Zhu Gaoxu

Biography

Zhu Gaoxu was born in 1380 as the second son of Zhu Di, who was then the Prince of Yan. Zhu Di was the fourth son of the Hongwu Emperor, the founder of the Ming dynasty. In 1395, he was made the Prince of Gaoyang (). In 1399, Zhu Di rebelled against his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor, and the subsequent civil war ended in 1402 with Zhu Di's victory, after which he ascended the throne. Physically fit and energetic, but also arrogant, Zhu Gaoxu proved himself to be a capable military leader in battle.

In 1404, Zhu Gaoxu was created as the Prince of Han () and given control of Yunnan. He refused to go to the distant province, so the Emperor allowed him to stay at court. Zhu Gaoxu then successfully participated in numerous battles against the Mongols on the northern frontier, earning recognition from his father for his military achievements. He also involved himself in court politics, attempting to undermine the position of his elder brother, Zhu Gaochi (the future Hongxi Emperor), and the ministers who supported him. In 1407, he succeeded in having minister Xie Jin dismissed. In 1414, his hostility led to the imprisonment of grand secretaries Huang Huai for ten years and Yang Shiqi, who was later able to clear his name and return to office.

In 1416, Zhu Gaoxu was granted a new fief in the small county of Le'an in Qingzhou Prefecture, Shandong. He refused to leave and was reprimanded. His illegal formation of a private army and the killing of an officer resulted in his demotion to a commoner and subsequent imprisonment. After a year, he was deported to Shandong.

In May 1425, Zhu Gaoxu's elder brother died after ruling for only one year. The young son of the deceased emperor, Zhu Gaoxu's nephew, became the new emperor, known as the Xuande Emperor. Feeling neglected and wronged, Zhu Gaoxu, like his father Zhu Di, decided to claim the throne. He believed that the young emperor would not be a serious obstacle to his plans. Zhu Gaoxu began to gather an army in preparation to march to the capital and seize the throne. Unlike his father, he was in a weaker position and underestimated the determination of the government, led by an experienced official (Grand Secretary Yang Rong), and the abilities of the young emperor. In September 1426, Zhu Gaoxu openly rebelled, but the Emperor personally led 20,000 soldiers, led by General Xue Lu (1358–1430), to Le'an and defeated the rebels. Zhu Gaoxu was imprisoned, and 600 of his followers were executed, while 2,200 were exiled.

During the subsequent investigation, it was discovered that Zhu Gaosui, the third son of the Yongle Emperor, and several other princes were involved in the rebellion. In order to maintain stability in the state, they were not punished. Initially, the Emperor did not want his uncle to be killed, but when he became enraged by the captive's arrogance, he ordered for him and his sons to be executed.

Family

• Princess Consort () of the Wei clan (). She was appointed Princess Consort of Han () in 1404, and was executed along with her husband in 1426.
  • Zhu Zhanhe (), Hereditary Prince Zhuangyi (; 1398 – 26 September 1421), first son
  • Zhu Zhanqi (), Hereditary Prince (; d. 6 October 1426), second son. He was designated heir in 1421, but later demoted to commoner rank, and placed under house arrest in Fengyang in 1425. Following his father's execution in 1426, he committed suicide.
  • Zhu Zhantan (), Hereditary Prince (), third son. He was designated heir in 1424 but died before his father's execution in 1426.
• Lady of the Guo clan (), daughter of Guo Ying's () second son, Guo Ming (). Her eldest sister was Noble Consort Guo, a concubine of the Hongxi Emperor.
• Unknown
  • Zhu Zhanci (), Prince of Jiyang (), fourth son. He was enfeoffed in 1424 and was executed along with his father in 1426.
  • Zhu Zhanyu (), Prince of Linzi (), fifth son. He was enfeoffed in 1424 and was executed along with his father in 1426.
  • Zhu Zhanyi (), Prince of Zichuan (), sixth son. He was enfeoffed in 1424 and was executed along with his father in 1426.
  • Zhu Zhanxing (), Prince of Changle (), seventh son. He was enfeoffed in 1424 and was executed along with his father in 1426.
  • Zhu Zhanping (), Prince of Qidong (), eighth son. He was enfeoffed in 1424 and was executed along with his father in 1426.
  • Zhu Zhandao (), Prince of Rencheng (), ninth son. He was enfeoffed in 1424 and was executed along with his father in 1426.
  • Zhu Zhanchang (), Prince of Haifeng (), tenth son. He was enfeoffed in 1424 and was executed along with his father in 1426.
  • Zhu Zhanbang (), Prince of Xintai (), eleventh son. He was enfeoffed in 1424 and was executed along with his father in 1426.

References

Citations

Works cited