Hong Tianguifu | |||||||||
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Reign | 6 June 1864 – 18 November 1864 | ||||||||
Predecessor | Hong Xiuquan | ||||||||
Successor | post abolished | ||||||||
Born |
Hua County, Guangdong, Qing Empire |
23 November 1849||||||||
Died | 18 November 1864 Nanchang, Qing Empire |
(aged 14)||||||||
Spouse | Wang Wang Hou Zhang |
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House | House of Hong | ||||||||
Father | Hong Xiuquan | ||||||||
Mother | Lai Lianying |
Full name | |
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Hong Tianguifu 洪天貴福 | |
Era name and dates | |
太平天囯: 6 June 1864 – 18 November 1864 |
Hong Tianguifu (simplified Chinese: 洪天贵福; traditional Chinese: 洪天貴福; pinyin: Hóng Tiānguìfú) (23 November 1849 – 18 November 1864), also called Hong Tiangui and in Qing historical record, Hong Futian (洪福瑱 Hóng Fútiàn), was the second and last king of the Heavenly Kingdom of Taiping. He is popularly referred to as the Junior Lord (幼主). Officially, like his father Hong Xiuquan, he was the King of Heaven (天王). To differentiate, he is also called the Junior King of Heaven (幼天王).
Hong succeeded his father at fourteen and was not respected like his father by the princes, and he was spoken of poorly. In Zhong Prince Li Xiucheng Describes Himself (《忠王李秀成自述》), the autobiographical account of a prince of the Heavenly Kingdom written shortly before his execution, Hong Tianguifu was described as "inexperienced," "spoiled," and "incapable." Also, Hong Tianguifu never rode a horse, which was essential for leaders and commanders in wars.
Four months after his coronation, Tianjing, the capital of Taiping rebels was captured by Qing Dynasty. Hong Tianguifu escaped to Dongba (东坝), Jiangsu in July, 1864, rendezvoused with his uncle, Hong Rengan (洪仁玕), Gan Prince (干王). After going to Guangde County, Anhui first, they went to the town of Huzhou (湖州), Zhejiang on 13 August 1864 to rendezvous with the local Taiping Army commander Huang Wenjin (黄文金). The Qing Dynasty sent Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang to attack the city, and Chen Xueming (陈学明), the Taiping army commander in charge of defending the southern gate of the town surrendered on 26 August 1864. Hong Tianguifu, Hong Rengan and Huang Wenjin (黄文金) were forced to flee from the town next day, under the cover of night, and Huang Wenjin (黄文金) soon died of his wounds. The rest of the survivors attempted to escape to the border region of Jiangxi, Guangdong and Fujian to join the remnant Taiping forces led by Li Shixian (李世贤), but on 9 October 1864, they were ambushed by the Qing army at Shicheng (石城). Hong Rengan was captured and subsequently executed on 23 November 1864 at Nanchang (南昌), Jiangxi. Hong Tianguifu escaped to the mountains near Shicheng after his token force was wiped out, but he was caught on 25 October 1864 by Qing soldiers searching for him and was subsequently executed by slow slicing on 18 November 1864 at the age of 14.