The Taiping Rebellion is estimated to have cost over 20 million lives at a minimum. For comparison, the Napoleonic Wars, conflicts between the French Empire and various European powers from 1803-1815, claimed over 5 million lives and the American Civil War, a conflict over the issue of slavery, claimed over one million lives.
The rebellion occurred in China from 1850-1864. The conflict was between the ruling Qing Dynasty and a group of christian forces called the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom led by Hong Xiuquan. Hong believed himself to be the brother of Jesus Christ and convinced his followers they were the future of the country. They believed it was their responsibility to bring about the transformation of the country.
The rebellion began in the south and over the next decade skirmishes extended into the rest of the country. An attempt by the Heavenly Kingdom to overtake Shanghai was thwarted by Qing forces with the help of French and British troops. The rebellion remained a threat to the Qing Dynasty until Hong’s death in 1864 but pockets of forces continued to fight until 1871.
