Duomen coup and restoration of the Tianshun Emperor

Background. After the Battle of Tumu Fortress in 1449, the Jingtai Emperor ascended the throne while his brother, the Zhengtong Emperor, was held captive by the Mongols. Upon his release in 1450, the former emperor was confined to the Southern Palace within the Forbidden City, where he remained under house arrest until the political landscape shifted in 1457.

The Coup. On the night of 11 February 1457, conspirators entered the Southern Palace and forcibly brought the former emperor to the throne room. This action, initially called the Duomen or 'forcing the palace gate,' surprised officials at the morning audience and effectively ended the Jingtai Emperor's reign, leading to the restoration of the Tianshun Emperor.

Consequences. Following the restoration, the Tianshun Emperor immediately promoted the coup organizers and dismissed officials from the previous regime. The Jingtai Emperor was demoted to the Prince of Cheng and never fully recovered from his illness, while the former empress was allowed to live outside the palace under the protection of her nephew, the new heir.