Hooge, Prince Su

Hooge (Manchu: ; 16 April 1609 – 4 May 1648), formally known as Prince Su, was a Manchu prince of the Qing dynasty. He was the eldest son of Hong Taiji, the second ruler of the Later Jin Dynasty and founder of the Qing Dynasty.

Life

Hooge was born in the Aisin Gioro clan as the eldest son of Hong Taiji, the second ruler of the Qing dynasty. His mother was Lady Ula Nara (the aunt of Lady Abahai), one of Hong Taiji's consorts.

Hooge participated in military campaigns against the Mongols, Koreans and the Ming dynasty. After Hong Taiji's death in 1643, Hooge and his uncle Dorgon fought over the succession to the throne. The situation was to Hooge's advantage because the Upper Three Banners (Bordered Yellow, Plain Yellow, Plain Blue) of the Eight Banners previously under Hong Taiji's control had been passed on to him. Hooge at this time was in charge of his father's Plain Blue Banner and also had the support of Plain Yellow Banner commander Sonin and Bordered Yellow Banner Commander Oboi. On the other hand, Dorgon had the support of his two brothers Ajige and Dodo as well as the two White Banners. This meant that the remaining two Red Banners controlled by Daišan and his son, as well as the Bordered Blue Banner under Jirgalang, were crucial to ensuring that Hooge could win the succession. After much dispute, Daišan started favoring Hooge, who ostensibly refused to take the throne. Hooge was actually waiting for others to urge him to take the throne, so that he could sit on it without projecting a power-hungry image on himself. Unfortunately for Hooge, Dorgon and his brothers did not give way, so the conflict continued without a solution. The power struggle concluded with a compromise in order to avoid internal strife. Dorgon nominated Fulin, the 9th son of Hong Taiji born to Consort Zhuang, to be the new ruler, so Fulin ascended to the throne as the . Another story suggests that Consort Zhuang's Khorchin Mongol Borjigit clan would only support an heir with Mongolian blood and most specifically from the Khorchin Borjigit clan. Although Consort Zhuang is rumored to have a romantic relationship with Dorgon, she had a discussion with Sonin, Oboi, , and in order to prevent the Qing Empire from splitting in half due to succession disputes. Dorgon agreed to Consort Zhuang's 9th son Fulin on the basis that he is a son of Hong Taiji out of respect for his 8th brother for raising him and Dorgon to be the senior regent while Jirgalang becomes the assistant regent. Hooge and the Three Upper Banners also support the decision based on Fulin being Hong Taiji's son and not Dorgon taking the throne.