Li Zitong
agrarian rebel leader against the Chinese Sui dynasty
Years: 575 - 622
Li Zitong (died 622) is an agrarian leader who claimsthe title of emperor in the aftermaths of the death of Emperor Yang of Sui, at the hands of Emperor Yang's general Yuwen Huaji in 618.
After Yuwen then vacates the city of Jiangdu (in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu), the region was in a state of confusion, and in 619, Li captured Jiangdu and declared a new state of Wu.
In 620, he is defeated by the Tang Dynasty general Li Fuwei, and he heads south, defeating another rebel leader, Shen Faxing the Prince of Liang and seizing Shen's territory—roughly modern Zhejiang.
In 621, however, Li Fuwei attacks him again and forces his surrender.
He is taken to the Tang capital Chang'an, but is spared by Emperor Gaozu of Tang.
In 622, believing that he could try to reestablish his state, he flees from Chang'an, but is captured and executed.
