Chongzhen Emperor

Chongzhen Emperor (WG: Ch'ung-chen) (1611 - 1644) was last emperor of Ming dynasty in China between 1627 and 1644. Born Zhu Youjian, he was emperor Taichang's son.

In the beginning of his reign, the Ming dynasty was fading. Popular uprisings and attacks from the Manchus in northeast China were becoming constant. Unlike his brother, Tianqi, Chongzhen tried to rule by himself and do his best.

In 1644, the popular army led by Li Zicheng occupied Beijing. Chongzhen, still wearing his imperial attire, fled to the nearby Jingshan Park, where it is believed that his finals words to princess Chang were "吾非亡国之君，汝皆亡国之臣。吾待士亦不薄，今日至此，群臣何无一人相从？"，which roughly translates as "I am not the emperor of an ill-fated kingdom, but you, my officials, remain its servants. That during my reign I have given you decency, yet on this day, wherefore remains none at my side?" He then hanged himself on the Guilty Chinese Scholartree, putting an end to the Ming dynasty.