Puyi

Puyi (7 February 1906 – 17 October 1967) was the last emperor of China, reigning as the eleventh monarch of the Qing dynasty from 1908 until his abdication in 1912. He was born in Beijing, the son of Zaifeng, Prince Chun, a Manchu prince. His mother was Youlan of the Gūwalgiya clan, and his maternal grandfather Ronglu held significant government positions. Puyi's great-grandfather was the Daoguang Emperor, and his lineage connected him to several previous Qing emperors.

At nearly three years old, Puyi was designated as emperor after the death of the Guangxu Emperor, whose death prompted Empress Dowager Cixi to select him as his successor. He succeeded the Guangxu Emperor upon his death, with his father serving as regent. His formal enthronement occurred on 2 December 1908, following the death of Cixi, when he was just over two years old. Puyi's early reign was characterized by palace ceremonies and strict court protocols, with a childhood marked by seclusion in the Forbidden City, surrounded by eunuchs and aristocratic courtiers. He developed a close bond with his wet nurse Wang Lianshou, who became the only person able to exert influence over him.

Following the Xinhai Revolution in 1911 that led to the fall of the Qing dynasty, Puyi was compelled to abdicate on 12 February 1912. Empress Dowager Longyu signed the abdication edict on his behalf under the terms of the Articles of Favourable Treatment, which allowed him to retain his title and live in the Forbidden City. Despite his abdication, Puyi continued to believe himself as emperor for some time and was briefly restored to the throne in July 1917 during a short-lived attempt by loyalist general Zhang Xun.

After 1912, Puyi lived under the nominal protection of the new Republic of China, which allowed him to remain in the Forbidden City and receive a subsidy, although he was no longer an emperor. His life was largely secluded and ceremonial, with a Confucian education focused on Chinese classics. In 1924, he was expelled from the Forbidden City following a coup by warlord Feng Yuxiang, leading him to reside in Tianjin, where he sought support from warlords and the Japanese.

In 1932, following the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, Puyi was installed by Japanese authorities as the ruler of the puppet state of Manchukuo, initially as its chief executive and later proclaimed emperor with the era name "Kangde" in 1934. His reign as Emperor of Manchukuo lasted until 1945; during this period, he resided primarily in Changchun and governed under Japanese influence, often perceived as a puppet ruler. His titles included "Kangde Emperor" during his rule in Manchukuo.

At the end of World War II, Puyi's regime collapsed, and he was captured by the Soviet Red Army in 1945. He was detained in Siberia and later taken to China, where he was imprisoned and subjected to ideological remolding. In 1950, Puyi was repatriated to the People's Republic of China, where he was imprisoned and re-educated as a former war criminal. He participated in public life thereafter, publishing an autobiography and joining the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Throughout his later years, Puyi expressed remorse for his past, adopted Buddhism, and supported the Communist regime's efforts to portray him as a reformed individual. He married five times but had no children. He died in Beijing from complications related to kidney cancer and heart disease on 17 October 1967. His remains were cremated and initially interred at Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery; in 1995, his ashes were transferred to a cemetery near the Western Qing tombs. Some descendants of the Aisin-Gioro clan later bestowed posthumous titles on him and his wives.

Puyi held various titles throughout his life, including "Xuantong Emperor" during his reign, "last emperor" in China, and "Kangde Emperor" during his rule over Manchukuo. His life was marked by dramatic shifts from imperial grandeur to political captivity, ultimately ending in his death as a common citizen under the People's Republic of China.