7. Empress Dowager Cixi vs. Emperor Guangxu
Empress Dowager Cixi’s rivalry with her nephew, Emperor Guangxu, intensified over modernization policies. In 1898, Guangxu initiated the Hundred Days’ Reform, aiming to modernize China’s government, education, and military. However, Cixi, fearing the reforms threatened her authority and the stability of the Qing dynasty, orchestrated a coup, placing Guangxu under house arrest and halting the reforms. This power struggle significantly impacted China’s trajectory, leading to the dynasty’s eventual downfall. (Smithsonian Magazine)
