Tsi Si - ruthless empiress of China
In the history of mankind, there are many examples of the rule of men of despots. This is a rather impressive list of satraps, in which such historical figures as Nero, Louis 14, Vlad Tepesh, Ivan the Terrible, Stalin and Hitler have fallen for their atrocities. But in their sophisticated cunning, they are inferior to women. One of the brightest representatives, who went down in history as a cruel tyrant - the last Chinese empress Tsi Si (Cixi).
Cixi was born in the family of an official from Manchuria. The simple origin did not prevent this woman from ruling the Chinese empire for almost half a century. When in 1852 a concubine competition was held for the emperor, the sixteen-year-old girl passed him, and became the mistress of the lowest rank - the fifth. Becoming one of the 3000 concubines of Csi, she thought of how to stand out from this crowd and approach the emperor.
A simple concubine Cixi, began to diligently read and learn different wisdom, learn manners, urging the courtiers to hire her teachers. Thanks to the knowledge gained, and having impeccable manners, the girl begins her advancement to power.
Having learned all the wisdom and "Chinese" literacy, Tsi Si immediately began to stand out among the other concubines of the Forbidden City, at which time the emperor lived with his family and the whole suite.
A calculating and cunning concubine found an approach to the empress, who was 15 years older than she. This facilitated her advancement, transferring her into four class concubines and Tsi Si became an approximate empress.
The Chinese emperor Izhu did not have an heir, and as he grew old, the thought of his son increasingly visited him. Since the Empress was barren, it was decided to choose a concubine for the birth of the heir. Agile Cs Si was close, and the choice fell on her. So Ci Xi smiled luck, it was she who became the mother of the heir to the Chinese Empire.
In 1856, in the spring, the heir was born, this event greatly influenced the further life of Cixi. She had influence on the emperor and practically ruled the Empire. There were suggestions that the little emperor was not born at all by Cixi, but by her maid Chuin, who was killed.
The new status of Cixi and the transition to the rank of "precious concubines" helped her to become the second woman in China after the Empress. The secondary role of the future Empress did not last long.
Before his death in the year 1861, Izhu summoned 8 of his advisers and announced his successor to the six-year-old Tszaychun, and Cixi regent under him. The dignitaries tried to oppose this decision of the emperor, insisted that Tsi Si committed suicide and after his death served him in a different world. They believed that the council of dignitaries should rule until the age of the heir. A clever woman fraudulently seized the imperial seal, without which the laws had no force. This seal was a small change in the struggle for the throne of the Chinese Empire, Tsi Si won the victory and power.
After the death of the emperor, his successor was recognized as Tszaichun, and his regents - the Empress Dowager Tsuan and the mother of Tsi Si. After a while, the chief dignitary was executed, and the rest were allowed to commit suicide. So subtly, Cy Ci took revenge on the conspirators. The widow of Emperor Tsuan briefly survived her husband. She was poisoned with the food sent by Cixi.
Having received unlimited power, the regent had to constantly wage wars with ill-wishers and competitors. The Empress was cruel and ruthless. In the late 19th century, China was a feudal and closed to foreigners country. But the changes of the modern world began to gradually penetrate the Chinese Wall. Traders came from Europe and brought along with the goods innovative ideas.
The centuries-old traditions and isolation from the outside world have collapsed. Tsi Si believed that the coming changes would deprive her of absolute power and security, therefore, radical measures were taken. The strangers were expelled from the country, their shops with the goods were burned. Only the intercession of the population mitigated the brutal measures against foreigners.
In the Forbidden City were dissatisfied with the arbitrary actions of Tsi Si. The unwanted were hanged and executed. After the discovery of another conspiracy, the empress ordered 500 people to be executed, after which the people nicknamed her the Dragon.
While the Empress was engaged in political games, the heir to the throne was left to himself. Tszaychun reached the age of majority, and the regency of the Empress came to an end. The heir, not having received a decent upbringing, was a frequent guest in low-standard taverns and dens. The sudden illness of the young emperor was, incidentally, by the way, his mother.
In the winter of 1874, in December, Zhaichun fell ill with smallpox and two months later he died, his body was weakened by sexually transmitted diseases and could not cope with the disease. This event also happened without the intervention of the empress, who, with the help of an eunuch, infected her son with smallpox.
The next heir was the four-year-old Guangxu, nephew of the Empress. Expressing their discontent with this choice, 10 dignitaries were cruelly executed.
Guangxu grew up, and his opinion often differed from that of the empress. Although the courtiers supported the young emperor, the power of Cixi was still strong. Before the invasion of the Japanese troops into the Chinese Empire, the ruler was given money from the treasury to build warships.
The Empress, at her own discretion, spent money on the restoration of the palace of Ikeiuan, which was destroyed as far back as 1860. This creation amazed everyone with splendor. Summer ruler spent in this palace. When the time came, and the officials demanded to show them the ships built, the empress showed them the marble ship that stood in the palace, and declared that it was her fleet. This act of Tsi Si cost the Chinese Empire a loss of naval defense capability and a defeat in the war with Japan.
Seeing the discontent of the people, Guangxu attempted a coup, seizure of power and the execution of the empress, but faithful courtiers warned Cixi. The subjects of the ruler seized the young emperor in the palace of the Forbidden City. His mistress, who tried to protect the emperor, the empress ordered to drown in the well. All the conspirators were executed. His composure Cixi showed that during the tea ceremony, watched the execution of the conspirators. Guangxu lived under house arrest in the Forbidden City until the end of his days. His life he was indebted to the intercession of the leaders of European countries. Foreigners who supported the coup were immediately expelled from China.
Times have changed, and under the pressure of European states Cixi had to make concessions. This even the iron heart of the empress could not stand, in 1907 she suffered a stroke.
In November 1908, from 14 to 15 in the Chinese Forbidden City, 3 events occurred that affected the history of the country. Guangxu at 37 was poisoned and died. The Empress appointed a new heir to Pu I. Cixi died of dysentery the next day.
The Chinese people took the news of the death of the Empress with undisguised joy. During the revolution of 1912, the emperor was overthrown and the Qing dynasty was overthrown.