Xu Da

Xu Da (1332–1385), courtesy name Tiande, known by his title as Duke of Wei (魏國公), later posthumously as Prince of Zhongshan (中山王), was a Chinese military general and official who lived in the late Yuan dynasty and early Ming dynasty. He was a friend of the Hongwu Emperor, the founder and first ruler of the Ming dynasty, and assisted him in overthrowing the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty and establishing the Ming dynasty. He was also the father of Empress Xu, father-in-law of the Yongle Emperor, and maternal grandfather of the Hongxi Emperor. All but two subsequent Ming and Southern Ming emperors were descended from him. Xu Da was cautious and skilled in governing the army, making outstanding contributions to the establishment of the Ming dynasty and the recovery of Chinese territory. Zhu Yuanzhang praised him as "the Great Wall" of Ming. After his death, Xu Da was posthumously honored as "Prince of Zhongshan" (中山王), ranking first in the Imperial Ancestral Temples and Portrait Temples of Meritorious Officials.