Zhu Qiyu

Also known as Ming Daizong · Jingtai Di

Zhu Qiyu, Prince of Cheng, was the second son of the Xuande emperor and a half-brother of the Zhengtong emperor Zhu Qizhen. When the Oirats captured his brother at Tumu in 1449, he was made regent and in the ninth month took the throne, honouring the captive as Retired Emperor and adopting the reign title Jingtai. As the Oirat leader Esen pressed on Beijing, he relied on the minister of war Yu Qian to hold the city and drive the attackers off. His brother came back in 1450 and was kept in the Southern Palace, and in 1452 he replaced his nephew Zhu Jianshen as heir with his own son, who died the next year. In February 1457 Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen and others restored the elder brother by a palace coup; Zhu Qiyu was demoted to prince, died within weeks and was given the damning name Li. In 1475 he was restored as Emperor Jing, and the Southern Ming later named him Daizong.