Battle of Peking

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Peking


caption=
partof=Boxer Rebellion
date=14-15 August, 1900
place=Peking, China
result=Allied victory
combatant1=Eight-Nation Alliance
combatant2=
commander1=
commander2=Jung-Lu
strength1=18,000
strength2=80,000
casualties1=American
6 killed
19 wounded
casualties2=?|The Battle of Peking (also known as the Relief of Peking) was the final battle that relieved the besieged foreign legations in Peking during the Boxer Rebellion.

Background

The Boxer Rebellion started on 2 November 1899. From 20 June 1900, Boxer forces and Imperial Chinese troops had besieged foreign diplomats, citizens, and soldiers within the legations in Peking. The legations of Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United States were besieged.

A first attempt to relieve the legations under British Admiral Edward Seymour was turned back on 26 June.

The second relief force, under the leadership of British Lieutenant-General Alfred Gaselee, was composed of troops from eight different nations and was aptly called the Eight-Nation Alliance.

Battle

On 14 August, having marched 70 miles from Tiensin, the international force reached Peking. The Russian General Nikolai Linevich was the first to enter the city. The legations were relieved on 15 August and the major fighting of the Boxer Rebellion was effectively over. However, sporadic fighting continued until 7 September 1901.

In popular culture

This battle is famously portrayed in the 1963 film "55 Days at Peking". It presents a dramatic conclusion to the Boxer Rebellion, followed by a scene depicting the final downfall of the Qing Dynasty.