John of Gaunt vs Zhangsun Wuji

After the death of Edward III, John of Gaunt acted as regent for the young Richard II. He effectively ruled England during the early years of Richard's reign, managing the kingdom's affairs.

John of Gaunt was a target of the Peasants' Revolt, with rebels burning his Savoy Palace in London. He was forced to flee to Scotland, and the revolt highlighted the social tensions in England.

John of Gaunt led a military campaign to claim the throne of Castile through his wife, Constance of Castile. The campaign was unsuccessful, and he eventually renounced his claim in the Treaty of Bayonne.

John of Gaunt opposed the Lords Appellant, a group of nobles who sought to limit Richard II's power. His influence helped prevent a civil war, but the conflict weakened the monarchy.

John of Gaunt signed the Treaty of Bayonne with John I of Castile, renouncing his claim to the Castilian throne in exchange for a large payment and the marriage of his daughter Catherine to the Castilian heir.

Zhangsun Wuji was a key planner of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, which allowed Li Shimin to seize power. He urged Li Shimin to act decisively against his brothers. After the coup, he was rewarded with high office and became one of Emperor Taizong's most trusted advisors.

Emperor Taizong appointed Zhangsun Wuji as Grand Chancellor (Shangshu You Pushe), making him one of the highest-ranking officials. He served as a key advisor on military and civil matters. His sister was Empress Zhangsun, which strengthened his position at court.

Zhangsun Wuji oversaw the compilation of the Tang Code (Tang L

Zhangsun Wuji strongly opposed Emperor Gaozong's plan to depose Empress Wang and appoint Wu Zetian as empress. He argued that Wu was not of suitable background. His opposition led to a conflict with the emperor, and he was eventually forced out of office.

After losing favor with Emperor Gaozong, Zhangsun Wuji was accused of treason by Wu Zetian's allies. He was exiled to Qianzhou (modern Chongqing) and ordered to commit suicide. His family members were also executed or exiled. This ended the Zhangsun clan's influence.