Background

It is not known when Li Zhaode was born, but it is known that his family was from the Tang Dynasty capital Chang'an. His father Li Qianyou (李乾佑) served as an imperial censor during the reign of Tang's second emperor Emperor Taizong and later as minister of justice during the reign of Emperor Taizong's son and Wu Zetian's husband Emperor Gaozong, and was known for his honesty but carelessness with words. Li Zhaode was the son of a concubine of Li Qianyou, and was said to be capable and strong-willed like his father, and he passed the imperial examination when he was young. He was eventually promoted to be an assistant censor (御史中丞, Yushi Zhongcheng), but in 689, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong's son Emperor Ruizong, he was accused of improprieties unspecified in history and briefly exiled to be the sheriff of Lingshui County (陵水, modern Lingshui, Hainan), but was eventually recalled to be one of the three deputy ministers of defense (夏官侍郎, Xiaguan Shilang), along with Lou Shide and Hou Zhiyi (侯知一).

Service under Wu Zetian

As chancellor

As of 692—after Wu Zetian had seized the throne from her son Emperor Ruizong in 690 and taken the throne herself, establishing Zhou and interrupting Tang—Li Zhaode was still serving as the deputy minister of defense when he secretly suggested to Wu Zetian that her nephew Wu Chengsi the Prince of Wei was becoming too powerful. She initially responded, "He is my nephew, and so I I trust him." Li Zhaode responded:

She was persuaded, and in fall 692, she reorganized her administration, removing Wu Chengsi, his cousin Wu Youning, and fellow chancellor Yang Zhirou from their positions as chancellors. As part of the reorganization, Li Zhaode was made Fengge Shilang (凤阁侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (凤阁, Fengge), and given the designation of Tong Fengge Luantai Pingzhangshi (同凤阁鸾台平章事), making him a chancellor de facto; also made chancellors at the same time were Cui Yuanzong, Yao Shu, Li Yuansu, and Cui Shenji, and several days later, so was Wang Xuan. Around that time, there was a group of petitioners led by one Wang Qingzhi (王庆之), who advocated that Wu Chengsi be made crown prince, displacing her son Li Dan (the former Emperor Ruizong), and Wu Zetian, while not granting the petition, permitted Wang to see her frequently in the palace. However, Wang was coming to the palace too often, displeasing her, and she ordered Li Zhaode to batter Wang—and Li Zhaode, quite intentionally, battered Wang to death, causing the group of petitioners he led to disband. He then spoke to Wu Zetian:

Wu Zetian agreed with his rationale and did not make Wu Chengsi crown prince. Because of this, Wu Chengsi despised Li Zhaode and tried to speak against him, but Wu Zetian responded, "I can only sleep because I promoted Li Zhaode, as he took over the hard work on my behalf. Do not speak further."

Meanwhile, Wu Zetian was rebuilding the capital Luoyang to make it a magnificent capital, and Li Zhaode was particularly said to be responsible for the magnificence of the new executive bureau (文昌台, Wenchang Tai) building, as well as Dingding and Shangdong Gates. He also built Luoyang's outer walls. Moreover, there was a bridge over the Luo River (洛水, flowing near Luoyang) near the Changxia Gate that the minister of agriculture Wei Ji (韦机) had built during Emperor Gaozong's reign that was useful and had heavy traffic, but was repeatedly damaged by the flow of the Luo River and required constant repairs. Li Zhaode devised a stone formation before the bridge that diverted the water strength, which allowed the bridge to stand without further damage. It was also said that Li Zhaode did much to try to curb the power of Wu Zetian's secret police officials, who were often falsely accusing people of treason and killing them, and that he, in particular, killed Hou Sizhi.

In 694, Li Zhaode was made acting Neishi (内史), the head of the legislative bureau and a post considered one for a chancellor. Also around that time, Wu Zetian put her lover Huaiyi the Duke of E in command of an army against Eastern Tujue and made Li Zhaode and fellow chancellor Su Weidao Huaiyi's assistants, although Eastern Tujue forces withdrew before the army could launch, and therefore the army never set out. It was said that when Li Zhaode had a disagreement with Huaiyi, Huaiyi began to hit him, and Li Zhaode, despite his reputation for fortitude, was fearful and apologized.

Meanwhile, Li Zhaode gained a reputation for monopolizing power, drawing hatred from other officials. Later in 694, after petitions by the officials Qiu Yin (丘愔) and Deng Zhu (邓注) that accused Li Zhaode of abuse of power, Wu Zetian began to dislike Li Zhaode. In fall 694, she demoted Li Zhaode to be the sheriff of Nanbin County (南宾, in modern Qinzhou, Guangxi). She also soon sentenced Li Zhaode to death but commuted the sentence to removal from office and exile. Fellow chancellors Doulu Qinwang, Wei Juyuan, Du Jingjian, Su, and Lu Yuanfang were accused of not being able to curb in Li Zhaode's abuses and were demoted.

Return from exile and death

At a later point, however, Li Zhaode was recalled from exile to serve as imperial censor (监察御史, Jiancha Yushi), and his enmity with the secret police official Lai Junchen, previously in place, was renewed. Further, on one occasion, he insulted Huangfu Wenbei (皇甫文备) the deputy minister of justice. In 697, Lai and Huangfu therefore falsely accused Li Zhaode of treason, and Li Zhaode was arrested.

Meanwhile, however, Lai himself was said to be plotting to further falsely accuse the Wu clan princes, Princess Taiping, Li Dan, and Li Dan's brother Li Zhe the Prince of Luling, of plotting treason. When this was revealed by his friend Wei Suizhong (卫遂忠), the Wu clan princes and Princess Taiping accused him of crimes. Later in 697, Lai and Li Zhaode were executed on the same day, and it was said that there was no one who did not mourn Li Zhaode while rejoicing at Lai's death. Li Zhaode was eventually posthumously honored during both the resumed reign of Li Zhe (Emperor Zhongzong) in 706 and Emperor Dezong in 782.

早年

李昭德出自陇西李氏，是北魏奉朝请、雍州大中正、宁朔将军、奉车都尉、新城永安二郡守李众庆的玄孙，北周仪同三司、京兆郡大中正、雍州刺史、宕渠郡守、司藩大夫、光州刺史李亮的曾孙，隋朝殿中侍御史、菊潭县令、侍御史、岐州渭滨县令、司隶刺史、朝请大夫、洛阳县令、唐朝通直散骑侍郎李伟节的孙子，唐朝银青光禄大夫、守司刑太常伯李乾佑的儿子。李乾佑在唐太宗贞观年间为殿中侍御史，曾经劝谏太宗。其母去世时，唐太宗遣使就墓吊丧，旌表其门。李乾佑虽强直有器干，而昵于小人，因为不谨慎而贬官。李昭德是李乾佑的庶子，强势干练有父风，年轻时通过科举明经。他被提拔为御史中丞，唐睿宗永昌元年（689年），他因事被贬为振州陵水（今海南陵水）尉，不久李昭德被召回，当时增置夏官侍郎三员，和娄师德、侯知一任夏官侍郎。

武则天时代

宰相

690年，武则天取代儿子睿宗李旦，自为皇帝，建立武周。692年，夏官侍郎李昭德上疏密奏武则天的侄子魏王武承嗣为宰相，权力太大。武则天回应：「他是我的侄子，我信任他。」李昭德说：

武则天同意了。692年秋八月，她解除了武承嗣、武攸宁和杨执柔三个亲戚的相位。同时，李昭德被任命为凤阁侍郎（凤阁，中书省）、同凤阁鸾台平章事。崔元综、姚璹、李元素、崔神基与他同日为相。数日后王璇为相。当时，凤阁舍人张嘉福令洛阳人王庆之率轻薄恶少数百人诣阙上表，主张立武承嗣为太子，废黜皇嗣李旦。武则天并没有同意，但王庆之时常入宫请求皇帝。武则天命李昭德诘责王庆之，李昭德命人将王庆之打死，众轻薄恶少散去。李昭德回奏武则天：

武则天同意李昭德的建议，没有立武承嗣为太子。武承嗣知道后又向武则天诋毁李昭德，武则天说：「自我任昭德，每获高卧，是代我劳苦，非汝所及也。」

武则天营建神都洛阳，李昭德规创文昌台（尚书省）及定鼎门、上东门诸门，标置华壮。原来，隋炀帝营造东都洛阳，没有外城，只有低矮的围墙。李昭德此时开始营建东都外城。洛水有二桥，唐高宗上元年间，司农卿韦机将一桥迁到长夏门外，洛阳人甚以为便，所以废利涉桥，所省之钱以万计。民利之，其一桥废，省巨万计。但是每年被洛水冲注，常劳废修缮。李昭德开始累石替代桥柱，锐其前来分水势，从此水无患。

李昭德为人耿直，有人从洛水中捞到一个白石头，上面有几个赤红点，进宫进献讨好皇帝。诸宰相诘责，这人说：「此石赤心，所以来进。」李昭德怒叱：「此石赤心，那洛水中其他石头岂不是全造反了？」李昭德常常参奏横行不法的酷吏，来俊臣抛弃原妻而娶太原王庆诜之女，侯思止也奏娶赵郡李自挹之女，皇帝下敕命政事堂共商。李昭德拍手对诸宰相说：「大可笑！往年俊臣贼劫王庆诜女，已大辱国。今日此奴又请索李自挹女，无乃复辱国耶！」最后，侯思止私自贮存朝廷禁止民间使用的丝锦，李昭德亲自在朝堂杖杀侯思止。

694年，李昭德检校内史（凤阁首长）。武则天派她的男宠和尚薛怀义率军攻打后突厥汗国，李昭德和另一个宰相苏味道为薛怀义的行军长史，没有遇到突厥军而回军。李昭德和薛怀义不和，他常常被怀义鞭打，李昭德恐惧请罪。

李昭德为宰相，掌握权力，性格高傲，和同事不和。娄师德行动迟缓，李昭德上朝时得等著他，骂他为田舍夫。前鲁王府功曹参军丘愔、长上果毅邓注上奏李昭德专权，武则天开始猜忌李昭德。694年秋九月廿一日，贬李昭德为南宾（今广西钦州）县尉，不久又减死流放。695年正月，周允元与司刑少卿皇甫文备上奏说内史豆卢钦望、同平章事韦巨源、杜景俭、苏味道、陆元方依附李昭德，同被罢相。

流放归来和被杀

李昭德后被召回为监察御史，司仆少卿来俊臣仗势贪求女色，通过诬告谋反，夺取官民妻妾，李昭德非常恨他，还多次羞辱秋官侍郎皇甫文备。697年，两人因此诬告李昭德谋反，李昭德被下狱。

来俊臣又诬告武氏诸王和太平公主、李旦、庐陵王李哲谋反。河东人卫遂忠告发来俊臣由此想窃取权力。697年6月26日（六月初三日），李昭德和来俊臣被同日处死，当时的人都痛惜李昭德，对处死来俊臣拍手称快。唐中宗神龙二年（706年）赠李昭德左御史大夫。唐德宗建中三年（782年），加赠司空。

子李元紘，和后来的宰相李元紘不是同一人。

注释