Jingtai Emperor

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About Jingtai Emperor

Lifespan: 1428-1457 A.D

Reign Years: 1449 – 1457 A.D

Given Name: Zhu Qíyu

Reign Name: Jingtai

Jingtai Emperor – Ming Dynasty

Zhu Qiyu, known as the Jingtai Emperor, was the seventh emperor who reigned over the Ming Dynasty. He ruled from 1449 to 1457 and was the second son of Emperor Xuande.

In 1449, he was chosen to succeed Emperor Yingzong, his older brother, when the latter was seized by the Mongols. The incident followed the Tumu Crisis. Zhu Qiyu ruled for eight years before being removed from his position by Emperor Yingzong, his older brother.

Jingtai Emperor’s name means exalted view. He was also the only Ming Emperor who wasn’t buried in the Royal Tomb of the Ming.

Early Life of Jingtai Emperor

The Jingtai Emperor was born in September 1428 and was named Zhu Qiyu. His parents were Emperor Yingzong and Empress Hu. In August of 1449, his older half-sibling, Emperor Zhengtong, appointed him as the regent.

Zhu Qiyu ascended the throne in 1449. This was after his brother was defeated then captured by Esen Khan’s Oirat Mongols.

A Vice-minister Rescues the Capital

The disastrous 1449 Tumu Incident was where the Ming army was slaughtered, and the emperor was abducted. This led to widespread panic and worry in Beijing. And by anticipating the Mongol’s further assaults, most of the officials urged the court to immediately abandon the city.

Yet Yu Qian, the vice-minister of war, saw things differently. He called on all the able-bodied men located in and around Beijing, then took charge of the defenses.

For the well-equipped troops, they were positioned adequately outside the capital’s nine gates. So in 1450, during the Mongol army’s attack, they suffered a great blow after the five-day battle. This made the Mongols drive back up north, specifically behind the Great Wall of China.

Because of the loss during the Tumu Incident, a lot blamed the hereditary military elites. And with the ensuing rise of the Yu Qian, the incident became the recent Chinese history’s turning point. Here, the civil bureaucracy dismissed the military leadership through imperial power.

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Enthronement of the Jingtai Emperor

In 1449, Zhu Qiyu ascended the throne as the Jingtai Emperor. This was after his brother, Emperor Zhengtong, was defeated and taken prisoner. The culprits were Esen Khan’s Oirat Mongols.

Zhu Qiyu was 22 years old when he ascended the throne as emperor. Although he was an indecisive and weak leader, the empire was lucky to be backed by able ministers. They handled his court duties with ease and were able to manage the empire somewhat adequately.

In 1450, his brother, Emperor Zhengtong, was finally released. It was after the Mongols found out that the Ming installed Jingtai as their newest emperor. From there, Jingtai continued ruling as the Ming Emperor, while Zhengtong was granted the title “grand emperor”. However, he was compelled to live in darkness.

Reign of Jingtai Emperor

During his rule, he was assisted by numerous skilled and knowledgeable officials. One of them was the minister, Yu Qian. The Jingtai Emperor paid special attention to issues that affected the country.

So, he repaired the Grand Canal and the Yellow River’s system of dykes. With other projects that he did, his reign resulted in a prosperous economy, and the Ming Dynasty was further strengthened.

In 1452, he dismissed his first wife, Empress Wang, since she only bore two daughters and no son. With that, he promoted Consort Hang as Empress Hang since she gave him a son.

Yet in 1453, her 5-year-old son, Zhu Jianji, died due to suspicious reasons. From then, she bore no other children for the emperor.

House Arrest, Death, and End of Reign

Jingtai Emperor ruled the Ming Dynasty for eight years. During his reign, he appointed his only son as the heir apparent. But unfortunately, his son died at a very young age.

Empress Hang died in 1456; this followed with Zhu Qiyu falling ill. Yet despite his situation, he continued to refuse to name an heir.

The reason for this was due to the mysterious death that his son suffered in 1453. It was likely that the child was poisoned, thus, had succumbed to his death.

Because of this, his predecessor, Emperor Zhengtong, took the opportunity to regain the throne as the Ming emperor. Through a military coup, he overthrew the sick Emperor Jingtai.

After losing his position, Jingtai was held captive with Empress Qian, his wife, in The Forbidden City’s southern palace. She joined him in his captivity and opted for a house arrest to be with her husband.

They were both kept isolated from the entire palace, and they lived as virtual prisoners then.

In early 1457, his older brother forced open the gate of the South Palace together with his collaborators’ help. One of them was the dethroned Zhu Qiyu, and the incident was called the “Storming of The Gate” incident.

The overthrown Jingtai Emperor was demoted. From the Ming emperor, he was given the title of prince. Rumors about his death have circulated that time. Some claim that he was strangled to death, and it was likely that his brother helped achieve this.