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Who were the four regents who governed for the young Kangxi emperor?
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When the Kangxi emperor ascended the throne in 1661 at the age of seven, his government was administered by four conservative Manchu courtiers who served as regents:
- Sonin
- Suksaha
- Ebilun
- Oboi
These four advisers held real power during the early years of the emperor's reign. Following the death of Sonin, Oboi became a virtual dictator, eventually putting Suksaha to death and forcing Ebilun into submission. The young emperor eventually asserted his own authority in 1669 by eliminating Oboi and Ebilun with the assistance of his grandmother and his tutor, Xiong Cili.1