Tongzhi Emperor

Also known as Tongzhi Di · Qing Muzong · Ai Xin Jue Luo · Zai Chun

Zaichun, the Tongzhi Emperor, was the only surviving son of the Xianfeng Emperor; his mother, Noble Consort Yi of the Yehe Nara clan, became the Empress Dowager Cixi. When Xianfeng died at Rehe in 1861 the boy succeeded him, and the era name Qixiang was announced. Within weeks the two empresses dowager and Prince Gong arrested Sushun and the other regents named in Xianfeng's will, changed the era to Tongzhi, and began ruling from behind the screen with Prince Gong heading the Grand Council. Hunan Army forces took the Taiping capital in 1864 and the Western Nian were destroyed in 1868, while the Jiangnan Arsenal and the Fuzhou Navy Yard were founded, so that later writers spoke of a Tongzhi restoration. He began ruling in person in 1873 and the next year ordered the Yuanmingyuan rebuilt, only to halt the work when princes and ministers protested. He died of illness in January 1875 at eighteen, with the temple name Muzong, and was buried at the Huiling tomb.