Emperor Yangdi of Sui - Cruelest King in Human History

Jim

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posted on 5 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Regarded as one of the worst tyrants in Chinese history. He murdered his father to take the throne. During his reign, he forced millions of peasants to work on his grand projects (the Grand Canal and the rebuilding of the Great Wall). Six million workers perished. Yangdi’s self-indulgence was enormous. He build massive palaces for himself to indulge in endless banquets, alcohol, and concubines.

Early Life

Yang Guang was born in 569 to Yang Jian, the Duke of Sui and Yang Jian's wife Duchess Dugu Qieluo. He was their second son.

He grew up to be a bright and handsome boy, and was considered to be his parents’ favorite son.

His father Yang Jian seized power as the regent after the death of Emperor Xuan in 580. By the next year, he had forced the emperor’s son to give up the throne in his favor. He then established the Sui Dynasty and became its Emperor Wen.

Emperor Wen launched a major attack on rival Chen Dynasty in the winter of 588. Yang Guang, along with his brother Yang Jun and the general Yang Su were in command of the different prongs of the operation. Yang Guang displayed great bravery in the campaign and played a pivotal role in its ultimate success.

Yang Guang had always been his parents’ favorite son. By 600, his elder brother the Crown Prince Yang Yong had lost the favors of his parents due to his wastefulness and having many concubines. Yang Guang, on the other hand, pretended to be frugal and faithful to his wife.

Yang Guang also hatched conspiracies against his brother to defame him further in the emperor’s eyes. He was eventually successful in leading the emperor to depose his elder son and name Yang Guang as the Crown Prince instead.