Mianxin

Mianxin (綿忻), born on 9 March 1805 and deceased on 27 September 1828, was an imperial prince of the Qing dynasty. He was the fourth son of the Jiaqing Emperor and Empress Xiaoherui. In 1819, he was granted the title of Prince Rui of the First Rank (瑞親王), with the initial character in his title translated into Manchu as "sabingga". Unlike some other iron-cap peerages, the Prince Rui peerage was not granted perpetual inheritability, meaning that his successors would hold diminished ranks over generations, although the peerage itself was not considered extinct due to Mianxin having a legitimate male heir.

Mianxin was born during his mother's reign and was closely associated with his elder brothers, Miankai and Minning. Minning later became the Daoguang Emperor. During the late Jiaqing era, there were considerations for Mianxin to succeed the reigning emperor, but at age 14, he was granted the Prince Rui of the First Rank title. In 1820, he accompanied his father to the Chengde Mountain Resort.

After Emperor Jiaqing’s death, the subsequent succession was not immediate; the decision was left to Empress Dowager Lady Niohuru. She chose not to appoint Mianxin as successor, a decision partly influenced by a report from Minning regarding a secret imperial decree from 1800. In 1821, amidst national mourning, Mianxin participated in sacrificial rites at the Chang Mausoleum of the Western Qing tombs for 25 days. Prior to the rites, he experienced emotional distress and did not attend the ceremonies.

In 1823, Mianxin was involved in the redistribution of aid following flooding, and he assumed control over the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel. However, he faced disciplinary issues when mismanagement at the printing house of the Hall of Martial Valor in the Forbidden City led to a reduction in his salary and punishments for his assistants. In 1824, he presided over grand sacrifices at the Changling Mausoleum.

Mianxin died of illness in 1828 and was posthumously honored as Prince Ruihuai of the First Rank (和硕瑞怀亲王). He was succeeded by his only son, Yizhi.

His family included his wife, Lady Feimo, daughter of the first-class marquis Lebao. Their wedding was held on 21 March 1819 at the Hall of Lacking Selfishness, with operas performed at the event. Lady Feimo died on 11 April 1827. Mianxin later promoted his secondary consort, Lady Baidu, daughter of Dexing, to second primary consort; she died on 7 June 1853.

Mianxin and Lady Feimo had a daughter, Lady of the Second Rank (b. 1826–1827), married in 1841; and a son, Yizhi, Prince Ruimin of the Second Rank (30 October 1827 – 27 June 1850). He also had a mistress from the Liu clan.

In popular culture, Mianxin has been portrayed in television dramas, including Joel Chan's role in "Curse of the Royal Harem" (2011) and Li Zeduo's portrayal in "Beauty at War" (2013).

References include historical records and biographies related to Qing dynasty imperial family members, with sources not specified in detail.