Empereur Pu Yi

Empereur Pu Yi

1. Born Feb 1905 Ascended throne 15 Nov 1908 'I don't like it here, I want to go home'

2. Regented by Prince Chen 21yrs old

   • Appointed conservative princes as advisors
   • Slowed reform
   • Antagonized reformists
   • Alienated enormously pop & powerful Yaun Shikai
   • Caused disunity in court

3. Abdicated 12 Feb 1912 7yrs old

   • Unaware of the change
   • Treated w dignity of foreign monarch
   • Allowed 2 rule in Forbidden City as a living cultural installation
   • Given annual pension of $3,000,000

4. Married Empress Wan Rong & High Consort Wen Xieu in 1922 age 17

   • Full ruler upon marriage
   • Instituted requests in2 spending & bribery - reformed spending of servants & officials, ordering proper accounting
   • Evicted eunuchs from Forbidden City on suspicion of attack

5. Expelled from FC in 1924 by warlord Feng Yuixang

   • Resided in Jap legation in Tianjin from 1924-32 after they supported him
   • Discussed ways to be restored as emp
   • Sep 1931 contacted Jap min of war 2 discuss reinsertion through Jap invasion
   • Nov 1931 travelled 2 Manchuria 2 survey possible Manchu state - Chinese gov ordered his arrest but was protected by Japs
     • Ruled Manchuko 1 Mar 1932-16 Aug 1945
       • Puppet ruler of Puppet state - NO POWER
       • At odds w Japan on all issues but appeared submissive in public
       • Spied on & attacked constantly
       • Forced 2 agree 2 given up a son 2 Japs if 1 was born or name his pro Jap bro Pu Jin as heir 2 Manchuko's throne
       • Old friends were removed & replaced w Japs
       • Lived a life of signing edicts from Jap, reciting prayers, consulting oracles, state dinners & formal visits

6. WW2 Captured by Russians 16 Aug 1945 & lived in sanatorium in Khaborovosk

   • Testified against Japs 4 war crimes post WW2 Military Trail
   • Returned 2 pals republic of C in 1949
   • Imprisoned 4 Speak Bitterness/ Thought Reform Campaigns from 1949-59
   • Lived as a civilian in Beijing 1959-1962 working as a gardener & editor & voiced support 4 Comms
   • Remarried 2 Li Shuxian 30 April 1962
   • Died of liver cancer complications Oct 17 1967 while under charge of Red Guards who conspired 2 kill him as a component of the Cultural Revolution's destruction of the olds

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