Shuo Debala

Also known as Yuan Yingzong · Ge Jianhan

Shidebala, Emperor Renzong's son by his principal empress, was born in 1303, named heir apparent in 1316, and enthroned in the third month of 1320 after his father's death, adopting the era name Zhizhi the next year. For his first two years the grand empress dowager Dagi and the overbearing chief councillor Temuder still held real power, but both died in 1322, and he then made Baiju chief councillor of the right, cut superfluous offices, introduced a scheme to share the burden of labour service, and in early 1323 promulgated the law code Da Yuan tongzhi. His inquiry into Temuder's crimes and the confiscation of his estate alarmed Temuder's adopted son Tegshi, the censor-in-chief. Returning south from Shangdu in the eighth month of 1323, the emperor camped at Nanpo, where Tegshi and his confederates broke into his tent at night and killed him and Baiju; he was twenty. He received the temple name Yingzong and the Mongol title Gegeen Khan.