The
southern Ming was a loyalist movement that was active in
southern China following the
Ming dynasty's collapse in 1644. The Ming were overthrown when peasant rebels captured
Beijing. Ming generals then opened the gates of the
Great Wall to the Qing, hoping they would fight the rebels. Loyalists fled to
Nanjing, where they enthroned the
Prince of Fu. The Nanjing regime lasted until 1645, when the Qing captured Nanjing. Later, a series of pretenders held court in various southern Chinese cities.