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Taiping Rebellion Timeline

(1850–1864)

The Taiping Rebellion was a massive civil war in southern China fought between the ruling Qing dynasty and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, a movement led by Hong Xiuquan, who claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ. It was one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history, resulting in tens of millions of deaths before its suppression in 1864. Less

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Origins and Rise

Taiping victory at the Battle of Jintian

Jan 1851

In early January 1851, following a small-scale battle in late December 1850, a 10,000-strong rebel army organized by Feng Yunshan and Wei Changhui routed Qing forces stationed in Jintian (present-day Guiping, Guangxi), marking the effective outbreak of the Taiping Rebellion.

Image source: Jintian Uprising

Taiping victory at the Battle of Jintian

Hong Xiuquan declares himself Heavenly King

Jan 11, 1851

On January 11, 1851, Hong Xiuquan declared himself the Heavenly King of the Heavenly Kingdom of Peace, or Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, from which comes the term 'Taipings' commonly used for the rebels in English-language studies.

Image source: Taiping Rebellion

Hong Xiuquan declares himself Heavenly King

Taipings begin marching north

Sep 1851

In September 1851, the Taipings began marching north to escape Qing forces closing in on them, beginning their long advance out of Guangxi.

Military Campaigns

Taiping army advances into Hunan and captures Wuchang

Dec 1852

The Taiping army pressed north into Hunan following the Xiang River, besieging Changsha, occupying Yuezhou, and capturing Wuchang in December 1852 after reaching the Yangtze River.

Taiping Northern Expedition against Beijing begins

1853 - 1855

The Taiping launched a campaign against Beijing (1853–1855), which ultimately failed and severely weakened the rebellion, contributing to later internal strife.

Capture of Anqing

Feb 1853

In February 1853, the Taiping forces captured the strategic city of Anqing on the Yangtze River, opening the way for their advance on Nanjing.

Taipings capture Nanjing, renamed Tianjing

Mar 19, 1853

On March 19, 1853, the Taipings captured the city of Nanjing and Hong Xiuquan renamed it 'Tianjing', or the 'heavenly capital' of his kingdom, which would serve as the Taiping capital until 1864.

Taiping forces cross the Yellow River at Cangzhou

Oct 27, 1853

On October 27, 1853, Taiping forces crossed the Yellow River in Cangzhou and murdered 10,000 Manchus during their Northern Expedition.

Qing forces retake Wuchang for the final time

Dec 1856

In December 1856, Qing forces retook Wuchang for the final time, marking a turning point as the Taiping lost their foothold in the middle Yangtze.

Xiang Army captures Jiujiang

May 1858

In May 1858, Zeng Guofan's Xiang Army captured Jiujiang, and then the rest of Jiangxi by September, steadily eroding Taiping control in the region.

Taipings take Hangzhou

Mar 19, 1860

On March 19, 1860, the Taiping rebels successfully took Hangzhou, part of their successful invasion of southern Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, the wealthiest region of the Qing Empire.

Taipings lift the siege of Nanjing

May 1860

In May 1860, the Taiping defeated the imperial forces that had been besieging Nanjing since 1853, eliminating them from the region and opening the way for the invasion of southern Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Taipings capture Changzhou

May 26, 1860

On May 26, 1860, the Taiping rebels captured Changzhou as they swept through the wealthy Jiangsu region east of Nanjing.

Taipings capture Suzhou

Jun 2, 1860

On June 2, 1860, the Taiping rebels captured Suzhou, one of the richest cities of the Qing Empire, further expanding their control over southern Jiangsu.

Xiang Army captures Anqing

1861

In 1861, around the time of the death of the Xianfeng Emperor and ascension of the Tongzhi Emperor, Zeng Guofan's Xiang Army captured Anqing with help from a naval blockade imposed by the Royal Navy on the city.

Image source: Battle of Anqing

Xiang Army captures Anqing

Taiping Eastern Expedition and siege of Shanghai

Jan 1862

Near the end of 1861 the Taipings launched a final Eastern Expedition. In January 1862, Taiping troops surrounded Shanghai, but were unable to capture it.

Xiang Army besieges Nanjing

May 1862 - Jul 1864

After moving down the Yangtze River and recapturing the strategic city of Anqing, Zeng Guofan's forces besieged Nanjing during May 1862, beginning the final siege of the Taiping capital.

Taiping factories in Nanjing produce superior guns

Jun 1862 - Aug 1862

In the summer of 1862, a Western observer noted that rebel factories in Nanjing were producing superior guns—including heavy cannon—than those of the Qing.

Fall of Nanjing in the Third Battle of Nanjing

Jul 1864 - Jul 19, 1864

The younger Hong Tianguifu was inexperienced and powerless; Nanjing fell in July 1864 to the imperial armies after protracted street-by-street fighting in the Third Battle of Nanjing, marking the destruction of the Taiping regime.

Image source: Third Battle of Nanjing

Fall of Nanjing in the Third Battle of Nanjing

Foreign Involvement

Foreigners begin joining the Taiping

1853

As early as 1853, foreigners from various countries joined the rebels in combat and administrative roles, and were in a position to observe the Taiping in battle.

Hong invites missionary Issachar Jacox Roberts to Nanjing

1853

In 1853, Hong Xiuquan invited American missionary Issachar Jacox Roberts to come to Nanjing to aid in the administration of his government.

Roberts commissioned director of foreign affairs

1861

After Roberts arrived in Nanjing in 1861 and met with Hong, he was commissioned by him as the director of foreign affairs of the Taiping government.

Sir James Hope expedition to Nanjing

Feb 1861

After the conclusion of the Second Opium War, Royal Navy officer Sir James Hope led an expedition to Nanjing in February 1861 to assess the Taiping regime.

Hope's visit to Nanjing; Shanghai agreement refused

Nov 1861

In late 1861, Sir James Hope made a brief visit to Nanjing to come to an agreement with the Taiping rebels not to attack the city of Shanghai, a proposal which was refused by the Taiping government.

Ever-Victorious Army repulses attack on Shanghai; Ningbo reclaimed

1862

In 1862, the Ever-Victorious Army, commanded by Frederick Townsend Ward with European officers, repulsed another attack on Shanghai and helped to defend other treaty ports such as Ningbo, reclaimed on May 10.

Image source: Ever Victorious Army

Ever-Victorious Army repulses attack on Shanghai; Ningbo reclaimed

American arms shipment to the Taiping

Apr 1862

In April 1862, a shipment from an American dealer 'well known for their dealings with rebels' included 2,783 percussion cap muskets, 66 carbines, 4 rifles, and 895 field artillery guns; the dealer carried passports signed by the Loyal King.

Western officials visit Taiping capital; possible recognition considered

1863 - 1864

Many Western officials visited the capital of Taiping between 1863 and 1864, and American commissioner Robert Milligan McLane considered granting official recognition of the Taiping government.

Internal Conflict and Decline

Hong Xiuquan withdraws from daily administration

1853

In 1853, Hong Xiuquan withdrew from active control of policies and administration to rule exclusively by written proclamations, leaving much day-to-day power in the hands of subordinates such as Yang Xiuqing.

Tianjing Incident: Yang Xiuqing and followers slaughtered

Sep 1856 - Oct 1856

Tension within the Taiping leadership culminated in the 1856 Tianjing Incident, with Yang Xiuqing and his followers slaughtered by Wei Changhui, Qin Rigang, and their troops on Hong Xiuquan's orders, severely weakening the rebellion.

Image source: Tianjing Incident

Tianjing Incident: Yang Xiuqing and followers slaughtered

Hong Rengan joins the Taiping and gains power

1859

In 1859, Hong Rengan, Hong Xiuquan's cousin, joined the Taiping forces in Nanjing and was given considerable power by Hong, becoming the Shield King and a key strategist.

Shi Dakai surrenders and is executed

1863

In 1863, Shi Dakai surrendered to the Qing near the Sichuan capital Chengdu and was executed by slow-slicing, removing one of the Taiping's most capable commanders.

Image source: Shi Dakai

Shi Dakai surrenders and is executed

Qing control reestablished in most areas

Jan 1864

By early 1864, Qing control in most areas had been reestablished, leaving Nanjing as the last major Taiping stronghold under siege.

Death of Hong Xiuquan during the siege

Jun 1, 1864

On June 1, 1864, Hong Xiuquan died during the siege of Nanjing, his death caused by the consumption of weeds in the palace grounds as well as suspicions of poison, after a 20-day illness.

Image source: Hong Xiuquan

Death of Hong Xiuquan during the siege

Key Facts

  1. The rebellion was led by Hong Xiuquan, who believed he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ and sought to overthrow the Qing dynasty.
  2. The Taiping rebels established their capital at Nanjing, which they renamed Tianjing ('Heavenly Capital'), in 1853.
  3. The conflict is considered one of the deadliest wars in history, with estimates of 20 to 30 million deaths from fighting, famine, and disease.
  4. The Taiping program included radical social reforms such as land redistribution, gender equality, and the abolition of foot binding and opium use.
  5. The rebellion was ultimately crushed in 1864 with crucial military support from regional Qing armies and foreign forces like the 'Ever Victorious Army.'

Source

This Taiping Rebellion timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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