1850–1864Reputable sourceWell documented
The Taiping Rebellion
On the timeline · around 1850–1864 · The Qing Empire
What happened
Led by Hong Xiuquan, who believed himself a younger brother of Jesus Christ, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom rose against the Qing in 1850, capturing Nanjing and much of southern China. It took the dynasty fourteen years and foreign help to crush the movement.
Why it matters
With a death toll estimated in the tens of millions, the Taiping Rebellion was one of the deadliest wars in human history and left the Qing dynasty gravely weakened.
Sources
- Asia for Educators, Columbia University. The Taiping Rebellion, 1851–1864 · Reputable source