生平

武德三年（620年），李恪被封为「长沙郡王」，武德九年（626年）徙封「汉中郡王」。

• 贞观二年（628年）进封「蜀王」，授大都督益简绵嘉邛隆六州诸军事益州刺史（治于今四川成都），以年幼（9岁）不之官。

• 贞观五年（631年），改授都督秦成渭武四州诸军事秦州刺史（治于今甘肃天水），未之官。

• 贞观七年（633年），还授都督齐淄青莒莱密七州诸军事齐州刺史（治于今山东济南），之官。

• 贞观十年（636年），改封「吴王」，受世袭诏，授潭州都督（治于今湖南长沙），未之官，因为随后改封安州都督，与诸王一同之藩。

• 贞观十一年（637年），年初，转授都督安随温沔复五州诸军事安州刺史（治于今湖北安陆），之官。十月，因数次游猎踩庄稼、太过扰民被侍御史柳范弹劾，被免去安州都督、削减封户三百户。

史载李恪文武双全，唐太宗称其「类己」，十分喜欢他。唐贞观十七年（643年），太子李承乾因谋反被废，魏王李泰亦被废黜，唐太宗改立仅存的嫡子晋王李治为储君，不久又担心李治「懦」，又欲改立李恪为太子，遂私下与长孙无忌提及立李恪为太子，称他「英果类我」，但被长孙无忌以李治是守成良主且储位不宜更替为由劝止作罢。李恪被罢免都督后，仍在安州任刺史，但终太宗一朝没有复任都督。

唐高宗李治即位后，永徽元年（650年），李恪拜司空（司徒），位列三公，兼梁州都督（治于今陕南地区）。不久重授都督安随温沔复五州诸军事、安州刺史。

永徽四年（653年）房遗爱、高阳公主夫妇谋反事发，房遗爱为求免死，诬告李恪也谋反。二月初三（二月六日，公历3月10日），长孙无忌以吴王涉及谋反案为名，将其绞杀于有司之别舍，年35，同年四月十五日，优赐国公之仪，葬于高阳之原。李恪临死时大呼：「如果社稷有灵，长孙无忌将遭族灭！」子四人李仁、李玮、李琨、李璄，流放岭南。唐高宗显庆五年（659年），追封为郁林郡王（亲王为正一品，嗣王、郡王为从一品），以旁支宗室李荣袭爵为郁林县侯。光宅元年（684年9月—12月），其子四人被赦免，又因李荣获罪，李恪长子李仁得以袭爵。唐中宗神龙初年（705年-706年），追赠司空，复亲王爵，备礼改葬。

李恪墓葬不详。现有墓志《大唐故李恪墓志铭并序》一方。

家庭

王妃

• 杨氏，出自弘农杨氏观王房，右卫副率、慈汾二州刺史静公杨誉之女，兄弟杨崇敬，袭爵郑国公。贞观十一年（637年）李恪改封吴王，并授安州都督之职，杨氏随丈夫到安州（今湖北安陆县）任职，一直到高宗即位。杨氏疑薨于贞观年间，葬于安州，即今湖北安陆县木梓公社王子山。其墓葬已于1979年发掘，出土有金质头饰、波斯银币15枚、绿釉陶器，铜器，铜钱（开元通宝），以及陶俑等，共二百馀件。金饰包括金丝错镂的钗、钿、簪、环和镶嵌 宝石的珠花，有的色彩鲜艳夺目，类似珐琅工艺，还有错金铁剪刀。最值得称道的是两件宫扇形的金花，极为精细，用像头发细的金丝纽结成莲花，水鸟等美丽的图案，工艺水平相当高超。还出土一块青石墓志盖，盖上刻有篆文《大唐吴国妃杨氏之志》九字，而墓志盖下的墓志铭。凹凸不平无一字，怀疑遭到磨平，其棺椁也无查，仅剩棺床，考古报告怀疑其因丈夫李恪的原因而遭到抛尸。

子孙

• 《新唐书·列传第五》记载了李恪四子。第二子李玮，墓志称第三子。或排序有误，或有遗漏。至少有五个女儿。

• 长子，李仁（李千里），生于贞观二十年（646年）/贞观十九年（645年），薨于景龙二年（708年）7月5日/神龙三年（707年），享年62岁。封「郁林郡王」→「成纪郡王」→「成王」。武则天曾言「儿，吾千里驹」。参与重俊之变，败死。睿宗朝平反。现有墓志一方。官至岳州别驾→使持节襄、庐二州诸军事二州刺史→许、卫二州刺史→左金吾卫大将军、广益二州大都督兼五府大使、上柱国。现有墓志一方。

• 长媳，慕容真如海，表字「淑」，生于永徽二年（651年），薨于开元十三年（726年）2月26日，享年75岁。为李仁流放时所娶，北燕皇族之后。现有墓志一方。

　• 孙，李禧，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。封「天水郡王」。官至太仆少卿。

• 次子，李玮，（647年－682年逝世，年36）。追封「朗陵郡王」。现有墓志一方，墓志称第三子。

• 次媳，长乐冯氏，生卒年不详。大将军耿国公冯盎之曾孙，南越王之后。

　• 孙，李祚，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。袭爵嗣「朗陵郡王」。

　• 孙，李袨，原名李褕，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。出继蜀王愔后，袭爵「嗣蜀王」。

• 三子，李琨，生年不详，卒于长安二年（702年）。墓葬不详。赠司卫卿→「张掖郡王」→工部尚书、「吴王」。则天朝官至淄、卫、宋、郑、梁、幽六州刺史、岭南抚慰使。

　• 孙，李禕，生年不详，薨于天宝二年（743年），享年80馀。生卒年不详。墓葬不详。封「嗣江王」→「信安郡王」。讨吐蕃立有战功。官至太子仆兼徐州别驾、加银青光禄大夫→德、蔡、衢等州刺史→蜀、濮等州刺史→光禄卿，迁将作大匠→瀛州刺史→左金吾卫大将军、朔方节度副大使、知节度事，兼摄御史大夫→迁礼部尚书、朔方军节度使→加开府仪同三司，兼关内支度、营田等使，兼采访处置使→兵部尚书、朔方节度大使→衢州刺史→滑、怀二州刺史→拜太子少师→迁太子太师。

　• 吕氏，李禕妃，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。

　　• 曾孙，李峘，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。封「赵国公」。官至睢阳太守→武部侍郎兼御史大夫→加授「金紫光禄大夫」→户部尚书。

　　• 曾孙，李峄，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。官至户部侍郎、银青光禄大夫。

　　• 曾孙，李岘，生于景龙二年（708年），薨于永泰二年（766年）7月，享年58岁。封「梁国公」。宣宗年间，诏令上临烟阁。官至魏郡太守→御史大夫兼京兆尹→凤翔太守→吏部尚书、知政事→中书侍郎、同中书门下平章事→蜀州刺史→礼部尚书兼宗正卿→黄门侍郎、同中书门下平章事。现有墓志一方。

　　• 李氏，嫁汴宋节度使田神功，封凉国夫人

　　• 李岘妻，独孤氏。

　• 孙，李襦，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。封「毕国公」。

　• 孙，李褍（duān），生卒年不详。墓葬不详。

　• 孙，李祗，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。袭爵「嗣吴王」。官至银青光禄大夫→东平太守→灵昌太守→左金吾大将军、河南都知兵马使→加兼御史中丞、陈留太守，持节充河南道节度采访使→太仆、宗正卿。

　　• 曾孙，李岵，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。有罪，未袭爵。

　　　• 四世孙，李审，太原府功曹参军。

　　　　• 五世孙，李某，□□司录参军。

　　　　　• 六世孙，李长文，宗正少卿。

　　　　　　• 七世孙，李颜，登州录事参军。

　　　　　　• 七世孙，李颢。

　　　　　　• 七世孙，李泳，守校书郎。

　　　　　　• 七世孙，李须。

　　　　　　• 七世孙，李氏，嫁韦硎。

　　　　　　• 七世孙，李氏，嫁宣城县尉张戡。

　　　　　　• 七世孙，李氏，嫁商州军事判官王涧。

　　　　　• 六世孙，李某。

　　　　　　• 七世孙，李嗣业，淄青观察判官、检校尚书刑部郎中、兼御史中丞、赐紫金鱼袋。

　　• 曾孙，李崌。

　　• 曾孙，李巘，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。袭爵「嗣吴王」。官至宗正卿、检校刑部尚书。

　　　• 四世孙，李寅，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。袭爵「嗣吴王」。

　　　　• 五世孙，李复。

　　　• 四世孙，李宙，复州刺史、「嗣吴王」。

　　　　• 五世孙，李不惑。

　　• 曾孙，李玘，宗正丞→宗正少卿→殿中少监，赠工部侍郎，追赠吏部尚书。

　　　• 四世孙，李置（780年-830年），正议大夫、行司农少卿、知太仓出纳、上柱国、陇西县开国子。

　　　　• 五世孙，李又雄。

　　　• 四世孙，李宿。

　• 孙，李袿（guī），生卒年不详。墓葬不详。

• 四子，李璄，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。封「归政郡王」。官至宗正卿→南州司马。

　• 孙，李襘，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。封「吴国公」。

• 四女，李氏，当生于贞观二十二年（648年），因李恪之故被幽禁献陵，直至永昌元年（689年）才获释出嫁后魏景穆帝八世孙元思忠，封信安县主。薨于开元四年（716年），享年六十九。现有墓志一方。

　• 外孙，元守一，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。官至永康陵丞；

　• 外孙，元瓘，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。官至河南府新安县尉。

　• 外孙，元瓌，生卒年不详。墓葬不详。官至邠王府属官。夫人新平县主。

• 五女，李华，当生于永徽元年（650年），封宣城县主，逝世于开元三年（715年），年六十六。现在墓志一方，未提及婚姻。

Early life

It is not known exactly when Li Ke was born, but he was likely born around 619, as he was the third son of Li Shimin the Prince of Qin, a son of Emperor Gaozu. His mother was Li Shimin's princess /Honorable noble Consort Yang, a daughter of Emperor Yang of Sui adn his wife, Empress Xiao, making Li Ke a Sui dynasty imperial legitimate descendant through his mother. (Consort Yang would later give birth to a younger brother of Li Ke's, Li Yin (李愔).) In 620, Emperor Gaozu created Li Ke the Prince of Changsha, at the same time that his brothers Li Chengqian and Li Tai were also created imperial princes.

During Emperor Taizongs reign

In 626, Li Shimin, in an intense rivalry with his older brother Li Jiancheng the Crown Prince and fearing that Li Jiancheng was about to kill him, ambushed Li Jiancheng and another brother, Li Yuanji the Prince of Qi, who supported Li Jiancheng, at Xuanwu Gate and killed them. He then effectively forced Emperor Gaozu to first create him crown prince and then yield the throne to him (as Emperor Taizong). He created Li Ke the Prince of Han, and in 627 changed Li Ke's title to Prince of Shu, and while initially he was not commissioned with a post outside the capital Chang'an, eventually he was made the commandant at Qi Prefecture (齐州, roughly modern Jinan, Shandong). In 636, his title was changed to Prince of Wu, and he was made the commandant at An Prefecture (安州, roughly modern Xiaogan, Hubei). While at An Prefecture, in 637 Li Ke often out on hunt, damaged people's houses and many farmland, the assistant imperial censor Liu Fan (柳范) submitted an accusation. As a result, Li Ke received excoriation from his father, and was removed from his post, and 300 households were removed from his fief.

In 643, with Li Chengqian, then crown prince, and Li Tai, locked in an intense rivalry, Li Chengqian plotted to overthrow Emperor Taizong and was deposed. Emperor Taizong initially wanted to make Li Tai crown prince, but soon, believing that Li Tai's machinations were responsible for Li Chengqian's downfall, exiled Li Tai as well and created their younger brother, his ninth son Li Zhi the Prince of Jin, the new crown prince, believing Li Zhi to be kind. (Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Zhi were all born of Emperor Taizong's wife Empress Zhangsun.) Later, however, he began to believe that Li Zhi's personality was too weak and worried that he would not be appropriate as an emperor, he showed this his worry once, said he may considered making Li Ke crown prince instead. Li Zhi's uncle Zhangsun Wuji opposed this immediately, and Emperor Taizong did not do so, but an enmity thereafter developed between Zhangsun Wuji and Li Ke.

During Emperor Gaozongs reign

Emperor Taizong died in 649 and was succeeded by Li Zhi (as Emperor Gaozong). As the emperor's older brother, Li Ke was given the highly honored, although without actual power, position of Sikong (司空), and made the commandant at Liang Prefecture (梁州, roughly modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi).

In 652, Emperor Gaozong's sister Princess Gaoyang, Princess Gaoyang's husband Fang Yi'ai (son of the deceased chancellor Fang Xuanling), the general Xue Wanche (薛万彻), Emperor Gaozong's uncle Li Yuanjing (李元景) the Prince of Jing, and another brother-in-law Chai Lingwu (柴令武), were accused of a treasonous plot to overthrow Emperor Gaozong and make Li Yuanjing emperor. Fang Yi'ai knew that Zhangsun feared and was jealous of Li Ke and had long wanted to find a way to kill Li Ke to remove any hopes from the people that Li Ke would become emperor. He therefore claimed that Li Ke was part of the plot as well, hoping to ingratiate Zhangsun sufficiently to be spared. In spring 653, Emperor Gaozong, at Zhangsun's urging, issued an edict to execute Fang Yi'ai, Xue, and Chai, while ordering Li Yuanjing, Li Ke, and Princesses Gaoyang and Baling (Chai's wife) to commit suicide. (Emperor Gaozong initially wanted to spare Li Yuanjing and Li Ke, but did not do so when Cui Dunli the minister of defense opposed it.) When Li Ke was about to do so, he cursed Zhangsun, stating:

Zhangsun also had Consort Yang and Li Yin reduced to commoner rank and exiled to Ba Prefecture (巴州, roughly modern Bazhong, Sichuan), and Li Ke's four sons, Li Ren (李仁), Li Wei (李玮), Li Kun (李琨), and Li Jing (李璄) were exiled to the modern Guangdong region. Li Ke's young fourth daughter was sent to Xianling (tomb of Emperor Gaozu of Tang) to be kept under house arrest till 689, upon which time she was created Princess Xin'an. In 660, after Zhangsun's own downfall (at the hands of Emperor Gaozong's wife Empress Wu and her associates), Li Ke was posthumously created the Prince of Yulin, but was not given a posthumous name, nor was his son permitted to inherit the title; rather, Li Rong (李荣), the grandson of Li Xiaogong the Prince of Hejian, was adopted into Li Ke's line and took the title of Marquess of Yulin. Eventually, however, after Li Rong was deposed for an unrelated reason, Li Ren (later known as Li Qianli (李千里)) was permitted to inherit the title, and around 705, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong's son Emperor Zhongzong, Li Ke was posthumously honored again with the title of Sikong and reburied with honor.

Personal information

Consort and their respective issue(s):

• Princess Consort of Wu, of Yang clan of Hongnong (吴王妃弘农杨氏), his cousin

• Concubine, of the Lanling Xiao (兰陵萧氏)

　• Li Kun, Prince of Wu (吴王 李琨), 3rd son

• Unknowm

　• Li Ren, Prince of Cheng (城王 李仁), 1st son

　• Li Wei, Prince of Langling (朗陵王 李玮), 2nd son

　• Li Jing, Prince of Guizheng (归政郡王 李璄), 4th son

　• Princess Xin'an, fourth daughter (b. 648, d. 717), 1st daughter

　　• Married Yuan Sizhong (元思忠), descendant of Tuoba Huang and had issue (three sons

Ancestry