Intermarriage and Political Alliances
Marriage with the Aisin Gioro family was used by the Qing emperors to further political alliances. The Qing offered Aisin Gioro princesses to Chinese generals during the Manchu conquest of China to induce them to surrender. Aisin Gioro princesses were also frequently married to Mongol princes.
The Manchus lured Chinese Generals into defecting and joining the Eight Banners by giving marrying them to women from the Imperial Aisin Gioro family. One Chinese General, Li Yongfang (Li Yung-fang) was bribed by the Manchus into defecting by being married to an Aisin Gioro wife, and being given a position in the banners. Many more Chinese anandoned their posts and joined the Manchus. A mass marriage of Chinese to Manchu women numbering 1,000 took place in 1632 after Prince Yoto came up with the idea. They were either generals or officials. It was said by the Manchu leader that "since the Chinese generals and Manchu women lived together and ate together, it would help these surrendered generals to forget their motherland." Women from the Imperial family were also married to other Chinese who joined the Qing after their conquest of China.
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