Difference between revisions of "Jiaqing Emperor"
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== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
| − | + | The '''Jiaqing Emperor''' was the ruler of China in 1806, when the [[Chinese Embassy]] to England brought back [[Temeraire]] with [[William Laurence]] and his crew of aviators. The emperor's companion dragon was a male [[Celestial]] (possibly [[Lung Tien Ming]] or [[Lung Tien Zhi]]). | |
| − | + | ("Jiaqing" was his regnal title, not his personal name; for more information, see the [[#Historical Context]] section below.) | |
==The imperial succession and Celestial dragons== | ==The imperial succession and Celestial dragons== | ||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
To satisfy the tradition that members of the Imperial family were the only worthy companions for Celestial dragons, the Emperor technically adopted William Laurence as a fourth son. 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. | To satisfy the tradition that members of the Imperial family were the only worthy companions for Celestial dragons, the Emperor technically adopted William Laurence as a fourth son. 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. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Historical context== |
| − | Historically, as in the series, the imperial succession was not | + | The Jiaqing Emperor's personal name was Yongyan. Before ascending to the throne, he had the title Prince Jia. On his accession, he chose "Jiaqing" as the era name for his reign, thus the title "Jiaqing Emperor". |
| + | |||
| + | He was the fifteenth son of his predecessor, the Qianlong Emperor (born 1711; reigned 1735-1795; died 1799). [[Prince Yongxing|Yongxing (Prince Cheng)]] was his older brother, as the Qianlong Emperor's eleventh son. Historically, as in the series, the imperial succession was not determined by birth order; emperors usually chose their own successors and announced them by imperial decree. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Jiaqing era began in 1795, when the Qianlong Emperor abdicated to respectfully avoid lengthening his reign past that of his grandfather, the Kangxi Emperor. However, despite the nominal accession of the Jiaqing Emperor, the Qianlong Emperor retained ultimate authority until dying in 1799. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Mianning]] (later the Daoquang Emperor; born 1782) was the Jiaqing Emperor's second-born but eldest surviving son; the first-born son, Mianmu, had died in infancy. Both of these sons and at least one daughter were born to the Jiaqing Emperor's first wife, Lady Hitara (Empress Shu Rui; born 1747, married 1774, died 1797). | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Jiaqing Emperor's second empress was Lady Niuhuru (Empress He Rui; born 1776, declared Empress 1801, died 1850). She gave birth to Miankai (Prince Dun; 1794-1839), Mianxin (Prince Rui; 1804-1828), and at least one daughter. Prince Mianxin was probably the unnamed third son referred to in ''Throne of Jade'', and would have been an infant at the time. | ||
| − | Prince | + | The Jiaqing Emperor's last son was Mianyu (Prince Hui; 1814-1865), whose mother may have held the rank of Imperial Noble Consort instead of being elevated to Empress. |
| − | + | ==Deviations from history== | |
| + | By 1806, the Jiaqing Emperor had made no public declaration of his heir; in fact, he died in 1820 without leaving a succession decree. Empress He Rui used her authority as Dowager Empress to declare her eldest stepson as her late husband's successor (now known as the Daoguang Emperor), bypassing her own two sons. | ||
[[Category:A-Z]] | [[Category:A-Z]] | ||
Revision as of 18:33, 10 September 2010
Contents
Character Profile
| Name: | Yongyan (regnal title: Jiaqing Emperor) |
| Date of Birth: | 13 November 1760 |
| Service: | |
| Rank: | Emperor |
| Nationality: | Chinese |
| Billets: |
Biography
The Jiaqing Emperor was the ruler of China in 1806, when the Chinese Embassy to England brought back Temeraire with William Laurence and his crew of aviators. The emperor's companion dragon was a male Celestial (possibly Lung Tien Ming or Lung Tien Zhi).
("Jiaqing" was his regnal title, not his personal name; for more information, see the #Historical Context section below.)
The imperial succession and Celestial dragons
The imperial succession appeared to be significantly based on finding a suitable match between a Celestial dragon and a potential heir. It was not strictly based on birth order; the Emperor's older brother, Prince Yongxing, lost his own chance for the throne by accepting the albino Lung Tien Lien for a companion, due to her inauspicious "mourning colors". (None of their other siblings have been mentioned in the series so far.)
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 Celestial companion, Lung Tien Chuan, was Temeraire's twin brother.
One of the younger sons, Prince Miankai, was about ten years old and had no dragon companion. 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.
Nothing was said of the third son beyond his mere existence, nor anything of the Emperor's consorts or possible daughters.
To satisfy the tradition that members of the Imperial family were the only worthy companions for Celestial dragons, the Emperor technically adopted William Laurence as a fourth son. 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.
Historical context
The Jiaqing Emperor's personal name was Yongyan. Before ascending to the throne, he had the title Prince Jia. On his accession, he chose "Jiaqing" as the era name for his reign, thus the title "Jiaqing Emperor".
He was the fifteenth son of his predecessor, the Qianlong Emperor (born 1711; reigned 1735-1795; died 1799). Yongxing (Prince Cheng) was his older brother, as the Qianlong Emperor's eleventh son. Historically, as in the series, the imperial succession was not determined by birth order; emperors usually chose their own successors and announced them by imperial decree.
The Jiaqing era began in 1795, when the Qianlong Emperor abdicated to respectfully avoid lengthening his reign past that of his grandfather, the Kangxi Emperor. However, despite the nominal accession of the Jiaqing Emperor, the Qianlong Emperor retained ultimate authority until dying in 1799.
Mianning (later the Daoquang Emperor; born 1782) was the Jiaqing Emperor's second-born but eldest surviving son; the first-born son, Mianmu, had died in infancy. Both of these sons and at least one daughter were born to the Jiaqing Emperor's first wife, Lady Hitara (Empress Shu Rui; born 1747, married 1774, died 1797).
The Jiaqing Emperor's second empress was Lady Niuhuru (Empress He Rui; born 1776, declared Empress 1801, died 1850). She gave birth to Miankai (Prince Dun; 1794-1839), Mianxin (Prince Rui; 1804-1828), and at least one daughter. Prince Mianxin was probably the unnamed third son referred to in Throne of Jade, and would have been an infant at the time.
The Jiaqing Emperor's last son was Mianyu (Prince Hui; 1814-1865), whose mother may have held the rank of Imperial Noble Consort instead of being elevated to Empress.
Deviations from history
By 1806, the Jiaqing Emperor had made no public declaration of his heir; in fact, he died in 1820 without leaving a succession decree. Empress He Rui used her authority as Dowager Empress to declare her eldest stepson as her late husband's successor (now known as the Daoguang Emperor), bypassing her own two sons.
