Rankings
Rankings of the 365 Chinese emperors by length of reign, age at accession and death, cause of death, era names and personal campaigns, counted from the official histories.
All rankings
- Longest-reigning Chinese emperorsThe longest reign was that of Kangxi Emperor (Qing): 61 years.
- Shortest-reigning Chinese emperorsThe shortest reign was that of Emperor Mo of Jin: less than a day. 72 of the 365 emperors reigned for less than a year.
- Chinese emperors who took the throne youngestThe youngest to take the throne was Emperor Shang of Han (Eastern Han), at 1 (East Asian reckoning).
- Longest-lived Chinese emperorsThe longest-lived was Qianlong Emperor (Qing), who died at 89 (East Asian reckoning).
- Chinese emperors who died youngestThe youngest to die was Emperor Shang of Han (Eastern Han), at 2 (East Asian reckoning).
- Chinese emperors who were assassinated93 of the 365 emperors were assassinated (25.5%). All are listed in chronological order.
- Chinese emperors who were executed33 of the 365 emperors were executed (9.0%). All are listed in chronological order.
- Chinese emperors who took their own lives14 of the 365 emperors took their own lives (3.8%). All are listed in chronological order.
- Chinese emperors killed in battle8 of the 365 emperors were killed in battle (2.2%). All are listed in chronological order.
- Chinese emperors who returned to the throne8 emperors were deposed or abdicated and later took the throne again.
- Chinese emperors with the most era namesThe emperor who changed the era name most often was Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Wu Zetian (Wu Zhou): 14 times.
- Chinese emperors who led the most campaigns in personThe emperor who led the army in person most often was Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei: 15 campaigns.