Qianlong Emperor Biography

The Qianlong Emperor was the fourth Qing emperor to have ruled China and the sixth emperor of the Qing Dynasty. He was born in September 1711, in Beijing, China, to the Yongzheng Emperor and Empress Xiaoshengxian. He was one of the 14 children of his parents and was the favorite of both his father and his grandfather, Kangxi. As a teenager, Qianlong trained in military tactics, martial arts, and academics. He attained finesse in every aspect that is expected of a prince. He was made a first rank prince in 1733, when his father took to the throne. Qianlong became the emperor following his father’s death in 1735. He was an able military commander and embarked on many missions to crush rebellions soon after he took to the throne. Under his reign, China became a strong and prosperous country with increased military strength, a booming population, and a fast-growing economy. He was also known as a cultural emperor and was himself a poet and a writer. The artistic and cultural landscape of China thrived under his rule. However, the later years of his rule were marred with corruption. This led to his decline. He handed over the throne to his successor in 1796 but ruled for 3 more years as a “de facto” ruler, until his death in 1799.