Chongzhen

Profession: Chinese Emperor

Biography: Chongzhen was the 16th and final emperor of the Ming dynasty in China, ruling from 1627 until his death in 1644. His reign saw the collapse of the Ming dynasty, which had ruled China for nearly three centuries.

Chongzhen inherited a kingdom in severe economic crisis, plagued by political corruption, internal strife, and relentless peasant uprisings. Despite his efforts to implement reforms and curb corruption, Chongzhen struggled to stabilize his empire due to ongoing fiscal problems and resistance from vested interests within the court.

Simultaneously, the empire faced external threats, particularly from the Manchu-led forces of the burgeoning Qing dynasty in the northeast. The Manchu invasions, along with the widespread rebellion within China, led by the rebel leader Li Zicheng, overwhelmed Chongzhen's already strained government.

In 1644, as rebel forces approached Beijing, Chongzhen's situation became desperate. Historians depict his last days as particularly tragic: in despair, he reportedly killed his daughters and the empress hanged herself. Chongzhen ultimately committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree in the imperial garden, marking the end of the Ming dynasty.

Born: February 6, 1611
Birthplace: Beijing, China
Star Sign: Aquarius

Died: April 25, 1644 (aged 33)
Cause of Death: Suicide