Yongle Emperor

The Yongle Emperor (2 May 1360 – 12 August 1424), personal name Zhu Di,}} was the third emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigning from 1402 to 1424. He was the fourth son of the Hongwu Emperor, the founder of the dynasty.

In 1370, Zhu Di was granted the title of Prince of Yan. By 1380, he had relocated to Beijing and was responsible for protecting the northeastern borderlands. In the 1380s and 1390s, he proved himself to be a skilled military leader, gaining popularity among soldiers and achieving success as a statesman. In 1399, he rebelled against his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor, and launched a civil war known as the Jingnan campaign, or the "campaign to clear away disorders". After three years of intense fighting, he emerged victorious and declared himself emperor in 1402.

The reign of the Yongle Emperor is often described as the "second founding" of the Ming dynasty, reflecting the major changes he introduced to his father's political system. In 1403, he elevated Beijing to the status of a second capital, diminishing the importance of Nanjing. Construction of the new capital between 1407 and 1420 employed hundreds of thousands of workers, with the Imperial City and the Forbidden City forming its core. The Emperor also supervised the reconstruction of the Grand Canal, essential for supplying Beijing and the northern armies.

The Emperor strongly supported both Confucianism and Buddhism and sponsored the compilation of the vast ''Yongle Encyclopedia'', employing around two thousand scholars. This work surpassed all earlier encyclopedias, including the ''Four Great Books of Song'' from the 11th century. He also ordered Neo-Confucian texts to be systematized and used as textbooks for training officials. The civil service examinations, held every three years, produced qualified candidates for government service. Although known for imposing harsh punishments on failure, the Emperor readily rewarded capable officials. Unlike his father, he avoided frequent purges, resulting in longer ministerial tenures and a more professional, stable administration. The Emperor often ruled "from horseback", traveling between the two capitals in a manner reminiscent of the Yuan emperors. This approach, however, was criticized by officials who feared the growing influence of eunuchs and military elites, whose power depended on imperial favor.

The Emperor made considerable efforts to reinforce the empire's hegemonic position in East Asia through an active foreign policy. Diplomatic missions and military expeditions were dispatched to "all four corners of the world", reaching regions both near and distant, including Manchuria, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and the Timurid Empire in Central Asia. Zheng He's maritime expeditions extended even further, reaching the shores of Southeast Asia, India, Persia, and East Africa. The Mongols remained the most serious security threat to the empire. They were divided into three main groups: the southeastern Uriankhai, who were largely loyal, and the eastern Mongols and western Oirats, who posed ongoing challenges. The Ming court alternately supported and confronted these groups. The Emperor personally led five campaigns into Mongolia, and his decision to transfer the government from Nanjing to Beijing was driven largely by the need to closely monitor the unstable northern frontier.

The Yongle Emperor was a skilled military leader and placed great emphasis on the strength of his army, but his wars were ultimately unsuccessful. The war in Đại Việt (present-day northern Vietnam), which began with an invasion in 1407, lasted until the end of his reign. Four years after his death, the Ming army was forced to retreat back to China. Despite his efforts, the campaigns against the Mongols did not significantly alter the balance of power or ensure the security of the northern border. Provided by Wikipedia