Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr vs Shang Kexi

Al-Bakr, a senior Ba'athist officer, helped plan and execute the coup that overthrew Qasim. He became Prime Minister briefly but was forced out by President Arif later that year, marking an early setback for the Ba'ath Party.

Al-Bakr led a bloodless coup that brought the Ba'ath Party back to power. He became President and Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council, establishing a regime that would rule Iraq for decades. Saddam Hussein was his deputy.

Al-Bakr's government fully nationalized the Iraq Petroleum Company, ending foreign control of the country's oil industry. This move dramatically increased state revenue and funded development projects, but also led to Western sanctions.

Al-Bakr was forced to resign as President, ostensibly for health reasons, and was succeeded by Saddam Hussein. He was placed under house arrest until his death in 1982. The transition consolidated Saddam's absolute power.

Shang Kexi, a Ming general stationed in Liaodong, surrendered to the Qing dynasty after a series of defeats. His defection provided the Qing with experienced Han Chinese troops and knowledge of Ming defenses.

Shang Kexi led his Han Chinese forces in the Qing invasion of China proper, participating in the capture of Beijing and subsequent campaigns against Ming loyalists in the south. His troops were instrumental in the Qing victory.

The Qing court enfeoffed Shang Kexi as the Prince of Pingnan (Pacifier of the South), granting him hereditary rule over Guangdong province. This made him one of the Three Feudatories, semi-autonomous vassals in southern China.

Shang Kexi initially remained loyal to the Qing when Wu Sangui launched the Rebellion of the Three Feudatories. However, his son Shang Zhixin joined the rebels, and Shang Kexi was caught in the conflict, dying before its resolution.

Shang Kexi died during the Rebellion of the Three Feudatories, with his son Shang Zhixin having defected to the rebels. His death marked the end of his personal rule, and the Qing later suppressed the rebellion, abolishing the feudatory system.