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January 11
Hong Xiuquan formally establishes the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, declaring himself the Heavenly King. -
January 11
The Jintian Uprising marks the beginning of the Taiping Rebellion. -
March
Taiping forces capture Nanjing, which becomes the capital of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and is renamed Tianjing. -
August
Internal conflict leads to the Tianjing Incident, where Yang Xiuqing, a key leader, is assassinated. -
December
The Taiping forces attempt to capture Shanghai but are repelled by Qing troops with support from Western powers.