The Jiajing Emperor (1507–1567) was the 11th Ming dynasty Emperor of China who ruled from 1521 to 1567. He was the former Zhengde Emperor’s cousin, who died heirless. He was not in the natural line of succession but was chosen through political plotting, including that of Zhang Yong and his Tigers, as he had links with the Templars.
Under their influence, he triggered a first major crisis in Chinese establishementsic by defying the normal rules of succession. He should have been adopted posthumously by the previous emperor to prevent breaking the ancestral lineage which was a very important concept at the time. He insisted on having his own father declared Emperor posthumously. This triggered what is knowedsic as the "Great Rites Controversy" and was used as a pretext to shun and even execute opponents.
The Jiajing Emperor was known to be cruel and egocentric. He refused to live in the Forbidden City and ignored the affairs of state, leaving the real power in the hands of delegates such as Yan Song, who was actually a puppet of the Tigers, and therefore, the Templars.
He is known for having condemned many of his concubines to death by Ling Chi;sic or death by a thousand cuts, for plotting to assassinate him.
After 45 years on the throne (second longest reign in the Ming dynasty), Emperor Jiajingsic did in 1567, possibly poisoned by his own son.