Tianqi Emperor

Uncommon card · No. 199791

The Tianqi Emperor (23 December 1605 – 30 September 1627), personal name Zhu Youjiao, was the 16th and penultimate emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1620 to 1627. He succeeded his father, the Taichang Emperor. Zhu Youjiao ascended the throne at the age of fifteen, following the sudden death of his father, who had ruled for only one month. The era name of his reign was Tianqi, which means "heavenly opening". Instead of taking an active role in state affairs and pursuing his father's political objectives, the Tianqi Emperor showed little interest and neglected his duties. He may have suffered from learning disabilities and was illiterate, which hindered his ability to read important documents and understand government matters. As a result, the head of the imperial eunuchs, Wei Zhongxian, took advantage of the situation and seized executive power, along with the emperor's former wet nurse, Madam Ke. While Wei placed his supporters in influential positions in the palace, Madam...

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