Zhang Yanling

Zhang Yanling was born in 1477 in Xingji County, Hejian Prefecture, North Zhili (present-day Hebei Province). He was a military commander of the Ming Dynasty and was granted the title of Marquis of Jianchang. His father was Zhang Luan, and his mother was the younger sister of Empress Xiaochengjing. After his father's death, Zhang Yanling was promoted to Commander-in-Chief and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jianchang. In the fifth year of Hongzhi (1492), he was granted a marquisate and further promoted to Grand Protector. In the eighth year of Jiajing (1529), Emperor Jiajing abolished the noble titles of imperial relatives, resulting in Zhang Yanling and his brother Zhang Heling losing their titles. Subsequently, due to involvement in illegal activities, he was imprisoned in October of the twelfth year of Jiajing (1541). In the twentieth year of Jiajing (1541), Empress Xiaochengjing passed away. In the twenty-fifth year of Jiajing (1546), Zhang Yanling was executed in the Western Market.