Assassination of Clemens von Ketteler
The German envoy, Klemens Freiherr von Ketteler was murdered on 20 June, and the foreign powers immediately demanded redress
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1900 in China — Page 2
Explore 107 historical events and records for China in 1900.
Historical records for China in 1900
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 107 unique records.
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21Named events on this page
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8Places on this page
June
Death of Ketteler
Kills German minister Clemens von Ketteler.
Diplomatic Mission
The German envoy, Klemens Freiherr von Ketteler was murdered on 20 June, and the foreign powers immediately demanded redress
Siege of Beijing
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
Siege of Beijing
His Kansu troops attack foreign positions in Beijing.
Court Diplomacy
Maintains contacts useful for later peace negotiations.
Declaration of War
Declares war against all foreign powers
Declaration of War
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
Declaration of War
Issues the imperial declaration against the foreign powers.
Declaration of War
Backs war against the foreign powers.
Empress Dowager Cixi declares war against all Foreign powers
Empress Dowager Cixi declares war against all Foreign powers
Rule of China
Empress Dowager Cixi, urged by the conservatives of the Imperial Court, supported the Boxers and declared war on foreign powers
The Boxers
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
The Boxers
Chinese officialdom was split between those supporting the Boxers and those favoring conciliation, led by Prince Qing
Siege of Beijing
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
Anti-War Memorials
Opposes the court's drift toward war with foreigners.
Anti-War Memorials
Urges the court not to declare war on the powers.
Completely disregarding diplomatic immunity, the Boxers and some elements of the
Completely disregarding diplomatic immunity, the Boxers and some elements of the Imperial army attacked the foreign compounds in Tianjin and Beijing
Declaration of War
Japan announces, "no more communication with China - except war"
Hardliner Policy
Supports the hardline court faction during the crisis.
Imperial Army
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
Imperial Army
Completely disregarding diplomatic immunity, the Boxers and some elements of the Imperial army attacked the foreign compounds in Tianjin and Beijing
Siege of Beijing
Commands Qing forces while restraining attacks on the legations.
Siege of Blagoveshchensk
The Boxers bombard the Russian town of Blagoveshchensk that lies across the Amur River
Siege of Peking
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
Siege of Peking
Clashes were reported between Chinese factions favoring war and those favoring conciliation, the latter led by Prince Qing
Siege of Peking
The Roman Catholic Church is burnt to the ground
Siege of Port Arhur
The Boxers blow up the railway line under Russian construction to Port Arthur
Siege of Tianjin
Completely disregarding diplomatic immunity, the Boxers and some elements of the Imperial army attacked the foreign compounds in Tianjin and Beijing
Southeast Mutual Protection
Supports provincial neutrality during the Boxer crisis.
Southeast Mutual Protection
Helps keep the lower Yangtze from joining the war.
Southeast Mutual Protection
Keeps Shandong out of the court's war against foreigners.
Southeast Mutual Protection
Joins provincial leaders avoiding war with foreign powers.
The Boxers
The Boxers bombard the Russian town of Blagoveshchensk that lies across the Amur River
The Boxers
The Boxers blow up the railway line under Russian construction to Port Arthur
Tianjin Fighting
Boxer fighters attack foreign positions near Tianjin.
July
Battle of Tianjin
Is killed resisting allied forces near Tianjin.
Death of Nie Shicheng
Dies resisting allied forces near Tianjin.
Siege of Beijing
An armistice is declared by the Chinese
Siege of Beijing
Declines to press the siege of the foreign legations.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.