Yongle Emperor of China (d. 1424)

Born Zhu Di, fourth son of the Hongwu Emperor, founder of the Ming dynasty. Raised at the frontier fortress of Beiping (modern Beijing). His childhood was military camps and Mongol border raids.

Launched a civil war against his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor, who had been systematically stripping power from the princes. Zhu Di claimed he was defending his father's legacy. The war lasted three years.

Captured Nanjing and seized the throne. The Jianwen Emperor vanished. Whether he died in the palace fire or escaped as a monk remains one of China's greatest historical mysteries.

Launched the first of Zheng He's treasure voyages. A fleet of 317 ships and 27,000 men sailed to Southeast Asia, India, and the Persian Gulf. The largest ships were 400 feet long. Columbus's Santa Maria was 62.

Personally led five military campaigns against the Mongols into the steppe north of the Great Wall. He commissioned the Yongle Encyclopedia, 11,000 volumes assembling all Chinese knowledge. Most of it was lost in later centuries.

Completed the Forbidden City in Beijing and moved the Ming capital north from Nanjing. 100,000 artisans, a million laborers, 14 years of construction. 980 buildings on 178 acres. It remains the largest palace complex on Earth.

Died on the march home from his fifth Mongol campaign. He was 64, in the field with his army. His successors ended the treasure voyages, burned the fleet records, and retreated behind the Great Wall.