Emperor Duzong of Song

Emperor Duzong of Song (2 May 1240 – 12 August 1274), personal name Zhao Qi, was the 15th emperor of the Song dynasty of China and the sixth emperor of the Southern Song dynasty. He was a nephew of his predecessor, Emperor Lizong, and reigned from 1264 until his death in 1274. His birth name was Zhao Mengqi but his name was changed to Zhao Zi in 1251 and finally to Zhao Qi in 1253 after he was designated as Emperor Lizong's heir apparent. Duzong's reign was filled with rebellions and warfare; the court was dominated by his chancellor Jia Sidao and Duzong himself gave in into drinking and women, thus abandoning his duties. He died in 1274 leaving behind three young boys, one of whom took the throne as Emperor Gong. He was the last Emperor of the Song to issue coins; subsequent Song emperors were too busy fighting the newly proclaimed Yuan dynasty to establish mints to cast any coins and did not have enough resources. Early life Despite his mother's attempt to induce an abortion (thinking herself of low social status), Duzong was born in 1224 and would later be named heir to the Song Dynasty throne. The drugs his mother took as a method of attempted abortion affected him in many ways, impacting his intelligence, speech (allegedly he could not speak until 7 years of age), and his hands and feet were poorly developed and awkward to use. He was Yurui's only son. Like his uncle Zhao Yun, he lived in Shaoxing. Discovery Duzong was discovered by his paternal uncle Zhao Yun, better known as Emperor Lizong in 1253, who was sonless and therefore had no heirs so to compensate, adopted Duzong and designated him crown prince in 1260, an action historians still view as confusing. Emperor Lizong died in 1264 and Emperor Duzong then ascended the throne.