Who was the last emperor of the Yuan dynasty?

The last emperor of the Yuan dynasty was Toghon Temür. He ruled from 1333 until 1368, when the Ming founder Zhu Yuanzhang’s forces captured Khanbaliq, the Yuan capital, and forced him to withdraw from China proper.

Toghon Temür inherited a dynasty weakened by factional struggles, financial problems, floods, famine, and widespread rebellion. The Red Turban movement, which began in 1351, grew into a major threat. Although Toghon Temür remained emperor, effective control over much of China steadily slipped away.

After abandoning Khanbaliq, he first retreated toward Shangdu and later to Yingchang, where he died in 1370. His son Ayushiridara succeeded him as ruler of the Mongol-led state commonly called the Northern Yuan. This creates a frequent source of confusion: Toghon Temür was the last emperor of the Yuan dynasty in China, but he was also the first ruler of the Northern Yuan period. He is additionally known as Emperor Huizong of Yuan and, in Ming-era terminology, Emperor Shun.