Hong Taiji

Huáng Taiji (Chinese皇太极, Pinyin Huang Taiji ) (sometimes: Abahai; Temple name: Taizong太宗) (* 1592, † September 21, 1643 ) was the eighth son and successor Nurhachi. He expanded the Manchu and died shortly before the takeover of power in Beijing.

In his time, repeated crop failures had 1627/28 triggered a famine in China. There were peasant uprisings, which threatened the Ming Dynasty existential. Hong Taiji used them consolidated his power in Manchuria until the Amur, compared with Korea, Mongolia and came already 1629 to Beijing before.

Hong Taiji also came into conflict with the Mongol ruler nominal Ligdan Khan, as several of the tribes overran him. 1632-1634 were driven Ligdan Khan and his Chaqar, so that Hong Taiji then many Mongols had behind. 1635 Hong Taiji officially changed the name of the Jurchen people in Manchu.

1641/42 the Ming of the peasant revolts of the Li Zicheng (李自成) ( 1606-1645 ) and Zhang Xianzhong ( 1606-1647 ) were so weakened that the Manchus were able to advance to Shandong in Inner China, thereby conquered 94 cities or to surrender forced and remained victorious in 39 battles. Chinese such as Hong Chengchou (洪承畴) ( 1593-1665 ) faced so over to them and helped with the organization of the state.

As Hong Taiji died on September 21, 1643, his brothers and Dorgon Dsirgalang took over the government for six years Fulin Emperor ( Shunzhi, 1643-1661, ninth son Hong Taiji ) and set up the policy continued purposeful. On 13 May 1644 the army Dorgons continued to Beijing in motion, which was occupied in the same year.