15 Facts About Heshen

Heshen is remembered as one of the richest men in history.

Heshen was the son of a Manchu military officer and studied at a school for Manchu aristocratic boys.

Heshen lost his mother when he was young and it was said he and his younger brother had a hard life under his stepmother.

However, Heshen was an excellent student, knowing Middle Mandarin, Manchu, Mongolian and Tibetan.

In 1777, at the age of 27, Heshen was given the privilege of riding a horse within the Forbidden City, a prestigious privilege given only to high-ranking officials of elderly age.

The Salar Jahriyya Sufi revolt was put down by Fuk'anggan along with Agui and Li Shiyao Gansu in 1784, but Heshen was recalled for his failure during the revolt.

Heshen's hold on the Qianlong Emperor was further strengthened when in 1790, his own son was married to the emperor's tenth and favorite daughter, Hexiao.

Once secure of the Qianlong Emperor's favor and approbation, Heshen enjoyed great freedom of action.

Heshen became openly corrupt and practiced extortion on a grand scale.

Heshen abrogated powers and official posts, including that of Grand Councilor, and regularly stole public funds and tax revenue.

In 1793, Heshen was responsible for hosting the Macartney Embassy to the imperial court.

Just five days later, Heshen was arrested along with Minister Du Daozhao.

Heshen had 14,300 bolts of fine silk, 20,000 sheets of fine sheep-fur wool, 550 fox hides, 850 raccoon dog hides, 56,000 sheep and cattle hides of varying thickness, 7,000 sets of fine clothing, 361,000 bronze and tin vases and vessels, 100,000 porcelain vessels made by famous masters, 24 highly decorative solid-gold beds, and 460 high quality European clocks.

Heshen exemplified the widespread corruption of the civil bureaucracy and military under the Qing dynasty.

For more than two hundred years Heshen has been a stock villain role, and continues to appear in theatrical, film and television productions.