Son of the Xianfeng Emperor, he took the throne aged five; real power rested with his mother Empress Dowager Cixi (
慈禧太后) and Empress Dowager Ci'an. His reign saw the suppression of the Taiping Rebellion and the brief 'Tongzhi Restoration' (
同治中兴) — a last attempt at Qing self-strengthening. He died at 18, likely of smallpox.