A four-year-old boy became the emperor of China in 1875
When the Guangxu Emperor ascended the throne as a mere child in 1875, he became a symbol of a decaying empire caught between ancient tradition and a desperate need for modernization.
In 1875, four-year-old Zaitian was plucked from his home in the middle of the night to become the Guangxu Emperor. His selection was a calculated move by his aunt, the formidable Empress Dowager Cixi, who intended to rule as regent behind the scenes.
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