Prior to Western Liangs establishment

Li Hao was born in 351, and was a posthumous child of his father Li Chang (李昶), who traced his ancestry to the Han dynasty general Li Guang. After Li Chang's death, Li Hao's mother married a man named Song, and she bore him at least one son, Song Yao (宋繇). In Li Hao's youth, he was known to be studious, rational, and open-minded. When he grew older, he also studied the military strategies of Sunzi and Wu Qi. He had, for a time, lived in the same house with his half-brother Song Yao and Guo Nen (郭黁), a minister of Later Liang's founding emperor Lü Guang known for his magical and prophetic abilities. Guo once told Song, "Your place will be among the most honored of all subjects, but Mr. Li will one day found an independent state. This will happen when a mare bears a pony with a white forehead."

After Lü Guang's official Duan Ye, with support from the generals Juqu Nancheng (沮渠男成) and Juqu Mengxun, broke away from Later Liang and established Northern Liang in 397, Li Hao became a county magistrate under Duan Ye's governor of Dunhuang Commandery (roughly modern Dunhuang, Gansu), Meng Min (孟敏). When Meng died in 400, the officials of Dunhuang Commandery, because Li Hao was popular with the people, asked him to take over. Initially, Li Hao was hesitant, but Song advised him to accept, stating to him that a pony with a white forehead had just recently been born. Li Hao therefore accepted and requested confirmation from Duan Ye, and Duan Ye agreed.

However, Duan Ye's official Suo Si (索嗣), a friend of Li Hao's, warned Duan Ye of Li Hao's ambitions and advised Duan Ye not to allow Li Hao to remain in control of Dunhuang. Duan Ye therefore sent Suo Si to take over Li Hao's post. Li Hao, in fear, initially was going to receive Suo and turn over authorities to him. At the urging of Song and Zhang Miao (張邈), however, Li Hao first sent messengers to flatter Suo, and instead made a surprise against Suo, defeating him and forcing him to flee back to the Northern Liang capital Zhangye (張掖, in modern Zhangye, Gansu). Li Hao, angry at what he saw as Suo's betrayal, then sent messengers to Duan Ye demanding that he execute Suo. Juqu Nancheng, who also disliked Suo, advised Duan Ye to execute Suo to pacify Li, and Duan Ye did so.

Later in 400, Li Hao's subordinate Tang Yao (唐瑤) declared a general secession by the six commanderies around Dunhuang and offered the rulership to Li Hao. Li Hao accepted and took the title of Duke of Liang, thus establishing Western Liang.

Early reign

Li Hao set his capital at Dunhuang. In 401, the important Northern Liang city Jiuquan (酒泉, in modern Jiuquan, Gansu) defected to him, and particularly in light of Later Qin's attacks on Later Liang that year, this caused Juqu Mengxun (who had killed Duan Ye earlier that year and taken over as the ruler of Northern Liang) to consider surrendering his state to Later Qin, although Juqu Mengxun later decided against it and continued his state's existence. In light of Later Qin's advances, however, Li Hao nominally submitted to Later Qin as a vassal.

In 404, Li Hao's heir apparent Li Tan (李譚) died, and he created Li Tan's younger brother Li Xin as the new heir apparent.

In 405, Li Hao claimed additional honorific titles, and at the same time, while not renouncing Later Qin, also sent messengers to Jin, requesting to be a vassal. He also moved his capital from Dunhuang to Jiuquan, closer to the Northern Liang capital Zhangye, to put additional pressure on Northern Liang. He also wrote a letter to all of his sons, which is still extant, encouraging them to be open-minded and think logically, and be mild in temperament.

In 406, Li Hao entered into a peace agreement with Southern Liang's prince Tufa Rutan, with an implicit understanding of an alliance against Northern Liang, but no actual joint military action was ever taken. Later that year, Juqu Mengxun made an attack on Jiuquan, and Li Hao suffered a defeat to Juqu Mengxun near Jiuquan and was forced to return to the city to defend it against a siege, but Juqu Mengxun, not having enough strength to siege it, withdrew.

Late reign

In 408, not having received response from Jin when he sent messengers in 405, Li Hao sent another messenger with his petition to the Jin capital Jiankang (建康, modern Nanjing, Jiangsu).

In 410, Juqu Mengxun attacked Western Liang again and defeated Li Hao's heir apparent Li Xin in battle, capturing the general Zhu Yuanhu (朱元虎). Li Hao ransomed Zhu with silver and gold, and Juqu Mengxun returned Zhu and made peace with Li Hao.

In 411, Juqu Mengxun, despite the prior peace agreement, made a surprise attack on Western Liang. Li Hao guarded his capital and refused to engage Juqu Mengxun, who was then forced to withdraw when his army ran out of food supply. Li Hao then sent Li Xin to attack the Northern Liang troops in retreat, and Li Xin had a major victory over Juqu Mengxun, capturing his general Juqu Bainian (沮渠百年).

In 416, Li Hao's subordinate Suo Chengming (索承明) suggested that he attack Northern Liang. Li Hao summoned Suo and explained to him that he had insufficient strength to do so—and that Suo, if he hactually had usable plans, should offer them rather than simply suggesting an attack. In fear and shame, Suo withdrew from his presence.

In 417, Li Hao grew ill, and he entrusted Li Xin to his brother Song Yao, stating, "After I die, the heir apparent is your son. Please discipline him accordingly." He then died, and Li Xin succeeded him as duke. Although Li Hao only claimed a ducal title, he was posthumously honored as a prince.

Personal information

• Father

　• Li Chang (李昶) (d. 350 or 351), posthumously honored as Duke Jian

• Wives

　• First wife, name unknown

　• Lady Yin, mother of Li Xin

• Children

　• Li Tan (李譚), the Heir Apparent (d. 404)

　• Li Xin (李歆), the Heir Apparent (created 404), later duke

　• Li Rang (李讓), Marquess Mu of Xinxiang

　• Li Xun (李恂), later ruler

　• Li Fan (李翻)

　• Li Yu (李預)

　• Li Hong (李宏)

　• Li Tiao (李眺)

　• Li Liang (李亮)

　• Li Jingshou (李敬受) (d. 437), wife of Juqu Mujian, prince of Northern Liang

經歷

自稱是前涼武衛將軍李昶的遺腹子，李暠年少好學，性格寬和，讀遍經史，尤能理解文章的義理。李暠長大後也學習武藝，讀孫吳兵法。北涼神璽元年（397年），後涼建康太守段業自立，次年孟敏降北涼獲授沙州刺史，以李暠為效穀縣令。不久孟敏去世，敦煌護軍郭謙及沙洲治中索仙認為李暠在任縣令期間治績頗可取，故推舉李暠為敦煌太守及甯朔將軍，李暠遂向段業請命，獲授安西將軍、敦煌太守，領護西胡校尉。後來北涼右衞將軍索嗣向段業中傷李暠，讓其改以自己擔當敦煌太守。索嗣率五百騎到敦煌外二十里時才通告李暠去迎接自己，李暠聞訊驚訝疑惑，一度想順從出迎，但在張邈及宋繇勸阻下改為派兵抵抗，索嗣兵敗退還張掖。李暠昔日與索嗣十分友好，但知道他在段業面前中傷他並奪去其官位後就相當痛恨他，遂上陳索嗣罪狀。在沮渠男成的勸說下，段業就將索嗣殺了，並派使者向李暠陳謝，又分劃出涼興郡，進李暠為持節，都督涼興以西諸軍事、鎮西將軍，領西夷校尉。

北涼天璽二年（400年），晉昌太守唐瑤移檄六郡，推李暠為大都督、大將軍、護羌校尉、領秦涼二州牧、涼公，改元庚子，以敦煌為都城，建立西涼。李暠又派兵東伐涼興，又西攻玉門西諸城，令疆域廣及西域。次年，北涼將沮渠蒙遜殺段業，自立為北涼君主，李暠又派唐瑤攻酒泉，擒北涼酒泉太守沮渠益生。建初元年（405年），李暠改元並遣使奉表於晉，又遷都酒泉，與北涼長期爭戰。

李暠立國以後鼓勵農事，為對抗北涼積聚軍資，亦令百姓安居樂業。他亦喜好讀書，因此在位時注重文化教育，境內文風頗盛。

逝世

建初十三年（417年），李暠過世，享年六十七歲，臨終遺命宋繇輔助諸子。西涼諡武昭王，廟號太祖，次子李歆繼位。

家族

夫人

• 辛夫人，辛納之女

• 尹太后，出自天水尹氏，尹文之女

子女

• 李譚，世子，早亡

• 李歆，都督、大將軍、涼公，兼領涼州牧、護羌校尉

• 李讓，西涼寧朔將軍、兼領西羌校尉、輔國將軍、晉昌郡敦煌郡太守、新鄉穆侯

• 李愔，西涼晉昌郡敦煌郡太守

• 李恂，西涼酒泉郡敦煌郡太守

• 李翻，西涼車騎將軍、祈連郡酒泉郡晉昌郡太守

• 李豫，西涼西海郡太守

• 李宏，西涼前將軍、中華縣縣令

• 李眺，西涼左將軍

• 李亮，西涼右將軍

• 李王后

• 李敬愛