Monarchs of China

8 monarchs and royal houses of China, listed alphabetically with title and reign.

Zhu Yuanzhang, born a destitute peasant orphan who became a monk and rebel, then founder of the Ming dynasty in 1368. He restored...

Longest reigning emperor in Chinese history at 61 years, he consolidated Qing rule, crushed the three feudatories, took Taiwan...

Grandson of Genghis who completed the conquest of the Song in 1279 and founded the Yuan dynasty, ruling from what is now Beijing...

The last emperor, enthroned at two and forced to abdicate at six in February 1912 when the republic replaced the Qing. Restored...

First emperor of unified China, whose armies finished the conquest of the warring states by 221 BC. He standardized script...

Second Tang emperor, who took the throne after the Xuanwu incident killed his brothers. His reign of Zhenguan became the textbook...

The only woman to rule China as emperor in her own name. From concubine to empress consort to empress dowager, she proclaimed her...

Zhu Di, who seized the throne from his nephew. He moved the capital to Beijing and raised the Forbidden City, sent the admiral...