Zhangsun Shunde

Zhangsun Shunde (Chinese: 长孙顺德), titled Duke of Pi, was a general and officer in the early Tang dynasty. He is one of 24 honored founding officials of the Tang dynasty at Lingyan Pavilion, and also a distant relative to Zhangsun Wuji and Empress Zhangsun. They share a common ancestor, Zhangsun Zhi (Prince Wenxuan of Shangdang of the Northern Wei dynasty), five generations ago for Zhangsun Wuji and Empress Zhangsun, and four generations ago for Zhangsun Shunde.

Zhangsun Shunde
长孙顺德
Lieutenant Commander of Right Guard (右勋卫）
In office
?–c.612
MonarchEmperor Yang of Sui
General Commander (统军)
In office
617–618
MonarchLi Yuan
Grand (Senior) General of Left Brave Guard (左骁卫大将军)
In office
618–627
MonarchsEmperor Gaozu of Tang and then Emperor Taizong of Tang
Prefectural Governor of Zezhou (泽州刺史)
In office
629–630
MonarchEmperor Taizong of Tang
Personal details
Born565
Luoyang
Died631
Chang'an
ChildrenZhangsun Jiaqing (son)
At least one daughtor, name unknown
Parent
  • Zhangsun Kai (father)
OccupationGeneral, Official
TitleDuke of Pi (邳国公)
Posthumous nameXiang (襄)
In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhangsun.

Zhangsun Shunde was born in a sinicized Xianbei clan. His grandfather Zhangsun Shiliang was the prefectural governor of Qinzhou during the Northern Zhou dynasty, and his father Zhangsun Kai was a grand general and high-ranked official during the Sui dynasty.[1] Zhangsun Shunde served as a lieutenant commander in the Right Guard during Emperor Yang of Sui's reign. In 612, Emperor Yang launched a massive campaign against Goguryeo, and Zhangsun Shunde was drafted as a low-ranked commander. Zhangsun Shunde refused to go, and thus fled to Taiyuan and secretly became a subordinate to Li Yuan, who later rebelled against Sui in 617, and established the Tang dynasty in 618.[2] During the rebellion, Zhangsun Shunde made major contributions, including breaking through Huoyi and Linfen, defeating the Sui general Qutu Tong, and occupying Shaan County.[3] Later, he was given the title Duke of Xue, and appointed to Grand General of the Left Brave Guard. In 627, he was found guilty of corruption. Emperor Taizong of Tang gave him some warmings by embarrassing him publicly with sarcastic rewards.[4] Later in the same year, he was unintentionally involved in a coup led by his friend Li Xiaochang, the Prince of Yi'an. As a result, he was removed from his office and deprived of all his titles and ranks. One year later, Yuwen Shiji visited him, and then told Emperor Taizong that he was sad and drunk in his residence. Emperor Taizong had pity on him and restored his ranks.[5] He was then appointed to be the prefectural governor of Zezhou. During his term, he returned farmlands that were illegally occupied or expropriated by his predecessors to peasants.[6] However, not long after that he was involved in some other law cases and removed from his position again. Then, his daughter died, which made him slide into a depression. He died shortly after. In 639, he was posthumously rewarded the title Duke of Pi.[7]

References
  1. Old Book of Tang:长孙顺德，文德顺圣皇后之族叔也。祖澄，周秦州刺史。父恺，隋开府。
  2. Old Book of Tang:顺德仕隋右勋卫，避辽东之役，逃匿于太原，深为高祖、太宗所亲委。
  3. New Book of Tang:从平霍邑，破临汾，下绛郡，俱有战功。寻与刘文静击屈突通于潼关，每战摧锋。及通将奔洛阳，顺德追及于桃林，执通归京师，遂定陕县。
  4. New Book of Tang:俄以受赇为有司劾发，帝曰：“顺德元勋外戚，爵隆位厚至矣。若令观古今自鉴，有以益国家者，朕当与共府库，何至以贪冒闻乎？“因赐帛数十愧切之。
  5. New Book of Tang:岁余，帝阅功臣图，见其像，怜之，遣宇文士及视顺德，顺德方颓然醉，遂召为泽州刺史，复爵邑。
  6. Old Book of Tang:前刺史张长贵、赵士达并占境内膏腴之田数十顷，顺德并劾而追夺，分给贫户。
  7. New Book of Tang:贞观十三年，封邳国公。


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