The Yongle Emperor (aka Chengzu or Yung Lo, r. 1403-1424 CE) was the third ruler of the Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE). Inheriting a stable state thanks to the work of his father, the Hongwu Emperor (r. 1368-1398 CE), Yongle made lasting contributions to Chinese history such as moving the capital to Beijing and beginning construction of the Forbidden City as an imperial residence. The emperor also opened up China to the world, notably sponsoring the seven voyages of the explorer Zheng He. However, costly wars in both the south and north of China and the expense of his grandiose construction projects would leave Emperor Yongle's successors with less cash than they needed to face the resurgent Mongols of the mid-15th century CE.
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Definition
Timeline
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1360Birth of the Prince of Yan, future Yongle Emperor of the Ming dynasty.
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1368 - 1644Reign of the Ming Dynasty in China.
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1403 - 1424Reign of the Yongle Emperor (aka Chengzu) of the Ming Dynasty.
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1405 - 1433The mariner and explorer Zheng He makes seven voyages from China to India, Arabia and East Africa.
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1407Work begins on the Forbidden City in Beijing.
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1420The Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty establishes the Eastern Depot, a secret service branch of the state bureaucracy.
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1421Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty moves the capital of China from Nanjing to Beijing.
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1424Death of the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty while on campaign against the Mongols.
