Yongle Emperor

2 May 1360 – 12 August 1424

The Yongle Emperor (1360-1424), born Zhu Di, was the third emperor of the Ming dynasty, seizing the throne from his nephew in the Jingnan civil war. His reign saw the move of the capital to Beijing and construction of the Forbidden City, the maritime expeditions of Zheng He, the compilation of the Yongle Encyclopedia, and repeated campaigns against the Mongols.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Yongle Emperor.

Life events

Born Zhu Di, fourth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, in Yingtian (Nanjing)
2 May 1360

Zhu Di was born in Yingtian during his father's rise to power in the late Yuan civil wars.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Enfeoffed as Prince of Yan
1370

The Hongwu Emperor granted Zhu Di the princedom of Yan, with its seat at Beiping (modern Beijing), guarding the northern frontier.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Took up residence at Beiping and led frontier campaigns against the Mongols
1380

From his princely seat at Beiping, Zhu Di commanded border armies and gained extensive military experience against Mongol forces.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Launched the Jingnan campaign against the Jianwen Emperor
1399 – 1402

When his nephew the Jianwen Emperor moved to strip the princes of power, Zhu Di rose in rebellion in a three-year civil war.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Captured Nanjing and ascended the throne as the Yongle Emperor
July 1402

After his forces took the capital and the Jianwen Emperor disappeared in the palace fire, Zhu Di proclaimed himself emperor.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Dispatched Zheng He on the first of the Ming treasure voyages
1405

The emperor sent the admiral Zheng He with a vast fleet across Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, the first of seven expeditions projecting Ming power abroad.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Completed the Yongle Encyclopedia
1408

Commissioned by the emperor, the Yongle Dadian was finished as the largest encyclopedia compiled in the pre-modern world, containing over 22,000 chapters.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Moved the Ming capital to Beijing and inaugurated the Forbidden City
1421

After years of construction, the emperor formally transferred the capital from Nanjing to Beijing, centered on the newly built Forbidden City.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died at Yumuchuan while returning from his fifth Mongolian campaign
12 August 1424

The Yongle Emperor died on campaign in the steppe north of the Great Wall and was buried in the Changling tomb of the Ming tombs near Beijing.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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