Emperor Duzong Of Song China Article Index for
Emperor
Website Links For
Emperor
 

Information About

Emperor Duzong Of Song China




Emperor Duzong 宋度宗 ( 1240 - 1274 ) was the 15th emperor of the Song Dynasty of China , and the sixth emperor of the Southern Song. His personal name was '''Zhao Mengqi''' (趙孟启). He is the nephew of Emperor Lizong and he reigned from 1264 to 1274 .
Duzong's reign was plagued with rebellions, warfares and upheaval. The Mongols have spent decades harassing the borders of the Southern Song and was on the verge of conquering the whole of China. Duzong totally ignored his duties and instead delegated all state and military affairs to hands of his incompetent minister namely Jia Sidao while Duzong indulged in drinking, women and lived in opulence.
The last decisive battle was fought in Shangfan (in today's Hubei province) in 1274 when the Mongols succeeded in capturing and destroying the last Song stronghold. The defeat and the lost of Shangfan sealed the fate of the Song dynasty and the news of its capture was deliberately hidden from Duzong by Jia.

Duzong died shortly thereafter and was succeeded by his four year old son. Although technically not the last emperor of the Song dynasty, Duzong was considered the last emperor of the Song dynasty that could have made a difference in changing the outcome or perhaps even averting the fall of the dynasty.

  Before Emperor Lizong
  Title Emperor Of The Song Dynasty
  After Emperor Gong