His name was glorified by the terracotta army. He himself did not want to repeat the mistakes of his parents and dreamed of gaining immortality even if for this he had to absorb mercury.
The biography of this person is amazing. He was born in difficult times, longed for absolute power and stubbornly walked towards it. Cleverly using intrigues, he was not afraid of direct armed confrontation. He himself came up with a name and laid the foundations for the emergence on the political map of the modern world of a huge and powerful state.
Childhood
Our hero was born in the Chinese city of Handan in 259 BC. e. He was called Ying Zheng. This name was derived from the name of the month of his birth. The boy’s father Zhuangsyan was royal blood, although among his ancestors were illegitimate, which did not give him the right to the throne. The family used it to make peace with neighbors, and at the time of the birth of the heir, the aristocrat was among the hostages of the warlike principality Zhao.
Chinese city Handan
Inspired by the birth of his son, the captive found a friend - rich Lu Buvei. He promised to do everything to ensure that Ying Zheng grew up in the palace and was the crown prince. Indeed, soon the conspirators managed to return to the homeland of Zhuangsiang in the principality of Shaanxi. Capital allowed the rogue, who arrived in the retinue of a noble family, to become the ruler of a small state himself. He used the noble baby as a cover for his scam. The usurper declared himself regent under him. Zhuangsiang did not receive any rights and privileges, he became chandler and soon died.
Youth
Know was unhappy with what was happening. They began to say that the personal life of the mother of the heir to the throne was not so clear. Zhuyangsiang’s wife was called the regent’s mistress, and her son was called the fruit of this vicious relationship. Lu Buwei allowed the coronation of Ying Zheng when he turned 13 years old. He considered a strong intellect in a teenager and a desire to contribute to the development of the state. The nobleman left behind the adoption of state decisions and the right to dispose of the treasury.
Scene from court life in China
Lu Buwei was a clever man, he gave the young ruler a good education and now enjoyed his support in such endeavors as building irrigation canals, inviting scientists to write an encyclopedia, and encouraging literary creativity and philosophy. The teenager learned to invest public funds in long-term projects. He did not want to thank his mentor, knowing that he had become his mother's lover and encouraged her profligacy. In 237 BC e. the sweet couple was publicly convicted of inappropriate behavior and sent into exile.
Conquest
Having rid himself of guardianship, Ying Zheng became the sole ruler of the country. He curtailed the rights of the feudal lords and drove away the former ministers. The young man brought close to him the sage and intriguer Li Sy, who inflamed his ambitious dreams of expanding the borders of the state. The turbulent times only confirmed the correctness of these two - you need to act immediately and uncompromisingly.
Images of the best warriors were imprinted in clay for the future tomb of their leader
The young lord moved east. Reflecting the attacks of the neighbors, he began to seize the hands of their land. Some kingdoms fell under the pressure of his troops, some became prey thanks to diplomacy. Having seized Handan, Ying Zheng ordered to track down those who held his father captive and execute them. Having no chance to confront the fierce warrior on the battlefield, the enemies sent hired assassins to him, however, all attempts to destroy the commander ended in failure.
Emperor
By 220 BC e. Ying Zheng owned all the lands he knew. The ruler did not want to be called a king, or a prince, this was not enough for him. He adopted the name Qin Shi Huang, which translated as "founder of the Qin Dynasty." He was the husband of several princesses who gave him sons capable of eventually taking control of a vast empire. The Tsar did not allow any of his relatives to high posts. He feared that they would begin to shred the empire into allotments, destroying the results of his work.
Qin Shihuandi on an old engraving
The monarch borrowed the principles of governing a new vast country from the tyrants he conquered. He conveyed his orders to the people through officials. A simple person could make a brilliant career at court, but could not bequeath the land and power to his children. The castles of the rebellious aristocrats were demolished, and the construction of a powerful defensive line, which will be called the Great Wall of China, began on the western border.
