Hong Tianguifu

Who was Hong Tianguifu?

Hong Tianguifu, also called Hong Tiangui and in Qing historical record, Hong Futian, was the second and last king of the Heavenly Kingdom of Taiping. He is popularly referred to as the Junior Lord. Officially, like his father Hong Xiuquan, he was the King of Heaven. To differentiate, he is also called the Junior King of Heaven.

Hong succeeded his father at fourteen and was not respected like his father by the princes, and he was spoken of poorly. In Zhong Prince Li Xiucheng Describes Himself, the autobiographical account of a prince of the Heavenly Kingdom written shortly before his execution, Hong Tianguifu was described as "inexperienced," "spoiled," and "incapable." Also, Hong Tianguifu never rode a horse, which was essential for leaders and commanders in wars.

Four months after his coronation, Tianjing, the capital of Taiping rebels were captured by Qing Dynasty. Hong Tianguifu escaped to Eastern Dam, Jiangsu in July, 1864, rendezvoused with his uncle, Hong Rengan, Gan Prince. After going to Guangde County, Anhui first, they went to the town of Huzhou, Zhejiang on 13 August 1864 to rendezvous with the local Taiping Army commander Huang Wenjin. Imperial Chinese Qing Dynasty sent Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang to attack the city, and Chen Xueming, the Taiping army commander in charge of defending the southern gate of the town surrendered on 26 August 1864. Hong Tianguifu, Hong Rengan and Huang Wenjin were forced to flee from the town next day, under the cover of darkness at night, and Huang Wenjin soon died of his wounds. The rest of the survivors attempted to escape to the border region of Jiangxi, Guangdong and Fujian to join the remnant of Taiping forces led by Li Shixian, but on 9 October 1864, they were ambushed by the Imperial Chinese army at Stone Town and Hong Rengan was captured and subsequently executed on 23 November 1864 at Nanchang, Jiangxi. Hong Tianguifu escaped to the mountains near Stone Town after his token force was wiped out, but he was caught on 25 October 1864 by Qing soldiers searching for him and was subsequently executed on 18 November 1864 at the age of 16.