大元帝國 말기 奇皇后의 內禪시도

Empress Gi’s Attempt of Abdication in the Late Yuan Empire

This study aims to analyze the background why Empress Gi’s attempted to be abdicated although Ayuširidara was installed as the crown prince and the results of her attempt of abdication. Ayuširidara was born in 1339, and his birth was such a prelude of political revolution in the late Yuan Empire. His birth became a driving force for Togon Temür, who was merely a puppet emperor at that time, to deprive bayan and Botashiri of their power and manage political affairs directly. Even though Ayuširidara was installed as the crown prince in 1353 and rapidly rose as the heir to the throne, his ascending the throne was not assured. It was because the court of Yuan Empire had been dominated by queens from Qonggirat and their children since Qubilai. Therefore, Empress Gi attempted to make a frontal breakthrough by being directly abdicated from Togon Temür and making Ayuširidara ascend the throne. Particularly, she made such a great attempt of abdication twice during the reign of Togon Temür. As there were more conflicting interests entangled between Empress Gi’s attempt of abdication and Togon Temür’s countermeasures and even between powerful courtiers working for Emperor Party and Crown Prince Party respectively, state affairs became more confusing in the late Yuan Empire.