Zhengtong Emperor
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| Zhengtong Emperor | |
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| Family name: | Zhu (朱) |
| Given name: | Qizhen (祁鎮)</small> |
| Emperor of China (1st time) | |
| Dates of reign: | Feb. 7, 1435–Sept. 1, 1449¹ |
| Era name: | Zhengtong (正統) |
| Era dates | Jan. 18, 1436–Jan. 13, 1450 |
| Emperor of China (2nd time) | |
| Dates of reign: | Feb. 11, 1457–Feb. 23, 1464 |
| Era name: | Tianshun (天順) |
| Era dates | Feb. 15, 1457–Jan. 26, 1465 |
| Temple name: | Yingzong (英宗) |
| Posthumous name: (short) | Emperor Rui (睿皇帝) |
| Posthumous name: (full) | Emperor Fatian Lidao Renming Chengjing Zhaowen Xianwu Zhide Guangxiao Rui 法天立道仁明誠敬昭文憲武至德 廣孝睿皇帝 |
| General note: Dates given here are in the Julian calendar. They are not in the proleptic Gregorian calendar. | |
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| 1. Captured by the Mongols, he was succeeded by his brother Jingtai who conferred on him the title Taishang Huang (太上皇), a title reserved for the retired emperors and which he held until 1457. | |
Zhu Qizhen (November 29, 1427–February 23, 1464) was an emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor from 1435 to 1449，and as the Tianshun Emperor from 1457 to 1464.
Zhu Qizhen was the son of the Xuande Emperor Zhu Zhanji and his Empress Sun. He became emperor at the age of eight. At the age of 22 he was imprisoned by the Mongols when he personally directed and lost a battle against the Mongols under Esen Khan. Although he was a prisoner of the Mongols, he became a good friend to the khan. Meanwhile, his brother Zhu Qiyu was installed as the Jingtai Emperor. This reduced Zhengtong's imperial status.
The Zhengtong Emperor was released one year later but when he returned to China, he was put under house arrest by his brother for six years. After the death of his heir apparent, the Jingtai Emperor fell ill and he was deposed by a palace coup which eventually reinstalled Zhu Qizhen as emperor, who called his second reign Tianshun ("heavenly obedience").
He is buried in the Yuling (裕陵) tomb of the Ming Dynasty Tombs.
Note: Tianshun (天順) was also the name of a Yuan Dynasty reign.
| Preceded by: Xuande Emperor | Emperor of China (Ming Dynasty) 1435–1449 | Succeeded by: Jingtai Emperor |
| Preceded by: Jingtai Emperor | Emperor of China as Tianshun Emperor (Ming Dynasty) 1457–1464 | Succeeded by: Chenghua Emperor |