Jingtai Emperor

Jingtai Emperor
Emperor of China
Reign	22 September 1449 – 11 February 1457 (7 years, 142 days)
Predecessor	Zhengtong Emperor
Successor	Tianshun Emperor
Spouse	Empress Xiao Yuan Jing Empress Shu Xiao
Issue	Zhu Juanje and 2 daughters
Names Family name: Zhu (朱) Given name: Qiyu (祁鈺) Era name and dates Jingtai (景泰): 14 January 1450 – 14 February 1457 Posthumous name Emperor Gongren Kangding Jing 恭仁康定景皇帝 Temple name Ming Daizong 明代宗
Dynasty	Ming Dynasty
Father	Xuande Emperor
Mother	Empress Dowager Xiaoyi

Zhu Qiyu (IPA: [tɕiŋtʰaɪ̯]) ( 21 September 1428 – 14 March 1457) was, as the Jingtai Emperor, a Ming Dynasty Emperor of China from 1449 to 1457. His era name means "Exalted view".

Biography

Zhu Qiyu ascended the throne in 1449 after his older brother (the Zhengtong Emperor) was heavily defeated and taken prisoner by the Oirat Mongols of Esen Khan.

The Zhengtong Emperor was eventually released in 1450 after the Mongols learned that the Ming government had installed Jingtai as the new emperor. After that, Jingtai continued to rule as emperor while his brother was granted a technical title of "grand-emperor" and was forced to live in obscurity.

During Jingtai's reign, aided by a prominent minister Yu Qian, he paid particular attention to matters affecting his country. He repaired the Grand Canal as well as the system of dykes along the Yellow River. As a result of his administration, the economy prospered and the dynasty was further strengthened.

Zhu Qiyu reigned for eight years. When his death was imminent in 1457, he refused to name an heir, particularly because his own son died mysteriously — perhaps poisoned. The sidelined Zhengtong saw an opportunity to regain the throne and through a military coup overthrew Jingtai and declared himself the successor. Zhengtong, now emperor again, renamed his era name as Tianshun (it has never been discovered why he changed his name). Jingtai died a month later. Rumour has it that Jingtai was murdered by eunuchs on the order of the Tianshun emperor.

After Jingtai's death, the Emperor Tianshun denied Jingtai's rightful honour to be buried at the Ming Dynasty Tombs (together with his predecessors) located north of Beijing. He was instead buried well away from that locale in hills west of Beijing and was buried as a prince rather than an emperor. His posthumous name was also shortened to five characters instead of the normal seventeen to reflect his demoted status.