Aixin Jueluo Amin (1586-1640) was an important clan member and general in the early Qing Dynasty, and belonged to the Aixin Jueluo clan. He was the second son of Shulhaqi, the younger brother of the Qing Emperor Nurhachi, and therefore the nephew of Nurhachi. In the Later Jin regime, Amin was named Erbeile and was one of the more powerful clan members at that time.
Amin went out with the army in his early years and performed well. In the thirty-sixth year of Wanli of the Ming Dynasty (1608), he and Nurhachi's eldest son Chu Ying led an army to capture the Yihan Mountain City in Wulabu, which was the first time he showed his military talent. Later, in the 37th year of Wanli (1609), his father and brother were dealt with for plotting against Nurhachi, and although Amin was involved, he was eventually spared the death penalty and was only deprived of half of his subordinates.
During the Mandate of Heaven, Amin's military prowess was further developed, and he made numerous victories in his wars against the Ming Dynasty, including defeating the Ming army at the Battle of Sarhu, conquering Shenyang and Liaoyang, and leading his army into Korea to victory. In the third year of the Mandate of Heaven (1619), Nurhachi created the Eight Banners system, and Amin was appointed as the banner owner of the blue banner.
However, Amin's later years were met with misfortune. In the fourth year of Tiancong (1630), under the pressure of the Ming Dynasty army, Amin abandoned the cities of Zunhua and Yongping, which caused heavy losses to the Houjin. Huang Taiji was extremely dissatisfied with this, believing that Amin had "destroyed the foundation", so he imprisoned Amin in the same year. Amin was charged with 16 cardinal sins, including arrogance and military indiscipline, and died in prison in 1640.
Amin's life is a typical one of prosperity and decline, as he was an important general and core member of power in the Later Jin, but eventually lost everything due to strategic mistakes and political struggles. His story reflects the side of the early Qing dynasty's power struggles, as well as the military and political complexities of the era.
Aisin Jueluo Amin was the nephew of the Qing Taizu Nurhachi, and his father was Nurhachi's younger brother Shulhachi. Amin's family situation is as follows:
1. **Father**: Shulhaqi, Nurhachi's younger brother, an important general of the Later Jin.
2. **Mother**: Fucha, daughter of Agbayan.
3. **Wife**: Amin had a number of wives, including the Huipha Nara clan (daughter of Taishi Bel), the daughter of Baiyindari, the daughter of Eju, and the Borzigit clan (daughter of Zarut Taijilosa and daughter of Bahraini Taijisedr).
4. **Sons**: Amin had several sons, including Hong Ketai (imprisoned with his father and died a year and a half later), Adoli (Zhenguo Gong, who was later executed for opposing the two kings' arbitrary rule), Gurma Hun (Wen Jian Beizi), Gonga (Zhenguo Gong), Gogai (Zhenguo Duanchun Gong), and Guolai (Zhenguo Gong).
5. **Daughters**: Amin had three daughters, one of whom was married to the Mongol Ao Han tribe Taiji Sonomu Duling, which was an act of appeasement by Huang Taiji to his husband Sonomu Duling after the death of Mangguji.
6. **Adopted Daughter**: Amin's adopted daughter was the daughter of his younger brother Zhai Sangwu, who later married Setertaiji of the Bahrain Ministry.
Amin's family members included the Later Jin and Mongol nobility of the time, reflecting the characteristics of the era when inter-tribal ties and influence were strengthened through political marriages. Amin himself was an important military general and political figure in the Later Jin period, and his sons later received Qing titles, showing the family's status and influence in Qing society. However, due to his military mistakes and political struggles in the fourth year of Tiancong (1630), Amin was eventually imprisoned by Huang Taiji and died in prison.
As a member of the clan and general in the early Qing Dynasty, Aisin Jueluo Amin participated in many important battles, and the following are some of the battles he participated in:
1. **Battle of Sarhu**: In the fourth year of the Mandate of Heaven (1619), Amin participated in this campaign against the Ming Dynasty, defeating the Ming army at Salhu Mountain, Shangjian Cliff and Dong'e Road, which was one of the key battles between the Later Jin and the Ming Dynasty.
2. **Destroy the Yehebu**: In the same year (1619), Amin participated in the conquest of the Yehebu, further consolidating Nurhachi's power.
3. Conquering Shenyang and Liaoyang: In the sixth year of the Mandate of Heaven (1621), Amin and Nurhachi conquered the two important cities of Shenyang and Liaoyang, and these two victories were crucial to the expansion of the Later Jin.
4. **Korean Campaign**: In the winter of the sixth year of the Mandate of Heaven (1621), Amin led his army into Korea, attacked Mao Wenlong's troops at night, and won the Battle of Linbian.
5. Conquest of the Khalkha Bahrain and Zarut Ministries: In the 11th year of the Mandate of Heaven (1626), Amin participated in the conquest of the Khalkha Bahrain and Zalut Ministries.
6. **Attack on Korea**: In the first year of Tiancong (1627), Amin attacked Korea together with Beile Yuesu and others, forcing the Korean king Yi Ju to sue for peace and conclude the "Gangdu Alliance".
7. **Battle of Ningjin**: In the fourth year of Tiancong (1630), Amin accompanied Huang Taiji to conquer Jinzhou and Ningyuan, participated in the Battle of Ningjin, and killed more than 1,000 Ming troops.
8. **Shou Yongping**: In the same year, while Shou Yongping, Amin plundered and surrendered Hazelnut Town to the west.
These battles demonstrated Amin's military prowess and important contribution to the expansion of the Later Jin Dynasty and the stability of the early Qing Dynasty. However, his mistakes in the fourth year of Tiancong (1630) led to his imprisonment by Huang Taiji, and he eventually died in prison.