Siege of the International Legations

Boxer movement

1898

The boxers were an indigenous peasant movement, related to the secret societies that had flourished in China for centuries—and which, on occasion, had threatened Chinese central governments

Dilemma of the Chinese Government

1900

In mid-June 1900 the Chinese government was still indecisive about the Boxers. Some officials—Ronglu, for example—counseled the Empress Dowager that the Boxers were "rabble" who would be easily defeated by foreign soldiers

Besieged

1900

The British, American, French, German, Japanese, and Russian military guards each took responsibility for the defense of their respective legations. The Austrians and Italians abandoned their isolated legations, joining the French and the Japanese, respectively.

Chinese attacks and resolve

1900

the official beginning of the siege—neither the inmates of the Legation Quarter nor the Qing and Boxers outside it had any coherent plan for defense or attack.