Yang You facts for kids

Yang You, also known as Emperor Gong of Sui, was a young emperor of the Chinese Sui dynasty. He was born in 605 and died in 619. Yang You was put on the throne by a powerful general named Li Yuan. However, Yang You was only a "puppet emperor," meaning he had no real power. Li Yuan controlled everything.

After Li Yuan started his own new dynasty, the Tang dynasty, he had Yang You killed. Yang You's brother, Yang Tong, then tried to claim the Sui throne, but his rule did not last long.

In 617, Li Yuan rebelled against Yang You's grandfather, Emperor Yang of Sui. Li Yuan captured the capital city, Chang'an, later that year. He took control of Yang You and made him emperor. But only the areas controlled by Li Yuan recognized Yang You as emperor. Other parts of the country still saw Emperor Yang as their ruler. In 618, Emperor Yang was killed by a general named Yuwen Huaji. After this news, Li Yuan made the young Emperor Gong give up his throne to him. Li Yuan then became the new emperor and started the Tang dynasty. Yang You died about a year later.

Early Life and Family

Yang You was born in 605. His father was Yang Zhao, who was the son and chosen heir of Emperor Yang of Sui. Yang You's mother was Crown Princess Wei. He was likely the youngest of his father's three sons.

His father, Yang Zhao, passed away in 606. Emperor Yang did not choose any of Yang Zhao's sons to be the next crown prince. This made it unclear who would inherit the throne. Yang You and his two brothers were given titles as imperial princes. Yang You became the Prince of Dai.

Young Prince in Charge

Emperor Yang often traveled and did not stay in the capital city, Chang'an. So, starting in 613, when Yang You was only eight years old, he was put in charge of Chang'an. However, a trusted official named Wei Wensheng was truly in control of the city.

In 617, a general named Li Yuan started a rebellion. He was worried about Emperor Yang, who was unhappy with him. Li Yuan claimed his goal was to support Yang You as the new emperor. He also said he wanted Emperor Yang to become a retired emperor. Li Yuan quickly marched his forces to Chang'an. During this time, the official Wei Wensheng died. Two of Wei's officers, Yin Shishi and Gu Yi, were left to guard Yang You and the city.

In the winter of 617, Li Yuan's army broke through Chang'an's defenses. Li Yuan took Yang You and declared him emperor. He offered Emperor Yang the title of retired emperor, but this was just a formality. Only the areas controlled by Li Yuan recognized Yang You as emperor.

Reign as Puppet Emperor

Map showing major uprisings and rebellions in the last years of Sui dynasty. Yang You's reign was based in Chang'an.

While Emperor Gong was on the throne, Li Yuan held all the real power. Li Yuan quickly had Yang You grant him the title of Prince of Tang. Many nearby areas, including parts of modern Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Chongqing, soon joined Li Yuan's side.

In the spring of 618, Li Yuan sent his sons, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, to help defend the eastern capital, Luoyang. Luoyang was under attack by another rebel leader, Li Mi. However, the Sui forces in Luoyang did not accept Li Yuan's help. Li Yuan's sons soon left after a small fight with Li Mi's forces.

In the summer of 618, just six months after Yang You became emperor, Li Yuan made him give up the throne. Li Yuan then became the new emperor and started the Tang dynasty.

After His Reign

The new emperor, Li Yuan, gave Yang You the title of Duke of Xi. Yang You died in the fall of 619. Historical records suggest that he was killed on the new Tang emperor's orders. Yang You did not have any sons. His title was passed on to a distant nephew, Yang Xingji.