Chongzhen Emperor

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Chongzhen Emperor 崇禎帝
Emperor of the Ming dynasty
Reign	2 October 1627 – 25 April 1644
Enthronement	2 October 1627
Predecessor	Tianqi Emperor
Successor	Hongguang Emperor (Southern Ming dynasty)
Emperor of China
Reign	1627–1644
Predecessor	Tianqi Emperor
Successor	Shunzhi Emperor (Qing dynasty)
Prince of Xin
Tenure	1622–1627
Born	(1611-02-06)6 February 1611 Wanli 38, 24th day of the 12th month (萬曆三十八年十二月二十四日) Shuntian Prefecture, North Zhili, Ming dynasty
Died	25 April 1644(1644-04-25) (aged 33) Chongzhen 17, 19th day of the 3rd month (崇禎十七年三月十九日) Wansui Hill, Imperial City, Shuntian Prefecture, North Zhili, Ming dynasty (present-day Jingshan Park, Xicheng District, Beijing, China)
Burial	Siling Mausoleum, Ming tombs, Beijing
Consort	Empress Xiaojielie ​ ​ (m. 1626; died 1644)​
Issue	Zhu Cilang, Crown Prince Xianmin Zhu Cixuan, Prince Yin of Huai Zhu Cijiong, Prince Ai of Ding Zhu Cizhao, Prince Dao of Yong Zhu Cihuan, Prince Daoling Zhu Cican, Prince Daohuai Prince Daoliang Princess Kunyi Princess Changping Princess Zhaoren Fourth daughter Fifth daughter Sixth daughter
Names Zhu Youjian (朱由檢) Era name and dates Chongzhen (崇禎): 5 February 1628 – 25 April 1644 Posthumous name Emperor Zhaotian Yidao Gangming Kejian Kuiwen Fenwu Dunren Maoxiao Lie[a] (紹天繹道剛明恪儉揆文奮武敦仁懋孝烈皇帝) Emperor Qintian Shoudao Minyi Dunjian Hongwen Xiangwu Tiren Zhixiao Duan[b] (欽天守道敏毅敦儉弘文襄武體仁致孝端皇帝) Emperor Zhuanglie Min[c] (莊烈愍皇帝) Temple name Sizong[d] (思宗) (commonly known) → Yizong[e] (毅宗) → Weizong[f] (威宗) Huaizong[g] (懷宗)
House	Zhu
Dynasty	Ming
Father	Taichang Emperor
Mother	Empress Dowager Xiaochun
Signature

The Chongzhen Emperor (simplified Chinese: 崇祯帝; traditional Chinese: 崇禎帝; pinyin: Chóngzhēn Dì; 6 February 1611 – 25 April 1644), personal name Zhu Youjian (Chinese: 朱由檢; pinyin: Zhū Yóujiǎn), courtesy name Deyue (德約),^[1] was the 17th and last emperor of the Ming dynasty. He reigned from 1627 to 1644. "Chongzhen", the era name of his reign, means "honorable and auspicious."

Zhu Youjian was son of the Taichang Emperor and younger brother of the Tianqi Emperor, whom he succeeded to the throne in 1627. He battled peasant rebellions and was not able to defend the northern frontier against the Manchu. When rebels under Li Zicheng reached the capital Beijing in 1644, he committed suicide, ending the Ming dynasty. The Manchu formed the succeeding Qing dynasty.

In 1645, Zhu Yousong, who had proclaimed himself the Hongguang Emperor of the Southern Ming dynasty, gave the Chongzhen Emperor the temple name "Sizong". In historical texts, "Sizong" is the most common temple name of the Chongzhen Emperor, even though the Southern Ming rulers had changed "Sizong" to "Yizong" (毅宗) and then to "Weizong" (威宗). The Qing dynasty gave the Chongzhen Emperor the temple name "Huaizong" (懷宗), but the temple name was later revoked.

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