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Two brothers, supposed descendants of the [[Hongwu Emperor]], the 14th century founder of the Ming, led a short-lived resistance in [[Fuzhou]] and [[Canton]] (Guangzhou). The older brother was defeated and killed at Fuzhou in late 1646, and his younger brother the following year, as the Manchus took Canton. Another supposed descendant of Hongwu based his court at [[Xiamen]] (Amoy), and later at [[Zhoushan Island]] (near modern-day [[Shanghai]]), attempting to rally followers around him as he moved up the southeast coast; he was eventually forced to flee to sea, continuing to assert his claim from a junk offshore until [[1653]].

Two brothers, supposed descendants of the [[Hongwu Emperor]], the 14th century founder of the Ming, led a short-lived resistance in [[Fuzhou]] and [[Canton]] (Guangzhou). The older brother was defeated and killed at Fuzhou in late 1646, and his younger brother the following year, as the Manchus took Canton. Another supposed descendant of Hongwu based his court at [[Xiamen]] (Amoy), and later at [[Zhoushan Island]] (near modern-day [[Shanghai]]), attempting to rally followers around him as he moved up the southeast coast; he was eventually forced to flee to sea, continuing to assert his claim from a junk offshore until [[1653]].

The Prince of Gui was the final major claimant to the Ming throne.

The Prince of Gui was the final major claimant to the Ming throne. The last remaining known grandson of Wanli, the Prince of Gui was 21 years old when Beijing fell. He was driven from his home in [[Hunan province]] by the Chinese rebel [[Zhang Xianzhong]], and relocated initially to Zhaoqing, just west of Canton. Though he had no real experience with governance or military leadership, and despite his mother's opposition, the Prince was named "emperor" in late 1646 by a number of his officials. Fleeing Manchu forces, the Prince and his followers left [[Guangdong province]], and spent 1647 into 1648 moving from place to place within [[Guangxi province]], to the west. In [[1648]], a number of Ming generals who had defected to the Manchus defected back, declaring their support for the Prince of Gui. They then led a reconquest of Zhaoqing and Canton, allowing the Prince to begin setting up his court. Like other pretenders and rebel leaders of the time, he attempted to establish the various institutions of a proper government, including bureaucratic posts, [[Chinese imperial examinations|civil service exams]], and so forth; however, like even the well-established central Ming Court prior to its fall, the Prince of Gui's court, too, was severely hampered by factional disputes, and even with the help of these turncoat Ming generals, was ultimately unable to present a sufficiently coordinated defense. By [[1650]], the Qing forces had rallied, retaking areas of central China which had declared for the Prince of Gui, and bringing pressure again on Guangdong. The Prince of Gui and his "court" then fled to the west, first to [[Yunnan province]], and eventually into Burma.

 

The Burmese king was originally welcoming to the Prince, but later changed his mind, massacring many of the Prince's followers, and taking the Prince of Gui himself hostage. The Prince then fell into the hands of Qing forces in [[1661]], which penetrated into Burmese territory led by [[Wu Sangui]]; they took the Prince back to Yunnan, where he and his son were executed in [[1662]], marking the end of the last significant threat to the Qing from descendants of the Ming Imperial family.

==On Taiwan==

==On Taiwan==

==References==

==References==

*Jonathan Spence, ''The Search for Modern China'', Second Edition, W.W. Norton & Co. (1999), 35-.

*Jonathan Spence, ''The Search for Modern China'', Second Edition, W.W. Norton & Co. (1999), 35-37.

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[[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Groups]]

[[Category:Groups]]