Emperor Xiaozong of Song

Emperor Xiaozong of Song, personal name Zhao Shen, courtesy name Yuanyong, was the 11th emperor of the Song dynasty of China and the second emperor of the Southern Song dynasty. He started his reign in 1162 when his adoptive father and predecessor, Emperor Gaozong, abdicated and passed the throne to him. Even though Emperor Gaozong became a Taishang Huang after his abdication, he remained the de facto ruler, so Emperor Xiaozong only took full power in 1187 after Emperor Gaozong's death. After ruling for about a year, Emperor Xiaozong followed in his predecessor's footsteps and abdicated in favour of his third son Zhao Dun, while he became Taishang Huang and still remained in power until his death in 1194.

27 November 1127

Born on the same birth day (27 November): Ala Boratyn • Ammo Baba • Boris Grebenshchikov • Caroline Kennedy • Davey Boy Smith • Donta Smith • Jatindramohan Bagchi • Jim Price (basketball) • John Ashworth (biologist) • Larry Allen • Lars Onsager • Michael Vartan • Nicole Brossard • Oritsé Williams • Robert R. Livingston • Sir John Wray, 2nd Baronet • Steve Oedekerk • Tetsuya Komuro • Vera Fischer (actress) • Wendy Houvenaghel • Yulia Tymoshenko