Zhu Gaoxu

Zhu Gaoxu
朱高煦
Prince of Han
Tenure1404–1426
Prince of Gaoyang
Tenure1395–1404
Born30 December 1380
Died6 October 1426(1426-10-06) (aged 45)
Names
Zhu Gaoxu
FatherYongle Emperor
MotherEmpress Renxiaowen
Chinese name
Chinese朱高煦
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhū Gāoxù

Zhu Gaoxu (30 December 1380 – 6 October 1426) was the second son of the Yongle Emperor and Empress Renxiaowen. During the Jingnan campaign, which brought his father to the throne, he proved himself to be a capable military leader. In 1426, he revolted against his nephew, the Xuande Emperor, but was quickly defeated and executed.

Life

Zhu Gaoxu was born in 1380 as the second son of Zhu Di, who was then the Prince of Yan. Zhu Di was the fourth son of the Hongwu Emperor, the founder of the Ming dynasty. In 1395, he was made the Prince of Gaoyang (高陽王). In 1399, Zhu Di rebelled against his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor, and the subsequent civil war ended in 1402 with Zhu Di's victory, after which he ascended the throne. Physically fit and energetic, but also arrogant, Zhu Gaoxu proved himself to be a capable military leader in battle.[1][2]

In 1404, Zhu Gaoxu was created as the Prince of Han (漢王) and given control of Yunnan. However, he refused to go to the distant province, so the emperor allowed him to stay at court.[3] Zhu Gaoxu then successfully participated in numerous battles against the Mongols on the northern frontier, earning recognition from his father for his military achievements. He also involved himself in court politics, attempting to undermine the position of his elder brother, Zhu Gaochi (the future Hongxi Emperor), and the ministers who supported him. In 1407, he succeeded in having minister Xie Jin dismissed.[3] In 1414, his hostility led to the imprisonment of grand secretaries Huang Huai for ten years and Yang Shiqi, who was later able to clear his name and return to office.[4]

In 1416, Zhu Gaoxu was granted a new fief in the small county of Le'an in Qingzhou Prefecture, Shandong. However, he refused to leave and was reprimanded. His illegal formation of a private army and the killing of an officer resulted in his demotion to a commoner and subsequent imprisonment. After a year, he was deported to Shandong.[4]

In May 1425, Zhu Gaoxu's elder brother died after ruling for only one year. The young son of the deceased emperor, Zhu Gaoxu's nephew, became the new emperor, known as the Xuande Emperor. Feeling neglected and wronged, Zhu Gaoxu, like his father Zhu Di, decided to claim the throne. He believed that the young emperor would not be a serious obstacle to his plans.[2] Zhu Gaoxu began to gather an army in preparation to march to the capital and seize the throne. However, unlike his father, he was in a weaker position and underestimated the determination of the government, led by an experienced official[2] (Grand Secretary Yang Rong),[4] and the abilities of the young emperor. In September 1426, Zhu Gaoxu openly rebelled, but the emperor personally led 20,000 soldiers, led by General Xue Lu (1358–1430),[5] to Le'an and defeated the rebels.[2] Zhu Gaoxu was imprisoned, and 600 of his followers were executed, while 2,200 were exiled.[5]

During the subsequent investigation, it was discovered that Zhu Gaosui, the third son of the Yongle Emperor, and several other princes were involved in the rebellion. In order to maintain stability in the state, they were not punished.[5] Initially, the emperor did not want his uncle to be killed, but when he became enraged by the captive's arrogance, he ordered for him and his sons to be executed.[6]

Consorts and issue

  • Princess consort (王妃) of the Wei clan (韋氏)[a][7]
    • Zhu Zhanhe (朱瞻壑), Hereditary Prince Zhuangyi (懿莊世子; 1398 – 26 September 1421), first son[8]
    • Zhu Zhanqi (朱瞻圻), Hereditary Prince (世子; d. 6 October 1426), second son[b][9]
    • Zhu Zhantan (朱瞻坦), Hereditary Prince (世子),[c] third son[d][10]
  • Lady of the Guo clan (郭氏), daughter of Guo Ying's (郭英) second son, Guo Ming (郭銘). Her eldest sister was Noble Consort Guo, a concubine of the Hongxi Emperor.[11]
  • Unknown
    • Zhu Zhanci (朱瞻垐)), Prince of Jiyang (濟陽王),[c] fourth son[e][12]
    • Zhu Zhanyu (朱瞻域), Prince of Linzi (臨淄王),[c] fifth son[e][12]
    • Zhu Zhanyi (朱瞻墿), Prince of Zichuan (淄川王),[c] sixth son[e][12]
    • Zhu Zhanxing (朱瞻垶), Prince of Changle (昌樂王),[c] seventh son[e][12]
    • Zhu Zhanping (朱瞻坪), Prince of Qidong (齊東王),[c] eighth son[e][12]
    • Zhu Zhandao (朱瞻壔), Prince of Rencheng (任城王),[c] ninth son[e][12]
    • Zhu Zhanchang (朱瞻㙊), Prince of Haifeng (海豐王),[c] tenth son[e][12]
    • Zhu Zhanbang (朱瞻垹), Prince of Xintai (新泰王),[c] eleventh son[e][12]

Notes

  1. ^ She was appointed Princess consort of Han (漢王妃) in 1404.
  2. ^ He was created Hereditary Prince in 1421, but later demoted to commoner rank, and forced into house arrest in Fengyang in 1425. He committed suicide after his father was executed in 1426.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Title granted in 1424
  4. ^ He died before his father's executed in 1426.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Executed along with his father in 1426.

References

Citations

  1. ^ Tsai (2002), p. 98.
  2. ^ a b c d Mote (2003), p. 623.
  3. ^ a b Tsai (2002), p. 99.
  4. ^ a b c Tsai (2002), p. 100.
  5. ^ a b c Chan (1988), p. 289.
  6. ^ Guochao xianzheng lu, vol. 2.
  7. ^ History of Ming, vol. 103; Taizong Shilu, vol. 30.
  8. ^ Taizong Shilu, vol. 240.
  9. ^ History of Ming, vol. 103; Xuanzong Shilu, vol. 20.
  10. ^ History of Ming, vol. 103.
  11. ^ Taizong Shilu, vol. 114.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h History of Ming; Renzong Shilu, vol. 5.

Works cited

  • Chan, Hok-lam (1988). "Military origins of Ming China". In Mote, Frederick W.; Twitchett, Denis C (eds.). The Cambridge History of China Volume 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368–1644, Part 1. Cambridge University Press. pp. 58–106. ISBN 0521243327.
  • Jiao, Hong. Guochao xianzheng lu 國朝獻徵錄 [Evident (worthies) of Our Dynasty] (in Literary Chinese).
  • Mote, Frederick W (2003). Imperial China 900-1800. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-01212-7.
  • Renzong Shilu 仁宗實錄 [Veritable Records of Emperor Renzong] (in Literary Chinese).
  • Tsai, Shih-Shan Henry (2002). Perpetual Happiness: The Ming Emperor Yongle. University of Washington Press. ISBN 0-295-98124-5.
  • Taizong Shilu 太宗實錄 [Veritable Records of Emperor Taizong] (in Literary Chinese).
  • Xuanzong Shilu 宣宗實錄 [Veritable Records of Emperor Xuanzong] (in Literary Chinese).
  • Zhang, Tingyu (1739). Ming Shi 明史 [History of Ming] (in Literary Chinese).
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