Emperor Duzong of Song

Zhao Mengqi 趙孟启
Emperor of Southern Song Dynasty
Reign	November 16, 1264–August 12, 1274 (&100000000000000090000009 years, &10000000000000269000000269 days)
Predecessor	Emperor Lizong
Successor	Emperor Gong
Issue
Emperor Duanzong of Song Emperor Gong of Song Emperor Bing of Song
Posthumous name
Emperor Duanwen Mingwu Jinxiao 端文明武景孝皇帝
Temple name
Duzong 度宗
Father	Zhao Yurui
Mother	Lady Huang, Lady of Long
Born	2 May 1240
Died	12 August 1274(1274-08-12) (aged 34)

Emperor Duzong 宋度宗 (1240–1274) was the 15th emperor of the Song Dynasty of China, and the sixth emperor of the Southern Song. His personal name was Zhao Mengqi (趙孟启). He was the nephew of Emperor Lizong and reigned from 1264 to 1274.

Duzong's reign was plagued with rebellions, warfare and upheaval. The Mongols had spent decades harassing the borders of the Southern Song and were on the verge of conquering the whole of China. Duzong totally ignored his duties and instead delegated all state and military affairs to the hands of his incompetent minister named Jia Sidao; the emperor instead indulged in drinking and women and lived in opulence. At first, he told the officials to be straightforward and tell him the problems in the countries, but this was all an act. Soon, he completely neglected his duties. Furthermore, he had a very high sexual appetite. Under the Song's law, any female who had a sexual relation with the emperor needs to come pay respect to the emperor in the morning. At one point, there were as many as 30 females one morning paying respect.

The last decisive battle was fought in Xiangyang (in today's Hubei province) in 1274 when the Mongols succeeded in capturing and destroying the last Song stronghold. The defeat and the loss of Xiangyang sealed the fate of the Song Dynasty and the news of its capture was deliberately hidden from Duzong by Jia.

Duzong died shortly thereafter and was succeeded by his four year old son. Although technically not the last emperor of the Song Dynasty, Duzong was considered the last emperor of the Song Dynasty that could have made a difference in changing the outcome or perhaps even averting the fall of the dynasty.

See also

• List of Song Emperors
• Architecture of the Song Dynasty
• Culture of the Song Dynasty
• Economy of the Song Dynasty
• History of the Song Dynasty
• Society of the Song Dynasty
• Technology of the Song Dynasty

Emperor Duzong of Song House of Zhao Born: 1240 Died: 1274
Regnal titles
Preceded by Emperor Lizong	Emperor of the Song Dynasty 1264–1274	Succeeded by Emperor Gong

Persondata
Name	Duzong Of Song
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1240
Place of birth
Date of death	1274
Place of death