Emperor Huizong of Song

Emperor Huizong of Song, personal name Zhao Ji, was the eighth emperor of the Song dynasty of China and the penultimate emperor of the Northern Song, ascending the throne in 1100. He was also a well known painter, poet and calligrapher, and lived in luxury and artistic sophistication through the first half of his life. In 1126, when the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty invaded during the Jin-Song Wars, he abdicated to his eldest son, Zhao Huan, taking the honorary title Taishang Huang. The following year Jin forces conquered the Song capital, Bianjing, in the Jingkang Incident, and Huizong, his son and the rest of their family were taken captive to the Jin capital, where Huizong was given the humiliating title Duke Hunde. He died in captivity after about nine years, and he and his successors were blamed for the Song dynasty's decline.