Guangxu Emperor

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Guangxu Emperor
Clan name:	Aixin-Jueluo (愛新覺羅) Aisin-Gioro
Given name:	Zaitian (載湉) (Manchu name to be added)
Dates of reign:	Feb. 25, 1875–Nov. 14, 1908
Era name:	Guangxu (光緒 ; Kuang-hsü) Badarangga Doro
Era dates:	Feb. 6, 1875–Jan. 21, 1909
Temple name:	Dezong (德宗) (Manchu name to be added)
Posthumous name: (short)	Emperor Jing (景皇帝) (Manchu name to be added)
Posthumous name: <center>(full)	Emperor Tongtian Chongyun Dazhong Zhizheng Jingwen Weiwu Renxiao Ruizhi Duanjian Kuanqin Jing 同天崇運大中至正經文緯武仁孝睿智端儉寬勤景皇帝
General note: Names given in Chinese, then in Manchu (full posthumous name is in Chinese only).

The Guangxu Emperor (August 14, 1871–November 14, 1908) of the Qing Dynasty was emperor of China from 1875 to 1908. He initiated the Hundred Days' Reform but was abruptly stopped when Empress Dowager Cixi launched a coup in 1898. His reign name means "The Glorious Succession".

Guangxu was born Zaitian to the 1st prince Chun, who was married to Empress Dowager Cixi's younger sister. So, Guangxu was Cixi's nephew. Initially after the death of Cixi's son, Emperor Tongzhi, the Empress Dowager Ci'an suggested Prince Gong's son but she was overruled by Cixi. Cixi suggested Prince Chun's son and the imperial family agreed with this choice.

Guangxu was married to Cixi's niece, who became Empress Dowager Longyu (隆裕太后) after Guangxu's death in 1908. Her father was Cixi's brother. His favourite concubine was the concubine of the third rank Zhen (珍妃), better known in English as the "Pearl Concubine", who was pushed down into a well at the order of Cixi after she begged the dowager to let the emperor stay in Beijing for negotiating with the foreign powers. That incident happened when Cixi was getting ready to leave the Forbidden City due to the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

The most significant event in Guangxu's reign was the Hundred Days' Reform. For a brief time, after the supposed retirement of Empress Dowager Cixi, Emperor Guangxu began issuing edicts for a massive number of far-reaching modernizing reforms with the help of more progressive Qing mandarins like Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao. The goal was to make China a modern, constitutional empire, but still within the traditional framework, as in the example of Japan's recent Meiji Restoration. However, these plans were soon stopped by Dowager Cixi and ultra-conservative Manchu officials who feared the loss of their traditional position. Cixi had Guangxu placed under house arrest and his supporters exiled. Although nominally the reigning Emperor of China, he never again had any influence. Kang Youwei continued to work for a more progressive Qing Empire while in exile, hoping to eventually restore Guangxu to power.

Guangxu died the day before Cixi's death. He was thought to have been poisoned by the empress dowager. He was succeeded by his nephew Puyi, who became the Xuantong Emperor. His consort, now Empress Dowager Longyu, signed the abdication decree in 1912. She died, childless, in 1913.

de:Guangxu ja:光緒帝 zh:光绪帝