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China was fully united for the first time by Qin Shi Huang (r. 259–210 BCE), who established the first Imperial dynasty, adopting the title Huangdi (皇帝), meaning Emperor, which remained in use until the Imperial system's fall in 1912. [4]
Throughout Chinese history, "Emperor" (Chinese: 皇帝; pinyin: Huángdì) was the superlative title held by the monarchs who ruled various imperial dynasties or Chinese empires. In traditional Chinese political theory, the emperor was the "Son of Heaven", an autocrat with the divine mandate right to rule all under Heaven.
Chinese emperors had no constitution that set out their powers and those of their government. The emperor was the supreme executive, the highest legislative authority and last source of appeal, and the supreme commander of the military.
China was first united under a single imperial state by Qin Shi Huang in 221 BC. Orthography, weights, measures, and law were all standardized. Shortly thereafter, China entered its classical era with the Han dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD), marking a critical period.
“A chronological list of all known emperors of China, covering all dynasties: Xia, Shang, Qin, Han, Six Dynasties, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Liao, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing.”
From the mythic origins of the Chinese dynasties to the eventual fall of the last imperial house, Chinese emperors have long fought to maintain control over one of the most enduring empires on Earth. The rise and fall of various imperial families oversaw waves of innovation and cultural advancement.
King Ying Zheng assumes the title Shi Huangdi, First Emperor of China. Founds Qin Dynasty. First Emperor of China Shi Huangdi dies, buried with army of 8,000 terracotta warriors in palace tomb. Liu Bang is proclaimed emperor of China after defeating the rival general Xiang Yu. Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang) becomes the first Han ruler.