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Wei Zhongxian (1568-October 19,1627) is considered by most historians as the most powerful and notorious eunuch in chinese history. He was a native of Sun-ning in Anhui province,who made himself a eunuch, and changed his name to Li Chin-chung. Entering the palace, he managed to get into the service of the wet-nurse of the future emperor. The couple began manipulating emperor Hsi Tsung, and later Hsi Tsung made Wei the Grand Secretary of the State, which gave him absolute power over the court. Wei prosecuted anyone who opposed his decisions, resulting in the death and imprisonment of many loyal officials. He later proclaimed himself to be "Nine-Thousand Years" which meant that he was the second most important person in the country, just behind the emperor who is called the "Ten-Thousand Years". In 1627, his control of the court ended by the death of Hsi Tsung, whose successor promptly dismissed him. He hanged himself to escape trial, and his corpse was disembowelled.
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