The modest concubine of the Emperor of China secretly cherished ambitious dreams. She was able to come to power over a huge country thanks to cunning, cunning and luck - she gave birth to a son and an heir to the emperor. But Cixi was so brutal that she destroyed an entire empire.
World history knows many bloodthirsty despots. Medieval Romania was ruled by Vlad Tepes, who loved to impale his victims. In Russia, Tsar Ivan the Terrible killed not only thousands of former confidants, but also his own son. In the XX century, one of the African countries was ruled by the "emperor" Bokassa, who ate the meat of his victims during monstrous cannibalistic rituals.
As in nature, female black widow spiders are superior in their venomousness to males, so among people there is a type of women who are more merciless and cruel than men. Such was the Cixi Empress of China, nicknamed the Dragon. Compared to her actions, the crimes of male tyrants fade. She scored objectionable prisons, introduced brutal torture into practice and sent to death thousands and thousands of those whom she considered traitors to China and servants of the West. Its brutality culminated in the 1900 "boxing rebellion" in Beijing, when the Chinese declared war on foreigners who controlled the lucrative opium trade.
Emperor's concubine
Cixi incited the mob to engage in heinous violence never seen before in the Chinese capital. She ordered her troops to fire cannons at a Catholic cathedral in the city center. During this, thousands of innocent men, women and children were killed. Cixi ordered to stop firing only when her head ached from the continuous roar of artillery. And then she ordered the military not to leave anyone alive. “My empire must be cleansed with blood,” she said.
The bloodshed took place 8 years before her death, but it did not save feudal China, which she so wanted to preserve, but only accelerated its collapse.
Empress Cixi ruled for 50 years and turned out to be the last ruler of a multimillion-dollar China. She belonged to the ancient dynasty of Manchu emperors.
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Cixi was born in November 1835 into a Manchu mandarin family. She was destined to become a concubine in the palace of the emperor. At 16, she entered the imperial palace, the "Closed City" in Beijing. This city was a world of extraordinary beauty and harmony, intended for a day of life, consisting mainly of pleasures.
3000 concubines and 3000 eunuchs lived in the palace. It was rumored that ten mistresses a day visited the emperor's bedroom. The concubines were distributed according to ranks, and those who belonged to the lowest rank could live in the palace all their lives without meeting the emperor. When Cixi first set foot on the imperial court, she was in the fifth, lowest rank.
Climbing Cixi
The young girl was quite ambitious, smart and at that time quite educated. She made every effort so that life in a gilded cage would not be wasted. She read eagerly, plunging into the contents of the great books from the imperial library, persuaded the courtiers to hire teachers to supplement their education. As Cixi's education grew, her cunning became more and more subtle. She spent a lot of sip on studying the rules of etiquette that operated in the palace walls. She did everything to get closer to the emperor.
Cixi calculatedly made friends with the monarch's wife, who was 15 years older than her and, moreover, was sterile. When the weakening ruler decided that he needed an heir, he asked his wife to choose a concubine. And she chose Cixi. By that time, Cixi had lived in the palace for only 3 years, but she had already realized one dream. Now she was already one of those close to the emperor.
In April 1856, Cixi gave birth to a child. Naturally, the birth of the emperor's only son, heir to the Chinese throne, strengthened Cixi's influence. The concubine became the center of attention and praise from the courtiers. But for her, the most important thing was the attention that the emperor himself paid to her. He realized that this woman is very smart and capable, and transferred more and more of his powers to her, until Cixi became the true ruler of China.
This was the time when China began to lose its centuries-old tradition of isolation from the outside world. The French and British came here as traders and brought new ideas that excited the population and provoked an anti-monarchist movement in some parts of the country. Most of the rioters were in Taiping City. In response to the infiltration of foreigners, Cixi moved the courtyard to the mountains surrounding Beijing.
She gave the order to publicly chop off the heads of all arrested rebels, organized a campaign of terror against Europeans and Christian missionaries. Foreigners were intimidated, their shops were burned, and if they did not leave after that, they risked their heads. Empress Cixi was determined to preserve the ancient traditions of feudal China and, of course, the power and wealth of the monarchy. She believed that the presence of foreigners threatened China's national identity and was convinced of the need to expel them from the country.
The aged Emperor's brother, Prince Kun, did not support Cixi's isolationist views. He was worried about the policy of expelling foreigners, he believed that China should be open to trade and new ideas. Over the head of the empress, he asked the British and French for reconciliation - an act that Cixi could never forgive.
Empress Cixi at this time was concerned about strengthening her power, introducing new taxes and bloody struggle with the rebels in the north of the country.
When the emperor died in 1861, his widow and Cixi received the rights of regents. Although political power was to be equally vested in both, the emperor's widow, who had little interest in politics, readily provided Cixi with the power of government. But this agreement did not suit everyone. Not without a conspiracy to kill the regent concubine. Cixi responded quickly and brutally ordered the destruction of about 500 people, including the wealthy feudal lord Xu Shen, who was at the head of the conspirators.
Tung Chih's short reign
Xiu Sheng belonged to an ancient family of military aristocrats. After the execution, his family was exiled to a remote region of China, and the property was confiscated by Empress Cixi.
Cixi's son, who was to become emperor as soon as he turned 17, grew up in a very unusual environment. The future emperor, Tung Chih grew up as a healthy and sweet boy, placed in the care of concubines and court eunuchs. From a young age, he became addicted to unbridled orgies in the most disgusting dens on the outskirts of Beijing and learned all sexual perversion in practice.
When he came of age, Cixi issued an imperial decree, which said that her regency was over and her son's reign began.
The young man had a bride, but the empress did not treat her son's marriage favorably, fearing rivalry from the future daughter-in-law. But soon after the decree on the transfer of power was issued, Emperor Tung Zhi died. December 1874 - He published a message that said: "I was lucky to get smallpox this month!"
For the Chinese, there was nothing strange in such a message, because there was a popular belief: the one who gets sick with smallpox and remains alive is marked by the gods. But, apparently, the emperor could not resist the disease for a long time. It was claimed that his body was weakened by a venereal disease. Less than two weeks after this message, the young man passed away.
It was rumored that Cixi killed her son. It looked pretty believable. Charlotte Holden, in her book The Last Great Empress of China, wrote: “Tung Chih could easily have contracted smallpox in one of the brothels or opium dens that he visited in Beijing during his night outings. This can neither be refuted nor proven. But the external symptoms of this terrible disease - the rash of acne on the face and body of the patient - were beyond doubt."
Devilish way of killing
“No table napkins were used in China,” continues Charlotte Holden. “Instead, diners were given small square towels, steamed. They wiped their face and lips after each meal. It was more hygienic than using dry table napkins. However, this method is also suitable for other circuits. If you run a hot steamed towel over the patient's face covered with an infectious rash, and then apply it to the face of the intended victim …"
The gentleman never wiped his own face. This servile duty was performed by an obliging eunuch.
Here it is - a simple and devilishly effective method of killing. The eunuchs were subordinate to Cixi.
Of course, Cixi again declared herself the ruler of China.
When Tung Chih passed away, his wife was pregnant. This infuriated Cixi. If the daughter-in-law gave birth to an heir, he would later have the right to take the throne. This did not suit Cixi - she wanted to choose an heir who would obey her will unquestioningly. She ordered the eunuchs to beat the young widow in order to induce a miscarriage. Three months later, the unfortunate woman committed suicide. Those who knew Cixi at least a little had no doubt that she had put her vengeful hand to this tragedy.
The ruler named her nephew Zai Tian emperor. He was given the imperial name of Guan Xiu, which means "diamond heir". He was then 4 years old, and he did not pose a danger to Cixi.
Voices of the disaffected
Cixi chose the emperor herself, and this violated the ancient law. There were dissatisfied, those who, by the right of blood ties and ancestral inheritance, could claim the throne. Ten courtiers expressed outrage at her decision. Cixi listened to them, remembered the words, but did not change her decision.
The child grew up surrounded by the love and care of the widow of the old emperor, the one who once fell in love with the young ambitious concubine of her husband. The widow was kind and helpful. She loved the role of the grandmother and became genuinely attached to the boy. Cixi was very unhappy that he fell under the influence of another woman. And when the old lady died, everyone in the court was sure that she had been poisoned by eating rice cakes prepared by Cixi herself. The heir to the throne was then only 11 years old.
The empress could now enjoy the full power. Those 10 people who opposed her decision to declare her nephew emperor, she ordered to be executed. Destroying political opponents, Empress Cixi strengthened her power. She put her relatives in all important positions. To prevent outsiders from entering the circle of those in power, she announced the engagement of the heir to his cousin.
1889 Cixi was forced to leave the regency. The young emperor was already 19 years old, but the official accession to the throne was postponed until his marriage.
Empress Cixi occupied a residence in the vicinity of Beijing. Her palace was magnificent - a marble miracle among the greenery of trees, surrounded by lakes, on the surface of which lotus flowers swayed. The house had a lot of solid gold jewelry. Few monarchs could afford such a luxury. It was alleged that Cixi stole money from the imperial treasury. And her accomplice was the chief eunuch Li Lianying, a cruel and rude man who once corrupted her son.
Empress's wrath
Here is a credible example of the behavior of Empress Cixi in those days. If she found a fallen leaf or petal in her garden, which, from her point of view, gave the garden an unkempt look, she ordered the eunuchs-gardeners to be flogged, and sometimes to cut off the head. She was 55 years old, and she was not satisfied with a secluded life in a country palace, so she came up with such bloodthirsty entertainment.
Cixi hoped to rule China through an emperor she had chosen. But there was a deep chasm between aunt and nephew. He was a kind, educated and progressive person, striving to lead the country out of the isolation that Cixi clung to. She was horrified by the number of foreigners who were allowed by her nephew to live in the country. She suspected all of them of intending to turn China into her colony.
After Japan conquered the Liuchiu Islands in 1874, China threatened her with war. Through negotiations, a military clash was averted. However, in 1894, when the Japanese tried to invade Korea, the Chinese emperor moved the navy into battle. But this fleet was not only weakened, but decayed. The money allocated for its renovation was spent on furnishing the Cixi Palace. When the emperor questioned the culprit of this venture, he replied: “Even if this money were spent on the fleet, the Japanese would have crushed us anyway. And so the Empress got a beautiful summer palace!"
The war with Japan was short and was a misfortune for China.
1898 - when the country was trying to recover from a shameful defeat, people began to group around Cixi who also hated foreigners and feared a threat to China from them. The frequent visits by these people to the Cixi Summer Palace were seen as a conspiracy against the emperor.
Guang Xiu was aware that without the support of his aunt, it would be difficult for him to rule the country. But he also realized that she would never agree to the reforms he wanted to carry out. The emperor decided to lock up his aunt and thus get rid of her guardianship. By chance, his plans became known to those close to the empress. The young emperor's plan was doomed to failure. When Cixi learned about the plans of her nephew, her face turned into a cold mask, only the rage in her eyes betrayed the true intentions of the cruel ruler.
Cixi forced her nephew, the emperor of China, to abdicate. His personal servants had their heads cut off. Cixi watched the execution while drinking jasmine tea. The emperor was imprisoned on one of the lake islands. He lived poor and secluded, guarded by eunuchs. Many courtiers were convinced that the fate of Tung Chih and his wife awaited him, but Cixi kept her nephew alive. Perhaps the protests from a number of foreign diplomats in Beijing made Empress Cixi change her mind. After the ex-emperor Guang Xiu spent a year in prison, he was allowed to live under house arrest in a country mansion.
Expulsion of "foreign devils"
Six participants in the imperial conspiracy were arrested and executed. After that, Empress Cixi switched to foreign missionaries. Throughout China, she saw the presence of insidious aliens preparing an invasion of the country by enemy troops. 1899, November 21 - after the brutal murder of several missionaries, she issued a decree that left no doubt - she did not want to tolerate "foreign devils" in her country.
This decree was sent to all provinces. It said: “Never will the word“peace”be heard from the lips of the rulers of the country, not for a moment will it settle in their hearts. Let's put aside all thought of establishing peace, let's not fall for diplomatic tricks. May each of us make every effort to protect our home and the graves of our ancestors from the dirty hands of foreigners.
We will bring these words to everyone and everyone in our domain. " This decree became the banner of many Chinese conservatives who fought to preserve national traditions and united in a secret society called "Fist for Justice and Harmony." Members were nicknamed "boxers" for their dexterity in the art of war. Fanatical patriots, they supported the monarchy and feared the destructive influence of foreigners on Chinese society.
When the "boxing uprising" broke out in 1900, the state supported it. The first victim was a British missionary.
The hostility towards foreigners was felt everywhere in China, and the rebels everywhere secured their support. Transmission lines were cut, railway tracks were blown up, factories owned by foreigners were burned. Cixi played a cunning game. She pretended to protect foreigners by sending troops against the rebels, but at the same time promised the army commanders a big reward "for the ears of every dead foreigner."
Escape
Soon, Empress Cixi gave up the double game. On her orders, the Chinese troops joined the rebels, and all foreign missions were under siege. They killed so many and often that sometimes they did not have time to remove the corpses. Infectious diseases began to spread across Beijing. When the foreign ministers of a number of countries asked the emperor of China to intervene, Cixi cried out, "How dare they doubt my power, let's destroy them!" Foreign powers sent troops to rescue their citizens, who were in mortal danger.
On August 14, a messenger rushed to Cixi to warn her: "Foreign devils have come!" Empress Cixi was forced to flee. As she left the palace, the concubine of the deposed emperor approached her. She threw herself at Cixi's feet and begged to let the emperor live in the palace. Cixi ordered the eunuchs: “Throw this wretch down the well! Let her die for the edification of all disobedient ones. " The unfortunate woman was thrown into a deep well, where she found her death.
After her expulsion from Beijing, Empress Cixi was forced to abandon her usual luxury. Her food was meager, she lost power. The country was in turmoil and violence. But then the "boxing uprising" was suppressed by the allied forces, and Cixi was allowed to return to Beijing after the signing of peace agreements. The already mentioned Charlotte Holden wrote that this was the time of Cixi's extreme hypocrisy. “By any means she tried to protect herself from attempts by the Allied Powers to deprive her of power. She realized that for this she needed to change her image and present her policy in a new light. The highest point of her hypocrisy was the order to remove from the archives of the dynasty all "pro-boxer" decrees and decrees.
In the last years of her life, Cixi witnessed the reforms initiated in China under the influence of the West. She was also forced to pay posthumous honors to the imperial ministers she had executed, and even to the unfortunate concubine who was ruthlessly thrown into the well.
Summer 1907 - Empress Cixi suffered a stroke and her health deteriorated. The emperor's health also deteriorated. Despite the fact that he did not rule the country, Guang Xiu retained the respect of the people and received the right to live in the palace.
1908, November 14 - the emperor passed away. At the same time, symptoms of poisoning were obvious. Of course, his doctor was unable to establish the cause of death. Suspicion fell on Cixi. It is possible that she secretly, through a eunuch, gave the emperor small doses of poison for a long time.
Empress Cixi survived her nephew by only 24 hours. After her, a multimillion-dollar fortune remained - irrefutable evidence of the predatory nature of the power of the dragon empress. It left the old, proud Manchu dynasty in a miserable state, missing out on a real opportunity to open China in a timely manner to new ideas, turn a patriarchal country frozen in its development on the path of progress and prosperity.