Ming Dynasty Founded

On January 23, 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang proclaimed himself the Hongwu Emperor and established the Ming dynasty after overthrowing Mongol Yuan rule. A former peasant and Buddhist monk, Zhu had joined the Red Turban rebellion in 1352 and defeated rival warlords, including Chen Youliang at Lake Poyang in 1363. The last Yuan emperor fled north to Mongolia. The Ming dynasty lasted until 1644, ruling as China's final Han-led imperial dynasty and overseeing a population that grew from roughly 60 million to 150 million.