Zaziba

Overview

Zaqiba was a member of the Shumulu clan of the Bordered Yellow Banner of the Manchus in the early Qing Dynasty, residing in Harmin. Volume Six of the official clan genealogy compiled during the Qianlong reign, *The General Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he led his brothers and relatives to surrender at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, and was given a half-rank (zuoling (company captain)) to manage. Due to his competent performance, he was appointed as a Beiyu (beiyu), and for his meritorious service in the campaigns against the Ula and Liaodong, he was promoted to Third-Class Light Cavalry Captain, and later appointed as Zhalguqi (jargūci). He retired due to old age.

A half-rank (half-company assignment) was a basic administrative unit for surrendered military households, and should not be simply interpreted as only having half an official position. Beiyu was an early title and needs to be understood in the context of the early Qing Dynasty's official system. Zhalguqi was related to early judicial and legal affairs; the biography of Fei Yingdong in the *Draft History of the Qing Dynasty* can be used as a reference for his duties. Light Cavalry Captain was a hereditary title, different in nature from basic administrative and judicial duties.

His son, Dulezhen, inherited the title, but after his death without an heir, the title was not renewed. During the Yongzheng reign, the former Third-Class Light Cavalry Captain was demoted to Cavalry Captain, and his title was bestowed upon Fu'erxun, a great-grandson of the Zhaqiba clan. This was a reinstatement of hereditary office across family branches, not a direct father-son succession. His younger brother, Bangxun, served as Commander of the Imperial Guard and concurrently as a Zuo Ling (military officer). His grandson, Changwu, died in battle during the campaign against Galdan and was posthumously awarded the title of Yunqiwei (a military rank), a separate military achievement. Harmin's modern position, specific military regulations, and the years of his various appointments are still pending verification; the achievements of his descendants are separate from his own.