structural:expansion
Emperor Yingzong of Ming, personal name Zhu Qizhen, was the sixth and eighth emperor of the Ming dynasty. He ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor from 1435 to 1449, and as the Tianshun Emperor from 1457 until his death in 1464. He was the eldest son and successor of the Xuande Emperor. "Zhengtong", the era name of his first reign, means "right governance". During his first reign, the empire was at its height of prosperity and power. As the first child emperor of the Ming dynasty, Emperor Yingzong's rule was heavily influenced by high dignitaries at court. Initially, his grandmother, Grand Empress Dowager Zhang, along with the "Three Yangs", held the highest positions of power. However, in 1442, the emperor began to listen more to the eunuch Wang Zhen. In 1449, at Wang Zhen's suggestion, Yingzong personally led the army against the Mongol army of Esen Taishi. Unfortunately, at the Battle of Tumu Fortress, the Ming army was defeated and the emperor was captured. This event shocked the government and the country, leading the court to elevate Yingzong's brother, Zhu Qiyu, to the throne as the Jingtai Emperor. During his captivity, Yingzong had established good relations with Esen and was eventually released in 1450. After Emperor Yingzong returned to his homeland, his brother felt threatened and ordered him to stay in the Southern Palace within the Forbidden City. He also restricted Yingzong's contact with the outside world. Essentially, Yingzong was placed under house arrest. In early 1457, the Jingtai Emperor fell ill and, since his only son had died in 1453, there was no heir to the throne. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Yingzong organized a palace coup and regained power in February 1457. The era name of his second reign, "Tianshun", means "obedience to Heaven". The following month, the Jingtai Emperor died. Yingzong ruled for another seven years before his death in 1464 at the age of thirty-six. His eldest son, the Chenghua Emperor, then ascended to the imperial throne.