Everything about Tianshun Emperor totally explained
| Zhengtong Emperor |
| Family name: |
Zhu (朱) |
| Given name: |
Qizhen (祁鎮) |
| Emperor of China (1st time) |
| Dates of reign: |
February 7, 1435–September 1, 1449¹ |
| Era name: |
Zhengtong (正統) |
| Era dates |
January 18, 1436–January 13, 1450 |
| Emperor of China (2nd time) |
| Dates of reign: |
February 11, 1457–February 23, 1464 |
| Era name: |
Tianshun (天順) |
| Era dates |
February 15, 1457–January 26, 1465 |
| Temple name: |
Yingzong (英宗) |
Posthumous name:
(short) |
Emperor Rui (睿皇帝) |
Posthumous name:
(full) |
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 |
General note: Dates given here are in the Julian calendar.
They are not in the proleptic Gregorian calendar. |
| ——— |
1. Captured by the Mongols, he was succeeded by his brother
Jingtai who conferred on him the title Taishang Huang
(太上皇), a title reserved for the retired emperors and which
he held until 1457. |
Zhu Qizhen (Cheng-t'ung) (
November 29,
1427 –
February 23,
1464) was an
emperor of the
Ming Dynasty. He ruled as the
Zhengtong Emperor from
1435 to
1449, and as the
Tianshun Emperor from
1457 to
1464.
First Reign
Zhu Qizhen was the son of the
Xuande Emperor Zhu Zhanji and his 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 makes him the first child emperor of the dynasty hence Zhengtong was easily influenced by others, namely his
eunuch Wang Zhen. Zhengtong thoroughly relied on Zhen 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 Khan. His capture by the enemy force shook the Ming dynasty to its core and the ensuing crisis almost caused the dynasty to collapse were it not 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 the
khan. Meanwhile, to calm the crisis at home, his 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 Emperor Chenghua) 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 renamed his second reign
Tianshun ("heavenly obedience") and went on to rule for another seven years.
On August 6, 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 controversey when he'd one of his retainers kill a man who Ming authorities, in order to find out about Cao's illegal foreign business transactions, were attempting to interrogate. However, during the first hours of the morning of August 7, 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 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.
Note
Tianshun (天順) was also the name of a Yuan Dynasty reign.Further Information
Get more info on 'Tianshun Emperor'.
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