Duanhua was a Manchu

Manchu

The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...

 noble of the Bordered Blue Banner from the Aisin-Gioro clan. Until several days before his death he held the title of Prince Zheng, inherited as one of the eight "iron-cap" princes.

The title, originally the Prince Jian (简亲王), was first given to Jirhalang, who was instrumental in the founding 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....

 under Nurhaci

Nurhaci

Nurhaci was an important Jurchen chieftain who rose to prominence in the late sixteenth century in what is today Northeastern China...

. The title was inherited 17 times before it reached Duanhua, who inherited it in 1846. Duanhua came to prominence during the reign of the Xianfeng Emperor

Xianfeng Emperor

The Xianfeng Emperor , born Aisin-Gioro I Ju, was the ninth Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and the seventh Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1850 to 1861.-Family and his early years:...

 (1850-1861). Because of a scandal involving Grand Councilor Mujangga

Mujangga

Mujangga was a Manchu statesman during the late Qing dynasty. Mujangga belonged to the Bordered Blue Banner in the Eight Banners. He was awarded the highest degree in the Imperial examinations in 1805 and quickly rose in the ranks of the Qing government...

, Duanhua gained the Emperor's trust as a loyal confidant, and became one of the Emperor's closest advisors. Duanhua also recommended that his brother, Sushun

Sushun

Sushun ; Styled: Yuting was born in the Manchu Aisin-Gioro Clan as the sixth son of Ulgungga , the Prince Zheng....

, to come to Court. During the Second Opium War

Second Opium War

The Second Opium War, the Second Anglo-Chinese War, the Second China War, the Arrow War, or the Anglo-French expedition to China, was a war pitting the British Empire and the Second French Empire against the Qing Dynasty of China, lasting from 1856 to 1860...

, Duanhua accompanied the ailing Xianfeng Emperor to Rehe

Rehe

Rehe , also known as Jehol, is a defunct Chinese Special administrative district and later province.-Administration:Rehe was located north of the Great Wall, west of Manchuria, and east of Mongolia. The capital of Rehe was the city of Chengde. The second largest city in the province was Chaoyang,...

to escape the foreigners.