 Descendants of the first Ming emperor were made princes and given ( typically nominal ) military commands , annual stipends , and large estates . The title used was " king " ( 王 , wáng ) but – unlike the princes in the Han and Jin dynasties – these estates were not feudatories , the princes did not serve any administrative function , and they partook in military affairs only during the reigns of the first two emperors . The rebellion of the Prince of Yan was justified in part as upholding the rights of the princes , but once the Yongle Emperor was enthroned , he continued his nephew 's policy of disarming his brothers and moved their fiefs away from the militarized northern border . Although princes served no organ of state administration , the princes , consorts of the imperial princesses , and ennobled relatives did staff the Imperial Clan Court , which supervised the imperial genealogy . 
