Enthronement of the Shunzhi Emperor (1644)

In November 1644, the Shunzhi Emperor was enthroned in Beijing as the first Qing ruler of China proper. This followed the collapse of the Ming dynasty and the arrival of the Qing court, led by regent Dorgon, who greeted the young emperor at the city gates in October 1644.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The Shunzhi Emperor, personal name Fulin, was the second Qing emperor and the first to rule over China proper. He was the ninth son of Hong Taiji, who died in 1643 without naming a successor, creating a crisis for the fledgling Qing state.

Political Context. Political power was largely held by the prince regent Dorgon from 1643 to 1650. By early June 1644, Dorgon had firm control of the Qing government and military, positioning the state to respond to the Ming dynasty's collapse.

Arrival and Enthronement. Dorgon greeted the Shunzhi Emperor at the gates of Beijing on 19 October 1644. Subsequently, in November 1644, the Shunzhi Emperor was formally enthroned as emperor of China in Beijing, marking the beginning of Qing rule over the region.

People involved

Sources

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