Li Xiucheng

Li Xiucheng (Chinese: 李秀成; pinyin: Lǐ Xiùchéng; 1823 – August 7, 1864) was a military commander during the Taiping Rebellion. Born to a peasant family, he was known as the Loyal King (Chinese: 忠王; pinyin: Zhōng Wáng) by the end of his life. This title was bestowed after he refused a bribe from a Qing general officer to kill Hong Xiuquan, the founder and leader of the rebellion. As a general, he led Taiping forces to several victories. After his capture and interrogation at the third and final Battle of Nanjing in 1864, he was executed by Zeng Guofan. By the end of the rebellion, Li was the most important military leader of the rebel forces.

Li Xiucheng
Li Xiucheng
Nickname(s)Philanthropist
Born1823 (1823)
Teng County, Guangxi, Qing Empire
Died7 August 1864(1864-08-07) (aged 40–41)
Jiangning, Nanjing, Qing Empire
AllegianceQing Empire (to 1849)
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (to 1864)
Years of service1852–1864
RankField Marshal
Battles/warsEastern campaign
  • First rout the Army Group Jiangnan(1856)
  • Second rout the Army Group Jiangnan(1860)
  • Battle of Shanghai (1861--1863)
  • Battle of Cixi(1862)
  • Final Battle of North Jiangsu(1863)
  • Battle of Suzhou(1863)
  • Third Battle of Nanking(1864)

Western campaign

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Li.

Notable victories against the Qing military forces

Second rout of the Jiangnan Army Group

Army Group Jiangnan (江南大營) was an important Qing army barracks in Nanjing. Forces led by Li Xiucheng besieged the barracks in an attempt to force its occupants to surrender. Li Xiucheng, besides; in the second encirclement, the Qing army commanded 200,000 soldiers to fight with Taiping forces from March 1858, but they were routed by Li Xiucheng in May 1860. After that, Li went on to occupy all of Jiangsu provinces except Shanghai.

Two attacks on Shanghai

Escape from Suzhou

Li Xiucheng's palace in Suzhou is the only one from the Taiping Rebellion that exists today. In July 1863, Li ordered his daughter's husband, Tan Shaoguang, to capture Suzhou. But Li Hongzhang led the Huai Army combined by the "Ever Victorious Army," which, having been raised by an American named Frederick Townsend Ward, was placed under the command of Charles George Gordon. With this support, Li Hongzhang gained numerous victories leading to the surrender of Suzhou.

Determining battle: lead defend capital Nanjing

Donkey Jiang

According to one legend, three months after Donkey Jiang (蔣驢子) became the manager of Li Xiucheng's stables in 1864 — and before the fall of Nanjing — Li Xiucheng took his wealth (including much plunder) to Donkey Jiang. At Li's request, Jiang quickly transported that wealth outside the Nanjing area, planning to meet back up with Li later. Jiang delivered on his promise to accompany the transport with 20 horses and an ox, but Li was captured and executed before he could rendezvous with Jiang. Jiang was left with wealth that he was able to bring back to Nanjing after the war.[1]

Writing

Loyal Prince Li Xiucheng In His Own Words (《忠王李秀成自述》) is his autobiographical account written shortly before his execution.

Li's sword

When Li withdrew from Suzhou, his sword - the symbol of his power - was given to his young brother Li Shixian. Li Shixian took this sword; however it was confiscated when he was captured by Charles George Gordon in Liyang.

When Charles George Gordon returned to the UK with Li's sword, he presented it to Queen Victoria's cousin, Chief Commander of the Military the Duke of Cambridge.

On 30 August 1961, the sword ended up in the hands of a history professor at the University of London. In 1981, this sword was returned to China where it is currently stored in the National Museum of China.

Children

Li Xiucheng had a son Li Ronfar, and three daughters, whose husbands were Taiping generals (including Tan Shaoguang and Chen Binwen).

Sources
  • * Li, Xiucheng (1976). Taiping Rebel: The Deposition of Li Hsiu-Ch`eng. Translated by Charles Anthony Curwen. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521210828.
  • Tiān Guó Zwi(天國志)
  • 李秀成：太平天国后期军事统帅

References
  1. "南京大富商"蒋驴子"暴富之谜又添新说" [A New Story on How a Rich Merchant of Nanjing, Donkey Jiang, Got Rich Quick] (in Chinese). 2013-08-19.
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