her in marriage to Chai Shao, a general ten years her senior; they will have two sons.

Revolt and founding of the Tang dynasty

In 617, Li Yuan, then general in charge of the Taiyuan garrison, planned a revolt against Sui Yangdi. Traditional accounts, dating from the reign of Li Yuan's second son, point to his son Li Shimin (and future Emperor Taizong) as the real instigator of this revolt. It was he who would have maneuvered to convince his father of the need to rebel against the emperor.

Under the pretext of defending himself against Turkish attacks, Li Yuan assembles troops and calls back his sons and his son-in-law Chai Shao. While his father declares his revolt, aiming to depose the emperor to install his grandson Yang You in his place, Zhao sells his goods in secret and secures the service of hundreds of men. With the help of her servant Ma Sanbao, she forges alliances and persuades rebel leaders to join her, then attacks and captures neighboring cities. She thus manages to assemble the "lady's army", an army of 70,000 men.

Thanks to the troops commanded by his daughter, his son-in-law and his sons, Li Yuan occupies the capital Chang'an and places Sui Gongdi, grandson of the emperor, on the throne. In June 618, Sui Yangdi was assassinated by his general Yuwen Huaji; Sui Gongdi then officially cedes the throne to Li Yuan who seizes power and proclaims himself emperor of the new Tang dynasty under the name of Tang Gaozu. Sui Gongdi's brother claims power, but is forced to abdicate before being assassinated in 619.

An early death

After her father took power, there is no record that Princess Zhao of Pingyang participated in any further battles. She died young, in 623, at the age of 24 or 25. Her father then orders a large military funeral for her. To the objections that were made to him against the organization of such a ceremony for a woman, the sources indicate that he would have replied:

“As you know, the princess has assembled an army that has helped us overthrow the Sui Dynasty. She participated in many battles, and her help proved decisive in the founding of the Tang Dynasty. She was no ordinary woman. “

Useful links and references

Princess Pingyang Wikipedia Page
Pingyang (c.600-623) – The Princess Who Toppled a Dynasty