Empress Dowager Cixi: from concubine to ruler of China
About this episode
This episode explores the life and rule of Empress Dowager Cixi, a powerful figure in nineteenth-century China.
Greg Jenner is joined in 19th-century China by historian Professor Yangwen Zheng and comedian Sophie Duker to learn about the Qing dynasty ruler Empress Dowager Cixi. A contemporary of Queen Victoria, Cixi rose from low-ranked concubine to de facto ruler of China for nearly half a century, and lived through a dizzying array of events in China’s nineteenth-century history, including the Taiping Rebellion, the Opium Wars, and the Boxer Rebellion. Ruling through her son and then her nephew, Empress Dowager Cixi dominated late Qing dynasty China, and oversaw a variety of economic and military – if not political – reforms. This episode charts her life, from her entry into the Forbidden Palace as a teenager all the way to her death in 1908, taking in the politics and traditions of the Qing imperial court, her relationship with Emperor Xianfeng and her rival turned co-ruler Empress Dowager Ci'an, and her determined attempts to gain and maintain power. If you’re a fan of Chinese history, ruthless court politics, and complex women characters, you’ll love our episode on Empress Dowager Cixi. If you want to learn more about the history of China, listen to our episodes on the history of Kung…
More episodes of You're Dead to Me
- The Terracotta Army (Radio Edit)
- Medieval Irish Folklore (Radio Edit)
- El Cid: the life and legend of a medieval Spanish warrior
- History of the Telephone: 150th anniversary special
- History of Spices: commerce, colonialism and culinary innovation
- Epic of Gilgamesh: myths and heroes in ancient Mesopotamia
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the You're Dead to Me podcast page.