The Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901) was a violent anti-foreign and anti-Christian uprising that took place in China during the final years of the Qing Dynasty. It was led by a secret society known as the Righteous and Harmonious Fists, commonly referred to as the “Boxers” by foreigners. The Boxers believed that Chinese traditions had been undermined by the spread of foreign influence, and they sought to expel Westerners from the country.
The Boxer Rebellion was led by a number of influential individuals who wished to restore traditional Chinese culture and the authority of the emperor. This included Empress Dowager Cixi, the head of the Qing Dynasty; Prince Duan, an influential military adviser; and Yin Changheng, the leader of the Boxers.
In addition to these leaders, the Boxer Rebellion was also supported by a variety of other powerful figures in Chinese society. These included conservative elements within the Qing court, such as Princes Rui, Yikuang and Chun; high-ranking Manchu officials, including Zaiyi and Yuxian; and various local powerbrokers in different provinces.
These individuals all played an important role in creating the conditions for the rebellion to take place. A series of decrees from the court had declared that foreign powers should be expelled from China, which stirred up popular sentiment against Westerners and provided the ideological basis for the Boxers’ movement. The manipulation of public opinion by figures such as Prince Duan, who used inflammatory rhetoric to rally support for the Boxers, also helped to create a climate conducive to widespread anti-foreign sentiment.
The Boxers were also supported by traditional martial arts societies, such as the Red Lanterns, which provided them with logistical aid and weapons. In addition, the Chinese military provided some assistance to the Boxers by supplying troops and carrying out various operations in support of their cause.
Ultimately, it was the combination of these various factors that allowed the Boxer Rebellion to take place. The anti-foreign sentiment created by government decrees, inflammatory rhetoric and traditional martial arts groups combined to lay the groundwork for the rebellion, while the military’s assistance provided the means for the Boxers to carry out their attacks. All of these elements were necessary for the success of the rebellion, and without them, it is unlikely that the Boxers would have had much success in their efforts to expel foreign powers from China.