HIST 4618 Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Yangzhou Massacre, Geng Zhongming, Shunzhi Emperor
Document Summary
The consolidation of the manchu rule in china 1644-1722. Manchu had to rule china as a minority and needed to gain legitimacy. Remember the mongols were never successful in ruling as a foreign entity. The manchus used intimidation and also appeasement to gain legitimacy as rulers. They had to show themselves as chinese rulers. Dorgon lived from 1612-1650, he was one of hong taiji"s younger brothers. Like hong taiji, he was very cruel and ruled as emperor until 1644. Technically, he was never actually emperor, he was the regent for shunzhi emperor, who just a boy at the time. He was only 6 at the time so he was not given real power. Dorgon was so powerful that many assumed he was the emperor because he sure does act like one. In 1645, the yangzhou massacre happened after the manchu consolidated their rule in southern china. Dorgon ordered china to surrender or they would suffer.
