Accession of the Taichang/Tianqi Emperors

Timeline

1. 1620Hall of Supreme Harmony, Forbidden City · BeijingAfter the Wanli Emperor's funeral rites were completed, Crown Prince Zhu Changluo ascended the throne on the first day of the eighth month, adopting the era name Taichang, granting a general amnesty, and recalling Donglin officials; the court and the public hoped the new administration would bring clarity to governance.
2. 1620Palace of Heavenly Purity, Forbidden City · BeijingOnly twenty-nine days after ascending the throne, the Taichang Emperor died suddenly after taking a 'red pill' presented by Li Keruo, an event known in history as the 'Red Pill Case.' Though his reign was brief, it had already triggered political turmoil such as the Palace Transfer Incident, plunging the court into instability once again.
3. 1620Forbidden City · BeijingZhu Youjiao, eldest son of the Taichang Emperor, ascended the throne, adopting the era name Tianqi. The Tianqi Emperor was young, and the power of the inner-court eunuchs gradually grew; the struggle between the Donglin Party and the eunuch faction entered a new phase, profoundly changing the political landscape of the late Ming.