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Zhengtong Emperor

Zhu Qizhen ( 29 November 1427 – 23 February 1464) was the last emperor of the early ming dynasty and first emperor in the middle ming dynasty. He ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor from 1435 to 1449, and as the Tianshun Emperor (天順) from 1457 to 1464. His first era name means "Right governance" and the second one means "Obedient to Heaven".

First reign

Zhu Qizhen was the son of the Xuande Emperor Zhu Zhanji and his second wife, Empress Sun. At the beginning of Zhengtong's reign, the ming dynasty was prosperous and at the height of its power as a result of Xuande Emperor's able administration. Zhengtong's accession at the age of eight made him the first child emperor of the dynasty hence Zhengtong was easily influenced by others, especially the eunuch Wang Zhen. Zhengtong completely relied on Wang for advice and guidance.

Imprisonment by the Mongols

At the age of 22, in 1449, he was imprisoned by the Mongols when, advised by Wang Zhen, he personally directed and lost the Battle of Tumu Fortress against the Mongols under Esen taishi (d.1455). His capture by the enemy force shook the ming dynasty to its core and the ensuing crisis almost caused the dynasty to collapse had it not been for the capable governing of a prominent minister named Yu Qian. Although Zhengtong was a prisoner of the Mongols, he became a good friend to both Tayisung Khan Toghtoa Bukha (1416–1453) and his grand preceptor (taishi) Esen. Meanwhile, to calm the crisis at home, his younger brother Zhu Qiyu was installed as the Jingtai Emperor. This reduced Zhengtong's imperial status and he was granted the title of "grand emperor".

House arrest and second reign

The Zhengtong Emperor was released one year later in 1450 but when he returned to China, he was immediately put under house arrest by his brother for almost seven years. He resided in the southern palace of the Forbidden city and all outside contacts were severely curtailed by the Jingtai Emperor. Zhengtong's son (later Chenghua Emperor) was stripped of the title of crown prince and replaced by Jingtai's own son. This act greatly upset and devastated Zhengtong but the heir apparent died shortly thereafter. Overcome with grief, the Jingtai Emperor fell ill and Zhengtong decided to depose Jingtai by a palace coup which eventually reinstalled Zhu Qizhen as emperor, who named his second reign Tianshun ("heavenly obedience") and went on to rule for another seven years.

On 6 August 1461, the Tianshun Emperor issued an edict warning his subjects to be loyal to the throne and not to violate the laws. This was a veiled threat aimed at the general Cao Qin (d. 1461), who had become embroiled in a controversy when he had one of his retainers killed a man whom Ming authorities were attempting to interrogate (to find out about Cao's illegal foreign business transactions). On 7 August 1461, General Cao Qin and his cohorts of Mongol descent attempted a coup against the Tianshun Emperor. However, during the first hours of the morning of 7 August, prominent Ming Mongol generals, Wu Jin and Wu Cong, were alerted of the coup and immediately relayed a warning to the emperor. Although alarmed, the emperor and his court made preparations for a conflict and barred the gates of the palace. During the ensuing onslaught in the capital later that morning, the Minister of Works and the Commander of the Imperial Guard were killed, while the rebels set the gates of the Forbidden City on fire. The eastern and western gates of the imperial city were only saved when pouring rains came and extinguished the fires. The fight lasted for nearly the entire day within the city; during which three of Cao Qin's brothers were killed, and Qin himself received wounds to both arms. With the failure of the coup, in order to escape being executed, Qin fled to his residence and committed suicide by jumping down a well within the walled compound of his home.

The Tianshun Emperor died at the age of 37 in 1464 and was buried in the Yuling (裕陵) tomb of the ming dynasty Tombs.

Personal information

Father

Xuande Emperor

Mother

Empress Xiao Gong Zhang

Consorts

Empress Xiao Zhuang Rui (孝莊睿皇后), family name Qian (錢) (died 1468), married the Zhengtong Emperor in 1442, lost her position as empress when her husband was stripped of the position of emperor in 1449, reinstated as empress in 1457, created Empress Dowager Ciyi (慈懿皇太后) during the reign of her stepson

Empress Xiao Su (孝肅皇后), family name Zhou (周) (died 1504), daughter of Zhou Neng (周能), held the rank of Noble Consort (貴妃), created Empress Dowager Sheng Ci Ren Shou (聖慈仁壽皇太后) in 1487, created Grand Empress Dowager (太皇太后) during the reign of her grandson, never held the title of empress in life but was posthumously honored as an empress, mother of Princess Chongqing and the Chenghua Emperor

Consort Jing Zhuang An Mu Chen (靖莊安穆宸妃), family name Wan (萬)

Consort Duan Jing An He Hui (端靖安和惠妃), family name Wang (王)

Consort Zhuang Jing An Rong Shu (莊靜安榮淑妃), family name Gao (高)

Consort Gong Duan Zhuang Hui De (恭端莊惠德妃), family name Wei (韋)

Consort Gong He An Jing Shun (恭和安靜順妃), family name Fan (樊) (1414 - 1470), entered the imperial court in 1427, created a concubine of the Zhengtong Emperor in 1457

Consort Zhuang Xi Duan Su An (莊僖端肅安妃), family name Yang (楊)

Consort Zhao Su Jing Duan Xian (昭肅靖端賢妃), family name Wang (王)

Consort Zhen Shun Yi Gong Jing (貞順懿恭敬妃), family name Liu (劉)

Consort An He Rong Jing Li (安和榮靖麗妃), family name Liu (劉)

Consort Duan Zhuang Zhao (端莊昭妃), family name Wu (武)

Consort Gong An He (恭安和妃), family name Gong (宮)

Consort Zhao Jing Gong (昭靜恭妃), family name Liu (劉)

Consort Zhao Shun Li (昭順麗妃), family name Zhang (張)

Consort Zhao Yi Xian (昭懿賢妃), family name Li (李)

Consort Gong Jing Zhuang (恭靖莊妃), family name Zhao (趙)

Consort Gong Xi Cheng (恭僖成妃), family name Zhang (張)

Consort Gong Hui He (恭惠和妃), family name Liang (梁)

Consort Xi Ke Chong (僖恪充妃), family name Yu (余)

Consort Hui He Li (惠和麗妃), family name Chen (陳)

Consort Rong Jing Zhen (榮靖貞妃), family name Wang (王)

Sons

Name	Formal Title	Born	Died	Mother	Spouse	Issue
Zhu Jianshen 朱見深	The Chenghua Emperor	9 Dec 1447	9 Sept 1487	Empress Xiao Su	Empress Wu Empress Xiao Zhen Chun Empress Xiao Mu Empress Xiao Hui 14 concubines	unnamed son Zhu Youji, Crown Prince Daogong Zhu Youcheng, Hongzhi Emperor Zhu Youyuan, Prince Xian of Xing Zhu Youlun, Prince Hui of Qi Zhu Youbin, Prince Duan of Yi Zhu Youhui, Prince Gong of Heng Zhu Youyun, Prince Jing of Yong Zhu Youqi, Prince Ding of Shou unnamed son Zhu Youheng, Prince An of Ru Zhu Youshun, Prince Jian of Jing Zhu Youshu, Prince Zhuang of Rong Zhu Youkai, Prince Yi of Shen Princess Renhe Princess Yongkang Princess Deqing unnamed daughter Princess Changtai Princess Xianyou
Zhu Jianlin 朱見潾	Prince Zhuang of De 德莊王	7 May 1448	7 Sept 1517	Consort Jing Zhuang An Mu Chen	/	Zhu Yourong, Prince Yi of De
Zhu Jianshi 朱見湜	/	2 Aug 1449	30 Aug 1451	Consort Jing Zhuang An Mu Chen	none	none
Zhu Jianchun 朱見淳	Prince Dao of Xu 許悼王	3 Apr1450	3 Jan 1453	Consort Duan Jing An He Hui	none	none
Zhu Jianshu 朱見澍	Prince Huai of Xiu 秀懷王	12 Mar 1452	13 Oct 1472	Consort Zhuang Jing An Rong Shu	Lady Wang (王氏) (daughter of Wang Yu (王昱))	none
Zhu Jianze 朱見澤	Prince Jian of Chong 崇簡王	2 May 1455	27 Aug 1505	Empress Xiao Su	/	Zhu Youmi, Prince Jing of Chong
Zhu Jianjun 朱見浚	Prince Jian of Ji 吉簡王	11 Jul 1456	16 Aug 1527	Consort Jing Zhuang An Mu Chen	/	Zhu Youfu, Prince Dao of Ji
Zhu Jianzhi 朱見治	Prince Mu of Xin 忻穆王	18 Mar1458	2 Apr 1472	Consort Jing Zhuang An Mu Chen	none	none
Zhu Jianpei 朱見沛	Prince Zhuang of Hui 徽莊王	2 Mar1462	13 Jun 1505	Consort Gong Duan Zhuang Hui De	none	Zhu Youtai, Prince Jian of Hui

Daughters

Title	Born	Died	Date Married	Spouse	Mother
Princess Chongqing 重慶公主	1446	1499	1461	Zhou Jing 周景	Empress Xiao Su
Princess Jiashan 嘉善公主	/	1499	1466	Wang Zeng 王增	Consort Duan Jing An He Hui
Princess Chun'an 淳安公主	/	/	1466	Cai Zhen 蔡震	Consort Jing Zhuang An Mu Chen
Princess Chongde 崇德公主	/	/	1489	Yang Wei 楊偉	Consort Zhuang Xi Duan Su An
Princess Guangde 廣德公主	/	1484	1472	Fan Kai 樊凱	Consort Jing Zhuang An Mu Chen
Princess Yixing 宜興公主	/	1514	1473	Ma Cheng 馬誠	Consort Gong Duan Zhuang Hui De
Princess Longqing 隆慶公主	1455	1479	1473	You Tai 遊泰	Consort Zhuang Jing An Rong Shu
Princess Jiaxiang 嘉祥公主	/	1483	1477	Huang Yong 黃鏞	/
unnamed	/	/	none	none	Consort Gong Duan Zhuang Hui De
unnamed	/	/	none	none	Consort Gong He An Jing Shun