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The rebellion that would ultimately lead to the creation of the Huai Army, and the army that Yuan Shikai would first serve in, is fought during this period. The deadliest rebellion in human history by total overall death toll. Other rebellions were raging at this time too, with only the last of which (Dungan Rebellion) ending in 1877
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Yuan Shikai is born in Xiangcheng, Henan, China -
Yuan Shikai attempts the infamous imperial exams in 1876 and 1879 to acquire a civil service position. Both his attempts failed, though these exams were infamous for just how few passed overall. The imperial exam system only ended in 1908.
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the Huai army was first raised to fight against the once sprawling Taiping Rebellion in central and southern China.It was first raised in 1862 -
Yuan Shikai is deployed to Korea with the Huai army, to stabilise Korea and strengthen Chinese presence there. This comes to an end with the disastrous outcome of the First Sino-Japanese War on the Chinese
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A military mutiny/coup that occurred in Korea, bringing China in to stabilise Korea and reassert Chinese authority there. This also started Yuan Shikai's career in Korea -
Another attempted coup to overturn the Joseon Kingdom occurs over two days, also failing for the reformers. -
A war Yuan Shikai would be involved in, involving a Japanese invasion of Korea as well, and one that would establish the need for a better army than the Huai Army
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The army created by Yuan Shikai, a fully regular and standing army for the last few years of the Qing Dynasty, would be key for Yuan's rapid rise to power -
Emperor Guangxu starts a reformation campaign that stirs unrest within the conservative faction of the Qing court. Issues would subsequently occur soon after -
Cixi and the conservatives of the court launch a coup against Emperor Guangxu to stop his reform. Yuan Shikai mobilises the Beiyan Army to help do so, preventing the Emperor's reforms and putting him under house arrest. Yuan is at the height of his power for the meantime -
What is a broad anti foreign rebellion in China will soon grow in northern China. So far it's just a paramilitary rebellion, but soon the Qing government will get involved... -
Yuan Shikai, his soldiers, and other provincial governors who see no good reason to fight with the boxers, disobey direct orders from the Qing government, and do not fight with the boxers. They actively suppress the boxers in their areas. -
The Qing government effectively decides to join the Boxers by laying naval mines in the Hai River, attempting to stop the international force from relieving the international legation in Beijing, coming from the Bohai Sea. 5 days later, the famous Siege of the International Legations would begin -
With the signing of the Boxer Protocol, the Boxer Rebellion comes to an end -
After the death of Empress Dowage Cixi and Guangxu within 2 says in 1908, the emperor's will was to have Yuan executed for his treasonous actions at the end of the 100 days reform. He luckily escaped his fate, but was ordered to forecefully retire. Yuan still maintained influence with his Beiyang Army however -
A Qing Dynasty cabinet and parliament is set up in the dying days of the Qing Dynasty. It is already too little too late ultimately however, being criticised of having limited power, and largely filled with Manchu people/artistocracy
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The rebellion that would finally break the Qing, occures in Wuchang, Wuhan, with a spontaneous and explosive military garrison mutiny -
Yuan Shikai is hastily recalled from retirement, due to his popularity and experience with the Beiyang Army, as the Qing government hurridely tries to douse the flames of the Xinhai Rebellion. To sweeten the deal, the Qing make Yuan Shikai Prime Minister of the Imperial Cabinet -
Sun Yat Sen is proclaimed as interim president of the interim Republic of China, in the last few weeks of the Qing Dynasty in the midst of the Xinhai Revolution. Prior to this, throughout December 1911 onwards, fuelling the confidence of the republicans, Sun Yat Sen makes a secret negotiation with Yuan Shikai: if Yuan gets the Qing government he serves to abdicate, Yuan will be promised to be the first non-interim president of the Republic of China -
After Yuan Shikai secretly makes the Xinhai Revolution seem worse than it was for Qing forces, and after brokering a deal with Puyi's Dowager Longyu to abdicate in return for some concessions, Puyi's abdication and the end of Qing rule is finally completed -
as promised by Sun Yat Sen and the former revolutionaries, now interim government, Yuan Shikai is sworn in as president, soon to be president in a non-interim state -
Yuan Shikai's presidency quickly becomes entrenched in controversy. His political rivals 'mysteriously' and conveniently get assassinated into 1913, ultimately leading to an attempted second revolution against him between 12 July - 12 September 1913. Yuan's loyalty from his Beiyang army and generals however, keep him in power, and this rebellion against him fails. Sun Yat Sen once again leaves China in self exile.
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for various constitutionally minded and personally ambitious reasons, Yuan Shikai makes the unprecidented move to begin his coronation as a Han Emperor of a constitutional monarchy. Though he only gained internal support, and a small amount of international recognitian. This move would stir a lot of controversy againt his move, and ultimately his downfall in power -
In repose to Yuan Shikai attempting to create a constitutional monarchy, many, including some within the Beiyang army and some of Yuan's former generals, launch a war against Yuan Shikai and against his monarchy restoration project.
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While 'Warlordism' was somewhat brewing since the end of the Qing Dynasty in 1912, it was the third revolution that largely destroyed what little integrity the Beiyang Government had left, dooming China to be split into many Warlord 'cliques.' This weakened China to Japanese influence in future, towards the Second Sino Japanese War and WWII
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Emperor Hongxian (Yuan Shikai) abdicates, after barely being in power for more than 3 months, as a result of considerable revolutionary push back, and losing of even internal support. He remains as just president again, but with ailing health now -
Yuan Shikai dies in office from Uremia, leaving a now largely broken China entirely in its 'Warlord Era,' and a largely impotent Republic of China 'Beiyang Government' after his death.