Zhu Youlang
| Zhu Youlang, Prince of Gui | |||||||||||||||||
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| Emperor of the Southern Ming Dynasty | |||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 18 November 1646 - April 1662 Reason for succession failure: Ming Dynasty replaced by Qing Dynasty in 1645 | ||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Shaowu Emperor | ||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Title Extinct | ||||||||||||||||
| Emperor of China | |||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 18 November 1646 - April 1662 Reason for succession failure: Qing Dynasty asserted effective control over China in 1645 | ||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Shaowu Emperor | ||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Remaining elements of Ming Dynasty dissolved | ||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Empress Xiao Gang Kuang | ||||||||||||||||
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| House | Southern Ming Dynasty | ||||||||||||||||
| Father | Zhu Changying | ||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Empress Dowager Zhaosheng | ||||||||||||||||
The Prince of Gui (桂王) or the Yongli Emperor, was an emperor of the Southern Ming Dynasty in China. His era name means "Perpetual calendar". He was the last surviving Southern Ming emperor who lived long enough to see the collapse of the last vestiges of the Ming dynasty in mainland China. Born Zhu Youlang (朱由榔) sometime in 1623, to Zhu Changying (朱常瀛), the seventh son of the Wanli Emperor. The Yongli Emperor, who is commonly known as The Prince of Gui, actually inherited this title from his brother.
At the age of 21 on 18 November 1646, the young Prince ascended the throne and assumed the reign name of Yongli. He initially established himself in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong, but as the Ming troops were unable fend off the stronger Qing troops who were continuously sending reinforcements south towards Guangzhou, the Yongli emperor had no choice but to flee in 1650 from Guangzhou towards Nanning in order to save his life. However, as Wu Sangui's troops exerted a further pressure against his at that time current location, the Prince of Gui eventually retreated to Kunming in Yunnan in 1659 and into Burma in 1661, where he was granted refuge by the Burmese King and lived at Sagaing.
The Burmese king, however, was feeling frightened that he would lose his own kingdom as well if he continued to offer the Prince of Gui further protection. Having no choice, the King let in Wu Sangui's troops and let them arrest the Prince of Gui. In the process, most of his concubines and eunuchs, along with his small army, were either killed while defending him or ran away. The Prince of Gui was finally strangled to death by Wu Sangui in April 1662. It is said that he scorned Wu Sangui in his last moments, stating that he betrayed his people and country. He prompted Wu to kill him faster by stating that he is disgusted to see a "Traitor's face." Wu Sangui was embarrassed and enraged and thus executed him personally with his bow string.