Jingtai Emperor

Zhu Qiyu (September 21, 1428 – March 14, 1457)

Related Topics:
September 21 - 1428 - March 14 - 1457

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was Emperor of China of the Ming Dynasty from 1449 to 1457 as the Jingtai Emperor.

Related Topics:
Emperor of China - Ming Dynasty - 1449 - 1457

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He ascended the throne in 1449 after his older brother (the Zhengtong Emperor) tried but failed to lead an army to fight against the Oyirad Mongols of Esen Khan and was captured and held captive for a year.

Related Topics:
1449 - Zhengtong Emperor - Oyirad - Mongols - Esen Khan

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His brother was eventually released in 1450 after the Mongols learned that the Ming government had already replaced Jingtai as the new emperor.

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After that, Jingtai continued to rule on as emperor while his brother was granted a technical title of "grand-emperor" and lived in obscurity.

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During Jingtai's reign, aided by a prominent minister Yu Qian, he paid particular attention to matters affecting his country. He repaired the Grand Canal as well as the system of dykes along the Yellow River. As a result of his administration, the economy prospered and the dynasty was further strengthened.

Related Topics:
Yu Qian - Grand Canal - Yellow River

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He reigned for 8 years but on the eve of his death in 1457, he refused to name an heir, particularly because his own son died mysteriously -- perhaps poisoned. The discarded Zhengtong saw an opportunity to regain the throne and declared himself the successor. Zhengtong, now emperor again, renamed his era name as Tianshun. Jingtai died a month later. Rumour has it that Jingtai was allegedly murdered by eunuchs on the order of the Tianshun emperor.

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After Jingtai's death, the Emperor Tianshun denied Jingtai's rightful honour to be buried in the 13 Ming tombs (along with the rest of his precedessors) located north of Beijing but was instead buried away from that locale west of Beijing and was buried as a prince rather than an emperor. His posthumous name was also shortened to five characters instead of the normal seventeen to reflect his demoted status.

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