Hongguang Emperor
Updated: 12/10/2025, 4:35:48 PM Wikipedia source
The Hongguang Emperor (5 September 1607 – 23 May 1646), personal name Zhu Yousong, was the first emperor of the Chinese Southern Ming dynasty. He was the grandson of the Wanli Emperor through his third son Zhu Changxun, and a cousin of the Chongzhen Emperor, the last emperor of the Ming dynasty. He reigned briefly in southern China from 1644 to 1645. In 1644, rebels led by Li Zicheng captured the Ming capital of Beijing, and the Chongzhen Emperor committed suicide. Two candidates for the throne then emerged in the auxiliary southern capital of Nanjing, but Zhu Yousong's supporters ensured his appointment as the Hongguang Emperor. In May 1645, Qing dynasty forces—who had defeated the rebels and established control over northern China—attacked Yangzhou, a city north of Nanjing. The battle was followed by the Qing forces crossing the Yangtze River and capturing Nanjing. The Hongguang Emperor fled to Wuhu, Anhui, but was captured in June and taken to Beijing, where he was executed in 1646.
Infobox
Tables
| Hongguang Emperor House of ZhuBorn: 5 September 1607 Died: 23 May 1646 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
| Preceded byChongzhen Emperor (Ming dynasty) | Emperor of the Southern Ming dynasty 19 June 1644 – 15 June 1645 | Succeeded byLongwu Emperor |
| Chinese royalty | ||
| New creation | Prince of Dechang 1617–1643 | Became Prince of Fu |
| Preceded byZhu Changxun | Prince of Fu 1643–1644 | Merged into the Crown |
References
- Chinese: 弘光; pinyin: Hóngguāng
- simplified Chinese: 圣安皇帝; traditional Chinese: 聖安皇帝 (conferred by the Longwu Emperor)
- Chinese: 赧皇帝 (initially conferred by Zhu Yihai)
- Chinese: 安皇帝 (changed by Zhu Yihai)
- simplified Chinese: 奉天遵道宽和静穆修文布武温恭仁孝简皇帝; traditional Chinese: 奉天遵道寬和靜穆修文布武溫恭仁孝簡皇帝 (conferred by the Yongli Emperor)
- simplified Chinese: 质宗; traditional Chinese: 質宗; pinyin: Zhìzōng (conferred by Zhu Yihai)
- Chinese: 安宗; pinyin: Ānzōng (conferred by the Yongli Emperor)
- Chinese: 朱由崧; pinyin: Zhū Yóusōng
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- After the fall of Nanjing, she became a nun and was given the Dharma name Zhenxiu.
- After the fall of Nanjing, she drowned herself.
- After the fall of Nanjing, she became a nun.
- After the fall of Nanjing, she remarried a man surnamed Shao.
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