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1st Key Event
January 11, 1850: Hong Xiuquan formally establishes the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, declaring himself the Heavenly King. In the textbook on page 736 it says "Hong and his followers in the Society of God Worshippers took Nanjing in 1853 and made it the capital of their Taiping ("Great Piece) kingdom". -
2nd Key Event
January 11: The Jintian Uprising marks the beginning of the Taiping Rebellion. "His call for the destruction of the Qing dynasty and his program for the radical transformation of Chinese society appealed to millions of men and women." -
3rd Key Event
Taiping forces capture Nanjing, which becomes the capital of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and is renamed Tianjing. In the textbook it says "In the following months Nanjing fell, and government forces slaughtered some one hundred thousand Taipings." -
4th Key Event
Internal conflict leads to the Tianjing Incident, where Yang Xiuqing, a key leader, is assassinated. Yang was assassinated at his residence resulting to his death and massacre of his people. This weakened the Taiping leadership. -
5th Key Event
The Taiping forces attempt to capture Shanghai but are repelled by Qing troops with
support from Western powers. This defense is has strong and fearful that the Taiping army had to retreat from Shanghai. -
6th Key Event
The "Ever Victorious Army," led initially by American Frederick Townsend Ward and later by British Charles Gordon, begins operations against the Taiping rebels. This interaction between Chinese troops and Western leaders were crucial for ending the Taiping rebellion. -
8th Key Event
Nanjing falls to Qing forces, effectively marking the end of the Taiping Rebellion. Hong Xiuquan dies, and the remaining Taiping territories quickly fall. Following the death of the leader, the remaining Taiping regions fell under Qing forces.