Difference between revisions of "Jiaqing Emperor"

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== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
Yongyan, the 15th son of the Qialong Emperor, was the reigning Emperor at the time when [[Laurence]] and [[Temeraire]] traveled to China. On his accession to the throne, he chose "Jiaqing" as the era name for his reign.
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Yongyan, the 15th son of the Qialong Emperor, was the reigning Emperor in 1806, when the [[Chinese Embassy]] to England brought back [[Temeraire]] with [[William Laurence]] and his crew of aviators.
  
[[Prince Mianning]] and [[Prince Miankai]] were two of his sons.  
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On his accession to the throne, he had chosen "Jiaqing" as the era name for his reign, thus the title "Jiaqing Emperor". He was companion to a male [[Celestial]] dragon (possibly [[Lung Tien Ming]] or [[Lung Tien Zhi]]).  
  
== Deviations from history==
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The Emperor's brother, [[Prince Yongxing]], had lost his own chance for the throne by accepting the albino [[Lung Tien Lien]] for a companion, despite her inauspicious "mourning colors".  
In Temeraire's world, the Jiaqing Emperor was the companion to a male [[Celestial]] dragon (Either [[Lung Tien Ming]] or [[Lung Tien Zhi]]).  
 
  
The Emperor's (fictional) brother, [[Prince Yongxing]], was said to have lost his own chance to become Emperor by accepting the albino [[Lung Tien Lien]] for a companion, despite her inauspicious "mourning colors". It is unclear whether any conclusions can be drawn from this about the two brothers' relative birth orders, as age was not always a factor as to which of an Emperor's sons would become the next ruler of China; the Emperor would choose his successor, and usually leave a note to be opened upon his death detailing who would succeed him.  
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==The imperial succession and Celestial dragons==
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[[Prince Mianning]], the eldest of the Jiaqing Emperor's three sons, was approximately twenty years old. He was widely known as the Crown Prince and the heir apparent to the throne. His companion Celestial, [[Lung Tien Chuan]], was Temeraire's twin brother.
  
It should be noted, however, that the Jiaqing Emperor's eldest son Mianning was companion to a Celestial ([[Lung Tien Chuan]]) and heir to the throne by 1806, when historically the Jiaqing Emperor had not made his choice by this time. Presumably, when the youngest Celestial chooses a companion for itself, its consort becomes the next Emperor, with the exception of Lung Tien Lien, who was considered cursed.
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One of the younger sons, [[Prince Miankai]], was about ten years old and had no Celestial companion. Nothing was revealed about the third son beyond his mere existence; his name, relative age, and dragon companionship status are unknown. If the Emperor had any daughters, nothing was said of them.
  
Of the Emperor's three birth sons, only the eldest, Prince Miankai, is known to have had a Celestial companion as well. The much younger Prince Mianning did not have a Celestial. The third son's placement and companionship status were not stated; if the Emperor also had any daughters, nothing was said of them.
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In order to technically satisfy the tradition that members of the Imperial family were the only worthy companions for Celestial dragons, the Emperor agreed to adopt William Laurence as a fourth son, since Temeraire refused to part with him. Since Laurence soon left China, this had no effect on the internal succession and little effect outside its borders until 1810, when Laurence's nominal status became very useful at the Chinese/[[Larrakia]] trading post on the northern coast of Australia.
  
In order to technically satisfy the tradition that members of the Imperial family were the only worthy companions for Celestial dragons, the Emperor agreed to adopt William Laurence as a fourth son, since Temeraire refused to part with him. Since Laurence soon left China, this had little effect outside its borders until 1810, on reaching the Chinese/[[Larrakia]] trading post on the northern coast of Australia.
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==Deviations from history==
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Historically, the imperial succession was not determined by birth order. Each Emperor usually left a decree to be opened upon his death, naming his successor. By 1806, the Jiaqing Emperor made no public declaration of his heir.
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It is possible that in Temeraire's world, the imperial succession was determined by the Celestial dragons' choice of companions. Prince Yongxing's planned coup was partially based on convincing Temeraire to abandon Laurence and accept Prince Miankai, in whose name Yongxing hoped to rule as imperial regent during the boy's minority.
  
 
[[Category:A-Z]]
 
[[Category:A-Z]]

Revision as of 01:49, 9 September 2010

Emperor Jiaqing

Character Profile

Name: Yongyan (regnal title: Jiaqing Emperor)
Date of Birth: 13 November 1760
Service:
Rank: Emperor
Nationality: Chinese
Billets:


Biography

Yongyan, the 15th son of the Qialong Emperor, was the reigning Emperor in 1806, when the Chinese Embassy to England brought back Temeraire with William Laurence and his crew of aviators.

On his accession to the throne, he had chosen "Jiaqing" as the era name for his reign, thus the title "Jiaqing Emperor". He was companion to a male Celestial dragon (possibly Lung Tien Ming or Lung Tien Zhi).

The Emperor's brother, Prince Yongxing, had lost his own chance for the throne by accepting the albino Lung Tien Lien for a companion, despite her inauspicious "mourning colors".

The imperial succession and Celestial dragons

Prince Mianning, the eldest of the Jiaqing Emperor's three sons, was approximately twenty years old. He was widely known as the Crown Prince and the heir apparent to the throne. His companion Celestial, Lung Tien Chuan, was Temeraire's twin brother.

One of the younger sons, Prince Miankai, was about ten years old and had no Celestial companion. Nothing was revealed about the third son beyond his mere existence; his name, relative age, and dragon companionship status are unknown. If the Emperor had any daughters, nothing was said of them.

In order to technically satisfy the tradition that members of the Imperial family were the only worthy companions for Celestial dragons, the Emperor agreed to adopt William Laurence as a fourth son, since Temeraire refused to part with him. Since Laurence soon left China, this had no effect on the internal succession and little effect outside its borders until 1810, when Laurence's nominal status became very useful at the Chinese/Larrakia trading post on the northern coast of Australia.

Deviations from history

Historically, the imperial succession was not determined by birth order. Each Emperor usually left a decree to be opened upon his death, naming his successor. By 1806, the Jiaqing Emperor made no public declaration of his heir.

It is possible that in Temeraire's world, the imperial succession was determined by the Celestial dragons' choice of companions. Prince Yongxing's planned coup was partially based on convincing Temeraire to abandon Laurence and accept Prince Miankai, in whose name Yongxing hoped to rule as imperial regent during the boy's minority.