The Beginning of Turmoil
In 1911, with the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution, the Qing Dynasty faced a crisis of survival. Taking advantage of this situation, Yuan Shikai, who held military power, plotted to force the young Emperor Puyi to abdicate and seize power for himself.
The Final Resistance
In this critical situation, two important royal figures stood firmly against the emperor’s abdication until the end of the imperial conference:
– Prince Gong (Puwei)
– Prince Su (Shanqi)
They advocated overthrowing Yuan Shikai’s cabinet and establishing a new cabinet led by the royal family to fight until the end. However, the tide of history had already turned against the Qing Dynasty.
Yuan Shikai’s Pressure
To achieve his ambitions, Yuan Shikai took two measures:
1. Concentrated large numbers of troops in Beijing
2. Seized control of the Beijing police
Furthermore, he used police power to intimidate princes who opposed abdication, threatening assassination. Faced with this coercive attitude, many princes were forced to accept the abdication.
The Royal Family’s Decision
Zaifeng (Puyi’s father and the younger brother of Emperor Guangxu) was also compelled to accept the transfer of full authority to Yuan Shikai under orders from Empress Dowager Longyu (Emperor Guangxu’s empress), who held the position of family head of the imperial household.
The Fate of the Final Resisters
– Prince Su: Targeted by Yuan Shikai, he escaped to Lüshun with Japanese assistance on a naval vessel
– Prince Gong: Fled to Qingdao with German support
Both continued their movements to restore the Qing Dynasty thereafter.
The End of the Qing Dynasty
On February 12, 1912, the day after Prince Su left Beijing, the fateful moment arrived:
– Empress Dowager Longyu published Puyi’s abdication decree
– On the same day, Yuan Shikai became president of the Republic of China
Thus, with the abdication of young Puyi, the Chinese imperial system, which had lasted for over 2,000 years, came to an end.