Kingdom of Dongning

Timeline

1. 1651–1652Xiamen (Kinmen and Xiamen Island) · FujianWith Xiamen and Kinmen as his core bases, Zheng Chenggong trained his troops, armed them, recruited soldiers widely, and established a rigorous military and administrative system, preserving the last organized resistance force of the Southern Ming along the southeastern coast.
2. 1655Xiamen · FujianThe Yongli Emperor formally granted Zheng Chenggong the title of Prince of Yanping and bestowed an imperial sword, recognizing him as the Southern Ming's supreme military and political leader on the southeastern coast; the Zheng regime's legitimacy was formally acknowledged by the Ming court, and he commanded the various garrisons along the maritime frontier.
3. 1659Lower Yangtze to Nanjing · JiangsuZheng Chenggong led an army of over a hundred thousand, joined forces with Zhang Huangyan, and sailed up the Yangtze; he at one point captured Zhenjiang and besieged Nanjing, shaking the Qing court. However, due to underestimating the enemy and a Qing counterattack, he was forced to retreat; the northern expedition ultimately failed and became the turning point that led the regime toward Taiwan.
4. 1661–1662Taiwan (Formosa) · TaiwanZheng Chenggong led his fleet across the Taiwan Strait, landed at Lu'ermen (near modern Beimen, Tainan), and besieged Fort Zeelandia (the Dutch fortress in Taiwan). After a nine-month siege, Dutch governor Frederick Coyett surrendered in February 1662, and the Dongning regime was formally established with Chengtian Prefecture as its capital.
5. 1683Penghu waters · PenghuQing admiral Shi Lang led the fleet to a decisive victory over Zheng Keshuang's forces in the Battle of Penghu; Zheng Keshuang immediately surrendered, the Kingdom of Dongning was formally extinguished, and Taiwan was incorporated into Qing territory, established as Taiwan Prefecture under Fujian Province.