Cixi Biography

Birth of Cixi, daughter of Huizheng, an ordinary official from the Manchu Yehenara clan

Elevated to the fifth rank of consorts and given the title "Imperial Concubine Yi"

Elevated to the fourth rank of consorts as "Consort Yi"

Gives birth to Zaichun, the Xianfeng Emperor's only surviving son

Elevated to the third rank of consorts as "Noble Consort Yi"

Upon the death of the Xianfeng Emperor, his Empress, aged 25, was promoted to the status of Empress Dowager. Although her official title was "Empress Dowager Ci'an", she was popularly known as the "East Empress Dowager" because she lived in the eastern Zhongcui Palace

Upon the death of the Xianfeng Emperor, his Empress, aged 25, was promoted to the status of Empress Dowager

In Rehe Province, while waiting for an astrologically favourable time to transport the emperor's coffin back to Beijing, Cixi conspired with court officials and imperial relatives to seize power

The Empress Dowager changed her long policy of suppressing Boxers, and issued edicts in their defence, causing protests from foreign powers

Completely disregarding diplomatic immunity, the Boxers and some elements of the Imperial army attacked the foreign compounds in Tianjin and Beijing

Diplomats, foreign civilians and soldiers, and Chinese Christians in the Legation Quarter were under siege by the Imperial Army of China and the Boxers for 55 days. Completely disregarding diplomatic immunity, the Boxers and some elements of the Imperial army attacked the foreign compounds in Tianjin and Beijing

Completely disregarding diplomatic immunity, the Boxers and some elements of the Imperial army attacked the foreign compounds in Tianjin and Beijing

Diplomats, foreign civilians and soldiers, and Chinese Christians in the Legation Quarter were under siege by the Imperial Army of China and the Boxers for 55 days. Completely disregarding diplomatic immunity, the Boxers and some elements of the Imperial army attacked the foreign compounds in Tianjin and Beijing

Completely disregarding diplomatic immunity, the Boxers and some elements of the Imperial army attacked the foreign compounds in Tianjin and Beijing

The railway line to Tianjin was cut by Boxers in the countryside and Beijing was isolated

The first Boxer, dressed in his finery, was seen in the Legation Quarter. The German Minister, Clemens von Ketteler, and German soldiers captured a Boxer boy and inexplicably executed him. In response, thousands of Boxers burst into the walled city of Beijing that afternoon and burned many of the Christian churches and cathedrals in the city, burning some victims alive

The first Boxer, dressed in his finery, was seen in the Legation Quarter. The German Minister, Clemens von Ketteler, and German soldiers captured a Boxer boy and inexplicably executed him. In response, thousands of Boxers burst into the walled city of Beijing that afternoon and burned many of the Christian churches and cathedrals in the city, burning some victims alive

During the war, Imperial Chinese forces deployed a weapon called "electric mines" on June 15, at the river Beihe (Peiho) before the Battle of Dagu Forts to prevent the Eight-Nation Alliance from sending ships to attack

Cixi received an ultimatum demanding that China surrender control of its military and financial affairs to foreign powers.

On 17 June they took the Dagu Forts commanding the approaches to Tianjin, and from there brought increasing numbers of troops on shore.

She told the Grand Council that the powers had begun aggression and that the nation's extinction was imminent.

The allied nations took steps to reinforce their military presence significantly.

Muslim General Ma Fuxiang, posted in southern Beijing at Hunting Park, attacked and defeated the Eight Nation Alliance led by the British Admiral Seymour at the Battle of Langfang

Muslim General Ma Fuxiang, posted in southern Beijing at Hunting Park, attacked and defeated the Eight Nation Alliance led by the British Admiral Seymour at the Battle of Langfang

The German envoy, Klemens Freiherr von Ketteler was murdered on 20 June, and the foreign powers immediately demanded redress

The German envoy, Klemens Freiherr von Ketteler was murdered on 20 June, and the foreign powers immediately demanded redress

The legations of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Spain, Belgium, The Netherlands, the United States, Russia and Japan were located in the Beijing Legation Quarter south of the Forbidden City. The Chinese army and Boxer irregulars besieged the Legation Quarter from 20 June to 14 August 1900

Declares war against all foreign powers

Shanghais Chinese elite supported the provincial governors of southeastern China in resisting the Imperial declaration of war. Empress Dowager Cixi, urged by the conservatives of the Imperial Court, supported the Boxers and declared war on foreign powers. A number of regional governors including Li Hongzhang and Zhang Zhidong quietly refused to cooperate

Empress Dowager Cixi declares war against all Foreign powers

Empress Dowager Cixi, urged by the conservatives of the Imperial Court, supported the Boxers and declared war on foreign powers

In response to reports of an armed invasion to lift the siege, the initially hesitant Empress Dowager Cixi supported the Boxers and on June 21 issued an Imperial Decree declaring war on the foreign powers. Diplomats, foreign civilians and soldiers as well as Chinese Christians in the Legation Quarter were placed under siege by the Imperial Army of China and the Boxers for 55 days

Chinese soldiers and Boxers set fire to areas north and west of the British Legation, using it as a "frightening tactic" to attack the defenders

An armistice is declared by the Chinese

The armistice, although occasionally broken, endured until 13 August when, with an allied army led by the British Alfred Gaselee approaching Beijing to relieve the siege, the Chinese launched their heaviest fusillade on the Legation Quarter. As the foreign army approached, Chinese forces melted away

The siege was raised when the Eight-Nation Alliance brought 20,000 armed troops to China, defeated the Imperial Army, and captured Beijing

The siege was raised when the Eight-Nation Alliance brought 20,000 armed troops to China, defeated the Imperial Army, and captured Beijing

The siege was raised when the Eight-Nation Alliance brought 20,000 armed troops to China, defeated the Imperial Army, and captured Beijing

China is fined war reparations of 450,000,000 taels of fine silver (1 tael = 1.2 troy ounces) for the loss that it caused

China paid 668,661,220 taels of silver from 1901 to 1939, equivalent in 2010 to ~US$61 billion on a purchasing power parity basis.

The Boxer Protocol of 7 September 1901 ended the uprising and provided for severe punishments, including an indemnity of 67 million pounds (450 million taels of silver), more than the Governments annual tax revenue.

The protocol orders the execution of 10 high-ranking officials linked to the outbreak and other officials who were found guilty for the slaughter of Westerners in China.

The reparation would be paid within 39 years, and would be 982,238,150 taels with interests (4 percent per year) included.

The Boxer Protocol of 7 September 1901 provided for the execution of Government officials who had supported the Boxers, provisions for foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing, and 450 million taels of silver—more than the Government's annual tax revenue—to be paid as indemnity over the course of the next thirty-nine years to the eight nations involved

The Boxer Protocol orders the execution of 10 high-ranking officials linked to the outbreak and other officials who were found guilty for the slaughter of Westerners in China

The Boxer Protocol of 7 September 1901 ended the uprising and provided for severe punishments, including an indemnity of 67 million pounds (450 million taels of silver), more than the Governments annual tax revenue

The Boxer Protocol of 7 September 1901 provided for the execution of Government officials who had supported the Boxers, provisions for foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing, and 450 million taels of silver—more than the Government's annual tax revenue—to be paid as indemnity over the course of the next thirty-nine years to the eight nations involved

The Peace of Beijing ends the Boxer Rebellion. China is forced to pay ineminities to the world powers

Death of Cixi