Luo Yi

About

Luo Yi (Chinese: 羅藝) (died 627), known during service to the Tang dynasty as Li Yi (李藝), courtesy name Ziyan (子延) or Ziting (子廷), was a Sui dynasty official who rose against the rule of Emperor Yang of Sui and occupied the modern Beijing region. He subsequently submitted to Emperor Gaozu of Tang and was created the Prince of Yan and granted the imperial surname of Li. He subsequently, in the struggle between Emperor Gaozu’s sons Li Jiancheng the Crown Prince and Li Shimin the Prince of Qin, joined Li Jiancheng’s faction. After Li Shimin killed Li Jiancheng in 626 and forced Emperor Gaozu to yield the throne to him (as Emperor Taizong), Li Yi was fearful, and he rebelled against Emperor Taizong in 627. He was soon defeated and killed.

Luo Yi’s clan was originally from Xiangyang (襄陽, in modern Xiangfan, Hubei), but moved from there to the Sui capital Chang’an. Luo Yi’s father Luo Rong (羅榮) was a minor general during Sui. Luo Yi was said to be intelligent, self-confident, and capable in battle, but unkind. Due to his contributions on the battlefield, by the latter part of the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, Luo was a key army officer at Beiping (北平, in modern…