Parents: Qianlong, emperor of China, and Xiaoyichun
House: Qing (Manchu)
Spouse(s): (1) Xiaoshurui, daughter of Hitara Horchingo, duke of Cheng'en, and Yongyan of China, then (2) Xiaoherui, daughter of Gong'ala
Predecessor: Qinglong
Reign: 1796 – 1820
Summary: Born in a secondary imperial palace, his mother was a native Chinese woman while his father was descended from the Qing dynasty of Manchuria north of China. In 1773, Jiaqing became the crown prince when his elder brothers dies. A close advisor to his father, Heshen, was severely despised by the prince for his abuses of power. When he became emperor, his first task was to remove the entrenched minister of state. Jiaqing's father abdicated the throne in 1795 to avoid out-reigning his father, Kangxi. His father continued to rule for another three years as a retired emperor.
In 1799, Jiaqing took over management of the empire from his father, who died early in the year. Heshen was accused of corruption and abuse of power, stripped of his titles and rank, and ordered to commit suicide. The White Lotus Rebellion and the Miao Rebellions had broken out around this time and emptied the Chinese treasury quickly, putting China at a severe economic disadvantage. His lifelong goal became the re-establishment of Chinese fortunes and influence in East Asia. Unfortunately, British imperialism led to an outflow of silver to pay for Indian opium, a process that continued to drain the Chinese treasury. In 1803, and again in 1813, members of Jiaqing's family attempted to kill the emperor. Hundreds of members of the family were exiled for their betrayal. Fearing the spread of European ideas, the preaching of Catholicism was outlawed in China under penalty of death. Those Christians already in China were sent to Muslim cities in western China and given as slaves to appease Muslim leaders. By 1820, Jiaqing was an obese emperor and probably suffered a stroke resulting in his death. His second son, Daoguang, succeeded him.
Date of Death: 2 September 1820In 1799, Jiaqing took over management of the empire from his father, who died early in the year. Heshen was accused of corruption and abuse of power, stripped of his titles and rank, and ordered to commit suicide. The White Lotus Rebellion and the Miao Rebellions had broken out around this time and emptied the Chinese treasury quickly, putting China at a severe economic disadvantage. His lifelong goal became the re-establishment of Chinese fortunes and influence in East Asia. Unfortunately, British imperialism led to an outflow of silver to pay for Indian opium, a process that continued to drain the Chinese treasury. In 1803, and again in 1813, members of Jiaqing's family attempted to kill the emperor. Hundreds of members of the family were exiled for their betrayal. Fearing the spread of European ideas, the preaching of Catholicism was outlawed in China under penalty of death. Those Christians already in China were sent to Muslim cities in western China and given as slaves to appease Muslim leaders. By 1820, Jiaqing was an obese emperor and probably suffered a stroke resulting in his death. His second son, Daoguang, succeeded him.
Successor: Daoguang
Other Monarchs Who Died Today:
- Constantius III, emperor of Rome (421)
- Munetaka, shogun of Japan (1274)
- Dawit II, emperor of Ethiopia (1540)
- Philipp Wilhelm, Elector Palatine (1690)
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