Li Zicheng

Li Zicheng ( Chinese  李自成 , Pinyin Lĭ Zìchéng ; * September 22, 1606 ; † June 1644 or 1645 ) was a peasant rebel leader in China at the end of the Ming period.

First years

He was born under the name Lĭ Hóngjī (鴻基) in the Mizhi District (米脂 縣) in the sub-prefecture of Yan'an (延安 府) in Shaanxi Province and grew up there as a shepherd in a farming family. He learned horseback riding and archery and took on various positions as a wine seller, mail courier and metal worker.

Leader of the uprising

When hunger riots broke out in the region in 1627, he joined the peasants under Gao Yingxiang and distinguished himself in battles through bravery.

After Gao's death, he became the leader of the insurgents himself. The court sent Sun Chuanting into the field against him. This once again assembled a serious Ming army and achieved initial successes in Henan. a. logistical problems and had to retreat to Shaanxi , where he was killed. After the victory over Sun Chuanting and the subsequent capture of Xi'an in November 1643, Li Zicheng proclaimed the Great Shun Dynasty (大 順 皇帝), from which the name "Shun Wang" - Great or Thunder King was derived.

Since many Ming troops passed over to him and other Ming troops were still tied to the Great Wall, Beijing could soon be captured. The last Ming emperor, Chongzhen Sizong, hanged himself on April 25, 1644 on Jingshan Hill behind the palace, which is now a park.

The peasant emperor

Li Zicheng was proclaimed emperor on June 3rd, his title was Chuǎng Wáng (闖王) (wandering king, he is also known as peasant emperor ).

His reign in Beijing was short and (after a few days of discipline) terrible. With Emperor Chongzhen's treasuries completely empty, he began extracting tens of thousands of ounces of silver from former Ming officials. Several thousand died as a result of the torture. Li Zicheng ordered that the action be stopped on May 12, but his officers continued their work illegally. In the absence of payment, the discipline of his troops was quickly lost, they looted, raped in broad daylight and finally set the city largely on fire after the defeat by the Manchu .

The Manchu had entered China via the Shanhaiguan Pass in cooperation with the imperial commander of the Great Wall , Wu Sangui . After the defeat against the Manchu at Shanhaiguan on May 29, 1644, Li had to retreat to Xi'an and from there in the spring of 1645 further south along the Han River . According to various versions, he was killed by friendly Ming militias in 1644 or 1645, committed suicide on a lotus tree or did not die after his defeat, but became a monk. However, his troops fought for another 20 years against the Manchus, who took power in the country ( Qing dynasty ).

Li Zicheng is like riding for his justice and his courage in art as a hero on a horse, an arrow with his crossbow dressed to conclude with and felt hat and black jacket, is shown. During the Mao period, an equestrian statue was erected for him in the capital, as he was seen as the first "fighter of feudalism ".

Web links

• Tomb of Li Zicheng (English)