The Jingtai Emperor Zhu Qiyu can be regarded as the most controversial emperor in terms of the legitimacy of the Succession of the Ming Dynasty, and he succeeded to the throne as the second son of Emperor Xuanzong Zhu Zhanji and the younger brother of Emperor Mingying Zhu Qizhen during the extraordinary period when Emperor Mingyingzong Zhu Qizhen was captured by the Northern Wallachians.
That is to say, Zhu Qiyu relied on his brother and brother and principles to successfully ascend to the throne. But there are two key points involved in this, one is that Zhu Qiyu's brother Zhu Qizhen is not really "final", he is only captured, so since the brother is not really "final", then how can the brother really "end"?
Second, according to the normal order of succession to the throne, it must be under the circumstance that the system of succession of the eldest son cannot be implemented, and only then can the brother-to-brother system be adopted, and Zhu Qizhen had children at that time, but his eldest son Zhu Jianshen was only 2 years old and could not manage the government. To push Zhu Jianshen to become emperor, it is almost inevitable to bear the risks brought about by the harem's interference in politics.
It is precisely because of the existence of the above two key points, so Zhu Qiyu's throne has always been a huge controversy, if we insist on pursuing the source of its legitimacy, we can mainly talk about it from the following four aspects.
First, the state has a long monarch, and the blessing of the community
As mentioned above, although Zhu Qizhen had an eldest son, Zhu Jianshen, he could not manage the government due to his young age. In the dangerous situation at that time, it was not beneficial to establish him as the new monarch!
Therefore, the establishment of changjun, which is conducive to social stability, has become the biggest source of legitimacy for Zhu Qiyu.
Second, the empress dowager's will
Since Zhu Qizhen was captured by The Wallachians, Zhu Qiyu has gone from the initial administration to the current succession to the emperor's throne, and his succession edicts have been issued in the name of the empress dowager.
In ancient times, when the emperor could not exercise power, the empress dowager's will was to have the highest legal effect. Zhu Qiyu pointed out this point in his edict focusing on succession: "The empress dowager, as a young prince, has not been able to take care of all opportunities, and has transferred her life to the king to the world. ”
Third, the support of the civil and military courtiers
At first, the empress dowager was preparing to make the 2-year-old crown prince Zhu Mishen emperor, but she was dissuaded by the Wen and Wu officials, who believed that the country's situation was in danger, and it was more appropriate to appoint the elder Zhu Qiyu as emperor.
To this end, the empress dowager chose to compromise and accepted the opinions of the civil and military officials.
Fourth, the oral permission of Emperor Yingzong
In Zhu Qiyu's succession edict, there is a special mention in the section explaining his legal rights that he received the oral permission of Emperor Yingzong, claiming that an emissary had brought it back from the side of Vala, declaring Zhu Qizhen's will: "The ceremony of the Zongmiao Temple must not be long-lasting, and the elderly and wise king of the Ancestral Temple, who orders him to succeed to the throne, is sacrificed." ”
Although the truth or falsity of this matter is to be debated, if it is true, then the legitimacy of Zhu Qiyu's throne is very sufficient, but if it is false, then Zhu Qiyu's throne will be lacking even if it is supported by the empress dowager and the minister of civil and military affairs.
Because at that time, the feasibility of using military diplomacy and other means to save Zhu Qizhen still existed, and the establishment of a new emperor Zhu Qiyu at this time was like deposing the old Emperor Zhu Qizhen without authorization, and the legal theory in it could not be self-explanatory.