Hongxi (prince)


Hongxi was a Qing imperial prince. He was the second son of Crown Prince Yunreng, and through him the grandson of the Kangxi Emperor. His mother was Lady Ligiya, Yunreng's secondary consort.
Hongxi is most well known for leading five other princes in a failed coup in 1739. The plotters wanted to remove the Qianlong Emperor and enthrone Hongxi instead.

Life

Hongxi was born on July 25, 1694. Hongxi was cultivated by his grandfather the Kangxi Emperor since childhood. He was adopted by Imperial Princess Consort Limi, of the Gūwalgiya clan.
In 1714, King Sukjong of Joseon sent envoys to the Qing court. They reported that: "Hongxi is quite virtuous, it is difficult to abolish Yunreng."
Hongxi was a favorite of Kangxi's. In 1722, a palace rumour claimed that the Kangxi Emperor would grant a special title of Prince to Hongxi.
After his uncle, Yinzhen, became the Yongzheng Emperor, Hongxi was awarded with the title of Prince Li. The relationship between Yongzheng and Hongxi was harmonious. He held the title Prince Li of the Second Rank from 1723 to 1728, and was promoted to Prince Li of the First Rank in 1728.
Hongxi organised an unsuccessful coup d'etat against Qianlong in 1739, Along with Hongxi the conspirators included five other princes: Hongsheng, Hongpu, Hongchang, Hongjiao and Yunlu. He was stripped of his title, banished from the Aisin Gioro clan, and imprisoned at the Eastern Garden near Jingshan park. Later, he was forced to change his name to Syšilio. "Syšilio" is a Manchu transliterating words of a Chinese word Sìshíliù, which can be translated as "forty-six" in English. Hongxi was forty-six years old during the rebellion he organised, Qianlong used this method to humiliate him.
In 1778, Hongxi was restored to the Aisin Gioro clan and had his name changed back from "Syšilio" to "Hongxi".

Family

Parents:
Consorts and issues:
  • Primary Consort of the Kharchin Ulanghan clan
  • * Yongchen, Second-class imperial guard, first son
  • * Yonglin, second son
  • Concubine, of the Zhao clan
  • * Yongmei, third son
  • * Yongshao, eight son
  • * Yonghuai, Third rank military official, fourteenth son
  • * Fourth daughter
  • Concubine, of the Qiang clan
  • * Yongxun, Third-class imperial guard, fourth son
  • * Sixth son
  • * Yongju, ninth son
  • * Yongtian, tenth son
  • * Yongji, seventeenth son
  • * Lady of the Second Rank, first daughter
  • **Married Tsewangjab of the Gorlosi clan in 1728
  • * Lady of the First Rank, twelfth daughter
  • Concubine, of the Zhang clan
  • * Second daughter
  • **Married Dondob of the Naiman Borjigin clan
  • * Third daughter
  • * Sixteenth Daughter
  • Concubine, of the Yuan clan
  • * Sixteenth son
  • Concubine, of the Zhang clan
  • * Yongjin, fifth son
  • * Yongting
  • * Yongguan, twelfth son
  • * Yongpei, thirteenth so
  • * Fifteenth son
  • * Eighteenth son
  • Concubine, of the Wang