Early life

It is not known exactly when Li Ke was born, but he was likely born around 619, as he was the third son of Li Shimin the Prince of Qin, a son of Emperor Gaozu. His mother was Li Shimin's concubine Consort Yang, a daughter of Emperor Yang of Sui, making Li Ke a Sui Dynasty imperial descendant through his mother. (Consort Yang would later give birth to a younger brother of Li Ke's, Li Yin (李愔).) In 620, Emperor Gaozu created Li Ke the Prince of Changsha, at the same time that his brothers Li Chengqian and Li Tai were also created imperial princes.

During Emperor Taizongs reign

In 626, Li Shimin, in an intense rivalry with his older brother Li Jiancheng the Crown Prince and fearing that Li Jiancheng was about to kill him, ambushed Li Jiancheng and another brother, Li Yuanji the Prince of Qi, who supported Li Jiancheng, at Xuanwu Gate and killed them. He then effectively forced Emperor Gaozu to first create him crown prince and then yield the throne to him (as Emperor Taizong). He created Li Ke the Prince of Han, and in 627 changed Li Ke's title to Prince of Shu, and while initially he was not commissioned with a post outside the capital Chang'an, eventually he was made the commandant at Qi Prefecture (齊州, roughly modern Jinan, Shandong). In 636, his title was changed to Prince of Wu, and he was made the commandant at An Prefecture (安州, roughly modern Xiaogan, Hubei). While at An Prefecture, in 637 Li Ke often out on hunt, damaged people's houses and many farmland, the assistant imperial censor Liu Fan (柳范) submitted an accusation. As a result, Li Ke received excoriation from his father, and was removed from his post, and 300 households were removed from his fief.

In 643, with Li Chengqian, then crown prince, and Li Tai, locked in an intense rivalry, Li Chengqian plotted to overthrow Emperor Taizong and was deposed. Emperor Taizong initially wanted to make Li Tai crown prince, but soon, believing that Li Tai's machinations were responsible for Li Chengqian's downfall, exiled Li Tai as well and created their younger brother, his ninth son Li Zhi the Prince of Jin, the new crown prince, believing Li Zhi to be kind. (Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Zhi were all born of Emperor Taizong's wife Empress Zhangsun.) Later, however, he began to believe that Li Zhi's personality was too weak and worried that he would not be appropriate as an emperor, he showed this his worry once, said he may considered making Li Ke crown prince instead. Li Zhi's uncle Zhangsun Wuji opposed this immediately, and Emperor Taizong did not do so, but an enmity thereafter developed between Zhangsun Wuji and Li Ke.

During Emperor Gaozongs reign

Emperor Taizong died in 649 and was succeeded by Li Zhi (as Emperor Gaozong). As the emperor's older brother, Li Ke was given the highly honored, although without actual power, position of Sikong (司空), and made the commandant at Liang Prefecture (梁州, roughly modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi).

In 652, Emperor Gaozong's sister Princess Gaoyang, Princess Gaoyang's husband Fang Yi'ai (son of the deceased chancellor Fang Xuanling), the general Xue Wanche (薛萬徹), Emperor Gaozong's uncle Li Yuanjing (李元景) the Prince of Jing, and another brother-in-law Chai Lingwu (柴令武), were accused of a treasonous plot to overthrow Emperor Gaozong and make Li Yuanjing emperor. Fang Yi'ai knew that Zhangsun feared and was jealous of Li Ke and had long wanted to find a way to kill Li Ke to remove any hopes from the people that Li Ke would become emperor. He therefore claimed that Li Ke was part of the plot as well, hoping to ingratiate Zhangsun sufficiently to be spared. In spring 653, Emperor Gaozong, at Zhangsun's urging, issued an edict to execute Fang Yi'ai, Xue, and Chai, while ordering Li Yuanjing, Li Ke, and Princesses Gaoyang and Baling (Chai's wife) to commit suicide. (Emperor Gaozong initially wanted to spare Li Yuanjing and Li Ke, but did not do so when Cui Dunli the minister of defense opposed it.) When Li Ke was about to do so, he cursed Zhangsun, stating:

Zhangsun also had Consort Yang and Li Yin reduced to commoner rank and exiled to Ba Prefecture (巴州, roughly modern Bazhong, Sichuan), and Li Ke's four sons, Li Ren (李仁), Li Wei (李瑋), Li Kun (李琨), and Li Jing (李璄) were exiled to the modern Guangdong region. Li Ke's young fourth daughter was sent to Xianling (tomb of Emperor Gaozu of Tang) to be kept under house arrest till 689, upon which time she was created Princess Xin'an. In 660, after Zhangsun's own downfall (at the hands of Emperor Gaozong's powerful wife Empress Wu and her associates), Li Ke was posthumously created the Prince of Yulin, but was not given a posthumous name, nor was his son permitted to inherit the title; rather, Li Rong (李榮), the grandson of Li Xiaogong the Prince of Hejian, was adopted into Li Ke's line and took the title of Marquess of Yulin. Eventually, however, after Li Rong was deposed for an unrelated reason, Li Ren (later known as Li Qianli (李千里)) was permitted to inherit the title, and around 705, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong's son Emperor Zhongzong, Li Ke was posthumously honored again with the title of Sikong and reburied with honor.

Personal information

• Father

　• Emperor Taizong of Tang

• Mother

　• Consort Yang, daughter of Emperor Yang of Sui

• Wife

　• Lady Yang Qingxue

　• Lady Xiao

• Issue and Descendants

　• Li Jing, had one son:

　　• Li Chan, Duke of Wu

　• Princess Xin'an, fourth daughter (b. 648, d. 717), married Yuan Sizhong (元思忠), descendant of Tuoba Huang and had three sons:

　　• Yuan Shouyi

　　• Yuan Guan

　　• Yuan Gui

Ancestry

生平

武德三年（620年），李恪被封為「長沙郡王」，武德九年（626年）徙封「漢中郡王」。

• 貞觀二年（628年）進封「蜀王」，授大都督益簡綿嘉邛隆六州諸軍事益州刺史（治于今四川成都），以年幼（9歲）不之官。

• 貞觀五年（631年），改授都督秦成渭武四州諸軍事秦州刺史（治于今甘肅天水），未之官。

• 貞觀七年（633年），還授都督齊淄青莒萊密七州諸軍事齊州刺史（治于今山東濟南），之官。

• 貞觀十年（636年），改封「吳王」，受世襲詔，授潭州都督（治于今湖南長沙），未之官，因為隨後改封安州都督，與諸王一同之藩。

• 貞觀十一年（637年），年初，轉授都督安隨溫沔複五州諸軍事安州刺史（治于今湖北安陸），之官。十月，因數次遊獵踩莊稼、太過擾民被侍御史柳范彈劾，被免去安州都督、削減封戶三百戶。

史載李恪文武雙全，唐太宗稱其「類己」，十分喜歡他。唐貞觀十七年（643年），太子李承乾因謀反被廢，魏王李泰亦被廢黜，唐太宗改立僅存的嫡子晉王李治為儲君，不久又擔心李治「懦」，又欲改立李恪為太子，遂私下與長孫無忌提及立李恪為太子，稱他「英果類我」，但被長孫無忌以李治是守成良主且儲位不宜更替為由勸止作罷。李恪被罷免都督後，仍在安州任刺史，但終太宗一朝沒有複任都督。

唐高宗李治即位後，永徽元年（650年），李恪拜司空（司徒），位列三公，兼梁州都督（治于今陝南地區）。不久重授都督安隨溫沔複五州諸軍事、安州刺史。

永徽四年（653年）房遺愛、高陽公主夫婦謀反事發，房遺愛為求免死，誣告李恪也謀反。二月初三（二月六日，公曆3月10日），長孫無忌以吳王涉及謀反案為名，將其絞殺于有司之別舍，年35，同年四月十五日，優賜國公之儀，葬於高陽之原。李恪臨死時大呼：「如果社稷有靈，長孫無忌將遭族滅！」子四人李仁、李瑋、李琨、李璄，流放嶺南。唐高宗顯慶五年（659年），追封為鬱林郡王（親王為正一品，嗣王、郡王為從一品），以旁支宗室李榮襲爵為鬱林縣侯。光宅元年（684年9月—12月），其子四人被赦免，又因李榮獲罪，李恪長子李仁得以襲爵。唐中宗神龍初年（705年-706年），追贈司空，複親王爵，備禮改葬。

李恪墓葬不詳。現有墓誌《大唐故李恪墓誌銘並序》一方。

家庭

王妃

• 楊氏：右衛副率、慈汾二州刺史靜公楊譽之女，兄弟楊崇敬，襲爵鄭國公，屬隋觀王系。貞觀十一年（637年）李恪改封吳王，並授安州都督之職，楊氏隨丈夫到安州（今湖北安陸縣）任職，一直到高宗即位。楊氏疑薨于貞觀年間，葬于安州，即今湖北安陸縣木梓公社王子山。其墓葬已于1979年發掘，出土有金質頭飾、波斯銀幣15枚、綠釉陶器，銅器，銅錢（開元通寶），以及陶俑等，共二百餘件。金飾包括金絲錯鏤的釵、鈿、簪、環和鑲嵌 寶石的珠花，有的色彩鮮艷奪目，類似琺瑯工藝，還有錯金鐵剪刀。最值得稱道的是兩件宮扇形的金花，極為精細，用像頭髮細的金絲紐結成蓮花，水鳥等美麗的圖案，工藝水平相當高超。還出土一塊青石墓誌蓋，蓋上刻有篆文《大唐吳國妃楊氏之志》九字，而墓誌蓋下的墓誌銘。凹凸不平無一字，懷疑遭到磨平，其棺槨也無查，僅剩棺床，考古報告懷疑其因丈夫李恪的原因而遭到拋尸。

子孫

• 《新唐書·列傳第五》記載了李恪四子。第二子李瑋，墓誌稱第三子。或排序有誤，或有遺漏。至少有五個女兒。

• 長子，李仁（李千里），生于貞觀二十年（646年）/貞觀十九年（645年），薨于景龍二年（708年）7月5日/神龍三年（707年），享年62歲。封「鬱林郡王」→「成紀郡王」→「成王」。武則天曾言「兒，吾千里駒」。參與重俊之變，敗死。睿宗朝平反。現有墓誌一方。官至岳州別駕→使持節襄、廬二州諸軍事二州刺史→許、衛二州刺史→左金吾衛大將軍、廣益二州大都督兼五府大使、上柱國。現有墓誌一方。

• 長媳，慕容真如海，表字「淑」，生于永徽二年（651年），薨于開元十三年（726年）2月26日，享年75歲。為李仁流放時所娶，北燕皇族之後。現有墓誌一方。

　• 孫，李禧，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。封「天水郡王」。官至太僕少卿。

• 次子，李瑋，（647年－682年逝世，年36）。追封「朗陵郡王」。現有墓誌一方，墓誌稱第三子。

• 次媳，長樂馮氏，生卒年不詳。大將軍耿國公馮盎之曾孫，南越王之後。

　• 孫，李祚，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。襲爵嗣「朗陵郡王」。

　• 孫，李袨，原名李褕，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。出繼蜀王愔後，襲爵「嗣蜀王」。

• 三子，李琨，生年不詳，卒于長安二年（702年）。墓葬不詳。贈司衛卿→「張掖郡王」→工部尚書、「吳王」。則天朝官至淄、衛、宋、鄭、梁、幽六州刺史、嶺南撫慰使。

　• 孫，李禕，生年不詳，薨于天寶二年（743年），享年80餘。生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。封「嗣江王」→「信安郡王」。討吐蕃立有戰功。官至太子僕兼徐州別駕、加銀青光祿大夫→德、蔡、衢等州刺史→蜀、濮等州刺史→光祿卿，遷將作大匠→瀛州刺史→左金吾衛大將軍、朔方節度副大使、知節度事，兼攝御史大夫→遷禮部尚書、朔方軍節度使→加開府儀同三司，兼關內支度、營田等使，兼採訪處置使→兵部尚書、朔方節度大使→衢州刺史→滑、懷二州刺史→拜太子少師→遷太子太師。

　• 孫媳，呂氏，李禕妃，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。

　　• 曾孫，李峘，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。封「趙國公」。官至睢陽太守→武部侍郎兼御史大夫→加授「金紫光祿大夫」→戶部尚書。

　　• 曾孫，李嶧，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。官至戶部侍郎、銀青光祿大夫。

　　• 曾孫，李峴，生于景龍二年（708年），薨于永泰二年（766年）7月，享年58歲。封「梁國公」。宣宗年間，詔令上臨煙閣。官至魏郡太守→御史大夫兼京兆尹→鳳翔太守→吏部尚書、知政事→中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事→蜀州刺史→禮部尚書兼宗正卿→黃門侍郎、同中書門下平章事。現有墓誌一方。

　　• 李峴妻，獨孤氏。

　• 孫，李襦，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。封「畢國公」。

　• 孫，李褍（duān），生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。

　• 孫，李祗，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。襲爵「嗣吳王」。官至銀青光祿大夫→東平太守→靈昌太守→左金吾大將軍、河南都知兵馬使→加兼御史中丞、陳留太守，持節充河南道節度採訪使→太僕、宗正卿。

　　• 曾孫，李岵，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。有罪，未襲爵。

　　　• 四世孫，李審，太原府功曹參軍。

　　　　• 五世孫，李某，□□司錄參軍。

　　　　　• 六世孫，李長文，宗正少卿。

　　　　　　• 七世孫，李顏，登州錄事參軍。

　　　　　　• 七世孫，李顥。

　　　　　　• 七世孫，李泳，守校書郎。

　　　　　　• 七世孫，李須。

　　　　　　• 七世孫，李氏，嫁韋硎。

　　　　　　• 七世孫，李氏，嫁宣城縣尉張戡。

　　　　　　• 七世孫，李氏，嫁商州軍事判官王澗。

　　　　　• 六世孫，李某。

　　　　　　• 七世孫，李嗣業，淄青觀察判官、檢校尚書刑部郎中、兼御史中丞、賜紫金魚袋。

　　• 曾孫，李崌。

　　• 曾孫，李巘，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。襲爵「嗣吳王」。官至宗正卿、檢校刑部尚書。

　　　• 四世孫，李寅，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。襲爵「嗣吳王」。

　　　　• 五世孫，李複。

　　　• 四世孫，李宙，複州刺史、「嗣吳王」。

　　　　• 五世孫，李不惑。

　　• 曾孫，李玘，宗正丞→宗正少卿→殿中少監，贈工部侍郎，追贈吏部尚書。

　　　• 四世孫，李寘（780年-830年），正議大夫、行司農少卿、知太倉出納、上柱國、隴西縣開國子。

　　　　• 五世孫，李又雄。

　　　• 四世孫，李宿。

　• 孫，李袿（guī），生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。

• 四子，李璄，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。封「歸政郡王」。官至宗正卿→南州司馬。

　• 孫，李襘，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。封「吳國公」。

• 四女，李氏，當生于貞觀二十二年（648年），因李恪之故被幽禁獻陵，直至永昌元年（689年）才獲釋出嫁後魏景穆帝八世孫元思忠，封信安縣主。薨于開元四年（716年），享年六十九。現有墓誌一方。

　• 外孫，元守一，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。官至永康陵丞；

　• 外孫，元瓘，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。官至河南府新安縣尉。

　• 外孫，元瓌，生卒年不詳。墓葬不詳。官至邠王府屬官。夫人新平縣主。

• 五女，李華，當生于永徽元年（650年），封宣城縣主，逝世于開元三年（715年），年六十六。現在墓誌一方，未提及婚姻。