Chongzhen Emperor

Timeline

1. 1628–1630Forbidden City, Beijing · BeijingAscended the throne in the seventh year of Tianqi, era name Chongzhen, eliminated Wei Zhongxian's eunuch faction, personally handled court affairs, and recalled officials such as Yuan Chonghuan; the early reign showed signs of revitalization.
2. 1631–1640Beijing · BeijingOver these ten years he labored tirelessly, attending to myriad affairs daily; the Later Jin repeatedly breached the passes, and Chongzhen dispatched famous generals such as Hong Chengchou and Zu Dashou to defend Liaodong, while appointing Wen Tiren as chief grand secretary of the Grand Secretariat. Beset by peasant uprisings internally and Qing threats externally, the state's fortunes steadily declined.
3. 1644Coal Hill (today's Jingshan) · BeijingLi Zicheng's peasant army breached Beijing; the Chongzhen Emperor hanged himself at Coal Hill and the Ming perished. Later generations gave him the posthumous name Suzong and the temple name Yizong.