Chrysanthemum Throne: The oldest ruling dynasty in history. Chinese Ming Dynasty: founder, reign, fall
Let us also remember the most famous dynasties of the world.
1. Bourbons
One of the most ancient and numerous dynasties. The Bourbons came to the throne of France in 1589. Its most famous representatives who ruled France are Henry IV, Louis XIV, Louis XVI, Louis XVIII. At one time, the Bourbons sat on the throne not only of France, but also of Spain, Sicily and Luxembourg.2. Windsors
Until 1917, the Windsor dynasty was called Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. However, after the end of the First World War, King George V renounced the family name and German titles. Since that time, the dynasty was called Windsor, in honor of the royal castle. Formally, the Windsors still rule, since the current Queen of Great Britain, Elizabeth II, belongs to this dynasty.
3. Habsburgs
The powerful royal dynasty of Europe during the Middle Ages and the New Age. The Habsburgs ruled the Roman and Austrian empires, Hungary, Spain, Mexico, Portugal, Transylvania, Croatia and other smaller states. The name of the dynasty comes from the castle of Hamburg, which was built in 1027 in Switzerland.
4. Gediminovichi
The dynasty originates from Prince Gediminas. Representatives of this dynasty ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The legendary princes of the Gediminids - Vitovt, Sigismund, Keistut and Jagiello.
5 minutes
China was ruled by the great Ming Dynasty from 1368 to 1644. Despite the successful rule of the first two emperors, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di, who created a strong fleet and a million-strong army, over time, corruption in the state apparatus caused a power crisis, which subsequently led to China's accession to the Manchu Qing dynasty.
6. Romanovs
According to the genealogical rules, the full name of this imperial dynasty is as follows: Holstein-Gottorp-Romanovs. Representatives of this dynasty ruled the Russian Empire, Lithuania, Poland and Finland. The last tsar of the Romanov dynasty was Nicholas II, who was overthrown in 1917 by the Bolshevik revolution.
7. Rurikovich
The Rurikids ruled predominantly over Kievan Rus. Famous rulers of the Rurik dynasty - Izyaslavichi of Polotsk Turov, Monomashichi, Rostislavichi, Svyatoslavichi. The last rulers of this dynasty were Tsar Fyodor the First Ioannovich and Vasily Shuisky.
8. Stewarts
Famous representatives of the Stuart dynasty are Charles I, Charles II and Mary Stuart. This is the royal dynasty of Scotland, which eventually began to rule the whole of Great Britain. The name of the dynasty came from the title of the position "High Steward (or Steward) of the Scottish Royal Court."
9. Tudors
Recently, thanks to the Hollywood series of the same name, many fans of historical dramas have learned about this dynasty. The Tudor dynasty ruled England from 1485 to 1603. The Tudors ushered England into the Renaissance. During their reign, active colonization of America began. One of the most famous representatives of this dynasty was Henry VIII, during whose reign the English Reformation took place (breaking relations with Rome) and Elizabeth, during whose reign there was a new return to Anglicanism.
10. Genghisides
Chingizids are the direct descendants of Genghis Khan. The famous Genghis Khan had four sons: Jochi, Tolui, Ogedei and Chagatai. The eldest son acquired not more, not less - 40 sons. And one of his grandchildren had 22 sons. Currently, according to preliminary estimates, there are about 16 million descendants of Genghis Khan in the male line.
Our world is based on money, power, eternal struggle and inequality, therefore only strong and strong-willed individuals can survive in it, but for those who have wealth and titles, this path to the top becomes easier. For centuries, property and monetary savings were transferred from heir to heir, which made it possible to create entire dynasties that prosper with each new generation, steadfastly hold their positions and increase wealth.
Unfortunately, not all ruling families have become great and influential. However, this article will present the most powerful and majestic dynasties of the world, which have made a special contribution to the future of their country and their people.
Rothschild dynasty
The Rothschilds are a dynasty of German financiers and bankers that controlled all of Europe. The family was also granted nobility by the governments of England and Austria. Its founder is Mayer Amschel Rothschild, who sought to leave the business in family circles, so few people knew about the business achievements and money accumulations of the dynasty.
The founder of one of the most powerful and influential families in the history of childbirth very carefully chose future spouses for representatives of his family, so he was looking for the most suitable candidate exclusively in the circles of close relatives. The beginning of the financial empire was the opening of the N. M. Rothschild and Sons" in 1811. The institution is still active today.
The dynasty reached a special flourishing and prosperity in the period from 1825 to 1826, as it began to issue its own coins. In the 19th century, the dynasty had about 1 billion dollars. She took an active part in the financing of various projects.
Today, its representatives own three world banks, two holding companies, hundreds of beautiful gardens and parks, an insurance fund, etc. The dynasty has an incredibly large heritage, which is why it is considered the richest and most influential in the modern world.
Plantagenet dynasty
Unlike the Tudors, the Plantagenet dynasty (1126-1400) left behind a significant contribution to the development of the political and cultural system of England, which successfully function to this day. The Plantagenet family dates back to 1126. At that time it was a royal house, the founder of which was Henry II.
Between 1154 and 1485, the dynasty was led by about fifteen monarchs of this kind, which included junior government lines. During their reign, the Plantagenets were able to shape monastic English art and culture. In those years, Gothic was of particular value, with the use of which, with the support of the dynasty, the world-famous York Cathedral and Westminster Abbey were built.
The rulers also paid special attention to the social sphere, which was partially changed under them. For example, Edward III signed the so-called Magna Carta, which over time radically influenced the formation of constitutional and common law. Also existing today, the Parliament of England, the universities of Oxford and Cambridge are the "brainchildren" of the Plantagenet dynasty, which ended with Richard III in 1400.
Nehru Gandhi dynasty
The Nehru-Feroz Gandhi dynasty is exclusively political, as its representatives not only took an active part in the National Indian Congress Party, but also occupied leading positions in it. They made a significant contribution to the country, especially in the early years of its independence.
The founder of the family business was Motilal Nehru Gandhi, after whom the dynasty was continued by his direct heir, Jawaharlal Nehru Gandhi. Also, family aspirations were supported by his son Rajiv and daughter Indira, who took the positions of Indian prime ministers, but after a few years they were killed.
Rajiv left his wife Sonia, who is currently the head of the National Indian Congress, and their son, named Rahul, has been working in the country's Parliament since 2004. Without a doubt, it can be argued that this Indian dynasty is the personification of the traditions of tribal government on the territory of democratic Asian republics.
Khan dynasty
The Mongol Empire was established in the 13th century. She quickly became incredibly powerful and brought fear to literally the whole world. Its founder was Genghis Khan, who was able to unite the nearby territories. He gathered his own huge army from the tribes of nomads who lived in the Asian northeastern lands. This fearless and at the same time merciless ruler attacked cities and small settlements, appropriated other people's possessions and conquered thousands of peoples.
At a time when power was in the hands of Genghis Khan, the main part of the territory of Central Asia was under the control of the Khan dynasty. After his death in 1227, his son Ogedei took the throne, but his grandchildren and other children also received a small share. Where the great Genghis Khan is now buried is not known for certain, but there is an assumption that he rests on the territory of Mongolia. The descendants continued his work, each time replenishing the possessions of the clan with new vassal states. The reign of the Khan family ended in 1370.
Julio-Claudian dynasty
The Julio-Claudian dynasty was an amalgamation of several clans, the main of which was the Claudian family. The imperial family included such world famous Roman rulers as Augustus, Caligula, Tiberius, Claudius and Nero.
It was under their leadership that the majestic Roman Empire developed and flourished from 27 BC to 68 AD. The imperial family was ended by the last heir - Nero, who committed suicide. All these great personalities were related to each other either by adoption or by marriage alliances with representatives of these great families.
Each of these rulers made a special contribution to the expansion of the Roman borders, and also thanks to them many buildings were erected, among which the Colosseum occupied a special place, which the whole world knows about today. According to the historians of Ancient Rome in their writings, the emperors were held in high esteem by the common people, but the senators did not like them. There is also evidence that the representatives of the imperial family were not only crazy and tyrants, but also sexually perverted.
Ming dynasty
Despite the fact that the rulers of one of the greatest dynasties in the world had the surname Zhu, the founder of the Chinese empire, Zhu Yuanzhang, called his "brainchild" - Ming. The translation of this name sounds like "diamond". Its historical path began after the fall of the Mongol Yuan Empire in 1368, and existed for a relatively short time - only until 1644.
However, despite this, the short period of her reign became one of the greatest for the entire history of mankind, as she was able to influence the correct and stable development of social life not only in China, but throughout the world. The Ming Dynasty was the last in Asian lands to be ruled by ethnic Chinese.
At that time, the empire had significant privileges, which consisted in the presence of a huge army and grandiose military forces, which were created by millions of warriors. With her help, the Great Wall of China was restored and the Forbidden City was erected. At that time, such projects required huge financial investments. Also, it was during the existence of the Ming family that the formation of capitalism began.
Habsburg dynasty
The House of Habsburg was founded presumably in 930 by Guntram the Rich, who lasted until 1918. During its reign, the dynasty controlled the lands of the Holy Roman Empire, as well as the lands of the Austrian and Spanish empires. The Habsburg family had Swedish roots, however, despite this, it could be one of the most influential and powerful in Austria for 600 years.
The dynasty differed from the rest, first of all, in its ability to successfully enter into marriage alliances with other royal families, thereby increasing not only its territorial possessions, but also creating profitable alliances. For example, Maria Theresa gave ten heirs to the dynasty. And today there are descendants of the Habsburgs, but they live an ordinary life, not continuing their "blood" empire.
Ptolemaic dynasty
The Ptolemies are a Macedonian Hellenistic royal dynasty that ruled ancient Egypt from 305 BC to 30 AD. It was founded by one of the assistants of Alexander the Great - Ptolemy. It was he who in 323 BC was appointed Egyptian satrap after the death of the ruler.
In 305 BC, Ptolemy declares himself king. The dynasty ruled until 30 AD, but its end came when the Egyptian lands became the property of the Roman conquerors. The last and outstanding queen of a noble family was Cleopatra VII. She became famous for her political qualities in the fight against Pompey and Julius Caesar, as well as with Mark Antony and Octavian. However, the great ruler committed suicide when her possessions became the property of the Romans she hated.
Medici dynasty
The Medici dynasty was an oligarchic dynasty that ruled from the 13th to the 17th century in the territory of Florence. The family also included popes, French and English royal families, as well as many high-ranking personalities of Florence. The dynasty contributed to the beginning of the development and prosperity of humanism and art.
Moreover, together with influential Italian families such as the Sforza, Visconti, Mantua and Este de Ferrara, the Medici Empire initiated the Italian Renaissance. At one time, the dynasty was considered one of the richest and most powerful in European territory. Its representatives were able to gain political power not only in the lands of Florence, but also in the vastness of all of Europe.
Capetian dynasty
The Capetian dynasty was the largest and most influential royal house in Europe. It consisted of pure-blooded descendants of the French king Hugh Capet, who founded the empire in 987. Also in the ranks of its representatives were the great Duke of Luxembourg Henri and the Spanish ruler Juan Carlos. For centuries, the family took root throughout Europe and founded completely different units, ranging from estates to kingdoms.
Moreover, the dynasty became famous as the most incestuous, especially the monarchs of Spain. Many years have passed since then, but the empire has been able to survive to this day. Evidence of this fact are the Duke of Anjou and Prince Luis Alfonso de Bourbon, who rule in the territory of the Kingdom of Luxembourg and Spain.
The list below shows families that have influenced the course of human history in one way or another. Among them there are both royal dynasties and families of ordinary people who, due to certain circumstances, were among the powerful of this world ...
Ptolemaic dynasty
The Ptolemaic dynasty was a Hellenistic Macedonian royal family that ruled their empire in Egypt for nearly three centuries, from 305 B.C. e. before 30 BC. e.
Ptolemy, one of the seven men who served as generals and representatives of Alexander the Great, was appointed satrap of Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. e. And in 305 BC. e. he declared himself King Ptolemy I, who later became known as "Soter" (meaning "Saviour").
Ptolemy I Soter
Soon the Egyptians began to perceive the Ptolemies as the successors of the pharaohs of independent Egypt. This dynasty ruled Egypt until the Roman conquest in 30 BC. e.
The most famous representative of this dynasty was Cleopatra VII, who is known for the role she played in the political struggle between Gaius Julius Caesar and Pompey, and later between Octavian and Mark Antony. Her suicide after the Roman conquest of Egypt marked the end of Ptolemaic rule in Egypt.
The Julio and Claudian families
These two families are grouped together because they are the two most important families of ancient Rome, and because they eventually merged into the Julio-Claudian dynasty, from which came the most famous emperors: Caligula, Augustus, Claudius Tiberius and Nero. .
Caligula
These five emperors ruled the Roman Empire from 27 B.C. e. until 68 AD e., until the moment when the last of the dynasty, Emperor Nero, committed suicide.
The families of these five rulers were closely related. Julius Caesar is sometimes considered the founder of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, but this is a mistake, because he was not an emperor, and had no connection with the Claudians at all. So August is much more suitable for the role of the founder.
Giovanni Tiepolo "Maecenas Presents Emperor Augustus"
The reign of the emperors from the Julio-Claudian dynasty has many similar features. All of them came to power as a result of family ties. Each of them tried to expand the territory of the Roman Empire, and initiated large-scale construction projects.
Ancient historians describe the Julio-Claudian dynasty as "full of self-praise, insane, sexually perverted and tyrannical."
Plantagenet dynasty
In the competition for inclusion in this list between the Plantagenets and the Tudor dynasty, the Plantagenets won, because it was they who set the bulk of the rules for the development of English culture and the political system. And those rules are still in effect today.
During the Tudor period, the Anglican Church was formed and some believe that this was the real Golden Age, but the contribution of the Plantagenets to culture and politics was much greater. The House of Plantagenet was a royal house founded by Henry II of England, who was the son of Geoffroy V of Anjou.
Tombstones of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II
First, in the 12th century, the Plantagenets ruled the kingdom of England. From 1154 to 1485 England was ruled by 15 monarchs from this dynasty. Characteristic English culture and art appeared precisely in the era of the Plantagenets. The art was encouraged by several monarchs who were patrons of the "father of English poetry" Geoffrey Chaucer.
At that time, the Gothic architectural style also gained popularity, and buildings such as Westminster Abbey, and many others, arose. Important developments also took place in the social sector.
For example, John I signed the Magna Carta, which later influenced the development of common civil and constitutional law. Political institutions such as the Parliament of England and the Model Parliament came from the Plantagenet era, as did many institutions of learning, including Oxford and Cambridge.
Genghis Khan dynasty
Genghis Khan pictured above was the founder, khan (ruler) and khagan of the Mongol Empire, the largest empire in history. This man came to power by uniting many nomadic tribes in northeast Asia.
After the founding of the Mongol Empire and receiving the name "Genghis Khan", he began to organize invasions and raids on the Kara-Khidan Khanate, the Caucasus, Khorezm, as well as the possessions of the Western Xia and Chin dynasties.
During his lifetime, the Mongol Empire occupied a significant part of Central Asia. Before his death, Genghis Khan appointed Udegei Khan as his successor, and he divided his empire among his numerous sons and grandsons.
Genghis Khan died in 1227, after the victory over the Tanguts. The exact burial place of Genghis Khan has not yet been established. His descendants continued to expand the empire, and gradually it covered most of Eurasia.
Zhu family
"Zhu" is the surname of emperors from the Ming Dynasty. The first emperor of this dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, decided to use the name Ming as his dynastic name. Ming means "diamond".
The Ming Dynasty ruled China from 1368 to 1644 and is often referred to as "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history." It was also the last dynasty in which China was ruled by ethnic Han.
Zhu Yuanzhang
Although the Ming capital, Beijing, fell in 1644 to a rebellion led by Li Zicheng, the regimes that remained loyal to the Ming (commonly referred to as the southern Ming) managed to survive until 1662.
During the Ming Dynasty, a huge navy was built. There was also a regular army of over one million men. There were grandiose construction projects, including the restoration of the Grand Canal, the Great Wall, and the foundation of the "Forbidden City" in Beijing in the first half of the 15th century.
The Ming Dynasty is often regarded as the high point of Chinese civilization, as well as the dynasty in which early signs of capitalism appeared.
Medici dynasty
The Medici family was a powerful and influential family in Florence from the 13th to the 17th century. There were three popes in this family (Leo X, Clement VII and Leo XI), as well as numerous rulers of Florence, among whom Lorenzo the Magnificent stands out, under whose patronage some of the most famous masterpieces of the Renaissance were created.
"Portrait of Lorenzo the Magnificent Medici", 1555-1565 Agnolo di Cosimo
Later, representatives of the dynasty became members of the French and English royal families. Like other prominent families, they dominated the government of their hometown.
Therefore conditions were created in Florence in which art and humanism could flourish. They stood at the origins of the Italian Renaissance, along with other prominent families such as the Visconti and Sforza of Milan, the Este of Ferrara and the Gonzaga of Mantua.
The Medici bank was prosperous and one of the most respected in Europe. Largely thanks to him, they gained political weight, first in Florence, and later in Italy and Europe.
Habsburg dynasty
The House of Habsburg was an important royal house in Europe and is best known for its support of all formally elected Holy Roman Emperors from 1452 to 1740. Also, the Habsburgs were the rulers of Spain and the Austrian Empire.
Originating in Switzerland, this dynasty first ruled in Austria, which they ruled for more than six centuries, but a series of dynastic marriages took them to Burgundy, Spain, Bohemia, Hungary, and other countries they inherited.
This dynasty is called the Habsburgs after their place of origin. This is Habsburg Castle in the Swiss canton of Aargau. The motto of the Habsburg dynasty was: "Let others fight, but you, happy Austria, must marry."
And this motto unequivocally points to the talent of the Habsburgs to arrange everything so that members of their dynasty would marry members of other royal dynasties, enter into alliances and inherit lands.
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina
Empress Maria Theresa was a fairly prominent member of the dynasty and is sometimes referred to as the "great-grandmother of Europe".
Rothschild dynasty
The Rothschild family (often referred to simply as the Rothschilds) is an international dynasty of bankers and financiers of Jewish origin that originated in Germany.
They carried out financial transactions throughout Europe, and enjoyed the patronage of both the British and Austrian governments. The Rothschild family's path to international fame began with Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744-1812).
The strategy for his future success was to concentrate all control of the business in the hands of one family, which in turn would allow for restraint regarding the level of wealth of family members, and in relation to their achievements in business.
Mayer Rothschild successfully kept wealth in the family through carefully planned marriages between closely related family members. Nathan Mayer Rothschild started his own business in London, founding Rothschild & Sons in 1818, which continues to operate today.
Rothschild, James Mayer
In the same year, 1818, he gave a loan to the Prussian government in the amount of 5 million pounds. In the future, he repeatedly provided government loans, and this formed a solid foundation for his banking business.
Gradually, he gained such great influence in London that in 1826 he was able to provide the Bank of England with an amount that turned out to be enough to avert a liquidity crisis that was imminent in England.
Nehru Gandhi family
Nehru Gandhi is an Indian political dynasty that dominated the Indian National Congress for most of India's early history of independence.
Three members of this family (the learned husband Jawaharlal Nehru, his daughter Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi) were prime ministers of India, and two of them (Indira and Rajiv Gandhi) were subsequently killed.
The fourth member of the Family, Sonia Gandhi, is currently the President of the Congress, while her son, Rahul Gandhi, became the youngest member of the family to enter big politics. He began fighting political rivals and was elected to the lower house of the Indian Parliament in 2004.
It should be noted that the Nehru-Gandhi family has nothing to do with the Indian independence fighter Mohandas Gandhi. Nehru Gandhi is the most striking example of tradition and dynastic leadership in Asian democracies.
Capetian dynasty
The Capetians are the largest European royal house. It includes any of the direct descendants of Hugh Capet of France. King Juan Carlos of Spain and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg are members of this dynasty who are related to it through the Bourbon dynasty.
Over the past few centuries, the Capetians have spread throughout Europe, they rule the most diverse structural units of states, from small estates to kingdoms.
In addition to being the most numerous royal dynasty in Europe, they are also the most incestuous dynasty, especially the Spanish monarchy. Many years have passed since the Capetians ruled most of Europe, but today they still remain in some places.
At present, for example, two representatives of this dynasty still rule in Luxembourg and Spain. In addition, there are seven pretenders representing dynastic monarchies in Brazil, France, Spain, Portugal, Parma and the two Sicilies.
The current legal family member is Louis Alfonso, Duke of Anjou. Overall, dozens of branches of the Capetian dynasty still exist throughout Europe.
MING DYNASTY
The Ming Dynasty is one of the most famous dynasties, with the rule of which a significant period of centuries of Chinese history is associated. The hieroglyph "ming" in Chinese means "clear", "light", "reasonable". Even those who have never been interested in the history of the East know at least by hearsay about the world-famous precious vases of the Ming era. However, it is unlikely that most readers can name at least one "Ming" emperor.
The Imperial Ming Dynasty cannot boast of a celestial ancestor. Historians reliably know that its founder was a man of flesh and blood, moreover, he did not even have a noble origin. In the past, a Buddhist monk from the lower social classes, Zhu Yuanzhang, led a rebel army during a peasant uprising, the victory of which marked the beginning of a new dynasty. The Mingjiao sect that started this uprising preached the imminent coming of the restorer of justice, the Prince of Light, Ming-wang. After the capture of Beijing, the rebel leader Zhu Yuanzhang proclaimed that henceforth the Celestial Empire would be called Da Ming - the Great Empire of Light. Naturally, by this he wanted to emphasize that the emperor is the same Prince of Light, which was mentioned in the prophecies. The new dynasty was named Ming - Light.
Chinese chronicles often mention Zhu Yuanzhang as a cruel ruler, but the situation in which he had to act required the most decisive, sometimes cruel actions. In a short time, the Ming troops expelled the Mongols from the territory of China and completed the unification of the country. However, the final deliverance from the power of the Mongol feudal lords and the local rulers loyal to them from the outlying provinces occurred only almost 20 years after the founding of the Ming dynasty. In addition, there was a threat of a new invasion of the Mongol khans into the territory of China. It was restless within the Celestial Empire: in order to seize power, Zhu Yuanzhang had to overcome the resistance of rival rebel groups, among which there were many powerful feudal lords.
Zhu Yuanzhang's activities made him very popular among the low-income segments of the population. First of all, as today's political consultants would say, he successfully positioned himself. The new emperor did not hide the fact that he was "a simple man from the right bank of the Yellow River", and considered his main task to be the need to "protect the people and lead them to prosperity." The emperor often visited the villages, sometimes plowed the land himself, invited respected elders to the palace and asked them about the life of the peasants. After all, in the Middle Kingdom of the Ming era, agriculture, even if it does not seem strange, was considered the most honorable occupation. Peasants, unlike merchants, were allowed to wear silk clothes, they enjoyed universal respect.
The agrarian policy of the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty was to increase the share of peasant households and strengthen strict control over the distribution of state lands. Under him, the distribution of land to landless and land-poor peasants was carried out, the resettlement of peasants to empty lands was practiced, and the creation of military and civilian settlements guarded by the treasury. Fixed taxation was introduced with relatively low taxes, and some categories of households were sometimes exempted from taxes altogether. "The best policy is to care for the people, and care for the people is expressed in moderate taxes," said Zhu Yuanzhang. Some of the decrees of the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty may seem utopian. But they were quite in line with the spirit of the time and the culture of China: “In each yard, you need to choose old or crippled people who are not able to work and order the boys to drive them. These people should hold a wooden bell in their hands and shout out words, so that the people can hear the words they utter, convincing people to be kind and not break the laws. These words are as follows: be obedient and submissive to your father and mother, honor and respect your elders and superiors, live in peace and harmony with your fellow villagers, raise children and grandchildren, calmly go about your own business, do not commit bad deeds ... "
All these measures to a large extent contributed to the fact that the imperial power began to be treated with respect, and the state grew stronger every year. Himself a former poor man, Zhu Yuanzhang did not trust officials who came from a landowner's environment. According to historians, during the years of his reign, more than 10 thousand officials were executed for embezzlement and bribery. However, Zhu Yuanzhang cannot be considered an ideal ruler who put the needs of the people above his own. It is known that the relatives of the emperor received vast destinies in which they felt practically independent. During the life of the emperor, this served as a guarantee of their loyalty, but after his death it became the cause of unrest and a new round of struggle for power.
In 1398, after the death of the emperor, his grandson Zhu Yun-wen ascended the throne. He tried to curb the rebellious destinies and eliminate the most dangerous of them, but this policy caused a wave of resistance. The rulers of the destinies (vans) were not going to part with either wealth or power. As a result, a war broke out between the central government and the rebels, called Jingnan (1399–1402). The leader of the rebels, one of the sons of Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Di (1402–1424), became the winner in the struggle for the throne of the Celestial Empire. In different sources, there are various names of Chinese emperors, which is explained quite simply: firstly, each of them had several names, and it was forbidden to pronounce the present aloud. And after death, they received another one - a sacred name. To avoid confusion, we will refer to the new emperor of the Ming Dynasty as Chengzu. His policy was in many ways similar to the policy of his father, and its ideological justification was as follows: “Heaven appointed a sovereign to take care of the people ...” the imperial decree said. “Becoming emperor, I am thinking about bringing the people to universal joy ... If at least one person does not receive what he needs for life, then it will be my fault ...” These words sound extremely attractive, but do not forget that they writes a man who unleashed a civil war, during which the development of the country slowed down ... However, we must pay tribute to the emperor - he sought (and not without success) to rectify the situation: he banned all secondary work and even ordered to reduce the extraction of gold and silver, since "the people need not jewelry, but food".
In 1405, a huge fleet of 60 large ships with 28,000 sailors, soldiers and merchants was sent from China to India. Emperor Chengzu set before Admiral Zhang He the task of restoring trade relations with the West, bypassing the Silk Road blocked by the Mongols. For thirty years, Zhang He made seven voyages to the Indian Ocean, his ships reached Arabia and Africa. Since that time, the southern sea route has become the main road linking the West (in the Chinese sense) and the Far East.
Chengzu became famous for the arrangement of the Celestial Empire. During his reign, major irrigation and construction work was carried out. Much attention was paid to the system of state granaries established under Zhu Yuanzhang. During the great drought of 1428, the government sold rice from the granaries at low prices. The lack of food did not affect ordinary people, but this could not continue indefinitely. The growth in the number of inhabitants led to the fact that the land could no longer feed the entire population of the country. Throughout China, people were forced to wander in search of food, many became robbers ... Already under Emperor Yingzong, hunger turned into such a serious problem that it became the subject of special reports. The imperial throne was threatened by the uprisings of the starving, which acquired a threatening character. For example, the uprising in Hubei lasted three years (1464-1467), and the number of rebels reached 400,000.
To a large extent, the dominance of officials contributed to the food crisis. Although the founder of the dynasty worked hard to expel corrupt officials, the bureaucratic machine left a lot of loopholes that were used by those in power on the ground. The emperor could issue a thousand decrees prohibiting the robbery of peasants, but only a very small number of them were actually executed.
The Ming Dynasty went through the same cycle as other ruling houses before it. From the rulers, who really cared about the people and the state, power passed to weak-willed individuals who had neither the desire nor the strength to govern the state. From the time of Xianzong (1465–1487), emperors spent most of their time in harem chambers, often handing over the management of affairs to harem eunuchs. Xianzong only once received the Secretary of the State Council, and Wuzong (1506–1521), who had been on the throne for 16 years, never bothered to meet with the ministers ... Polygamy led to the fact that the imperial clan grew incredibly, the number of relatives of the emperor exceeded 20 thousand people , the number of princes and princesses numbered in the hundreds, and the number of eunuchs serving the court reached one hundred thousand. Under such conditions, of course, both state lands and the treasury were openly plundered by everyone who had access to them. A special, extremely influential group at the imperial court was made up of eunuchs, who enjoyed such power that no objectionable reports reached the emperor. They brutally took revenge on anyone who dared to criticize the corruption at court. During the reign of Emperor Shizong (1521-1566), some honest officials, when submitting reports, prepared for death in advance or committed suicide when transmitting a message, so as not to fall into the hands of those against whom they fought. The confrontation between officials with a spotless reputation and eunuchs lasted almost the entire history of the Ming Dynasty.
Thus, the end of the dynasty was a natural consequence of its existence. Some modern scholars believe that the cause of the decline was the rise that preceded it, which gave rise to serious demographic problems. During the heyday of the Ming Dynasty, manufactories that produced silk, porcelain and weapons developed, palaces, bridges, and roads were built. The state retained important positions in the economy, not only owning land and enterprises, but also having monopolies in entire industries, for example, in the development of ores. Trade was concentrated in 33 major cities, where goods were brought from all over China and from abroad. All this contributed to raising the standard of living and a sharp increase in the birth rate, which, in turn, after a while became the cause of an acute shortage of food. Emperors and officials were powerless before this problem. Revolts broke out, another contender for the role of the founder of a new dynasty appeared, promising to solve all problems ...
... In Beijing, to the north of the former imperial palaces, one can still see an artificially created mountain range. Once this place was called Meishan (Coal Mountain), because coal was poured here in case of an enemy siege. Later, a large amount of earth was transferred here, from which a mountain with five peaks was formed. Pine and cypress trees were planted on its slopes, which unusually adorned this place. From here came the new name of this place - Jingshan (Mountain of a beautiful view). The most tragic page in the history of the Ming Dynasty is connected with this man-made mountain.
The Minsk empire at the end of its existence was going through a serious political and economic crisis. High rents, unbearable taxes and all kinds of exactions led to the impoverishment and ruin of the Chinese peasants. Famine raged in the once prosperous provinces. The strife between the feudal lords, their internecine clashes even more heated the situation.
Dissatisfaction with the existing order of things grew in the country, uprisings broke out. Perhaps the Ming emperors would have been able to deal with the peasants, but they were joined by government soldiers who were excellent at handling weapons.
During a whole series of uprisings, the leader of the peasant revolution, Li Zicheng (1606–1644), came to the fore. His rebel detachment, which entered into fierce battles with the regular army, by the end of the Ming dynasty became the largest military force in China. The rebels cracked down on the governors, imperial relatives, high-ranking officials and landowners, took away their land and distributed it among the peasants. It is not surprising that Li Zicheng's army knew no shortage of volunteers who strove for universal justice and, quite naturally, to defend their own rights to land.
In the spring of 1644, Li Zicheng's army crossed the Yellow River, and then from Shanxi Province headed for the capital of the Ming Dynasty (since 1421) - Beijing. Approaching its main gate, the rebels began to shout loudly to the imperial soldiers who were on the city walls: “Open the gate, otherwise you will not expect mercy!” Having received no answer, the rebels brought up the stairs and decided to storm the city gates. Their efforts were crowned with success: they soon found themselves in the Outer City.
This news reached the emperor, who bore the name Sizong (Zhu Yujian). He did not expect the sudden invasion of Beijing by the rebel peasants, so he hastily gathered his entourage and asked if they knew that the rebels had already captured the Outer City. Officials and courtiers did not know what to answer to this. Then the emperor asked what plan the dignitaries were offering to protect the city from the rebels, and one of them confidently declared: “Do not worry, Your Majesty. We will fight even in the streets and will never betray our homeland.” Meanwhile, the rebellious peasants, crushing the barriers of the imperial troops, were irresistibly approaching the Forbidden City.
That night, the emperor could not sleep: he did not leave anxiety for his life. In the morning, a eunuch came to him and brought terrible news: the rebels had penetrated into the Inner City. The imperial troops fled, and the courtiers advised the emperor to follow suit. However, Sizong, brought up on examples from the life of great predecessors, had a different opinion, considering flight unworthy of the ruler.
That morning, for the first time in the history of the dynasty, ministers and courtiers did not appear at the sound of the bell, which meant the beginning of an audience with the emperor. Then he took off all the decorations and rich imperial robes, put on a simple yellow robe and, accompanied by the devoted eunuch Wang Cheng'en, left the palace, heading to Mount Jingshan, where he began to observe what was happening from the highest place. Beijing made a terrible impression on the emperor: fires blazed everywhere, scattered imperial troops retreated and fled in disarray, the rebels captured more and more quarters ...
Perhaps it was then that Sizong realized that the era of the Ming dynasty was gone. Returning to the palace, the emperor drank several cups of wine and ordered his family and beloved concubines to be called. The situation seemed hopeless: any minute the rebels could break into the palace and take the emperor and his family prisoner. Sizong had no illusions about how the rebels would deal with him and his loved ones, so he decided not to wait for death, but to die voluntarily. The emperor ordered his three sons to flee. Then, turning to the Empress, he quietly said: "It's all over." His wife said goodbye to Sizong and her sons and was the first to die by hanging herself on her own belt. Sizong knew that there was very little time left. He needed all the courage to do what he was going to ... The Emperor sent for his fifteen-year-old daughter. Turning to her, her father said: "Why were you born in such an unfortunate father's house?" The girl trembled with fear, knowing full well what awaited her. Covering his eyes with the sleeve of his robe, Sizong struck his daughter with a sword, but, as it turned out, not fatal. The girl fell and slowly died from blood loss. The emperor was no longer able to strike a second blow. Fate played a cruel joke on him, forcing him to kill those he loved with his own hands. Concubine Yuan also had to take her own life. She decided to hang herself, but could not do it: the fear of death fettered her will. The emperor raised his sword again... Now he was left alone.
Horrified by what he had done and the chaos that had engulfed Beijing, the emperor went to the Anding gate, through which his three sons had left the Forbidden City. Perhaps he still hoped to be saved. But the gates were littered with stones and earth, and it was not possible to open them.
Xizong, the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty, also known as Zhu Youjian, realized that it was his turn. Leaving the palace, he went to the foot of Mount Jingshan, made a loop from his belt and hung himself on a crooked ash trunk. The same was done by the eunuch Wang Cheng'en, who remained faithful to his master until the last minute of his life. This happened on the morning of April 26 (March 19 according to the lunar calendar), 1644.
Subsequently, many beautiful legends arose about the death of the emperor. One of them says that a piece of silk was sewn to the emperor's robe, on which his dying penance is inscribed: “Seventeen years have passed since I ascended the throne, and now the rebels have invaded my capital. Since my virtues are insignificant and I myself was a worthless person, I incurred the wrath of Heaven. Besides, I was deceived by my associates. And now, after my earthly life, I, ashamed, go to my ancestors in the world of shadows. Take my crown, wrap my hair around my face, cut my body into pieces if you wish, but do no harm to the people. Let my subjects unite again around the heir."
The message addressed to the rebel leader Li Zicheng was allegedly written in the same style. It said that unscrupulous officials are to blame for all the disasters in China. The emperor allegedly turned to the leader of the rebels with the words: “The people do not deserve punishment, because they are not guilty of anything, and mistreatment of them would be a complete injustice. I have lost the state, the legacy of my ancestors. With me ends the imperial family, which was continued by so many ancestors-emperors before me. I want to close my eyes so as not to see a ruined empire or a country ruled by a tyrant. I renounce life because I do not want to be indebted to the last and most contemptible of my subjects. I can no longer show my face to those who, being my children and my subjects, are now my enemies and traitors.
The life of the emperor was interrupted at the age of 36. His death caused a wide response in the hearts of people who still kept loyalty to him. And since at that time one of the manifestations of devotion to the ruler was considered the suicide of the head of the family along with all relatives, then, according to Chinese sources, about 80 thousand people committed suicide with the death of Sizong.
A few hours after the emperor's suicide, Li Zicheng's troops occupied Beijing. The body of the ruler of the Celestial Empire was taken down from a tree and placed in a coffin for the poor, a stone was slipped under his head, and a simple mat was covered on top of the emperor - this is how the rebels expressed their hatred for the tyrant. The death of Sizong ended the Ming Dynasty of China.
The rebels did not long rejoice at their victory. Manchu troops invaded China. Li Zicheng was forced to leave the capital, where he stayed for about 40 days. In 1645, he died a heroic death in battle with enemies.
The rulers of the Manchu dynasty who conquered China worshiped the spirit of the last Chinese emperor. The crooked ash tree on which he hanged himself was carefully guarded as a historical relic. The trunk of the tree was chained with an iron chain - this is how the ash tree was "punished" for the death of the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
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In 1368, the Yuan dynasty in China was succeeded by the Ming dynasty, whose sixteen emperors ruled the Celestial Empire for the next 276 years. The Ming Empire gained power as a result of a popular uprising and was overthrown by Li Zicheng's army and the Manchus in 1644 during the Peasants' War. Today we will get acquainted with the history of the Ming dynasty: its emperors, as well as the prerequisites for the foundation and fall.
Zhu Yuanzhang
The founder of the Ming Dynasty, under whose leadership the Yuan Dynasty was overthrown, was called Zhu Yuanzhan. He came from a poor peasant family who made a living by washing the golden sand and farming. Zhu Yuanzhang was forty years old when the Mongol Yuan dynasty fell as a result of the Red Turban Rebellion. Having overthrown the former power, he became emperor and called the throne name Tai Zu. The new emperor made the city of Nanjing the capital of China, along the perimeter of which he ordered the construction of a thirty-mile wall.
The thirty-year reign of the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China was remembered for the most severe repression: any offense, even the most insignificant, was punishable by death. Not forgetting his origin, Tai Zu did his best to protect the peasants, and he severely punished officials who, taking advantage of their position, oppressed the common people, starting with branding and ending with hard labor and execution.
Despite the cruel manner of the emperor's rule, it was quite calm inside the state, and the economy was developing rapidly. The Ming Dynasty strengthened its position in Manchuria, liberated the provinces of Sichut and Yuan from the Mongols, and even burned Karakorum. There were also serious problems, one of them was the raids of pirates from Japan.
Zhu Di
In 1398, the first emperor and founder of the Ming Dynasty died. Power passed into the hands of the rightful heir to the throne, the gentle and educated Jian Wen. In 1402, he fell at the hands of the arrogant and power-hungry prince Zhu Di, the middle son of the first emperor Ming. The following year, the prince proclaimed himself the new emperor and ordered scholars to rewrite Chinese history to prove his legitimacy. Despite the usurpation of the throne and the harsh manner of government, especially in the initial stages, historians consider Zhu Di to be a magnificent ruler.
To calm the protest mood of the population and avoid riots, the emperor encouraged the holding of Buddhist holidays and rituals, adhered to Confucian norms and revised the administrative structure of the empire. He paid special attention to the fight against corruption and secret societies. Thanks to the restoration of the examination system, a new generation of officials and officers entered the government.
In addition, Zhu Di worked to restore the economy. With his filing, the lands of the Yangtze Delta were developed, the production of fabrics and products was increased, the riverbeds were cleared, the Great Chinese Canal was rebuilt and expanded.
In terms of foreign policy, the emperor's reign was more successful at sea than on land. At the shipyards of the city of Nanjing, huge ocean-going ships were built - nine-masted junks, the length of which was 133 and a width of 20 meters. The Chinese fleet included about three hundred such ships. Under the leadership of Admiral Zheng He (one of the court eunuchs), the fleet made trips to Ceylon, India, Southeast Asia and even the Persian Gulf. As a result of these campaigns, many foreign rulers were captured, for whom the Minsk state received a considerable tribute. Through sea expeditions, the Ming Dynasty greatly expanded its influence. It is worth noting that they are considered the greatest marine explorations in the history of mankind, ahead of the era of European geographical discoveries by several decades.
It was during the reign of Zhu Di that the capital of the state was moved to Beijing, where the construction of the Forbidden City began, which was fully completed only in 1420. By the will of fate, the emperor did not enjoy the new palace for long: in 1424, returning from a campaign against Mongolia, he died.
Xuan Zong
After Zhu Di's death, the throne passed to his eldest son, who died less than a year later due to a heart attack. Then the power fell into the hands of Zhu Di's grandson, whose name was Xuan Zong. Peace and tranquility returned to the country, as well as to the border of the state. Diplomatic relations with Korea and Japan gradually improved. When Emperor Xuan Zong died in 1435, Chinese historians called him the model of a Confucian monarch, inclined towards benevolent rule and versed in the arts.
Ying Zong
After the death of Xuan Zong, the throne passed to one of his sons, 6-year-old Ying Zong. Since the new emperor was very young, the power was in the regency council, which included three eunuchs. Chief among them was Wang Jin. The situation in the state began to deteriorate: floods, droughts, epidemics and the hardest work that again fell upon the peasants ... Ordinary people, forced to participate in exhausting large-scale construction, rebelled against the authorities. Several of these uprisings were extremely difficult to suppress.
At the same time, Mongolian troops began to approach from the northern side of the state. Under the leadership of Wang Jin, who did not understand anything in military affairs, the emperor gathered a 500,000-strong army and moved towards the enemy. The Mongols completely defeated the Chinese army and took the 22-year-old emperor prisoner. This military defeat was one of the greatest in Chinese history.
When Ying Zong was captured, the throne passed to his half-brother, who took the name Jing Zong. He managed to repel the attack of the Mongols, defend Beijing, reform the army and carry out large-scale work to restore the state. Somewhat later, Ying Zong was released from captivity, and as a result of a palace coup, he again became the emperor of China. Soon his half-brother died - according to some sources, he was strangled by one of the court eunuchs.
Xian Zong
When Ying Zong died, the throne went to his son Xian Zong (Zhu Jiangshen). During his reign, the Great Wall of China was reconstructed and completely completed. According to some estimates of historians, the construction of this greatest fortification cost the lives of 8 million people. Another notable event during the reign of Xian Zong was the 10-year war between China and Mongolia, as a result of which the situation with raids was stabilized.
In addition to the official childless wife, the emperor had an older wife - his former nanny named Wen. Weng was twice as old as Xian Zong. When her only child died, she was ready to go to any lengths so that the emperor would not have children from other concubines. In this pursuit, Wen was even ready to commit murder. Once, she nevertheless miscalculated: as a result of an accidental relationship between Xian Zong and a girl from the Yao tribe, a boy was born, whose appearance was hidden from Weng. The emperor saw his son when he was already five years old. It was this boy who became the next emperor, taking the throne name Xiao Zong.
Xiao Zong
With the advent of a new ruler, as usual, followed by exile and execution. The emperor got rid of officials who had received their positions dishonestly, greedy eunuchs, dishonest ministers of the church and depraved favorites of the previous imperial couple.
Xiao Zong strictly professed Confucian principles: he took care of the well-being of the peasants, performed all the rituals, trusted high positions only to Confucians, and was faithful to his only wife, Lady Chan. This woman was the emperor's only weakness, which ultimately played a cruel joke on him - she caused significant damage to the treasury. The wife of the emperor was extremely wasteful and awarded titles and lands to all her relatives and friends.
The number of eunuchs at court gradually increased. As a result, there were more than 10 thousand people. This huge apparatus began to work in parallel with the civil administration, competing with it for positions and the level of influence on the emperor. The situation deteriorated rapidly, especially when Emperor Xiao Zong passed away, and his 13-year-old son named Wu Zong took his place.
Wu Zong
The new emperor did not inherit the positive qualities of his father: he not only preferred the company of eunuchs to the company of his lawful wife, but also became an inveterate alcoholic who terrified and panicked the entire state. In some sources, there is information that Wu Zong, while traveling around the country, liked to kidnap women from houses, and this was just one of his amusements. In the end, in 1522, the 21-year-old emperor died, leaving no positive memories and no heir.
Shi Zong
After another palace intrigue, the rule of the Ming dynasty went to the 15-year-old Shi Zong, the emperor's cousin. The new ruler was distinguished by a sharp temper and vindictiveness. Everyone was afraid of him, even the concubines. Once, several of them decided to kill the emperor, but the attempt was unsuccessful - Shi Zong was saved, and the girls were painfully executed.
The emperors of the Ming Dynasty differed radically in their style of government. Shi Zong was on the throne for 44 years, but there were no outstanding achievements during this long period. He preferred to lead a reclusive life without leaving the Palace of Eternal Life, located in the west of the Forbidden City. Fearing spies and dangerous contacts with representatives of other countries, the emperor pursued an isolation policy. Therefore, trade was banned in the country, which could significantly improve its economic situation. As a result, the east coast of China suffered from pirate raids from Japan and lived only on smuggling.
Gradually, Shi Zong began to move away from business and devote more and more time to divination and the search for the elixir of immortality. One of the chief Taoist advisers to the emperor prescribed him a medicine that included red lead and white arsenic. Because of these pills, the health of the emperor was greatly undermined. In 1597, being very weak, Shi Zong died in the Forbidden City.
Shen Zong
The eldest son of Emperor Long-qing became the heir to the throne, but he stayed on the throne for only five years, interfering in the government of the country in a minimal way. In 1573, the throne went to the son of Long-qing, whose name was Shen Zong. He was distinguished by a reasonable and sober approach to state activity. Nevertheless, every year the emperor's interest in politics faded, and his contradictions with the bureaucracy grew. According to historians, in the second half of his reign, Shen Zong simply began to ignore the officials who gathered in crowds near the Forbidden City and, on their knees, shouted the name of the emperor in order to attract his attention.
Around that time, it became clear that the years of the Ming Dynasty were numbered. Poorly coordinated government work was not the only problem in China at that time - the threat from the West was becoming more and more serious. In 1578, having received permission from China to purchase goods in Canton, the Portuguese began to trade in Macau. Gradually, they completely settled in the city, which attracted the attention of the Spaniards to Asia, who sent an expedition to colonize Manila, where the Chinese dominated. In 1603, a conflict broke out in the Philippines, as a result of which the Chinese were expelled from the archipelago.
In addition to the Philippine confrontation, which took the lives of 20 thousand people, internal conflicts periodically arose in the country, in particular, between the government and the unconquered Miao tribe, as well as between the Chinese and the Japanese who invaded Korean lands. However, the decisive event in the fate of the Celestial Empire was the campaign against the Jurchens - a tribal union between the Mongols and the Tungus, which arose in the 12th century and was forced out to the northeastern lands. When the Jurchens mixed with Korean migrants and representatives of some other neighboring peoples, they became known as the Manchus.
At the end of the 16th century, the 24-year-old Manchu leader Nurkhatsi united the Manchu aimags into a single empire and proclaimed himself emperor. To save his people from vassalage, he undertook a series of military campaigns against China. All of them ended well for Nurhatsi and disastrously for the Ming Empire: the economic crisis in the country worsened, which led to higher taxes and popular discontent. In addition, military failures had a bad effect on the well-being of the emperor. Shen Zong died in 1620.
After the death of the emperor, the country's situation began to deteriorate sharply. The fall of the Ming Dynasty was only a matter of time. At that time, the population of China already exceeded 150 million people. Due to inflation, congestion in cities, the gap between the rich and the poor, piracy and natural disasters, people organized uprisings. The economic crisis hit the peasants' lives especially hard: severe winters raged in northern China for several years, resulting in a severe famine, during which even cases of cannibalism were recorded. Many families had to sell their children into slavery. The youth took on any job. Part of her poured into large cities, and part went on an immoral path: the guys became robbers, and the girls became servants or prostitutes.
In addition to internal rebellions, a serious external threat loomed over China: starting in 1642, the Manchus resumed raids, eventually capturing 94 cities. The Manchus and rebels besieged the imperial court from all sides. In 1644, the rebel peasants, led by Li Zicheng, approached Beijing. The last emperor of the Ming Dynasty - Chongzhen - did not run away and hanged himself right in the palace in order, according to beliefs, to ascend to heaven on a dragon. After 20 years, the Manchus executed the Ming prince Yun-li, who had fled to Burma. Thus came the end of the Ming Dynasty.
Conclusion
Today we have considered such a significant period in Chinese history as the reign of the Ming Dynasty. Tourists coming to China are offered to get to know this period even closer: the tombs of the Ming Dynasty, the city wall park and other attractions are waiting for everyone. Well, for those who want to learn more about the spirit of the Ming Empire without leaving their homes, there are several feature films about this era. "The Founding Emperor of the Ming Dynasty" (2007), "The Daredevil of the Ming Dynasty" (2016), "The Fall of the Ming Dynasty" (2013) are the main ones.
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