Cai E
Cai E | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Warlord of Yunnan | |
In office 1911 – 1913, 1916 | |
Succeeded by | Tang Jiyao |
Personal details | |
Born | Xinhai Revolution National Protection War | 19 December 1882
Cai E (simplified Chinese: 蔡锷; traditional Chinese: 蔡鍔; pinyin: Cài È; Wade–Giles: Ts'ai4 O4; 18 December 1882 – 8 November 1916) was a Chinese revolutionary leader and general. He was born Cai Genyin (Chinese: 蔡艮寅; pinyin: Cài Gěnyín) in Shaoyang, Hunan, and his courtesy name was Songpo (Chinese: 松坡; pinyin: Sōngpō). Cai eventually became an influential warlord in Yunnan (Yunnan clique), and is best known for his role in challenging the imperial ambitions (Hongxian emperor) of Yuan Shikai during the Anti-Monarchy War.
Cai's name has also been
Biography
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Cai_E4.jpg/200px-Cai_E4.jpg)
Early career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/The_Memorial_Cottage_of_Cai_E3.jpg/250px-The_Memorial_Cottage_of_Cai_E3.jpg)
Cai studied at the prestigious and progressive
He returned to Guangxi Province, where he held several military posts and established a military training academy from 1904 to 1910. While in Guangxi he joined the Tongmenghui, a Chinese revolutionary organization dedicated to the overthrow of the Qing dynasty. In 1910 he was transferred to Yunnan Province to command the 37th Brigade of the New Army and teach at the Yunnan Military Academy in Kunming. One of his pupils at the school was Zhu De, who began studying there in 1909 and graduated in 1912.
Shortly after the
Cai E was Governor of Yunnan from 1911 to 1913.[4] After the revolution Cai gained a reputation as a strong supporter of democracy and of Kuomintang politician Song Jiaoren. Following Song's assassination by Yuan Shikai, and Yuan's subsequent assumption of the presidency of the Republic of China, Yuan had Cai removed from office and eventually held under house arrest in Beijing.[3] Tang Jiyao replaced Cai E as Military Governor of Yunnan in 1913.[5]
Opposition to Yuan Shikai
In 1915, Yuan Shikai announced his plans to dissolve the Republic and proclaim himself the emperor of a new dynasty. After hearing of his intentions, Cai escaped assassination on 11 November, first returning to Japan and then to Yunnan.[3] After returning to Yunnan, Cai established the local National Protection Army to fight Yuan Shikai and defend the Republic.[6]
On 12 December, Yuan formally "accepted" a petition to become emperor, and protests spread throughout China. On 23 December Cai sent a telegram to Beijing threatening to declare independence if Yuan did not cancel his plans within two days. When Yuan did not respond favorably, Cai declared independence on 25 December and made plans to invade Sichuan. The governor of Guizhou joined Cai in rebellion, declaring independence on 27 December. Yuan had himself inaugurated as emperor on 1 January 1916, and Cai successfully occupied Sichuan later that month.[6]
Yuan sent two leading military commanders from northern China to attack Cai, but although the forces sent by Yuan outnumbered Cai's army, Yuan's commanders were either unwilling or unable to defeat him. When it became clear that Cai's rebellion would be successful, many other provinces joined him in resisting Yuan. Guangxi and Shandong declared independence in March, Guangdong and Zhejiang in April and Shaanxi, Sichuan and Hunan in May. With several provinces behind them, the revolutionaries successfully forced Yuan to abandon monarchism on 20 March 1916.[6]
After Yuan died on 6 June 1916, Cai held the positions of Governor-General and Governor of Sichuan. He left for Japan for medical treatment at
Legacy
Many of the warlords who served under Yuan Shikai did not support his ambition to revive the monarchy, and Cai E was one of the leading figures who successfully forced Yuan to step down. He served as an inspiration for Zhu De, who later became one of the most successful military leaders of the Chinese Red Army, the forerunner to the People's Liberation Army.
Depiction in popular culture
- In October 2009, TVB broadcast a series about the story of Cai E and Yuan Shikai: In the Chamber of Bliss.
References
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- ^ "Cai E - Chinese Revolutionary Leader and Warlord CCTV News - CNTV English". english.cntv.cn. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Yuelu Academy
- ^ a b c Schemmel
- ISBN 0-909524-12-2. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ Сергей Леонидович Тихвинский (1983). Модерн хисторий оф Чина. Progress Publishers. p. 624. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ a b c Beck "Yuan Shikai's Presidency 1912-16"
Bibliography
- Beck, Sanderson. "Republican China in Turmoil 1912-1926". EAST ASIA 1800-1949. 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
- 陈贤庆(Chen Xianqing), 民国军阀派系谈 (The Republic of China warlord cliques discussed), 2007 revised edition
- Schemmel, B. "Cai E". Rulers.org. 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
- "Cai E". Archived from the original on 26 May 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) . Yuelu Academy. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.