Changes

The [[Empress Dowager Cixi]] herself appeared to give support to the Boxers, who occupied [[Peking]] and besieged the foreign legations in the city in the summer of 1900. However, although Cixi declared [[war]] on the powers and committed official Chinese forces to the [[siege]], moderate elements at court were able to moderate her actions. The legation quarter siege was pursued only half-heartedly; and senior statesmen such as [[Li Hongzhang]] (known as 'the [[Bismark]] of China', in temporary eclipse at court and at that time Governor General of Canton) and [[Yuan Shikai]] (Governor of [[Shandong]], and head of the country's most modern armies) were able to come to a separate agreement with the powers. This unpublished agreement ensured that the war was confined to a few provinces of northern China, and, although the imperial government had declared war, the western powers would 'overlook' this and continue to see the violence as a 'rebellion' against the Qing.

The [[Empress Dowager Cixi]] herself appeared to give support to the Boxers, who occupied [[Peking]] and besieged the foreign legations in the city in the summer of 1900. However, although Cixi declared [[war]] on the powers and committed official Chinese forces to the [[siege]], moderate elements at court were able to moderate her actions. The legation quarter siege was pursued only half-heartedly; and senior statesmen such as [[Li Hongzhang]] (known as 'the [[Bismark]] of China', in temporary eclipse at court and at that time Governor General of Canton) and [[Yuan Shikai]] (Governor of [[Shandong]], and head of the country's most modern armies) were able to come to a separate agreement with the powers. This unpublished agreement ensured that the war was confined to a few provinces of northern China, and, although the imperial government had declared war, the western powers would 'overlook' this and continue to see the violence as a 'rebellion' against the Qing.

During the summer of 1900 a large multinational expedition occupied the Dagu Forts, [[Tianjin]] and ultimately Peking itself. The defeat of the Boxers was accompanied by mass slaughter, and Peking was thoroughly looted by the occupying armies. Li Hongzhang was recalled to Peking to negotiate and sign (1901) a treaty with the allied powers, which provided for a large indemnity to be paid by China and allowed the powers to maintain sizable [[garrison]]s in the heart of the Chinese capital.

During the summer of 1900, a large multinational expedition occupied the Dagu Forts, [[Tianjin]] and ultimately Peking itself. The defeat of the Boxers was accompanied by mass slaughter, and Peking was thoroughly looted by the occupying armies. Li Hongzhang was recalled to Peking to negotiate and sign (1901) a treaty with the allied powers, which provided for a large indemnity to be paid by China and allowed the powers to maintain sizable [[garrison]]s in the heart of the Chinese capital.

== In popular culture ==

== In popular culture ==