Kangxi Emperor

The Kangxi Emperor (born Xuanye (??) May 4, 1654 – December 20, 1722) was the third Emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over all of China, from 1661 to 1722. He is known as one of the greatest Chinese emperors in history. His reign of 61 years makes him the longest-reigning Emperor of China in history.

The Beginning of the Reign

Technically, the Kangxi Emperor inherited his father Shunzhi's throne at the age of seven. His father died in his early twenties, and as Kangxi was not able to rule in his minority, the Shunzhi Emperor appointed Sonin, Suksaha, Ebilun, and Oboi as the Four Regents. Sonin died soon after his granddaughter was made the Empress, leaving Suksaha at odds with Oboi politically. In a fierce power struggle, Oboi seized absolute power as sole Regent. For a while Kangxi and the Court accepted this arrangement. In 1669 the Emperor arrested Oboi with help from the Grand Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang and began to take control of the country himself.

Related Topics:
Shunzhi - Sonin - Suksaha - Ebilun - Oboi - Regent - His granddaughter - 1669 - Grand Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang

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In the spring of 1662, Kangxi ordered the Great Clearance in southern China, in order to fight the anti-Qing movement, begun by Ming Dynasty loyalists under the leadership of Zheng Chenggong (also known as Koxinga), to regain Beijing. This involved moving the entire population of the coastal regions of southern China inland.

Related Topics:
1662 - Great Clearance - Anti-Qing movement - Ming Dynasty - Koxinga - Beijing

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He listed three major issues of concern, being the flood control of the Yellow River, the repairing of the Grand Canal and the Revolt of the Three Feudatories in South China. The Revolt of the Three Feudatories broke out in 1673 and Burni of the Chakhar Mongols also started a rebellion in 1675.

Related Topics:
Yellow River - Grand Canal - Revolt of the Three Feudatories - 1673 - Burni - Chakhar - Mongols - 1675

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The Revolt of the Three Feudatories proved to be hard to defeat. Wu Sangui's forces had overrun most of southern China and he tried to ally himself with local generals. A prominent general of this kind was Wang Fuchen.

Related Topics:
Wu Sangui - Wang Fuchen

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Kangxi crushed the rebellious Mongols within two months and incorporated the Chakhar into the Eight Banners. After the surrender of the Zheng family, the Qing Dynasty annexed Taiwan in 1684. Soon afterwards, the coastal regions were ordered to be repopulated, and to encourage settlers, the Qing government gave a pecuniary incentive to each settling family.

Related Topics:
Eight Banners - Taiwan - 1684

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