| Zhengtong Emperor | |
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| Reign | 7 February 1435 – 1 September 1449 [1] (14 years, 206 days) |
| Predecessor | Xuande Emperor |
| Successor | Jingtai Emperor |
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| Reign | 1 September 1449 – 11 February 1457 (7 years, 163 days) |
| Predecessor | Emperor Shenzong of Western Xia |
| Successor | Qianlong Emperor |
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| Reign | 11 February 1457 – 23 February 1464 (7 years, 12 days) |
| Predecessor | Jingtai Emperor |
| Successor | Chenghua Emperor |
| Spouse | Empress Xiao Zhuang Rui Empress Xiao Su |
| 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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| Full name | |
| Family name: Zhu (朱) Given name: Qizhen (祁鎮) |
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| Era dates | |
| Zhengtong (正統): 18 January 1436 – 13 January 1450 Tianshun[2] (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 |
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| House | House of Zhu |
| Father | Xuande Emperor |
| Mother | Empress Xiao Gong Zhang |
| Born | 29 November 1427 |
| Died | 23 February 1464 (aged 36) |
| Burial | Yuling, Ming Dynasty Tombs, Beijing |
Zhu Qizhen ( 29 November 1427 – 23 February 1464) was an emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor (正統 IPA: [tʂɤ̂ŋtʰʊ̀ŋ]) from 1435 to 1449, and as the Tianshun Emperor (天順) from 1457 to 1464.[3] His first era name means "Right governance" and the second one means "Obedient to Heaven".
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Zhu Qizhen was the son of the Xuande Emperor Zhu Zhanji and his second wife, 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 made him the first child emperor of the dynasty hence Zhengtong was easily influenced by others, especially the eunuch Wang Zhen. Zhengtong completely relied on Wang for advice and guidance.
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 taishi (d.1455). His capture by the enemy force shook the Ming dynasty 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. Although Zhengtong was a prisoner of the Mongols, he became a good friend to both Tayisung Khan Toghtoa Bukha (1416–1453) and his grand preceptor (taishi) Esen. Meanwhile, to calm the crisis at home, his younger brother Zhu Qiyu was installed as the Jingtai Emperor. This reduced Zhengtong's imperial status and he was granted the title of "grand emperor".
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 Chenghua Emperor) 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 named his second reign Tianshun ("heavenly obedience") and went on to rule for another seven years.
On 6 August 1461, the Tianshun Emperor issued an edict warning his subjects to be loyal to the throne and not to violate the laws.[4] This was a veiled threat aimed at the general Cao Qin (d. 1461), who had become embroiled in a controversy when he had one of his retainers killed a man whom Ming authorities were attempting to interrogate (to find out about Cao's illegal foreign business transactions).[4] On 7 August 1461, General Cao Qin and his cohorts of Mongol descent attempted a coup against the Tianshun Emperor.[5] However, during the first hours of the morning of 7 August, prominent Ming Mongol generals, Wu Jin and Wu Cong, were alerted of the coup and immediately relayed a warning to the emperor.[6] Although alarmed, the emperor and his court made preparations for a conflict and barred the gates of the palace.[7] 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.[5] The eastern and western gates of the imperial city were only saved when pouring rains came and extinguished the fires.[8] 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.[9]
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.
| Number | Name | Formal Title | Born | Died | Mother | Spouse | Issue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zhu Jianshen 朱見深 |
The Chenghua Emperor | 9 December 1447 | 9 September 1487 | Empress Xiao Su | Empress Wu Empress Xiao Zhen Chun Empress Xiao Mu Empress Xiao Hui 14 concubines |
unnamed son Zhu Youji, Crown Prince Daogong Zhu Youcheng, Hongzhi Emperor Zhu Youyuan, Prince Xian of Xing Zhu Youlun, Prince Hui of Qi Zhu Youbin, Prince Duan of Yi Zhu Youhui, Prince Gong of Heng Zhu Youyun, Prince Jing of Yong Zhu Youqi, Prince Ding of Shou unnamed son Zhu Youheng, Prince An of Ru Zhu Youshun, Prince Jian of Jing Zhu Youshu, Prince Zhuang of Rong Zhu Youkai, Prince Yi of Shen Princess Renhe Princess Yongkang Princess Deqing unnamed daughter Princess Changtai Princess Xianyou |
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| 2 | Zhu Jianlin 朱見潾 |
Prince Zhuang of De 德莊王 |
7 May 1448 | 7 September 1517 | Consort Jing Zhuang An Mu Chen | Zhu Yourong, Prince Yi of De | Initially created Prince of Rong (榮王) on 21 May 1452; Title changed to Prince of De (德王) on 30 March 1457 |
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| 3 | Zhu Jianshi 朱見湜 |
2 August 1449 | 30 August 1451 | Consort Jing Zhuang An Mu Chen | none | none | ||
| 4 | Zhu Jianchun 朱見淳 |
Prince Dao of Xu 許悼王 |
3 April 1450 | 3 January 1453 | Consort Duan Jing An He Hui | none | none | Created Prince of Xu on 20 May 1452 |
| 5 | Zhu Jianshu 朱見澍 |
Prince Huai of Xiu 秀懷王 |
12 March 1452 | 13 October 1472 | Consort Zhuang Jing An Rong Shu | Lady Wang (王氏) (daughter of Wang Yu (王昱)) |
none | Created Prince of Xiu (秀王) on 30 March 1457 |
| 6 | Zhu Jianze 朱見澤 |
Prince Jian of Chong 崇簡王 |
2 May 1455 | 27 August 1505 | Empress Xiao Su | Zhu Youmi, Prince Jing of Chong | Created Prince of Chong (崇王) in 1457 | |
| 7 | Zhu Jianjun 朱見浚 |
Prince Jian of Ji 吉簡王 |
11 July 1456 | 16 August 1527 | Consort Jing Zhuang An Mu Chen | Zhu Youfu, Prince Dao of Ji | Created Prince of Ji (吉王) on 30 March 1466 | |
| 8 | Zhu Jianzhi 朱見治 |
Prince Mu of Xin 忻穆王 |
18 March 1458 | 2 April 1472 | Consort Jing Zhuang An Mu Chen | none | none | Created Prince of Xin (忻王) on 21 September 1466 |
| 9 | Zhu Jianpei 朱見沛 |
Prince Zhuang of Hui 徽莊王 |
2 March 1462 | 13 June 1505 | Consort Gong Duan Zhuang Hui De | none | Zhu Youtai, Prince Jian of Hui | Created Prince of Hui (徽王) in 1466 |
| Number | Title | Born | Died | Date Married | Spouse | Issue | Mother | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princess Chongqing 重慶公主 |
1446 | 1499 | 1461 | Zhou Jing 周景 |
Zhou Xian 周賢 |
Empress Xiao Su | |
| 2 | Princess Jiashan 嘉善公主 |
1499 | 1466 | Wang Zeng 王增 |
Consort Duan Jing An He Hui | |||
| 3 | Princess Chun'an 淳安公主 |
1466 | Cai Zhen 蔡震 |
Consort Jing Zhuang An Mu Chen | ||||
| 4 | Princess Chongde 崇德公主 |
1489 | Yang Wei 楊偉 |
Consort Zhuang Xi Duan Su An | ||||
| 5 | Princess Guangde 廣德公主 |
1484 | 1472 | Fan Kai 樊凱 |
Consort Jing Zhuang An Mu Chen | Personal name Zhu Yanxiang (朱延祥) | ||
| 6 | Princess Yixing 宜興公主 |
1514 | 1473 | Ma Cheng 馬誠 |
Consort Gong Duan Zhuang Hui De | |||
| 7 | Princess Longqing 隆慶公主 |
1455 | 1479 | 1473 | You Tai 遊泰 |
Consort Zhuang Jing An Rong Shu | ||
| 8 | Princess Jiaxiang 嘉祥公主 |
1483 | 1477 | Huang Yong 黃鏞 |
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| 9 | unnamed | none | none | none | Consort Gong Duan Zhuang Hui De | Died young | ||
| 10 | unnamed | none | none | none | Consort Gong He An Jing Shun | Died young |
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Zhengtong Emperor
Born: 29 November 1427 Died: 23 February 1464 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by The Xuande Emperor |
Emperor of China (First Time) 1435–1449 |
Succeeded by The Jingtai Emperor |
| Preceded by The Jingtai Emperor |
Emperor of China (Second Time) 1457–1464 |
Succeeded by The Chenghua Emperor |
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