Yongren Emperor

The Yongren Emperor (Baiyu: 永仁帝), personal name Chang Meiyou (Baiyu: 常梅友), was the 7th and last monarch of the Middle Bai Dynasty. Descended from the dynasty's founder Prince Hu, he was the grandfather of the Fengyang Emperor. During his reign, he attempted to stall the fascists' rise to power by backing the socialists, which alienated him from many of the Bai elite and the military. He was deposed in a fascist-backed coup in 1922, thus ending the Middle Bai Dynasty.

Born in 1878, Prince Chang was the son of the Yonghsun Emperor and the younger brother of the Jinlong Emperor. After his brother's assassination, he ascended the throne in 1916 amidst the political instability that plagued the waning years of the Middle Bai Dynasty. Influenced by leftist ideals during his education in Gobrassanya and Belphenia, he opposed the rising fascist party and dismissed Chancellor Yu Shanliu, triggering snap elections in the Empire that led to socialists taking power. During his brief reign, the Emperor approved land reforms, profit sharing for industrial workers and major investments in infrastructure, while backing the de-militarisation of the Empire to improve relations with its neighbours. However, the military revolted, and he was forced to flee during the 1922 coup.

Finding asylum in Kanglapo, the Emperor established a government-in-exile, which soon joined the Socialist Alliance when he aligned himself with the communist rebels fighting against the Fascist government. The former Emperor frequently travelled around the world, especially Grinzez and Gobrassanya, to draw support for the resistance movement. Fascist agents eventually assassinated him in 1931. He was survived by his eldest daughter, Chang Meisheng, who would eventually father the Fengyang Emperor.