A royal encyclopedia

Pu Yi in the 1920s.

THE LIFE OF PU YI

• Feb 7, 1906: Born in Beijing (Jan 14 in lunar calendar).

• Dec 2, 1908: Crowned emperor of the Qing Dynasty.

• Oct 10, 1911: Xinhai Revolution breaks out.

• Feb 2, 1912: The imperial court announces Pu Yi's abdication.

• July 1, 1917: Ascends the throne for the second time when General Zhang Xun's army occupies Beijing but gives up the throne only 12 days later when Zhang's army is defeated.

• Dec 1, 1922: Marries Wan Rong in the Forbidden City.

• Nov 5, 1924: Driven out of the Forbidden City.

• March 1, 1934: Crowned emperor of Manchukuo, the puppet government of the Japanese aggressors.

• Aug 18, 1945: Announces his abdication as the emperor of the puppet regime.

• Aug 8, 1950: Sent back to China after being detained in the former Soviet Union for five years.

• Dec 1959: Released from the prison in Fushun as a criminal of war.

• Jan 1960: His autobiography From Emperor to Citizen is published.

• Jan 31, 1962: Invited to have dinner with Mao Zedong.

• Oct 17, 1967: Dies in Beijing.