In 1644 China was reigned by anarchy. In Manchuria the Manchu people had risen and conquered most of the province; other uprisings waged in the east and in the west of the empire, and when people were hit by severe famines after years of drought in the north of China, they started to rebel there, too. One of the leaders was Li Zicheng, who conquered Beijing in April 1644. At that time Wu Sangui, the issuer of our coin, was the only remaining commander of the Ming. He moved against Li Zicheng, thereby allying with the Manchu, who were on their way to Beijing to conquer the capital on their part. The battle ended in favor of the Manchu, who established the new Qing dynasty in Beijing.