In 1644, a peasant rebellion ended nearly three centuries of Ming rule
After nearly 300 years of dominance, the mighty Ming dynasty collapsed in a single day when a rebel army breached Beijing, leading to a tragic end for the last Ming emperor.
In 1644, the Ming dynasty fell as peasant leader Li Zicheng led a massive rebellion into the heart of Beijing. Faced with the inevitable capture of the Forbidden City, the Chongzhen Emperor climbed Meishan Hill and took his own life.
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