Jiaqing Emperor
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| Jiaqing Emperor | |||||||||||||
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| Emperor of China | |||||||||||||
| Reign | 1 January 1796 – 18 July 1820 (24 years, 199 days) | ||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Qianlong Emperor | ||||||||||||
| Successor | Daoguang Emperor | ||||||||||||
| Regent | Qianlong Emperor (1796-1799) | ||||||||||||
| Burial | |||||||||||||
| Spouse | Empress Xiao Shu Rui Empress Xiao He Rui | ||||||||||||
| Issue | Mianmu, Prince Mu Princess Zhuangjing Mianning, Daoguang Emperor Princess Zhuangjing Princess Huian Miankai, Prince Dun Mianxin, Prince Rui Mianyu, Prince Hui | ||||||||||||
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| House | House of Aisin-Gioro | ||||||||||||
| Father | Qianlong Emperor | ||||||||||||
| Mother | Empress Xiao Yi Chun | ||||||||||||
The Jiaqing Emperor (Chinese: 嘉慶帝; pinyin: Jiāqìngdì; Mongolian: Sayishiyaltu Yirugertu Khaan, 13 November 1760 – 2 September 1820) was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, and the fifth Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1796 to 1820.
Son of the famous Qianlong Emperor, he is remembered for his prosecution of Heshen (和珅), the infamously corrupt favourite of Qianlong, as well as for attempts to restore the state and curb the smuggling of opium inside China.
Early years
He was born at the Old Summer Palace (圆明园/圓明園), 8 km (5 mi) northwest of the walls of Beijing, and was given the name Yongyan (永琰), changed into Yongyan (顒琰) when he became emperor: the first character of his private name was changed from 永 to 顒, both pronounced Yong, as the former is used commonly. This novelty was introduced by his father the Qianlong Emperor who thought it not proper to use a common character in the emperor's private name due to the long-standing practice of naming taboo.
He was the fifteenth son of the Qianlong Emperor. His mother was a Han Chinese concubine of the second rank Ling (令贵妃/令貴妃), who became a favorite of Qianlong. She was posthumously made Empress Xiao Yi Chun (孝仪纯皇后/孝儀純皇后) when her son became emperor. She was the daughter of Wei Qingtai (魏清泰), an official in the Qing administration whose Han Chinese family had long been integrated in the Manchu elites. In 1818 Emperor Jiaqing made his mother's family officially Manchu, and changed their Chinese family name Wei into the Manchu clan name Weigiya.
After the first two original choices for heir to the throne succumbed early to disease, in December 1773 Yongyan was secretly chosen by Qianlong to be the next emperor. In 1789 he was made Prince of the 1st rank Jia (嘉亲王/嘉親王).
At the end of his reign, Qianlong worked closely with a Manchu government minister called Heshen. Prince Jia hated the notoriously corrupt Heshen for his abuse of power, and vowed to punish the minister once he became emperor.
Accession to the throne
In October 1795, in the 60th year of his reign, Emperor Qianlong announced his intention to abdicate in favor of Prince Jia, because he did not think it proper to rule longer than his grandfather, the late Kangxi Emperor. Prince Jia acceded to the throne and proclaimed the era name of Jiaqing in February 1796. For the next three years however, Jiaqing ruled as Emperor in name only. Decisions were made by his father, the Retired Emperor Qianlong.
With the death of Qianlong at the beginning of February 1799, Jiaqing took control of the government and prosecuted Heshen. Heshen was charged with corruption and abuse of power. He was stripped of his titles and properties, and ordered to commit suicide. Heshen's daughter-in-law, Princess He Xiao, a sister of the new emperor, was spared from punishment and given a few properties from Heshen's estates.
At the time, the empire was facing internal disorder, most importantly the large-scale White Lotus Rebellion (1796-1804), as well as an empty treasury. Emperor Jiaqing engaged in the pacification of the empire and the quelling of rebellions. He endeavored to bring China back to its 18th-century prosperity and power. However, due, in part, to large outflows of silver from the country as payment for the opium smuggled into China from British India, the economy declined.
Family
Consorts
Empresses
Per Imperial Regulations, there was only one Empress at any given time. However, that did not prevent others from being elevated to that position after the death of an existing Empress. During Jiaqing's reign, there were two Empresses, each serving in different periods of time:
- Lady Hitara of the Hitara (Manchu) clan, who became Empress when Emperor Jiaqing ascended the throne in 1796. She was the mother of Emperor Daoguang (2nd son of Emperor Jiaqing) She is known posthumously as Empress Xiao Shu Rui (孝淑睿皇后).
- Empress Xiao He Rui, of the Niohuru clan (孝和睿皇后) (1776 - 1849), elevated after the existing Empress died in 1798.
Imperial Noble Consorts
Per Imperial Regulations, only two Imperial Noble Consorts are allowed at any given time.
- The Imperial Noble Consort Gong Shun, of the Niohuru clan (恭順皇貴妃) (1787 - 1860).
- The Imperial Noble Consort He Yu (? - 1833) of the Lugiya clan.
Consorts
Per Imperial Regulations, only four Consorts are allowed at any given time. Not counting those who were later elevated to higher titles and those who were elevated posthumously, there was effectively only two consorts during Jiaqing's reign.
- The Consort Hua (? - 1808) of the Hougiya clan.
- The Consort Zhuang (? - 1811) of the Wang clan.
- The Consort Shu of the Wanyan clan (Posthumously elevated. Never served as Consort in life)
Imperial Concubines
Per Imperial Regulations, only six Imperial Concubines are allowed at any given time.
- The Imperial Concubine En (?-1846) of the Wuya clan
- The Imperial Concubine Xuan of the Chengiya clan
- The Imperial Concubine Jian (? - 1780) of the Guangiya clan
- The Imperial Concubine Rong (? - 1826) of the Liang clan
- The Imperial Concubine Chun (? - 1819) of the Dongiya clan
- The Imperial Concubine An (? - 1837) of the Guargiya clan
Children
Sons
- First son: Mianmu, son of Imperial Noble Consort He Yu.
- Second son: Prince Mianning (綿寧) ( 16 September 1782 – 25 February 1850), son of Empress Xiao Shu Rui (Lady Hitara), succeeded his father as the Daoguang Emperor in 1820
- Third son: Prince Miankai (绵恺), son of Empress Xiao He Rui, of the Niohuru clan
- Fourth son: Prince Mianxin (绵忻), son of Empress Xiao He Rui, of the Niohuru clan
- Fifth son: Prince Mianyu (绵愉) (1814 - 1865). Son of Gongsun Huang Kuai Fei, of the Niohuru clan
Daughters
- First daughter (1780 - 1783) her mother was Imperial Concubine Xuan.
- Second daughter(1780 - 1783) her mother was Empress Xiao Shu Rui.
- Princess Zhuangjing [庄敬和硕公主] (1781 - 1811) daughter of He Yu Huang Kuai Fei.
- Princess Zhuangjing [庄静固伦公主] (1784 - 1811) daughter of Empress Xiao He Rui.
- Princess Hui-An (1786 - 1795).
- Sixth daughter (1789 - 1790) daughter of Hua Fei.
- Seventh daughter (1793 - 1795) daughter of Empress Xiao He Rui.
- Eight daughter (1805) daughter of Gongsun Huang Kuai Fei.
- Ninth and final daughter (1811 - 1815) Princess of the first rank Huimin (慧悯固伦公主) post-humously in 1820, daughter of Gongsun Huang Kuai Fei.
Death and burial
On 2 September 1820, the Jiaqing Emperor died at the Rehe (Jehol) Traveling Palace (熱河行宫), 230 km (140 mi) northeast of Beijing, where the imperial court was in summer quarters. The Draft History of Qing did not record a cause of death. Some have alleged that he died after being struck by lightning, but others prefer the theory that he died of a stroke as the emperor was quite obese. He was succeeded by his second son, the Daoguang Emperor.
Renzong was interred amidst the Western Qing Tombs, 120 km (75 mi) southwest of Beijing, in the Changling (昌陵 - meaning "Splendid tomb") mausoleum complex.
Ancestry
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