Emperor Qianlong was one of the longest-reigning emperors in the history of the Qing Dynasty of China, reigning for 60 years, the peak of the Qing Dynasty.
Qianlong's later years were not peaceful, and the question of his succession sparked a power struggle within the family. Although Qianlong had seventeen sons, he finally chose Jiaqing, who had mediocre qualifications, as his successor. There are multiple factors and considerations behind this decision.
Qianlong had many concubines and many children, including sons and daughters. In China's feudal society, the succession of the emperor has always been highly valued. Qianlong's sons naturally became candidates for succession to the throne.
Jiaqing is the eleventh son of Qianlong, and his qualifications are considered relatively mediocre. However, Qianlong's decision on the succession was not based solely on the personal qualifications of his sons.
During his reign, Qianlong implemented a series of political reforms and military expansions, which brought China's national power to its peak. He feared that his heir could pose a threat to his political legacy if he was too capable or too strong.
He may prefer to choose a relatively mediocre heir to ensure that his political legacy is not shaken.
Qianlong has a certain preference for Jiaqing. Jiaqing may have certain merits or traits in Qianlong's eyes, making him the ideal heir in Qianlong's mind.
Although Jiaqing's qualifications were not as outstanding as those of his other sons, he may have possessed a quality of stability and loyalty in the eyes of his father, which led Qianlong to believe that he could continue to maintain the stability and unity of the Qing Dynasty.
The question of succession was also influenced by court politics and within the family. In Qianlong's later years, some of his sons' mothers or other family members may have actively intervened in the succession issue in an attempt to push their sons to become heirs.
These political battles may have led Qianlong to make complex decisions to balance interests within the family.