Zhu Gaoxu

Zhu Gaoxu (30 December 1380 – 6 October 1426) was the second son of the Yongle Emperor and Empress Renxiaowen. During the Jingnan campaign, which brought his father to the throne, he proved himself to be a capable military leader. In 1426, he revolted against his nephew, the Xuande Emperor, but was quickly defeated and executed.

Biography
Zhu Gaoxu was born in 1380 as the second son of Zhu Di, who was then the Prince of Yan. Zhu Di was the fourth son of the Hongwu Emperor, the founder of the Ming dynasty. In 1395, he was made the Prince of Gaoyang (高陽王). In 1399, Zhu Di rebelled against his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor, and the subsequent civil war ended in 1402 with Zhu Di's victory, after which he ascended the throne. Physically fit and energetic, but also arrogant, Zhu Gaoxu proved himself to be a capable military leader in battle.

In 1404, he was created as the Prince of Han (漢王) and given control of Yunnan. However, he refused to go to the distant province, so the emperor allowed him to stay at court. Zhu Gaoxu then successfully participated in numerous battles against the Mongols on the northern frontier, earning recognition from his father for his military achievements. He also involved himself in court politics, attempting to undermine the position of his elder brother, Zhu Gaochi (the future Hongxi Emperor), and the ministers who supported him. In 1407, he succeeded in having minister Xie Jin dismissed. In 1414, his hostility led to the imprisonment of Grand Secretaries Huang Huai for ten years and Yang Shiqi, who was later able to clear his name and return to office.

In 1416, he was granted a new fief in the small county of Le'an in Qingzhou Prefecture, Shandong. However, he refused to leave and was reprimanded. His illegal formation of a private army and the killing of an officer resulted in his demotion to a commoner and subsequent imprisonment. After a year, he was deported to Shandong.

In May 1425, Zhu Gaoxu's elder brother died after ruling for only one year. The young son of the deceased emperor, Zhu Gaoxu's nephew, became the new emperor, known as the Xuande Emperor. Feeling neglected and wronged, Zhu Gaoxu, like his father Zhu Di, decided to claim the throne. He believed that the young emperor would not be a serious obstacle to his plans. Zhu Gaoxu began to gather an army in preparation to march to the capital and seize the throne. However, unlike his father, he was in a weaker position and underestimated the determination of the government, led by an experienced official (Grand Secretary Yang Yong), and the abilities of the young emperor. In September 1426, Zhu Gaoxu openly rebelled, but the emperor personally led 20,000 soldiers, led by General Xue Lu (1358–1430), to Le'an and defeated the rebels. Zhu Gaoxu was imprisoned, and 600 of his followers were executed, while 2,200 were exiled.

During the subsequent investigation, it was discovered that Zhu Gaosui, the third son of the Yongle Emperor, and several other princes were involved in the rebellion. In order to maintain stability in the state, they were not punished. Initially, the emperor did not want his uncle to be killed, but when he became enraged by the captive's arrogance, he ordered for him and his sons to be executed.

Family
Consorts and Issue:
 * Primary consort, of the Wei clan (韋氏)
 * Zhu Zhanhe, Hereditary Prince Zhuangyi (懿莊世子 朱瞻壑; 1398 – 26 September 1421), first son
 * Zhu Zhanqi (朱瞻圻; d. 6 October 1426), second son
 * Zhu Zhantan, Hereditary Prince (世子 朱瞻坦), third son
 * Lady Guo (郭氏), daughter of Guo Ying's (郭英) second son, Guo Ming (郭銘)
 * Lady Deng (鄧氏), daughter of Deng Yuan (鄧源)
 * According to Zuiweilu (罪惟錄, "Records of an accused"), Lady Wu, the consort of the Xuande Emperor and the mother of the Jingtai Emperor, was originally the concubine of Zhu Gaoxu. After his death, the Xuande Emperor took possession of her and gave birth to his illegitimate son, the Jingtai Emperor. However, this statement is in conflict with other historical sources.
 * Unknown
 * Zhu Zhanci, Prince of Jiyang (濟陽王 朱瞻垐), fourth son
 * Zhu Zhanyu, Prince of Linzi (臨淄王 朱瞻域), fifth son
 * Zhu Zhanyi, Prince of Zichuan (淄川王 朱瞻墿), sixth son
 * Zhu Zhanxing, Prince of Changle (昌樂王 朱瞻垶), seventh son
 * Zhu Zhanping, Prince of Qidong (齊東王 朱瞻坪), eighth son
 * Zhu Zhandao, Prince of Rencheng (任城王 朱瞻壔), ninth son
 * Zhu Zhanchang, Prince of Haifeng (海豐王 朱瞻㙊), tenth son
 * Zhu Zhanbang, Prince of Xintai (新泰王 朱瞻垹), eleventh son