Prince Yiwei

Yiwei (奕緯; born 16 May 1808, died 23 May 1831) was an imperial prince of the Qing dynasty and the first son of the Daoguang Emperor.

**Early Life and Family Background**

Yiwei was born in 1808 to Lady Hoifa-Nara, who was a maid in the residence of Minning. His mother was subsequently promoted to a secondary consort and was granted the title of Concubine He in 1822. Prior to this promotion, she had been referred to as "Second Concubine." Yiwei’s father is not explicitly named in available records.

**Titles and Education**

In 1816, during the reign of the Jiaqing Emperor, Yiwei was granted the title of "Prince of the Third Rank." Reports indicate that he had a notable appearance but did not excel in literary or martial pursuits and was not particularly diligent in his studies. An anecdote from his youth recounts an incident where, after being reprimanded by a teacher, Yiwei expressed the wish that he would have killed the teacher if he had been an emperor. This remark reportedly angered the Daoguang Emperor, who disciplined him with a physical reprimand and instructed him to reflect on his behavior.

**Duties and Rituals**

In 1825, Yiwei participated in Grand Sacrificial Ceremonies alongside his paternal uncle, Miankai. In 1830, he once again conducted sacrifices with his fifth paternal uncle, Mianyu. These ceremonial duties were part of his formal responsibilities as a prince.

**Death and Posthumous Honors**

Yiwei died in 1831 at the Old Summer Palace due to illness. The precise cause of his death remains a topic of scholarly debate; official Qing records mention only that he was sent for recuperation, with no detailed diagnosis. Some scholars suggest that delayed or inadequate treatment by imperial doctors may have contributed to his death. The sudden passing of Yiwei caused significant distress to the Daoguang Emperor, who was reportedly shocked. During his funeral held in the Wuying Hall of the Forbidden City, the emperor abruptly left the proceedings. Following his death, Yiwei’s residence was left abandoned for 17 years before being repurposed for the residence of Yizhu and Yixin.

He was posthumously granted the title of Prince Yinzhi of the Third Rank (多罗隐志贝勒), which means "profoundly aspiring." In 1850, his title was elevated to Prince Yinzhi of the Second Rank (隐志郡王).

**Marriages and Family**

Yiwei was initially married in 1822 to Lady Gūwalgiya, daughter of Duke Yinghai. His primary consort from the Gūwalgiya clan died in 1827. Subsequently, he married Lady Ulanghan, daughter of the sixth-rank literary official Lude.

**Additional Relations**

He also had a concubine of an unspecified clan, designated as a secondary consort.

Yiwei adopted Zaizhi (载治; 1839–1881), the son of Defender General Yiji from the Prince Xun peerage and Lady Shen.

**References and Records**

The available historical records on Yiwei include official Qing dynasty documents and scholarly analyses focusing on his titles, family relationships, and notable events in his life.