Abatai
Encyclopedia
Abatai was a Manchu noble and general. Although an inconsistent and dissolute malcontent, he nevertheless showed considerable ability as a military leader and administrator.
clan, the imperial clan of the Qing Dynasty
. He was the seventh son of Nurhaci
, khan
of the Later Jin Dynasty (precursor of the Qing Dynasty). His mother, who was from the Irgen-Gioro (伊爾根覺羅) clan, was a concubine of Nurhaci.
Abatai led Manchu forces to attack the tribes of Weji in 1611 and those of Jarut
in 1623. He was disciplined for abandoning his colleagues during a raid on territories of the Ming Dynasty
in 1629. He was also held responsible for the loss of Yongping and other conquered Ming cities in 1629 and 1630.
In 1631 Abatai was appointed to the Manchu Board of Works. He was reprimanded for incompetence at the siege of Dalian
in 1633 but reformed his conduct, and with his younger half-brother Ajige
, he reputedly fought and won 56 engagements. He was handsomely rewarded in 1636 for his achievements in battle.
In 1641 Abatai was stripped off his ranks for withdrawing without permission during the siege of Jinzhou
in 1641. He then led a raiding force into northern China, advancing into Zhili
, Shandong
and Jiangsu
from 1642 to 1643.
In 1644 Abatai was granted the title of Prince Raoyu of the Second Rank, and in the following year he was placed in command of the military in Shandong. He died in 1646.
Biography
Abatai was born of the Manchu Aisin GioroAisin Gioro
Aisin Gioro was the family name of the Manchu emperors of the Qing Dynasty. The House of Aisin Gioro ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which established a republican government in its place. The word aisin means gold in the Manchu language, and "gioro" is the name of the place in...
clan, the imperial clan of the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. He was the seventh son of Nurhaci
Nurhaci
Nurhaci was an important Jurchen chieftain who rose to prominence in the late sixteenth century in what is today Northeastern China...
, khan
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
of the Later Jin Dynasty (precursor of the Qing Dynasty). His mother, who was from the Irgen-Gioro (伊爾根覺羅) clan, was a concubine of Nurhaci.
Abatai led Manchu forces to attack the tribes of Weji in 1611 and those of Jarut
Jarut
Jarut is a mountain in southwestern Serbia, surrounding the Pešter plateau, near the town of Tutin. Its highest peak Markov vrh has an altitude of 1428 meters above sea level....
in 1623. He was disciplined for abandoning his colleagues during a raid on territories of the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
in 1629. He was also held responsible for the loss of Yongping and other conquered Ming cities in 1629 and 1630.
In 1631 Abatai was appointed to the Manchu Board of Works. He was reprimanded for incompetence at the siege of Dalian
Dalian
Dalian is a major city and seaport in the south of Liaoning province, Northeast China. It faces Shandong to the south, the Yellow Sea to the east and the Bohai Sea to the west and south. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, Dalian is the southernmost city of Northeast China and China's...
in 1633 but reformed his conduct, and with his younger half-brother Ajige
Ajige
Ajige was a prince and general of the Qing Dynasty. He was born of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan as the 12th son of Nurhaci, khan of the Later Jin Dynasty ....
, he reputedly fought and won 56 engagements. He was handsomely rewarded in 1636 for his achievements in battle.
In 1641 Abatai was stripped off his ranks for withdrawing without permission during the siege of Jinzhou
Jinzhou
Jinzhou , is a prefecture-level city of Liaoning province, China. It is a geographically strategic city located in the "Liaoxi Corridor" , which connects land transportation between North China and Northeast China. Jinzhou is China's northernmost seaport and the coastal economic center of West...
in 1641. He then led a raiding force into northern China, advancing into Zhili
Zhili
Zhílì was a northern province in China from the Ming Dynasty until the province was dissolved in 1928 during the Republic of China era.-History:...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
and Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
from 1642 to 1643.
In 1644 Abatai was granted the title of Prince Raoyu of the Second Rank, and in the following year he was placed in command of the military in Shandong. He died in 1646.
Family
- Father: NurhaciNurhaciNurhaci was an important Jurchen chieftain who rose to prominence in the late sixteenth century in what is today Northeastern China...
, founder of the Qing DynastyQing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
.
- Mother: Lady Irgen-Gioro (伊爾根覺羅氏), a concubine of Nurhaci.
- Spouse: Lady Nara (納喇氏), bore Abatai four sons.
- Children:
- Shangjian (尚建), granted the title of Gushan Beizi Xianque, Abatai's eldest son.
- Bohoto (博和託), granted the title of Gushan Beizi Wenliang, Abatai's second son.
- BoloBolo (prince)Bolo was a prince of the Qing Dynasty. He was born of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan as the third son of Abatai, making him a grandson of the Qing Dynasty's founder Nurhaci...
, granted the title of Prince Duan of the First Rank (和碩端親王). - Yolo (岳樂; 19 October 1625 - 15 March 1689), granted the title of Prince An of the First Rank (和碩安親王).