Life

Mianyu was born on 8 March 1814 to Consort Ru in the Palace of Eternal Longevity. In 1820, shortly ater the death of Jiaqing Emperor in the Chengde Mountain Resort, Mianyu was granted a title of Prince Hui of the Second Rank (惠郡王) by Empress Dowager Gongci as the successor to the imperial throne has not been appointed. In 1830, he performed Grand Sacrifices together with Yiwei, while in 1835 he made sacrifices together with Yishao, Prince Ding of the First Rank. In 1839, Mianyu was promoted to the prince of the first rank. In 1840, he performed Grand Sacrificial Rites twice.

Military career

In 1851, Mianyu was appointed as a commander of Manchu forces of the Bordered Yellow Banner and was entrusted with managing the affairs of the Gioro family school. In 1856, when Second Opium War broke out, Mianyu was in charge of administration of Beijing and was vested with powers of Generalissimus Possessing a Mandate, which meant that he would be one of the commanders of Eight Banner Forces. When Sengge Rinchen suffered several defeats in Tongzhou, Mianyu sent emergency so as to protect Five Capitals (places where Qing dynasty emperors used to reside during the imperial tours). In 1853, when Taiping rebellion started, Xianfeng Emperor did not issue any decrees ordering Mianyu and Sengge Rinchen to take action using armed forces despite the fact that losses of Qing forces could be less. The main reason of this decision could be belief that Europeans were regarded as inferior nation in comparison to Manchurians and Chinese. However, when the rebels organised Northern Expedition (Taiping Rebellion), Sengge Rinchen's cavalry was sent to defeat the rebels.

Death and succession

Apart from military successes, Mianyu is credited with literary work named "Series of the Airi Study" (《爱日寨集》). He was one of the teachers of the young Zaichun, the Tongzhi Emperor. Empress Dowager Cixi and Empress Dowager Ci'an had him in high regard, mostly due to his moral character considered the most upright in his generation. Mianyu died on 9 January 1866 and was succeeded by his eldest son Yixiang.

Family

Mianyu was initially married to lady Guwalgiya, daughter of fifth rank literary official Bolin'e (博林额) since 1828. In 1837, he married another lady Guwalgiya, daughter of Guiliang (桂良) and elder sister of Princess Consort Gongzhong of the First Rank (Yixin's wife). Through the marriage with lady Guwalgiya and lady Hesheri, Mianyu was correlated with the most prominent Manchu clans.

• Primary consort, of the Guwalgiya clan (嫡福晋瓜尔佳氏, d. 1835)

　• First son

• Second primary consort, of the Gūwalgiya clan (继福晋瓜尔佳氏, d.1852)

　• Yixiang (奕详,15 March 1849 - 13 February 1886), fifth son

• Secondary consort, of the Hešeri clan (侧福晋赫舍里氏, d. 13 April 1860)

• Secondary consort, of the Yang clan (侧福晋杨氏)

　• Prince of the Fourth Rank Yimo (奕谟, 22 May 1850 – 17 August 1905), sixth son

• Secondary consort, of the Ligiya clan (侧福晋 李佳氏) 管女子-->惠亲王侧福晋

　• Second son

• Secondary consort, of the Xiegiya clan (侧福晋 谢佳氏)

　• Yicheng (奕诚, 7 April 1845 - 15 April 1847), third son

　• Grace Defender Duke Yixun (奕询, 6 March 1849 - 16 August 1871), fourth son

家庭

;妻妾

嫡福晉瓜爾佳氏，郎中博林額之女。道光八年十二月初八日成婚，著派管理伊家務之內務府大臣阿爾邦阿妥辦。道光十五年二月薨逝，著派總管內務府大臣克蒙額前往照料治喪，並且依照郡王福晉之例辦理；其子於該年二月十七日卯時出生，未知瓜爾佳氏之死與其生育有何關係。

繼福晉瓜爾佳氏，大學士桂良之第五女，恭忠親王奕訢福晉之姐。道光十七年二月十六日，時任河南巡撫桂良之女已被指婚。和碩惠親王門上報稱其於咸豐二年三月十二日薨逝。咸豐帝著派總管內務府大臣恩華前往照料，並且依照親王福晉之例辦理。

側福晉赫舍里氏，中國第一歷史檔案館

有藏惠親王門上長史阿爾繃阿於咸豐十年閏三月二十四日呈報的《為呈報惠親王之側福晉赫舍里氏出身及病故日期事》，赫舍里氏應在此日期之前已故。

側福晉楊佳氏，恆傑之女。正黃旗漢軍楊氏恆傑（字英甫），其父兵部侍郎、原正黃旗滿洲虔禮寶（字席珍）；虔禮寶的外孫女系嘉慶帝恭順皇貴妃（如妃）；虔禮寶系光緒十五年己丑（1889）進士楊鍾羲高祖。

側福晉李佳氏，靠山之女。原為官女子李氏，中國第一歷史檔案館有藏惠親王門上長史佛倫於咸豐二年十一月初七日上奏的《為惠親王之官女子李氏等應封側福晉事》。

側福晉謝佳氏，伊林布之女。