在(zai)平定(ding)安(an)史之亂(luan)得過(guo)程中,為(wei)求(qiu)得暫時(shi)茍(gou)安(an),唐代(dai)宗措置失當,“瓜分河(he)北地(di),付授叛將(jiang)”,使安(an)史降將(jiang)搖身(shen)一(yi)變(bian),成(cheng)(cheng)了(le)由中央任命(ming)的(de)節度使,保存了(le)相(xiang)當大的(de)離心力。在(zai)平叛過(guo)程中,朝廷還對內地(di)掌握兵權(quan)的(de)刺史多加節度使稱號,造成(cheng)(cheng)了(le)亂(luan)后“方(fang)鎮(zhen)相(xiang)望于內地(di),大者(zhe)連州(zhou)十余,小者(zhe)猶兼(jian)三四”的(de)藩鎮(zhen)割(ge)據的(de)嚴重(zhong)局面。
唐(tang)德(de)(de)(de)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)即位后,力圖削藩。建(jian)中(zhong)二(er)年(nian)(781)正(zheng)月,成德(de)(de)(de)節(jie)(jie)度(du)使(shi)李(li)(li)(li)(li)寶臣死(si),子(zi)李(li)(li)(li)(li)惟(wei)岳向朝廷請(qing)求襲其(qi)父位,魏(wei)博節(jie)(jie)度(du)使(shi)田(tian)悅(yue)亦代為之(zhi)請(qing)。德(de)(de)(de)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)堅決拒絕。李(li)(li)(li)(li)、田(tian)遂聯合(he)淄青(qing)節(jie)(jie)度(du)使(shi)李(li)(li)(li)(li)正(zheng)己,山南東道節(jie)(jie)度(du)使(shi)梁崇義等起兵(bing)(bing)反唐(tang)。七月李(li)(li)(li)(li)正(zheng)己死(si),八(ba)月子(zi)李(li)(li)(li)(li)納亦請(qing)襲父位,德(de)(de)(de)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)不允(yun),李(li)(li)(li)(li)納遂反。戰(zhan)事日(ri)益(yi)擴大。建(jian)中(zhong)四(si)年(nian)正(zheng)月,割據淮西(xi)(今河南汝南)的節(jie)(jie)度(du)使(shi)李(li)(li)(li)(li)希烈(lie)(lie)叛,攻(gong)襄城(cheng)(今屬河南)。德(de)(de)(de)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)派哥舒曜討(tao)伐,未(wei)果(guo)。德(de)(de)(de)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)又(you)派涇原(yuan)(yuan)兵(bing)(bing)去解圍。時(shi)(shi)涇原(yuan)(yuan)節(jie)(jie)度(du)使(shi)朱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)泚(ci)(ci)因(yin)其(qi)弟朱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)滔(tao)謀反而被(bei)軟禁于(yu)京城(cheng)。涇原(yuan)(yuan)兵(bing)(bing)路過長安(an)時(shi)(shi),因(yin)賞賜(si)不周,挾持節(jie)(jie)度(du)使(shi)姚令言嘩(hua)變。德(de)(de)(de)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)逃往奉天。叛軍(jun)推(tui)舉朱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)泚(ci)(ci)為首(shou)領(ling),史(shi)稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)涇原(yuan)(yuan)之(zhi)變。朱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)泚(ci)(ci)率軍(jun)攻(gong)奉天,未(wei)下。此(ci)時(shi)(shi)朝廷援兵(bing)(bing)已逼長安(an),朱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)泚(ci)(ci)退守長安(an)。不久唐(tang)將領(ling)李(li)(li)(li)(li)懷光與(yu)朱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)泚(ci)(ci)聯合(he)。德(de)(de)(de)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)被(bei)迫又(you)奔梁州(今陜(shan)西(xi)漢中(zhong))。興(xing)元元年(nian)(784)五(wu)月,唐(tang)將領(ling)李(li)(li)(li)(li)晟等攻(gong)克長安(an),德(de)(de)(de)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)于(yu)七月返回。朱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)泚(ci)(ci)被(bei)部下所(suo)殺。朱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)滔(tao)病(bing)死(si)。李(li)(li)(li)(li)懷光兵(bing)(bing)敗自縊。因(yin)在這次戰(zhan)爭中(zhong),有四(si)人(ren)稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)王(wang)(wang),兩(liang)人(ren)稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)帝(di)(di)(di),即朱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)滔(tao)稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)冀王(wang)(wang),王(wang)(wang)武俊(jun)稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)趙(zhao)王(wang)(wang),田(tian)悅(yue)稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)魏(wei)王(wang)(wang),李(li)(li)(li)(li)納稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)齊王(wang)(wang),朱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)泚(ci)(ci)稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)秦帝(di)(di)(di),李(li)(li)(li)(li)希烈(lie)(lie)稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)楚(chu)帝(di)(di)(di),故又(you)稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)二(er)帝(di)(di)(di)四(si)王(wang)(wang)之(zhi)亂(luan)。