"Taiping Rebellion of 1850-1864" Topic

The Opium Conflicts & Early Western Military Influence in China.

"The Taiping Rebellion was one of the largest and bloodiest civil conflicts in modern world history; though seemingly forgotten today, in the 1850's-1860's the small but prominent role played by many Westerners in the conflict was nearly a decisive factor. This conflict is remembered in China and Asia today as a bloody holy war inspired by the desire of some Chinese to escape the Imperial domination of the Manchu minority and to attain religious and cultural freedom.

Named for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, an unrecognized state ruled from 1851-1864 by a charismatic peasant and former low ranking civil servant named Hong Xiuquan (b.1814-1864) who claimed to see visions from above and who also claimed to be the blood and spiritual brother of Jesus Christ. Support swelled for the rebellion of Xiuquan allowing for his forces to capture Nanjing in southern China as their capital in the year 1851, severely threatening the Qing Empire's rule throughout China for the next ten years. The military of the Taiping rebels in the rebellion's later stages was led by General Li Hsiu-Ch'eng known commonly as the Chung Wang (Loyal Prince). Chung Wang won most of the Taiping's later victories in the years 1858-1860.

The roots of the Taiping Rebellion are grounded in the opening of China to Westerners for the first time to import and trade. By the mid to late 1840's Chinese port cities were flooded with Westerners, mostly British, French, and Americans. The Chinese absolutely hated the Westerners referring to them frequently as "barbarians". Imperial China under the Qing emperors was dieing a slow death while the last royal family' of China rapidly lost control of its more than 400 million inhabitants. At least part of the Qing Empire's woes lay in the illicit opium trade which was gaining popularity worldwide since the British controlled the poppy grown in India and Pakistan and had control of the seas they willingly imported opium into China starting the Opium Wars…"
Full article here
link

Amicalemnt
Armand

It's a fascinating conflict.

Does anyone make a range for it?

28mm: Foundry.

15mm: Irregular, and if you can get them, Falcon Figures.

Parkfield Miniatures-a small but expanding range!

link

Glad you enjoyed it my good friend!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand