The first emperor of the Tang Dynasty was Emperor Gaozu (also known as Li Yuan), who reigned from 618 to 626 CE. He was the founder of the Tang dynasty and the first ruler of China in more than three centuries.
Gaozu was born in 566 CE to a noble family of the Northern Zhou dynasty, which was ruling northern China at the time. He was the sixth generation descendant of the Northern Wei dynasty, with his father, Li Jiancheng, being the crown prince. His mother was Empress Dowager Dou, a concubine to the Northern Zhou Emperor Wu.
Gaozu was known for his military prowess and leadership capabilities, which he developed through his early military service and connections with powerful people. In 606 CE, he was appointed as General of the Right Army and was known for his success in many battles.
After the death of Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou dynasty in 604 CE, power struggles broke out among various factions vying to take over control of the state. In 617 CE, Gaozu had gained enough supporters to gain control of the throne and declared himself emperor, starting the Tang dynasty. He then marched on the capital of Chang’an in 618 CE, with an army of more than 300 thousand troops, and declared himself emperor.
He created a powerful military and unified the country. During his reign, he reformed the government by establishing a strong centralized state, and creating a powerful bureaucracy modeled after those of ancient times. Under his rule, the country flourished economically and culturally. He also established the Imperial College of Learning and Writing, which served as an important center for the spread of Confucianism in China.
After his death in 626 CE, he was succeeded by his son, Li Shimin, who became the second emperor of the Tang dynasty. Emperor Gaozu left behind an empire that would become one of the most powerful in the history of East Asia. He is remembered as a great leader who founded and strengthened the Tang dynasty, paving the way for the great cultural achievements of its successor dynasties.