Li Gao

Li Gao or Li Hao (Chinese: 李暠; 351–417), courtesy name Xuansheng (玄盛), nickname Changsheng (長生), also known by his posthumous name as the Prince Wuzhao of Western Liang (西涼武昭王), was the founding duke of the Chinese Western Liang dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. While he claimed only the title of duke during his reign, he was posthumously honored with the princely title. He was initially a Northern Liang official, but in 400, he seceded from Northern Liang's prince Duan Ye's rule and established his own independent dynasty. While his state only lasted for 21 years, his descendants would remain key officials and nobles throughout the Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, and Sui dynasties, and one of them, Li Yuan, would found the Tang dynasty in 618. He was posthumously honored by the Tang dynasty as Emperor Xingsheng (興聖皇帝).