Great Ming

[Alexander]

Great Ming (大明)​

The Ming Dynasty, officially known as the Great Ming, is the ruling dynasty of the Celestial Empire, the Empress and its other members trace their lineage directly back to the Chongzhen Emperor and from there the original founder of the dynasty, the Hongwu Emperor. Overseeing China during what was perhaps its most powerful time in its entire 5000 year existence, the dynasty is incredibly proud and well regarded. In particular the actions of Empress Ai, in fighting the Communist dictatorship, has awakened hopes for a true return to the Chinese golden ages.

Founded: 23 January 1368
Re-Established: 19 January 2020
Current Head: Ming Ai

Key Members:

Her Celestial Majesty Ai, Empress of the Great Ming, Daughter of Heaven, Lady of Ten Thousand Years

The 32 year old Ming Ai was born on August 25th, 1974 at the height of the Cultural Revolution. With the absolute rejection of all things pre-communist during that era much of Ai's early years were characterized by living in hiding and regularly moving to avoid receiving the business end of the political and social violence. In many ways these early years would set her hatred for communism later on in her life. However, still obligated to attend the Chinese public education system, the indoctrination would initially make the young girl reject her own heritage. It was also this which led her to pursue a career in the People's Liberation Army once she reached the age of maturity. She would soon rise through the ranks on her merits and made it to lead one of the PLA's most elite special forces units. It was however following the murder of her father and sister by a Party official that the brainwashing was broken. Once again rejecting the system and vowing to herself to fight it she would not renew her commission and instead pursued Political Science, International Relations and Strategic Studies from respectively Harvard University and John Hopkins. It was at these universities and the exposure to people from other countries that her ideology truly took shape and her rejection of communism became complete. After returning with the revolution against the Communist Party taking shape she would join the movement led by her cousin, but soon a rift between the two Mings became apparent as Ai sided with the faction seeking restoration of an Imperial System under the Ming dynasty while her sister helmed the faction seeking to establish a full Republican system.

While the Republicans initially won out, failure to deliver on promises and various setbacks soon changed the tide and in only a few years after the initial revolution the tide had turned fully to support the Imperial faction. Ai had been placed in a role in the Republican Army to leverage her abilities while keeping her out of the centre of power, but this also created a blind spot where she could act in cooperation with other supporters to prepare for a swift and mostly bloodless palace coup. After completing the move Ai would ascend as the Daughter of Heaven, the Empress of the Great Ming and the Celestial Empire.

Her Highness Jia, Crown Princess of the Celestial Empire
The 27 year old Ming Jia is the younger sister to Empress Ai and the Crown Princess of the Celestial Empire. She was spared much of the suffering her older siblings and parents had undergone and grew up relatively peacefully after the family had found a relatively safe home in Shenzhen after the Deng-era reforms. She pursued and obtained Engineering degrees at MIT. She currently works as a Civil Engineering specialist on the Imperial Development Commission.

His Highness Wen, Prince of the Celestial Empire
The 26 year old Ming Wen is the younger brother to Empress Ai. His early experience in life in many ways reflects that of his sister Jia.

Her Highness Shu, Princess of the Celestial Empire, Presumptive Ambassador to the United States of America
The 29 year old Ming Shu is a niece of the Empress and is planned to be sent to the United States of America as Ambassador upon the American's acceptance of her credentials. Unlike other members of her family she grew up in the then still UK-administered Hong Kong and only came under Chinese rule following the handover of the territory. She has obtained International Relations degrees from Cambridge University and is considered an extremely skilled diplomat. Under the Republican administration she provided advice to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on European policy.

Her Majesty Lu, Empress Dowager of the Celestial Empire

The 63 year old Ming Lu is the mother of the Empress, Crown Princess, and His Highness Wen. Married into the Ming dynasty she has had a long career in the Chinese civil service. Upon the ascension of her daughter to Empress she was made Empress Dowager. The Empress has given her much freedom to fill in her duties, which the Empress Dowager has used to focus on charity initiatives in lesser developed regions of the Celestial Empire.