Zhu Gaoxu

Zhu Gaoxu (30 December 1380 – 6 October 1426) was a prince of the Ming dynasty. He was the second son of Zhu Di, the Yongle Emperor, and Empress Renxiaowen. Zhu Gaoxu was born in 1380 and held the title of Prince of Gaoyang (高陽王) starting in 1395. His father, Zhu Di, was the fourth son of the Hongwu Emperor, the founder of the Ming dynasty.

In 1399, Zhu Di rebelled against his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor. The ensuing civil war concluded in 1402 with Zhu Di's victory, leading to his ascension to the throne as the Yongle Emperor. Zhu Gaoxu was physically fit and energetic, and in battles associated with the Jingnan campaign, he demonstrated his capabilities as a military leader.

In 1404, Zhu Gaoxu was granted the title of Prince of Han (漢王) and was given control over the region of Yunnan. He declined to relocate to the distant province, remaining at the imperial court. During his career, he participated in numerous military campaigns against the Mongols on the northern frontier, earning recognition from his father for his military service.

Zhu Gaoxu was also involved in court politics, attempting to diminish the influence of his elder brother Zhu Gaochi (the future Hongxi Emperor) and his supporting ministers. In 1407, he succeeded in dismissing minister Xie Jin. In 1414, his hostility to court officials resulted in the imprisonment of grand secretaries Huang Huai for ten years and Yang Shiqi, who later was released and reinstated.

In 1416, Zhu Gaoxu was granted a new fief in Le'an County, Qingzhou Prefecture, Shandong. He refused to leave his current position and was reprimanded. Subsequently, his illegal formation of a private army and the killing of an officer led to his demotion from prince to commoner and his imprisonment. After approximately one year, he was deported to Shandong.

Following the death of his elder brother in May 1425, Zhu Gaoxu's nephew, the young Zhu Zhandao, became the new emperor, known as the Xuande Emperor. Zhu Gaoxu, feeling marginalized, sought to claim the throne himself, believing the young emperor would not pose a significant obstacle. He gathered an army in preparation for a march to seize power.

In September 1426, Zhu Gaoxu launched a rebellion. The Xuande Emperor personally commanded 20,000 soldiers, with General Xue Lu leading the imperial forces to defeat the rebellion at Le'an. Zhu Gaoxu was captured, and subsequent executions resulted in the deaths of 600 of his followers and exile for approximately 2,200 others. Investigations revealed that several princes, including Zhu Gaosui, a son of the Yongle Emperor, were involved in the uprising. Despite initial reluctance, the Emperor ordered the execution of Zhu Gaoxu and his sons due to the perceived threat to stability.

Zhu Gaoxu was married to a princess from the Wei clan, who was appointed Princess Consort of Han (漢王妃) in 1404 and was executed alongside him in 1426.

He had multiple children, including his sons Zhu Zhanhe, Zhu Zhanqi, Zhu Zhantan, Zhu Zhanci, Zhu Zhanyu, Zhu Zhanyi, Zhu Zhanxing, Zhu Zhanping, Zhu Zhandao, Zhu Zhanchang, and Zhu Zhanbang. Many of his sons held noble titles such as Prince of Jiyang, Linzi, Zichuan, Changle, Qidong, Haifeng, Xintai, and Rencheng, but most were executed in connection with his rebellion in 1426.

References include official historical records and scholarly works concerning the Ming dynasty and its imperial lineage.