Qianlong Emperor

25 September 1711 – 7 February 1799

The Qianlong Emperor was the fifth emperor of the Qing dynasty, reigning officially from 1735 to 1796 and retaining power until his death in 1799. Under his rule the Qing empire reached its greatest territorial extent through the Ten Great Campaigns, and he sponsored vast cultural projects such as the Siku Quanshu. His later years were marked by court corruption and the beginnings of dynastic decline.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Qianlong Emperor.

Life events

Born in Beijing
25 September 1711

Hongli, the future Qianlong Emperor, was born the fourth son of Prince Yong, the future Yongzheng Emperor.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Ascended the Qing throne
October 1735

Hongli became emperor upon the death of his father the Yongzheng Emperor, taking the era name Qianlong.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Conquered the Dzungar Khanate
1755 – 1757

Qianlong's armies destroyed the Dzungar Khanate in Central Asia, eliminating the Qing dynasty's chief steppe rival.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Incorporated Xinjiang into the Qing empire
1759

Following the defeat of the Dzungars and the Altishahr Khojas, Qianlong brought the Tarim Basin under Qing rule, naming the region Xinjiang.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Commissioned the Siku Quanshu
1773 – 1782

Qianlong ordered the compilation of the Siku Quanshu, the largest collection of books in Chinese history, while also censoring works deemed anti-Manchu.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Elevated the official Heshen to great power
c. 1775

Qianlong showed extraordinary favor to the young official Heshen, whose corruption during the emperor's later years drained the imperial treasury.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Received the Macartney Embassy from Britain
September 1793

Qianlong received Lord Macartney's British diplomatic mission at Chengde but rejected its requests for expanded trade and permanent diplomatic relations.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Abdicated in favor of his son the Jiaqing Emperor
9 February 1796

Qianlong formally abdicated so as not to reign longer than his grandfather Kangxi, though he retained real power as retired emperor until his death.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in the Forbidden City
7 February 1799

Qianlong died at age 87, and days later his favorite Heshen was arrested and forced to commit suicide.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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