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About Emperor Qinzong
Lifespan: 1100 – 1161 A.D
Reign Years: 1126 – 1127 A.D
Given Name: Zhao Huan
Reign Name: Qinzong
Emperor Qinzong
Emperor Qinzong – Song Dynasty
Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty was given the name Zhao Huan upon birth. He was the 9th emperor of the Song Dynasty and the last of the Northern Song Dynasty.
Qinzong was the eldest son and heir to Emperor Huizong. His mother was Empress Wang – the emperor’s empress consort.
After hesitantly ascending to the throne, Qinzong of Song made a train of wrong decisions. These led to the negative outcomes that affected the empire, such as losing the battle during “The Incident of Jingkang”.
The worst that occurred was when Emperor Qinzong perished the empire while still in prime.
Enthronement of Qinzong
Zhao Huan was the first son of Emperor Huizong of Song. He was nominated as crown prince at the age of 15.
After ten years, the North Jurchen Jin Dynasty attacked the Song Empire. They continued marching towards the capital city to seize its entirety.
Instead of acting on the situation, Emperor Huizong abdicated from his position and forced Zhao Huan to become emperor. Huan disliked the idea of becoming emperor during the crisis but ended up ascending reluctantly to the throne. As this occurred, his father quickly fled to another city.
Zhao Huan then became Qinzong of Song, and the first thing he did was abolish his father’s inefficient prime ministers. This allowed him to nominate more capable and talented individuals for the position.
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Buy Now!The Jinkang Incident
The Jinkang Incident happened from 1125 and lasted until 1127, during the Jin-Song Wars. It was when the Jin Dynasty attacked and took over Bianjing, the capital of the Song Dynasty. Today, Bianjing is known as Kaifeng.
The First Invasion of Bianjing
The Jin army attacked then took over the Song territory from the west and north. The northern army quickly advanced to the target area, sacking Qinhuangdao in 1125.
In 1126, they continued conquering other areas, namely Baoding, Zhending, Dingzhou, and Xingtai. Soon after, Jin’s northern army crossed the Yellow River, beginning the Siege of Bianjing, the Song Empire’s capital.
Before getting surrounded, Emperor Huizong abdicated made his son the Song emperor, then escaped with his entourage.
It was an unfortunate moment for Quizong since he was left to handle the invasion. Despite that, he appointed Li Gang to lead their army to fend off and quell the enemy’s attack.
But since Emperor Qinzong wasn’t a decisive ruler, he ended up making poor judgments during his rule. He eventually removed Li Gang from his position, hoping to begin peace talks with the Jin Empire.
The Siege of Bianjing ended when Qinzong gave one of his cities to the Jurchens. He even paid them an annual tribute to maintain the peace in the Song.
The Second Invasion
Things went back to normal once the Jin Empire’s forces retreated and former Emperor Huizong returned from the countryside.
Despite the peace, a few Song generals suggested that troops be garrisoned along the Yellow River’s borders. Of course, Emperor Qinzong rejected the suggestion since he assumed that the Jin forces wouldn’t return.
Sometime in 1126, two Jin armies arrived in the Song Empire’s territory. Unlike the earlier siege, the western army sacked Datong in a month. So, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, and other cities surrendered, which cleared the path to Bianjing.
Months after, the northern army regrouped before crossing the Yellow River. The group went on a rampage, attacking various cities around Bianjing. These areas included Puyang and Qingfeng, to name a few.
At some point, the two forces of the Jin army regrouped at Bianjing, where they finally captured the capital.
The Jin forces also captured Qinzong, the Song emperor, and his father, former Emperor Huizong. Aside from them, the Jin forces also captured other members of the Imperial Family and officials of the imperial court.
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Song Dynasty Antique Celadon Plate
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Buy Now!Emperor Qinzong in the Jin Dynasty
The Song emperor Qinzong and his father were demoted to commoners in 1127. Then, they were deported to the Huining Prefecture, which was the Jin empire’s capital.
In 1128, the two were forced to wear mourning outfits while paying homage to the Jin emperor’s ancestors.
Emperor Taizong, the ruler of Jurchen, gave the two former Song emperors humiliating titles. Emperor Qinzong was called “Marquis Chonghun”, while his father was called “Duke Hunde”. The latter means muddle-headed duke, while the former meant muddle-headed marquis.
Sadly, Qinzing of Song died an ill and broken man in the year 1161. He spent two-thirds of his life suffering in the Jin Empire.