Xuanwu Gate Incident
| Xuanwu Gate Incident | |||||||||||
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A painting of Li Shimin as Emperor Taizong | |||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 玄武門之變 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 玄武门之变 | ||||||||||
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The Xuanwu Gate Incident was a palace coup for the throne of the Tang dynasty on 2 July 626. During the incident, Prince Li Shimin (Prince of Qin) and his followers assassinated his brothers Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince Li Yuanji (Prince of Qi).
Li Shimin took control and set up an ambush at Xuanwu Gate, the northern gate leading to the Palace City within the imperial capital Chang'an. Near that area, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were killed by Li Shimin and his men. Within three days after the coup, Li Shimin was installed as the crown prince. About two months later, Emperor Gaozu abdicated and passed the throne to Li Shimin, who would become known as Emperor Taizong.