| Last Name： | 爱新觉罗 | |||||||||
| First Name： | 颙琰 | |||||||||
| Web/Pen/Nick Name： | 受天兴运敷化绥猷崇文经武孝恭勤俭端敏英哲睿皇帝 | |||||||||
| Temple Name： | 仁宗 | |||||||||
| Tomb： | 昌陵 | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
He was the son of the Qianlong Emperor. During his reign, he prosecuted Heshen (和珅) (the corrupt favourite of Qianlong) and attempted to restore the state and curb the smuggling of opium inside China.
Early yearsHe was born at the Old Summer Palace (圆明园/圓明園), 8 km (5 mi) northwest of the walls of Beijing, and was given the name Yongyan (永琰), changed into Yongyan (顒琰) when he became emperor: the first character of his private name was changed from 永 to 顒, both pronounced Yong, as the former is used commonly. This novelty was introduced by his father the Qianlong Emperor who thought it not proper to use a common character in the emperor's private name due to the long-standing practice of naming taboo.
He was the fifteenth son of the Qianlong Emperor. His mother was a Han Chinese concubine of the second rank Ling (令贵妃/令貴妃), who became a favorite of Qianlong. She was posthumously made Empress Xiaoyichun (孝仪纯皇后/孝儀純皇后) when her son became emperor. She was the daughter of Wei Qingtai (魏清泰), an official in the Qing administration whose Han Chinese family had long been integrated in the Manchu elites. In 1818 Emperor Jiaqing made his mother's family officially Manchu, and changed their Chinese family name Wei into the Manchu clan name Weigiya.
After the first two original choices for heir to the throne succumbed early to disease, in December 1773 Yongyan was secretly chosen by Qianlong to be the next emperor. In 1789 he was made Prince of the 1st rank Jia (嘉亲王/嘉親王).
At the end of his reign, Qianlong worked closely with a Manchu government minister called Heshen. Prince Jia hated the notoriously corrupt Heshen for his abuse of power, and vowed to punish the minister once he became emperor.
Accession to the throne
Portrait of the Jiaqing Emperor in his studyIn October 1795, in the 60th year of his reign, Emperor Qianlong announced his intention to abdicate in favor of Prince Jia: he did not think it proper to rule longer than his grandfather, the late Kangxi Emperor. Prince Jia acceded to the throne and proclaimed the era name of Jiaqing (Chinese: 嘉慶; Manchu: ᠰᠠᡳᠴᡠᠩᡤᠠ ᡶᡝᠩᡧᡝᠨ saicungga fengšen) in February 1796. For the next three years however, Jiaqing ruled as Emperor in name only. Decisions were made by his father, the Retired Emperor Qianlong.
With the death of Qianlong at the beginning of February 1799, Jiaqing took control of the government and prosecuted Heshen. Heshen was charged with corruption and abuse of power. He was stripped of his titles and properties, and ordered to commit suicide. Heshen's daughter-in-law, Princess He Xiao, a sister of the new emperor, was spared from punishment and given a few properties from Heshen's estates.
At the time the empire faced internal disorder, most importantly the large-scale White Lotus (1796–1804) and Miao Rebellions (1795–1806), as well as an empty treasury. Emperor Jiaqing engaged in the pacification of the empire and the quelling of rebellions. He endeavored to bring China back to its 18th-century prosperity and power. However, due in part to large outflows of silver from the country as payment for the opium smuggled into China from British India, the economy declined.
Court intrigues and incidentsMembers of the Qing royal family (relatives of Jiaqing) tried to assassinate him twice – in 1803 and in 1813. The princes involved in the attempts on his life were executed. Other members of the imperial family, numbering in the hundreds, were exiled.
Opposition to ChristianityThe Great Qing Code includes one statute titled "Prohibitions Concerning Sorcerers and Sorceresses" (禁止師巫邪術). In 1811 a clause was added to it with reference to Christianity. It was modified in 1815 and 1817, settled in its final form in 1839 under the Daoguang Emperor, and abrogated in 1870 under the Tongzhi Emperor. It sentenced Europeans to death for spreading Catholicism among Chinese and Manchus. Christians who would not repent their conversion were sent to Muslim cities in Xinjiang, to be given as slaves to Muslim leaders and beys.
FamilySee also: Qing Dynasty nobility and Ranks of Imperial Consorts in China#Qing
Consort
EmpressesPer imperial regulations, there was only one Empress at any given time. However, that did not prevent others from being elevated to that position after the death of an existing empress. During Jiaqing's reign, there were two empresses, each serving in different periods of time:
Lady Hitara of the Hitara (Manchu) clan, who became Empress when Jiaqing ascended the throne in 1796. She was the mother of Daoguang Emperor (2nd son of Jiaqing) She is known posthumously as Empress Xiaoshurui (孝淑睿皇后).
Empress Xiaoherui, of the Niohuru clan (孝和睿皇后) (1776–1849), elevated after Empress Xiaoshurui died in 1798.
Imperial Noble ConsortsPer imperial regulations, only two Imperial Noble Consorts are allowed at any given time.
Imperial Noble Consort Gongshun, of the Niohuru clan (恭順皇貴妃) (1787–1860).
Imperial Noble Consort Heyu (d. 1833) of the Lugiya clan.
ConsortsPer imperial regulations, only four Consorts are allowed at any given time. Not counting those who were later elevated to higher titles and those who were elevated posthumously, there was effectively only two consorts during Jiaqing's reign.
Consort Hua (d. 1808) of the Hougiya clan.
Consort Zhuang (d. 1811) of the Wang clan.
Consort Shu of the Wanyan clan (Posthumously elevated. Never served as Consort in life)
Imperial ConcubinesPer imperial regulations, only six Imperial Concubines are allowed at any given time.
Imperial Concubine En (d. 1846) of the Wuya clan
Imperial Concubine Xuan of the Chengiya clan
Imperial Concubine Jian (d. 1780) of the Guangiya clan
Imperial Concubine Rong (d. 1826) of the Liang clan
Imperial Concubine Chun (d. 1819) of the Dongiya clan
Imperial Concubine An (d. 1837) of the Guargiya clan
Children
SonsFirst son: Mianmu, son of Imperial Noble Consort Heyu.
Second son: Mianning (綿寧) ( 16 September 1782 – 25 February 1850), son of Empress Xiaoshurui (Lady Hitara), succeeded his father as the Daoguang Emperor in 1820
Third son: Miankai (绵恺), son of Empress Xiaoherui, of the Niohuru clan
Fourth son: Mianxin (绵忻), son of Empress Xiaoherui, of the Niohuru clan
Fifth son: Mianyu (绵愉) (1814–1865). Son of Imperial Noble Consort Gongshun, of the Niohuru clan
DaughtersFirst daughter (1780–1783) her mother was Imperial Concubine Xuan.
Second daughter (1780–1783) her mother was Empress Xiaoshurui.
Heshuo Princess Zhuangjing [庄敬和硕公主] (1781–1811) daughter of Imperial Noble Consort Heyu.
Kurun Princess Zhuangjing [庄静固伦公主] (1784–1811) daughter of Empress Xiaoshurui.
Princess Hui'an (1786–1795).
Sixth daughter (1789–1790) daughter of Consort Hua.
Seventh daughter (1793–1795) daughter of Empress Xiaoherui.
Eighth daughter (1805) daughter of Imperial Noble Consort Gongshun.
Ninth daughter (1811–1815) Kurun Princess Huimin (慧悯固伦公主) posthumously in 1820, daughter of Imperial Noble Consort Gongshun.
Death and burialOn 2 September 1820, the Jiaqing Emperor died at the Rehe (Jehol) Traveling Palace (熱河行宫), 230 km (140 mi) northeast of Beijing, where the imperial court was in summer quarters. The Draft History of Qing did not record a cause of death. Some have alleged that he died after being struck by lightning, but others prefer the theory that he died of a stroke as the emperor was quite obese. He was succeeded by his second son, the Daoguang Emperor.
Renzong was interred amidst the Western Qing Tombs, 120 km (75 mi) southwest of Beijing, in the Changling (昌陵 – meaning "Splendid tomb") mausoleum complex.