Nurhaci, alternatively Nurhachi (February 21, 1559  September 30, 1626) was an important Manchu chieftain who rose to prominence in the late 16th century in what is today Northeastern China. Nurhaci was part of the Aisin Gioro clan, and reigned from 1616 to his death in September 1626. Nurhaci reorganized and united various Manchu tribes, consolidated the Eight Banners military system, and eventually launched an assault on China proper's Ming Dynasty and Korea's Joseon Dynasty. His conquest of China's northeastern Liaoning province laid the groundwork for the conquest of the rest of China by his descendants, who would go on to found the Qing Dynasty in 1644. He is also generally credited with the creation of a written script for the Manchu language.