Emperor Duzong 宋度宗 (1240 - 1274) was the 15th emperor of the Song Dynasty of China, and the sixth emperor of the Southern Song. His personal name was Zhao Mengqi (趙孟启). He is the nephew of Emperor Lizong and he reigned from 1264 to 1274. Duzong's reign was plagued with rebellions, warfares and upheaval. The Mongols have spent decades harassing the borders of the Southern Song and was on the verge of conquering the whole of China. Duzong totally ignored his duties and instead delegated all state and military affairs to hands of his incompetent minister namely Jia Sidao while Duzong indulged in drinking, women and lived in opulence. The last decisive battle was fought in Shangfan (in today's Hubei province) in 1274 when the Mongols succeeded in capturing and destroying the last Song stronghold. The defeat and the lost of Shangfan sealed the fate of the Song dynasty and the news of its capture was deliberately hidden from Duzong by Jia. Events Batu Khan and the Golden Horde sack the Ruthenian city of Kyiv Births Pope Benedict XI Deaths April 11 - Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, also known as Llywelyn The Great Prince of Gwynedd Monarchs/Presidents Aragon - James I King of Aragon and count of Barcelona (reigned from 1213 to 1276) Castile... Events May 7 - In France the Second Council of Lyons opens to consider the condition of the Holy Land and to agree to a union with the Byzantine church. ... Alternative meaning: Song Dynasty (420-479) The Song dynasty (Chinese: 宋朝) was a ruling dynasty in China from 960-1279. ... Events May 12 - The Battle of Lewes begins (ends May 14). ... Events May 7 - In France the Second Council of Lyons opens to consider the condition of the Holy Land and to agree to a union with the Byzantine church. ... The Mongols are an ethnic group that originated in what is now Mongolia, Russia, and China, particularly Inner Mongolia. ...

Duzong died shortly thereafter and was succeeded by his four year old son. Although technically not the last emperor of the Song dynasty, Duzong was considered the last emperor of the Song dynasty that could have made a difference.