Introduction: A Fractured Court in the Aftermath of Rebellion

The An Lushan Rebellion of 755–763 CE represents one of the most catastrophic events in Tang Dynasty history, not merely for its devastating human toll but for the permanent political transformations it triggered. In the rebellion’s chaotic wake, Emperor Xuanzong fled to Sichuan, while his son Li Heng broke from the imperial retinue at Mawei and marched north with loyal troops. This decisive act would culminate in his ascension as Emperor Suzong, establishing a rival court that claimed legitimacy amid the crisis. The political landscape that emerged was fragile, characterized by military exigencies and shifting loyalties. It was within this vacuum of stability that previously marginalized figures—particularly palace eunuchs—would ascend to unprecedented heights of influence. Among them, Li Fuguo emerged as a pivotal figure whose manipulation of military power and court politics would set a dangerous precedent for the remainder of the Tang era.

The Ascent of Li Fuguo: From Servant to Kingmaker

Li Fuguo’s rise to power is a story of loyalty, opportunism, and the strategic exploitation of crisis. Originally a minor eunuch of humble origins, he accompanied the future Emperor Suzong during the difficult years of resistance against An Lushan. His unwavering service during this period earned him Suzong’s deep trust. Unlike aristocratic officials or military generals, eunuchs like Li Fuguo derived their influence almost entirely from proximity to the emperor. With the court unsettled and the emperor dependent on a close circle of advisors, Li Fuguo gradually accumulated responsibilities—first in household administration, then in military oversight.

His most significant power base came from his appointment as commander of the Shence Army, the imperial guard responsible for protecting the emperor and the palace. Control over these elite troops provided Li Fuguo with leverage no civilian official could match. He understood that in a time of instability, military loyalty outweighed bureaucratic seniority. By positioning himself as the guarantor of Suzong’s security, he effectively became the gatekeeper to imperial authority.

The Retired Emperor and the Politics of Filial Piety

A delicate and politically charged situation developed with the return of the retired Emperor Xuanzong to Chang’an. Following the suppression of the rebellion, Xuanzong took up residence in the Xingqing Palace, a compound known for its relative openness and accessibility compared to the main imperial palace. Here, surrounded by old loyalists like General Chen Xuanli and the eunuch Gao Lishi, as well as cultural figures like the Jade Perfected Princess and members of the Pear Garden Academy, Xuanzong lived a semi-public life. He often appeared on the Changqing Tower, where he received the adulation of common citizens and military officers, who would bow and wish him “ten thousand years.”

This visibility deeply troubled Li Fuguo. He perceived Xuanzong’s court as a rival center of influence, where old-guard loyalists might plot a restoration or undermine Suzong’s authority. Using his control over the palace guards, Li Fuguo began a campaign to isolate the retired emperor. He first reduced Xuanzong’s security and resources, most symbolically by confiscating 290 of his 300 horses under a falsified decree. Then, he launched a psychological offensive against Emperor Suzong, arguing that the retired emperor’s open interaction with the public and military officers posed a threat to the state.

The Forced Move: A Climactic Show of Force

Li Fuguo’s fears—or more accurately, his ambitions—culminated in a dramatic confrontation. He organized soldiers of the imperial guard to publicly petition Emperor Suzong, weeping and kowtowing to request that Xuanzong be moved from the accessible Xingqing Palace to the more secure and isolated Western Palace . Suzong, torn between filial duty and political caution, refused to consent. Seizing an opportunity when the emperor fell ill, Li Fuguo took matters into his own hands.

In July of 760 CE, he falsified an imperial order to invite Xuanzong on an excursion to the Western Palace. As the retired emperor’s procession reached the Ruiwu Gate, Li Fuguo appeared with 500 armed cavalry, blocking the path with drawn blades. He announced that the emperor had ordered Xuanzong’s relocation due to the “low and cramped” conditions at Xingqing. The confrontation was tense and humiliating for the retired emperor, who nearly fell from his carriage in shock. Only the intervention of the senior eunuch Gao Lishi, who chastised Li Fuguo for his disrespect, forced the eunuch commander to dismount. Despite this momentary check, the move proceeded. Xuanzong was effectively placed under house arrest, his old retinue dismissed or exiled, and his influence neutered.

Rivalry with Empress Zhang: A Struggle for Succession

Li Fuguo was not the only figure to rise through loyal service during the rebellion. Empress Zhang, who had also stood by Suzong during the difficult years, wielded significant influence through her formal position and personal relationship with the emperor. For a time, Li Fuguo and Empress Zhang were allies, both benefiting from Suzong’s favor. However, as the emperor’s health declined, their alliance fractured into a bitter rivalry over the succession.

Each sought the support of the crown prince, Li Yu . Li Fuguo held the decisive advantage: command of the imperial guards. Recognizing this, Empress Zhang conspired with Prince Li Xi and other court eunuchs to hastily recruit a force of her own to counter Li Fuguo’s military dominance. Her efforts were in vain. When Suzong died in 762 CE, Li Fuguo moved swiftly. Using his control of the palace troops, he arrested Empress Zhang and her allies, eliminated opposition, and ensured the smooth accession of Li Yu as Emperor Daizong. The showdown demonstrated conclusively that in the new Tang political order, control of the military within the palace walls was the ultimate source of power.

Cultural and Social Impacts: The Eunuch Ascendancy

The rise of Li Fuguo signaled a profound shift in Tang political culture. Traditionally, eunuchs had been confined to domestic service within the inner palace, barred from holding high office or military command due to their non-aristocratic status and perceived lack of legitimacy. The crises of the mid-8th century broke these conventions. Emperors, distrustful of the aristocratic clans and military governors who had failed to prevent the rebellion, turned to eunuchs as agents of personal loyalty.

Li Fuguo’s career established a blueprint for future eunuch power. He demonstrated that control of the Shence Army could be leveraged to influence policy, manipulate succession, and even intimidate the emperor himself. This militarization of court politics had a corrosive effect on the traditional Confucian bureaucratic system. Officials found themselves increasingly sidelined by palace intrigues, while military power became concentrated in the hands of individuals accountable only to the emperor—or those who controlled him.

Socially, the visibility of eunuchs like Li Fuguo challenged conventional hierarchies. Their ability to attain wealth, military titles, and political influence disrupted the social order and provoked resentment among the scholar-official class. Yet, because their power derived from the palace rather than land or lineage, they remained dependent on the imperial institution, creating a volatile dynamic where eunuchs both served and manipulated the throne.

Legacy and Historical Significance

Li Fuguo’s career marks the beginning of what historians term the “eunuch problem” that plagued the late Tang Dynasty. For the next century and a half, eunuchs would play a dominant role in court politics, often determining imperial succession, commanding armies, and engaging in violent factional struggles. The precedent set by Li Fuguo—using military authority to intervene in the highest matters of state—would be repeated by eunuchs like Yu Chaoen and Tutu Chengcui, leading to periods of extreme instability.

Moreover, the events surrounding the forced move of Xuanzong and the coup against Empress Zhang highlighted the declining authority of the throne itself. Emperors became increasingly trapped between the power of regional military governors on the frontiers and eunuch commanders within the palace. This balance of power weakened central authority and contributed to the gradual fragmentation of the Tang state.

In a broader sense, Li Fuguo’s rise symbolizes the transformation of the Tang Dynasty from a centralized, bureaucracy-led empire into a polity where personal loyalty, military power, and palace intrigue overshadowed institutional governance. His actions demonstrated that the emperor’s will could be subverted by those who controlled the mechanisms of violence within the capital—a lesson that would doom the dynasty to a long decline.

Conclusion: The Shadow Over the Tang

The story of Li Fuguo is more than a tale of personal ambition; it is a critical chapter in the history of imperial China. His ability to manipulate Emperor Suzong, intimidate the retired Xuanzong, and outmaneuver Empress Zhang reveals the fragility of political structures in the aftermath of rebellion. It underscores how crises can empower previously marginal actors and reshape institutions in profound ways.

The legacy of Li Fuguo’s eunuch dictatorship would haunt the Tang Dynasty until its fall in 907. While later emperors occasionally attempted to curb eunuch power, none succeeded in reversing the trend he inaugurated. The court remained a battleground for military and palace factions, undermining the stability and effectiveness of the central government. In this way, Li Fuguo’s career serves as a poignant reminder of how the concentration of unaccountable power, especially within the military, can corrupt political systems and alter the course of history.