Post by Admin on Sept 30, 2014 14:35:41 GMT
Longkodo (Manchu: Longkodo.png; Möllendorff: Longkodo, Chinese: 隆科多; pinyin: Lóngkēduō) (died 1728) was an eminent Manchu-Chinese official at court from the Tunggiya Clan, belonging to the Bordered Yellow Banner, during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). His period of fame lasted from the late Kangxi to early Yongzheng years, perhaps most famous for delivering the Kangxi Emperor's disputed will.
The third son of Tong Guowei and the younger brother of Kangxi Emperor's third Empress consort, Empress Xiaoyiren, Longkodo was the Minister in charge of Lifan Yuan during the late Kangxi years. He was also concurrently the General Commandant of the Gendarmerie in Beijing, thus having the military power to control the capital region in times of crises. His military power made him an obvious scapegoat in conspiracies, and was deeply suspected by the Yongzheng Emperor.
The biggest mystery surrounding Longkodo is the exclusive attention the late Kangxi Emperor gave him during his dying days. His military support ensured a non-violent transfer of power between Kangxi and Yongzheng.
After Yongzheng ascended the throne, Longkodo was given a position on the four-person imperial council, and was the President of the Board of Governance. He was later disgraced and executed for reasons still shrouded in mystery. (perhaps this is the reason behind the urban legend
IN FICTION
In Dynasty 大内群英 he was depicted as Yongzheng's uncle who helped Yong Zheng to alter the Imperial Will, thereby making YongZeng the Emperor.
During his reign, Kangxi saw a prolonged struggle between various princes over who should inherit the throne. Therefore Kangxi announced that he would not appoint any of his sons as crown prince for the remainder of his reign. He stated that he would place his Imperial Valedictory Will inside a box in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, which would only be opened after his death.
In the evening of 20 December 1722 before his death, Kangxi called seven of his sons to assemble at his bedside. They were the third, fourth, eight, ninth, tenth, 16th and 17th princes. After Kangxi died, Longkodo announced that Kangxi had selected the fourth prince, Yinzhen, as the new emperor. Yinzhen ascended to the throne and became known as the Yongzheng Emperor. Kangxi was entombed at the Eastern Tombs in Zunhua, Hebei.
A legend concerning Kangxi's will states that he chose his 14th prince, Yinti, as heir, but Yinzhen, the fourth prince, forged the will in his own favour. It has, however, long been refuted by serious historians. Yinzhen, later the Yongzheng Emperor, has attracted many rumours, and some novel-like private books claim he did not die of illness but was assassinated by a swordswoman, Lü Siniang(吕四娘), the granddaughter of Lü Liuliang, though this is never treated seriously by scholars.
The third son of Tong Guowei and the younger brother of Kangxi Emperor's third Empress consort, Empress Xiaoyiren, Longkodo was the Minister in charge of Lifan Yuan during the late Kangxi years. He was also concurrently the General Commandant of the Gendarmerie in Beijing, thus having the military power to control the capital region in times of crises. His military power made him an obvious scapegoat in conspiracies, and was deeply suspected by the Yongzheng Emperor.
The biggest mystery surrounding Longkodo is the exclusive attention the late Kangxi Emperor gave him during his dying days. His military support ensured a non-violent transfer of power between Kangxi and Yongzheng.
After Yongzheng ascended the throne, Longkodo was given a position on the four-person imperial council, and was the President of the Board of Governance. He was later disgraced and executed for reasons still shrouded in mystery. (perhaps this is the reason behind the urban legend
IN FICTION
In Dynasty 大内群英 he was depicted as Yongzheng's uncle who helped Yong Zheng to alter the Imperial Will, thereby making YongZeng the Emperor.
During his reign, Kangxi saw a prolonged struggle between various princes over who should inherit the throne. Therefore Kangxi announced that he would not appoint any of his sons as crown prince for the remainder of his reign. He stated that he would place his Imperial Valedictory Will inside a box in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, which would only be opened after his death.
In the evening of 20 December 1722 before his death, Kangxi called seven of his sons to assemble at his bedside. They were the third, fourth, eight, ninth, tenth, 16th and 17th princes. After Kangxi died, Longkodo announced that Kangxi had selected the fourth prince, Yinzhen, as the new emperor. Yinzhen ascended to the throne and became known as the Yongzheng Emperor. Kangxi was entombed at the Eastern Tombs in Zunhua, Hebei.
A legend concerning Kangxi's will states that he chose his 14th prince, Yinti, as heir, but Yinzhen, the fourth prince, forged the will in his own favour. It has, however, long been refuted by serious historians. Yinzhen, later the Yongzheng Emperor, has attracted many rumours, and some novel-like private books claim he did not die of illness but was assassinated by a swordswoman, Lü Siniang(吕四娘), the granddaughter of Lü Liuliang, though this is never treated seriously by scholars.