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Cixi

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Royalty

The Resume

    (November 29, 1835-November 15, 1908)
    Born in Anhui Province, China
    China’s last Dowager Empress
    De facto ruler of China (1861-1908)
    Concubine of Emperor Xianfeng
    Mother of Emperor Tongzhi and aunt of Emperor Guangxu
    Succeeded by Emperor Puyi
    Part of Qing Dynasty (last dynastic house of China)

Why she might be annoying:

    She came by her power mainly because she gave birth to the Emperor’s only son.
    She had the eight chancellors who were to rule until her son came of age jailed or killed.
    She used military funds to build a summer palace, causing China to lose the Sino-Japanese war.
    When her nephew tried to modernize China, she overthrew him in a military coup.
    She supported the anti-reform, anti-foreigner Boxer Rebellion.
    The Qing Dynasty, weakened by her rule, fell three years after her death.
    Her last words were ‘Never again allow a woman to hold the supreme power in the State.’

Why she might not be annoying:

    She started out as a minor concubine from an ordinary family.
    She controlled and outlived both her son and nephew.
    She generously supported the arts.
    Political enemies may have exaggerated her corruption.
    She was forced to flee Beijing when foreign troops intervened to end the Boxer Rebellion.
    She founded the Beijing Zoo, the first zoo to breed giant pandas.
    Her tomb was broken into and robbed in 1928.

Credit: Georgina


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 21 Votes: 19.05% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 28 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 30 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 76 Votes: 59.21% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 25 Votes: 64.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 21 Votes: 80.95% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 117 Votes: 63.25% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 69 Votes: 72.46% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 20 Votes: 70.0% Annoying