The great voyages of zheng he

Zheng He and the Treasure Fleet Timeline

By Ola B.
  • Jun 11, 1360

    Zhu Di Born

    Zhu Di born, fourth son of future Ming Dynasty founder
  • Jan 23, 1368

    Ming Dynasty Founded

  • Jan 1, 1371

    Zheng He Born

    (The actual date is unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Zheng He born to Hui Muslim family in Yunnan, under birth name of Ma He.
  • Jan 1, 1380

    Zhu Di made Prince of Yan

    (The actual date is unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Zhu Di made Prince of Yan, sent to Beijing.
  • Jan 1, 1381

    Ming forces conquer Yunnan

    (The actual date is unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Ming forces conquer Yunnan, kill Ma He's father and capture Ma He.
  • Jan 1, 1384

    Ma He Castrated

    (The actual date is unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Ma He is castrated, sent to serve as a eunuch in Prince of Yan's household.
  • Period: Jun 30, 1398 to Jul 13, 1402

    Reign of Jianwen Emperor

  • Jan 1, 1399

    Eunuch Ma He leads Prince of Yan's forces

    (The actual date is unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Eunuch Ma He leads Prince of Yan's forces to victory at Zheng Dike, Beijing.
  • Aug 1, 1399

    Prince of Yan (Zhu Di) Rebels

    (The actual date in August is unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Prince of Yan rebels against nephew, the Jianwen Emperor.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1402 to Jan 1, 1405

    Ma He serves as Director of Palace Servants

    (The actual dates are unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Ma He serves as Director of Palace Servants, highest eunuch post.
  • Jul 1, 1402

    Prince of Yan captures Nanjing

    (The actual date in July is unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Prince of Yan captures Nanjing; Jianwen Emperor (probably) dies in palace fire.
  • Jul 17, 1402

    Prince of Yan (Zhu Di) becomes Yongle Emperor

  • Jan 1, 1403

    Yongle Emperor orders construction of a huge fleet

    (The actual date is unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Yongle Emperor orders construction of huge fleet of treasure junks at Nanjing.
  • Feb 11, 1404

    Yongle Emperor awards Ma He

    Yongle Emperor awards Ma He with the honorific name "Zheng He."
  • Period: Jul 11, 1405 to Oct 2, 1407

    First Voyage of Treasure Fleet

    First voyage of Treasure Fleet, led by Admiral Zheng He, to Calicut, India.
  • Jan 1, 1407

    Treasure Fleet defeats Pirate Chen Zuyi

    (The actual date is unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Treasure Fleet defeats pirate Chen Zuyi at Straights of Malacca; Zheng He takes pirates to Nanjing for execution.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1407 to Jan 1, 1409

    Second Voyage of Treasure Fleet

    (The actual dates are unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Second Voyage of Treasure Fleet, again to Calicut.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1409 to Jan 1, 1410

    Yongle Emperor and Ming Army battle Mongols

    (The actual dates are unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
  • Period: Jan 1, 1409 to Jul 6, 1411

    Third Voyage of Treasure Fleet to Calicut

    (The actual date of when this event began is unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Third Voyage of Treasure Fleet to Calicut. Zheng He intervenes in Ceylon succession dispute.
  • Period: Dec 18, 1412 to Aug 12, 1415

    Fourth Voyage of the Treasure Fleet to Hormuz

    Fourth Voyage of the Treasure Fleet to Hormuz. Capture of the pretender Sekandar in Semudera (Sumatra) on return trip.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1413 to Jan 1, 1416

    Yongle Emperor's 2nd campaign against the Mongols

    (The actual dates are unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
  • Period: Jan 1, 1417 to Aug 8, 1419

    Fifth Voyage of the Treasure Fleet

    (The actual date on which this event began is unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Fifth Voyage of the Treasure Fleet, to Arabia and East Africa.
  • May 16, 1417

    Yongle Emperor enters new capital city at Beijing

    Yongle Emperor enters new capital city at Beijing, leaves Nanjing forever.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1421 to Sep 3, 1422

    Sixth Voyage of the Treasure Fleet

    (The actual date on which this event began is unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Sixth Voyage of the Treasure Fleet. Zheng He traveled to East Africa again.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1422 to Jan 1, 1424

    Series of campaigns, led by the Yongle Emperor (Zhu Di)

    (The actual dates are unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Series of campaigns against the Mongols, led by the Yongle Emperor.
  • Aug 12, 1424

    Yongle Emperor Dies

    Yongle Emperor dies of a possible stroke while fighting Mongols.
  • Sep 7, 1424

    Zhu Gaozhi, eldest son of the Yongle Emperor, becomes the Hongxi Emperor

    Zhu Gaozhi, eldest son of Yongle Emperor, becomes Hongxi Emperor. Orders stop to Treasure Fleet voyages.
  • May 29, 1425

    Hongxi Emperor Dies

    Hongxi Emperor dies. Son Zhu Zhanji becomes Xuande Emperor.
  • Jun 29, 1429

    Xuande Emperor orders Zheng He

    Xuande Emperor orders Zheng He to take one more voyage.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1430 to Jan 1, 1433

    Seventh and final Voyage of the Treasure Fleet

    (The actual dates are unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Seventh and final Voyage of the Treasure Fleet, to Arabia and East Africa.
  • Jan 1, 1433

    Zheng He Dies

    (The actual date is unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Zheng He dies and is buried at sea on the return leg of the final voyage.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1433 to Jan 1, 1436

    Zheng He's companions publish accounts of their travels

    (The actual date is unknown to my knowledge, however the year is correct)
    Zheng He's companions Ma Huan, Gong Zhen and Fei Xin publish accounts of their travels.