Yuerkule Clan

Overview

The Yuerkule clan is a Manchu surname recorded in Volume 50 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Eight Banners Manchu Clans*, an official compilation of the Qianlong Emperor's reign. Clan members were scattered throughout areas including Nuoluo.

The Zhuoqin clan of the Bordered White Banner originally resided in Nuoluo and submitted to the Qing dynasty during the Tiancong reign. His grandson, Alha, distinguished himself in the conquest of Shandong, earning the title of Yunqiwei (a military rank). Having no heir, the title was inherited by his uncle's son, Xiazhu.

Xiazhu participated in battles in Ordos and Guizhou, earning the title of Second-Class Qingche duwei. He retired due to illness and the title was passed to Baisetu.

This branch was later inherited by a collateral relative, Qige, who, upon inheriting, forfeited the imperial decree's additional rank and inherited the title of Qiduwei. The title then passed to Changtai.

Another great-grandson of Zhuoqin, Changshou, was posthumously awarded the title of Yunqiwei for related military duties. His son, Cunzhu, and grandson, Muge, inherited the title.

The origins and transmissions of different hereditary titles within the genealogy need to be distinguished for each branch.

Another branch, the Bordered Yellow Banner and the Monuo branch, originally lived along the Songhua River and submitted to the Qing dynasty at its beginning. Their great-grandson, Zhongtai, distinguished himself in the campaign against Pinghe County in Fujian, earning the title of Yunqiwei (a military rank), and was later promoted by imperial decree.

The Plain White Banner's Akqilu branch, on the other hand, originally lived along the Heilongjiang River, and its descendants included Third-Class Imperial Guards and Infantry Officers.

Hereditary titles were positions that could be inherited according to regulations, while Imperial Guards and Infantry Officers were actual posts; the two types of records could not be substituted for each other.