Life

Duanhua was born in the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan as the third son of Ulgungga (烏爾恭阿), a descendant of Jirgalang, a nephew of Nurhaci (the founder of the Qing dynasty). He descended from the Prince Zheng line, one of the "iron-cap" princely peerages of the Qing dynasty. In 1846, he inherited the title "Prince Zheng of the First Rank" from his father. His family was under the Bordered Blue Banner of the Eight Banners.

Duanhua rose to prominence during the reign of the Xianfeng Emperor. Because of a scandal involving Grand Councilor Mujangga, Duanhua gained the Xianfeng Emperor's trust as a loyal confidant, and became one of the emperor's closest advisors. Duanhua also recommended his brother, Sushun, to serve in the Qing imperial court. During the Second Opium War, Duanhua accompanied the ailing Xianfeng Emperor to Rehe to escape from the foreign invaders.

In 1861, before the Xianfeng Emperor died, he appointed eight regents to assist his successor, the young Tongzhi Emperor, in administrating state affairs. Duanhua and Sushun were among the eight. Later that year, Duanhua and the other seven regents were ousted from power in the Xinyou Coup (辛酉政變) orchestrated by Prince Gong and Empress Dowager Cixi. Duanhua was arrested, imprisoned, and eventually forced to commit suicide.

Family

Father: Ulgungga (乌尔恭阿; 1778-1846)

• Paternal grandfather: Zhihana (枳哈纳), a great great great grandson of Jirgalang

• Paternal grandmother:Lady Zheng, a mistress

Mother: Lady Hugiya (瑚佳氏), Ulgungga's secondary consort

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• Primary consort, of the Niohuru clan, daughter of Fukejing'a (福克京阿), a minister of Western Territories (原任西宁办事处大臣, pinyin:yuanren xining banshi wai dachen)

　• Lady

　　• Married Chongqi of the Alute clan and had issue (1 daughter and 1 son)

• Secondary consort, of the Chen clan (陈佳氏), daughter of Sele, a defender general (护军 色勒)

• Secondary consort, of the Gaogiya clan, daughter of defender general Gaofu (高福 护军)

• Secondary consort, of the Baigiya clan, daughter of defender general Jiaohexing (校和兴 护军)

Ancestry

生平

道光五年，端華封三等輔國將軍。二十六年，襲鄭親王爵，不久詔授總理行營事務大臣及御前大臣。道光帝死，受顧命。咸豐繼位後，為領侍衛內大臣。咸豐十一年，咸豐在熱河行官病重，任命端華、肅順、怡親王載垣等八人為贊襄政務王大臣，俗稱顧命八大臣，總攝朝政。兩宮太后發動辛酉政變後，端華賜自盡，其弟肅順被斬首菜市口。

家庭

妻妾

• 嫡福晉鈕鈷祿氏，原任西寧辦事處大臣福克京阿之女，穆揚阿的姐妹，所以論輩分端華是慈安太后的姑丈。祺祥政變後，改稱為已革鄭親王端華之妻鈕祜祿氏。同治元年，願意將府側房間呈交，並且懇請盡快查收府第。

• 側福晉陳佳氏，護軍色勒之女。祺祥政變後，改稱為已革鄭親王端華之妾陳氏。同治元年，因欠繳部分銀兩而懇請寬予限期。

• 側福晉高佳氏，護軍高福之女。

• 側福晉白佳氏，護軍校和興之女。原為側室，咸豐七年晉封為側福晉。

女

• 長女：嫡出，適富察氏景豐，博啓圖之子，即景壽之兄。

• 次女：嫡出，適崇綺，生孝哲毅皇后。

• 三女：庶出，適烏雅氏承恩公瑞興。