NAKARAJAN

  Empress Dowager Cixi's "dark secret" often refers to the circumstances surrounding the death of the Tongzhi Emperor, and the subsequent selection of the Guangxu Emperor. These events involved political maneuvering and consolidation of power by Cixi, who ousted regents and ultimately installed her nephew on the throne. Some sources also mention the circumstances surrounding the death of Empress Dowager Ci'an, her co-regent, which remains a subject of historical debate.  Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:  The Tongzhi Emperor's Death: The Tongzhi Emperor, Cixi's son, died in 1875 without an heir. This created a succession crisis. Political Maneuvering: Cixi, along with Empress Dowager Ci'an, ousted the regents appointed by the late emperor and assumed regency. Installation of the Guangxu Emperor: Cixi then installed her nephew, the Guangxu Emperor, as the next ruler, effectively consolidating her power and ensuring her continued influence. The Deat...

  EMPRESS DOWAGER CIXI Empress Dowager Cixi (1835 – 1908) was a Chinese empress dowager and regent who effectively controlled the Chinese government in the late Qing dynasty for 47 years, from 1861 until her death in 1908. A member of the Manchu Yehe Nara clan, she was selected as a concubine of the Xianfeng Emperor in her adolescence and gave birth to a son, Zaichun, in 1856. After the Xianfeng Emperor's death in 1861, the young boy became the Tongzhi Emperor, and she became the Empress Dowager. Cixi secured power by ousting a group of regents appointed by the late emperor and assumed regency, which she shared with Empress Dowager Ci'an. Cixi then consolidated control over the dynasty when she installed her nephew as the Guangxu Emperor at the death of the Tongzhi Emperor in 1875, contrary to the traditional rules of succession of the Qing dynasty that had ruled China since 1644. [Source: Wikipedia] In 1861, when a powerful leader could have turned the country around, the Chin...