Jia Sidao

Jia Sidao (Chinese 賈似道, Pinyin Jiǎ Sìdào, W.-G. Chia Ssu-tao, * 1213; † 1275) was a Chinese politician of the Southern Song Dynasty. From 1259 to his execution in 1275, he was chancellor among the emperors Lizong and Duzong.

Jia is portrayed by contemporary Chinese historiography as Archbishop, who is said to have caused the downfall of the empire. Towards the end of the southern Song Dynasty, the tax evasion of large landowners had reached great proportions; In addition, the defense against the Mongols overcame the state finances. Under these circumstances, Jia 1263/64 had a radical measure: by law, landowners were forced to sell land, which went beyond a certain area, to one-third of the treasury, which resulted in a partial expropriation. Thus one-fifth of the built-up area came into state hands. The revenues of this country went to the state, which ensured the supply of the troops, but at the expense of the popularity of the government.

Jia also tried to secure the primacy of the civilian leadership over the armed forces, and had repeatedly audited the army leaders, which put their loyalty to the imperial court to the test. When the war flared up again in 1268, many Song Commanders came to the Mongols without a fight. After the fall of the fortress Xiangyang in 1273, Jia was deposed.

Jia was executed in 1275. Four years later, the Song Empire came to an end with the complete conquest by the Mongols. Edit source text Standard data (person): LCCN: nr92030937 VIAF: 12172700 | Wikipedia People Search

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