Dynasties of ChinaSouthern SongSouthern Song lineage
Xianchun · Reign 1264—1274
He had mediocre qualifications, indulged in drinking and debauchery, and handed over all government affairs to Jia Shidao. During his reign, Xiangyang fell and Southern Song was opened.
Zhao Qi's original name is Zhao Zi, the son of Lizong's younger brother Rongwang Zhao Yurui. According to the "History of the Song Dynasty", his mother took abortion pills when she was pregnant but failed. After birth, he was weak, his hands and feet were weak, and he could not speak until he was seven years old. Lizong had no children, but he still insisted on making him his heir. He was established as prince in 1253 and crown prince in 1260. He ascended the throne in October 1264 and changed his reign to Xianchun the following year.
After Duzong came to the throne, he indulged in wine and sex, and relied on Jia Shidao as his "teacher". He was granted the title of Pingzhang for military and state affairs, and was allowed to have a court for several days. Most of the political affairs were decided in Jia's private residence. In 1268, the Yuan army besieged Xiangyang and Fancheng. Jia Shidao concealed military information and the reinforcements were repeatedly defeated. In 1273, Fancheng fell and Xiangyang defender Lü Wenhuan surrendered, opening the door to the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Duzong died of illness in July 1274 at the age of thirty-five, and his four-year-old legitimate son Zhao Xian came to the throne.
PoliticsEstablished as Crown Prince
Lizong insisted on making his nephew with mediocre qualifications the crown prince. Wu Qian, the left prime minister, objected and was immediately dismissed. It is reported that Zhao Qi was slow in learning. Liz often got angry about this and ordered people to strictly supervise him.
PoliticsThe throne relies heavily on Jia Shidao
Lizong died of illness in October, Zhao Qi ascended the throne, and the reign was changed to Xianchun the following year. He relied heavily on Jia Shidao. When he came to court, he bowed to him and called him "Master Chen" without calling him by his name.
PoliticsPingzhang's important military affairs
Adding Jia Shidao to Pingzhang's military and state affairs, he was allowed to go to court every three days. Later, the interval between going to court was repeatedly relaxed. Jia Shidao mostly handled government affairs in his private residence in Geling, West Lake. According to legend, he often enjoyed cricket fights with his concubines.
MilitaryXiangfan was besieged
In September, Mongolian Ashu and the surrendered general Liu Zheng led their troops to besiege Xiangyang and Fancheng. They built cities and fences, trained naval forces, and cut off the two cities from the outside world. Southern Song sent troops to rescue many times but were repulsed.
DiplomacyYuan dynasty established
In November, Kublai Khan named the country Dayuan, and made Dadu its capital the following year. At this time, the Yuan army's siege of Xiangfan had lasted for three years, and Hao Jing, the messenger of the Yuan Dynasty State, was still detained in Zhenzhou by Southern Song.
PeopleZhang Shun Zhang Gui aids Xiang
Militia leaders Zhang Shun and Zhang Gui led 3,000 people by boat to break through the Yuan army's encirclement and sent salt, cloth and other supplies to Xiangyang. Zhang Shun died in the battle. A few months later, Zhang Gui was ambushed when he went out of the city to contact reinforcements. He fought hard and was captured. He died unyieldingly.
MilitaryXiangyang fell
In the first month of the first month, the Yuan army bombarded Fancheng with artillery fire, and the defender Niu Fu and others died in street fighting; in the second month, the defender of Xiangyang, Lü Wenhuan, was isolated and helpless, and Kaicheng surrendered. The gateway to the middle reaches of the Yangtze River was opened, and the Yuan army was able to move eastward along the river.
PoliticsDied of illness
He died of illness in July at the age of thirty-five. The four-year-old prince Zhao Xian, born to Queen Quan, came to the throne, and the Queen Mother Xie listened behind the curtain. In September of the same year, Bo Yan, the commander-in-chief of the Yuan army, led his army south to attack the Song Dynasty.
The Duzong Dynasty was respected as the "Teacher and Minister", monopolizing military and political power, concealing military information in Xiangfan, and rejecting dissidents. His dictatorship is generally considered to be an important reason for the rapid demise of Southern Song.
He was originally the defender of Luzhou in the Southern Song Dynasty. In 1261, he surrendered Luzhou to Mongolia due to being excluded. He offered advice to Kublai Khan to first capture Xiangyang and then float Han into the Yangtze River. He also presided over the training of the Yuan Dynasty navy and was a key figure in the Yuan army's attack on the Song Dynasty.
The younger brother of Lu Wende, the famous Southern Song general, he held Xiangyang for five years. In 1273, after foreign aid was cut off, Xiangyang was demolished. After that, he served as the vanguard of the Yuan army and persuaded the old troops to surrender along the river, accelerating the collapse of Southern Song.
He was the militia leader together with Zhang Shun, and was known as "Ai Zhang". In 1272, he led a fleet to break into Xiangyang. He was captured when he left the city to contact reinforcements and was killed for refusing to surrender.