Zhu Youjian

Zhu Youjian became the Chongzhen Emperor at age 16 after the death of his brother. He inherited a dynasty plagued by fiscal crisis, peasant rebellions, and Manchu threats, and he attempted to reform the government but faced insurmountable challenges.

Chongzhen ordered the execution of the powerful eunuch Wei Zhongxian, who had dominated the previous reign. This purge aimed to restore imperial authority but alienated the eunuch faction and destabilized the court.

As Li Zicheng's rebel army approached Beijing, Chongzhen refused to flee. He hanged himself on Jingshan Hill, ending the Ming dynasty. His death marked the dynasty's collapse and the beginning of the Qing conquest of China.

Chongzhen rejected Li Zicheng's offers of a negotiated settlement, insisting on unconditional surrender. This decision eliminated the possibility of a peaceful transition and led to the violent sack of Beijing.