How Important Was Ci X To The Fate Of The Qing Dynasty

How important was Ci Xi to the fate of the Qing dynasty?

Ci Xi, also known as the ‘Dragon Empress’ was one of the most daunting women in history and she was one of the three Empresses to rule China. She was well-known for her beauty, charm and confident personality. Ci Xi was described as either a ‘good friend’ to many or a enemy. She was eager for power, merciless and was very skilled in court politics. She rose from a middle class family to a dowager empress, changing and affecting Chinese life forever.

Ci Xi was born on November 29th, 1835 to the parents of the middle ranks Manchu society and her given name was Yenhonala, meaning little Orchid, oh little did she know she would be far from being a ‘little orchid’. Ci Xi's father, was a minor Manchu official, but had a “bloodline of the ruling race" which gave Ci Xi the chance to serve in the Forbidden City as maidservants or concubines to the emperor.
In 1855, Ci Xi became pregnant and on the 27th of April 1856 she gave birth to Tongzhi, the only male heir of the emperor. After the giving birth to their only son, Ci Xi immediately moved up in the court and when her husband died she was given the title of "Empress of the Western