Yuan Shikai Video

General Yuan Shikai was the premier military commander of the late Qing dynasty. He served as Imperial Resident in Korea before the start of the Sino-Japanese War when Yuan Shikai returned to active military service. Later he was made commander of the New Army, the most modern military force in Imperial China. He turned against Emperor GuangXu to support Empress-Dowager Cixi in stopping reform efforts but after her death he made an agreement with the republican revolutionaries to obtain the Qing abdication in return for becoming President of the Republic of China. In December 1915 - January 1916 he proclaimed himself Emperor of China. However, the republicans adamantly opposed him while most monarchists remained loyal to the former Qing Emperor and his own family suffered from in-fighting over who would be heir-to-the-throne. Before 1916 was over he had been forced to abdicate, was expelled from power and died.

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anaclet: Some people just don't know where they belong. How could a general ever dream of becoming Emperor of China?

MadMonarchist: I wouldn't have been for him myself, I think it would have been better to support the Qing dynasty already ruling, but, it was not a totally unprecedented idea for the general. The founder of the Ming dynasty was an uneducated peasant who eventually became Emperor and his was not the only case in Chinese history of that happening.

Vonpars: That question was perfectly answered by MM. However, in another aspect you're right, to challenge the throne in such times was an act of suicide. He was recognized as the commander of China's only modern army at that time and thereby a very useful element for preventing the conservatives from gaining power. Yuan could've been the saviour of the dynasty instead his selfishness and disloyalty proved to be the key element to the tragic collapse of the imperial era.

initvesa: That begs the question what kind of people become emperor?

Author: MadMonarchist; Uploaded: Nov 7, 2009; Duration: 3:19; Views: 258

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