Hongwu Biography

Birth of Hongwu, as Zhu Yuanzhang, son of a labourer

Hongwu is born as Zhu Yuanzhang during the Yuan dynasty

Seeks refuge in a Buddhist temple where he learns to read & write

Joins the Read Turbans, one of the major groups contesting Mongol rule

Joins the Read Turbans, one of the major groups contesting Mongol rule

Leads the Red Turbans in Nanjing

Leads the Red Turbans in Nanjing

Leads the Kuo Tzu-Hsing rebels who capture the province of Kiangsi

Captures Peking & ends the Yuan Dynasty

The early Ming state organizes hereditary military households for defence

Declares the foundation of the Ming Dynasty at Nanjing

Hongwu begins shaping the legal and administrative order of the new dynasty

Succeeds as Emperor of China, Hongwu means "Vast Military Power"

Hongwu establishes Nanjing as the first Ming capital

Hongwu begins ruling as the first emperor of the Ming dynasty

Zhu Yuanzhang proclaims the Ming dynasty and takes the Hongwu reign title

Hongwu sends armies north to destroy Yuan control of China

The former Yuan capital is renamed Beiping after Ming occupation

Hongwu begins turning the former Yuan capital region into a northern defence zone

Ming forces destroy Yuan palace buildings after taking Dadu

Captures Shangdu, the Mongol Summer capital

Drives the Mongols further north

Captures Sichuan from the Mongols

Captures Szechuan

Death of Empress Ma

Captures Gansu from the Mongols

The last Chinese province to be re-conquered from the Mongols

China is united under Hongwu

The Chinese drive the Mongols from their capital of Karakorum

Hongwus tomb is located at Xiaoling, Nanjing, Jiangsu

Death of Hongwu