November 17, 2014
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Dorgon (literally "badger" in Manchu) (17 November 1612 – 31 December 1650), also known as Hošoi Mergen Cin Wang, the Prince Rui (和碩睿親王), was one of the most influential Manchu princes in the early Qing Dynasty. He laid the groundwork for the Manchu rule of China.

Dorgon was born in Yenden, Manchuria (now Xinbin, Liaoning province), China. He is the fourteenth son of the Manchu leader Nurhaci. His mother was the Lady Abahai; Dodo, Prince Yu and Ajige were his full brothers, and the future emperor Hong Taiji was his half - brother.

Dorgon became one of the most powerful of the princes, and was instrumental in moving Manchu forces into Beijing in 1644. During Hong Taiji's reign he took part in many military campaigns, including conquests of the Mongols and of Korea.

After Hong Taiji's death, Dorgon was involved in a power struggle with Hooge, Prince Su, eldest son of Hong Taiji, for the throne. In the end, they compromised, and Dorgon supported the dead emperor's ninth son, his nephew Fulin (later the Shunzhi Emperor), to ascend the throne. He was made regent because Shunzhi was only six at the time of his ascension, and thus became de facto ruler of the country. He was rumored to have married Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, although this claim has been repeatedly disputed, and has become one of the four great mysteries of the Qing Dynasty. He was later given the title "Uncle of the Emperor, Prince Regent" (皇叔父攝政王), which then becomes "Father of the Emperor, Prince Regent" (皇父攝政王).

After he suddenly died on a hunting trip on 31 December 1650 at the age of 38 in Kharahotun (modern day Chengde, Hebei Province), Dorgon received the posthumous rank of Emperor, the only time this happened during the Qing Dynasty. He was given the title "Maode Xiuyuan Guangyie Dinggong Anmin Lizheng Cheng Jingyi Huangdi" (懋德修遠廣業定功安民立政誠敬義皇帝). His temple name was Chéngzōng (成宗), which means 'Becoming Ancestor'. Even the Shunzhi Emperor bowed three times before Dorgon's coffin.

However, in 1651, forces once opposed to Dorgon, led by former co-regent Jirgalang, Prince Zheng produced a long list of his crimes, which included: secretly preparing forbidden material such as yellow robes (strictly used by the Emperor), plotting to take the throne from the Shunzhi Emperor, calling himself the Father of the Emperor, and killing Hooge, Prince Su and taking his concubines for himself. It is believed that Dorgon had been engaged in a fierce power struggle with the young Shunzhi Emperor as the Emperor reached maturity. As the opposition forces gained power, the Shunzhi Emperor posthumously stripped Dorgon of all his titles and even flogged his corpse. He was rehabilitated during the reigns of the Kangxi Emperor and Qianlong Emperor and acknowledged as a loyal prince of the Qing Dynasty.

Dorgon died leaving a surviving daughter but no male offspring. However, he adopted his nephew (fifth son of his brother Dodo, Prince Yu) as heir to his princely title.