Qinzong

Qinzong, born Zhao Huan, was the eighth emperor of the Song dynasty in China. He reigned from 1126 to 1127. His brief reign was marked by the catastrophic invasion of the Jurchen Jin dynasty, leading to the fall of the Northern Song capital, Bianjing (modern Kaifeng).

Ascending the throne amid the escalating Jin threat, Qinzong inherited a precarious situation. His father, Emperor Huizong, had abdicated in favor of his son, hoping to appease the Jin invaders, but this proved futile. The Jin forces, under the command of Generals Wuzhu and Guanyu, besieged Bianjing. Despite attempts at negotiation and resistance, the city's defenses were overwhelmed.

In 1127, Bianjing fell to the Jin. Qinzong and his father, along with a vast number of imperial family members, officials, and artifacts, were captured and taken as prisoners to the Jin capital. This event, known as the Jingkang Incident, effectively ended the Northern Song dynasty. Qinzong was subsequently exiled to the far north and died in captivity in 1161. His capture and the subsequent flight of his brother, Zhao Gou, who established the Southern Song dynasty, marked a profound turning point in Chinese history.