Zhu Wenkui

Zhu Wenkui was born on November 30, 1396, during the Ming dynasty. He was the eldest son of the Jianwen Emperor and Empress Ma, and held the status of Crown Prince at the time of his birth, as both his parents held the titles of Crown Prince and Crown Princess, respectively.

In 1402, the capital city of Nanjing was attacked by Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, in an event known as the Jingnan Campaign. During this conflict, Zhu Di seized control of Nanjing, leading to the collapse of the Jianwen Emperor's reign. Following the invasion, Zhu Wenkui and his father disappeared from historical records. It is widely believed that Zhu Wenkui died in a fire that occurred within the palace during the upheaval, although definitive evidence confirming his death is lacking.

Throughout the subsequent period known as the Southern Ming, which was characterized by the Ming loyalist resistance south of the Yangtze River, Zhu Wenkui received posthumous honors from different regimes. The Hongguang Emperor designated him as Crown Prince Gongmin, and the Longwu Emperor later bestowed upon him the title Crown Prince Hejian. These honorary titles reflected efforts to preserve the legacy and legitimacy of the Ming royal lineage.

Zhu Wenkui holds the distinction of being the only royal member of the Ming dynasty born during the reign of his great-grandfather, the Hongwu Emperor. This fact highlights a unique aspect of Ming dynasty history: the Hongwu Emperor was the only Ming ruler who lived long enough to witness the birth of his great-grandson.

The circumstances surrounding Zhu Wenkui’s disappearance and presumed death remain a subject of historical inquiry and are included among the records of individuals who vanished during political upheavals.

== See also ==

* List of people who disappeared

== References ==

(Information derived from historical records and scholarly sources on Ming dynasty history.)