Page 61 - All About History - Issue 38-16
P. 61
Hero or Villain?
EMPRESS DOWAGER CIXI
Defining
moment
Taking the reins
We can never know what Cixi’s intentions
truly were when the Xianfeng Emperor died,
but the pressure of bearing his only heir was
undoubtedly tremendous. From a modest
background, the shrewd and intelligent Cixi was
no doubt aware of the political tumult she was
about to be launched in to and knew that
it was necessary to take control of the
situation before it could take control
of her.
1861
61
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