A Throne Without an Heir
The death of Emperor Tongzhi in 1875 created an unprecedented constitutional crisis for the Qing dynasty. For the first time in its 230-year history, the Dragon Throne lacked both a direct heir and a designated successor. This vacuum exposed fundamental weaknesses in the imperial succession system while revealing the ruthless political maneuvering behind China’s last imperial dynasty.
Tongzhi’s childless demise presented a unique dilemma. As the only son of the Xianfeng Emperor, he left no brothers whose sons could naturally inherit. Traditional Qing succession protocols dictated the throne should pass to a nephew from the next generation, but the premature deaths of both Xianfeng (aged 30) and Tongzhi (aged 19) meant few suitable candidates existed among the imperial clan’s younger “Pu” generation. This forced the court to violate ancestral customs by considering candidates from Tongzhi’s own “Zai” generation.
The Power Play Behind the Throne
Two formidable women dominated the succession decision: the Dowager Empresses Cixi and Ci’an. Their choice would reveal much about Qing power dynamics:
– Prince Gong’s Exclusion: The obvious candidate was Zaicheng, son of influential statesman Prince Gong. However, installing him would force Prince Gong into retirement due to ceremonial requirements—an unacceptable loss given his diplomatic expertise. Historians suggest Cixi’s opposition stemmed from her desire to sideline Prince Gong’s faction.
– The Perfect Puppet: Four-year-old Zaitian (future Emperor Guangxu) emerged as the ideal compromise. As son of Prince Chun (Cixi’s brother-in-law) and nephew to both dowagers, his youth guaranteed prolonged regency. The blood ties created an unbreakable bond—Guangxu would be raised as Cixi’s adopted son.
Midnight Coup in the Forbidden City
Cixi orchestrated the succession with military precision:
1. Preemptive Strike: Li Hongzhang marched 8,000 Anhui troops to Beijing within 36 hours, securing the capital before rival factions could mobilize.
2. The Cradle Snatch: On the night of Tongzhi’s death, the dowagers secretly transported the sleeping toddler from Prince Chun’s residence to the Forbidden City under heavy guard.
3. Faits Accomplis: By dawn, Guangxu’s accession was announced, leaving court factions no time to organize opposition.
This operation marked Cixi’s second successful palace coup, consolidating her dominance for decades to come.
Constitutional Contradictions and Cultural Fallout
The irregular succession created ideological tensions:
– Ancestral Taboos Broken: Making Guangxu Xianfeng’s posthumous son violated Confucian mourning rites. A censor reportedly committed suicide in protest, while rumors spread of ominous thunder strikes at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
– The Mysterious Empress: Tongzhi’s widow, Empress Xiaozheyi, died suspiciously within months—fueling theories Cixi eliminated a potential regency rival. The court’s elaborate posthumous honors (a 12-character honorific title) failed to quell suspicions.
Reshaping the Imperial Court
The succession triggered sweeping political realignments:
| Figure | Position | Outcome |
|———|————|————|
| Prince Gong | Head of Zongli Yamen | Power curtailed despite retaining office |
| Prince Chun | Guangxu’s father | Emerged as new power center |
| Li Hongzhang | Zhili Viceroy | Became dominant Han official |
| Left Zongtang | Northwest commander | Gained influence through military successes |
The dowagers purged the palace eunuchs who had grown powerful under Tongzhi, exiling seven ringleaders to Manchuria—a warning against interference.
International Repercussions
The succession coincided with critical foreign policy challenges:
1. Margary Affair (1875): Li Hongzhang deftly negotiated with Britain after the murder of a diplomat in Yunnan, preventing military escalation.
2. Great North China Famine (1876-79): Li’s relief efforts saved millions but created bureaucratic enemies.
3. Ili Crisis (1871-81): The botched treaty with Russia over Xinjiang nearly triggered war, revealing Qing military weakness.
Cixi ultimately backed Li’s pragmatic diplomacy, accepting increased indemnities to avoid conflict—a decision that would define late Qing foreign policy.
The Twilight of Dual Regents
Ci’an’s sudden death in 1881 (officially from heart disease) left Cixi as sole regent. Though rumors implicated Cixi, evidence suggests the retiring Ci’an posed no threat. This transition marked the beginning of Cixi’s unchallenged rule until 1908.
Legacy of the Succession Crisis
The 1875 crisis established patterns that doomed the Qing:
– Personalized Power: Cixi’s manipulation of succession rules set dangerous precedents for later interference.
– Reform Paralysis: Guangxu’s tutelage under conservative mentors delayed modernization efforts.
– Dynastic Erosion: Violating ancestral customs undermined the Mandate of Heaven’s legitimacy.
The selection of a child emperor—initially seen as a masterstroke—ultimately weakened imperial institutions while empowering the very factions that would overthrow the dynasty in 1911. Cixi’s victory in 1875 thus sowed the seeds of the Qing’s destruction.