Background Western Liang's founder,
Li Gao was from the
Li clan of Longxi, a prominent Han Chinese family that claimed descent from figures such as
Laozi,
Li Xìn and
Li Guang. Under the
Western Jin and
Former Liang dynasties, his family members served as administrators in the
Hexi Corridor. In 397, the Administrator of Jiankang (建康, in modern
Zhangye,
Gansu),
Duan Ye, with support of the
Lushuihu Juqu tribe, broke away from the
Later Liang and founded the
Northern Liang. Li Gao served as a magistrate under Northern Liang, and in 400, at the recommendation of the local Han elites, he was made the Administrator of
Dunhuang.
Reign of Li Gao That same year, the Administrator of Jinchang, Tang Yao (唐瑤) rebelled in his commandery and acclaimed Li Gao as his leader, offering him the title of Duke of Liang. Li Gao accepted him, and he declared a general amnesty and changed the era name in his territory. Historiographers refer to his state as Western Liang to distinguish it with the other rival Liang states at the time. Li Gao's state was backed by local Han Chinese gentry clans, and all the cities west of
Yumen Commandery submitted to him. In 401, both
Jiuquan and Liangning (陇西郡; northwest of present-day
Yumen City,
Gansu) commanderies also surrendered to him from Northern Liang. To apply more pressure on the Northern Liang, he moved his capital east to Jiuquan in 405 and allied with the
Southern Liang. He also nominally submitted to the
Later Qin and sent tributes to
Northern Wei. The Western Liang sought to take control of Liang and Qin provinces, but it was relatively weak compared to its neighbours. According to records, Li Gao heavily involved his wife,
Princess Dowager Yin, in many of his decision-makings, so much so that a common saying was, "Li and Yin reign over Dunhuang" (李尹王敦煌). They maintained a stable economy within his state by encouraging agriculture and trade with the
Western Regions, along with promoting
Confucianism through the establishment of new schools. Like the Former Liang before him, Li Gao considered himself a vassal to the
Eastern Jin in the south and sent envoys to have his titles recognized by them. However, due to the distance between the two states, it would not be until
Liu Yu's second northern expedition when the Jin formally recognized Western Liang as a vassal. Western Liang also had to defend themselves against the nomadic
Rouran and
Tuyuhun.
Fall from the Western Liang. In 417, Li Gao died and was succeeded by his son,
Li Xin, who records describe as a cruel ruler who drained the state's resource with construction projects. Taking advantage of the situation, the Northern Liang intensified their efforts to conquer Western Liang. In 420, Li Xin was enticed into attacking the Northern Liang capital, Guzang (姑臧, in modern
Wuwei, Gansu), and fell into a trap. He died in battle, and Northern Liang forces soon captured Jiuquan. His brother, Li Xun succeeded him in Dunhuang and continued to hold out, but the city eventually fell and Li Xun committed suicide in 421, putting an end to Western Liang. Li Gao's descendants survived the fall of Western Liang, with the
Tang dynasty claiming descent from him through Li Xin's son, Li Chong'er (李重耳), who fled to the
Liu Song dynasty in the south before returning north to the
Northern Wei. For this reason, the Tang posthumously honoured Li Gao as Emperor Xingsheng and refer to him in the
Book of Jin by his
courtesy name due to
naming taboo. Another grandson of Li Gao,
Li Bao, was captured by Northern Liang but fled to
Yiwu County with his uncle, Tang Qi (唐契), becoming vassals to the Rouran. In 444, Li Bao surrendered and served under Northern Wei, where his son
Li Chong became a prominent minister. The famed Tang dynasty poets,
Li Bai and
Li Shangyin were also both believed to be descendants of Li Gao. ==Rulers of the Western Liang==