Hongsheng

Hongsheng (弘昇; 6 April 1696 – 22 April 1754) was an imperial prince during the Qing Dynasty. He was the first son of Yunki, Prince Hengwen of the First Rank.

Born on 6 April 1696 to Lady Liugiya, who held the title of Secondary Princess Consort Hengwen of the First Rank, Hongsheng was designated as a hereditary prince Heng of the First Rank in 1719. Starting from 1721, he served as a guardian of the Xiaoling and Zhao Mausoleums, alongside Princes Hongzhi, Yunlu, and Yunli. He was appointed to oversee affairs related to the imperial stables and was responsible for supervising the Bordered White Banner.

In 1727, Hongsheng was stripped of his title due to negligence in interfering with official matters and due to mistrust. His father was instructed to impose strict discipline on him and to dedicate time to his studies. Subsequently, in 1735, Hongsheng was appointed as a commander of the artillery.

In 1739, Hongsheng participated in an unsuccessful coup attempt, known as the Coup of Hongxi, which aimed to overthrow the Qianlong Emperor and elevate Hongxi, the eldest son of the deposed crown prince Yinreng, to the throne. During the Mulan hunt, Hongsheng was the first among the princes to declare Hongxi as emperor. When the plot was exposed by Hongpu, Hongsheng chose not to defend himself and was consequently imprisoned for life and stripped of his title.

Hongsheng died on 22 April 1754. Posthumously, he was honored with the title Prince Gongke of the Third Rank (恭恪贝勒), which signifies "reverent and respectful."

Family details include his primary consort from the Daigiya clan, who held the title of Prince Hengwen's primary wife; a second primary consort from the Tatara clan; and several mistresses from clans including Ilari, Joogiya, and Yang. His children included Yongrui (1716–1789), his first son, and Yongze (1741–1810), who held the title Prince of the Fourth Rank.

Additional details about his family relationships and titles are documented in various sources, but no extended family tree is provided in the available information.