Emperor Yingzong of Ming | |||||||||||||||||
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6th Emperor of the Ming dynasty | |||||||||||||||||
Reign | 7 February 1435 – 1 September 1449 | ||||||||||||||||
Coronation | 7 February 1435 | ||||||||||||||||
Predecessor | Xuande Emperor | ||||||||||||||||
Successor | Jingtai Emperor | ||||||||||||||||
Retired Emperor of the Ming dynasty | |||||||||||||||||
Reign | 1 September 1449 – 11 February 1457 | ||||||||||||||||
8th Emperor of the Ming dynasty | |||||||||||||||||
Reign | 11 February 1457 – 23 February 1464 | ||||||||||||||||
Predecessor | Jingtai Emperor | ||||||||||||||||
Successor | Chenghua Emperor | ||||||||||||||||
Born | 29 November 1427 | ||||||||||||||||
Died | 23 February 1464 | (aged 36)||||||||||||||||
Burial | Yuling, Ming tombs, Beijing | ||||||||||||||||
Spouse |
Empress Xiaozhuangrui Empress Xiaosu |
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Issue | Princess Chongqing Zhu Jianshen, Chenghua Emperor Zhu Jianlin, Prince Zhuang of De Zhu Jianshi Zhu Jianchun, Prince Dao of Xu Zhu Jianshu, Prince Huai of Xiu Zhu Jianze, Prince Jian of Chong Zhu Jianjun, Prince Jian of Ji Zhu Jianzhi, Prince Mu of Xin Zhu Jianpei, Prince Zhuang of Hui Princess Jiashan Princess Chun'an Princess Chongde Princess Guangde Princess Yixing Princess Longqing Princess Jiaxiang two unnamed daughters |
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House | House of Zhu | ||||||||||||||||
Father | Xuande Emperor | ||||||||||||||||
Mother | Empress Xiaogongzhang |
Full name | |
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Surname: Zhu (朱) Given name: Qizhen (祁鎮) |
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Era dates | |
Zhengtong (正統): 18 January 1436 – 13 January 1450 Tianshun (天順): 15 February 1457 – 26 January 1465 |
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Posthumous name | |
Emperor Fatian Lidao Renming Chengjing Zhaowen Xianwu Zhide Guangxiao Rui 法天立道仁明誠敬昭文憲武至德廣孝睿皇帝 |
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Temple name | |
Ming Yingzong 明英宗 |
Zhu Qizhen (Chinese: 朱祁鎮; 29 November 1427 – 23 February 1464) was the sixth and eighth emperor of the Ming dynasty. He ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor (Chinese: 正統; pinyin: Zhèngtǒng) from 1435 to 1449, and as the Tianshun Emperor (Chinese: 天順; pinyin: Tiānshùn) from 1457 to 1464. His first era name means "right governance" and the second one means "obedience to Heaven". His temple name is Yingzong (英宗).
Zhu Qizhen was the son of the Xuande Emperor and his second wife, Empress Sun. At the beginning of the Zhengtong reign, the Ming dynasty was prosperous and at the height of its power as a result of the Xuande Emperor's able administration. The Zhengtong Emperor's accession at the age of eight made him the first child emperor of the dynasty – hence the Zhengtong Emperor was easily influenced by others, especially the eunuch Wang Zhen. At first, Wang Chen was kept under control by Grand Mother Empress Zhang, Zhengtong's grandmother and the unofficial regent, who collaborated closely with three ministers, all with the surname Yang (hence the common name "Three Yangs"), thus the good administration continued. In 1442 though, Empress Zhang died, and the three Yangs also died or retired around that time.
The emperor began to completely rely on Wang Zhen for advice and guidance.
At the age of 21, in 1449, the Zhengtong Emperor, advised by Wang Zhen, personally directed and lost the Battle of Tumu Fortress against the Mongols under Esen Taishi (d.1455). In one of the most humiliating battles in Chinese history, the Ming army, half million strong, led by Zhengtong, was crushed by Esen's forces, estimated to be 20,000 cavalry. His capture by the enemy force shook the empire 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.