Emperor Aizong of Jin

Wanyan Shouxu
Reign 15 January 1224 – 9 February 1234
Full name

Family name: Wanyan 完顏
Given name: Shouxu 守緒

Titles


Prince Xu 遂王
Crown Prince (1216–1224)

Posthumous name
Emperor Jintian Deyun Zhongwen Jinwu Tiansheng Lixiao Zhong 敬天德運忠文靖武天聖烈孝莊皇帝
Temple name
Aizong 哀宗
Father Emperor Xuanzong of Jin
Mother Empress Wang
Born 25 September 1198
Died 9 February 1234 (aged 35)

Emperor Aizong of Jin (r. 1224–1234) was emperor of the Jurchen Jin Dynasty, which ruled most of northern China in the 12th and 13th centuries. His name at birth was Wányán Shǒuxù (完顏守緒.) He was the ninth of ten emperors of the Jin Dynasty and the last emperor who ruled for a significant amount of time. Aizong was considered an able emperor who made several reforms beneficial to the Jin State, such as the removal of corrupted officials and more lenient tax laws. He also shifted the flawed Jin policy in making war with the Southern Song Chinese and focus the nation's military resource against the Mongols. Yet, these were not enough to save the weakened Jin Dynasty, which eventually fell to the Mongols, led by the Gengis Khan during his reign. He escaped to Caizhou when the Mongols besieged Kaifeng in 1232. When his temporary capital, Caizhou, was surrounded by Mongols in 1234, he passed his throne to his Generalissimo, Wanyan Chenglin and then committed suicide by hanging.

Reign Eras