Faisal II of Iraq vs Shunzhi Emperor

Faisal II became King of Iraq at age four following the death of his father, King Ghazi, in a car accident. A regency was established under his uncle, Prince Abd al-Ilah, who exercised real power until Faisal came of age.

Under the regency, Iraq joined the Baghdad Pact, a Western-backed military alliance also including Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom. This aligned Iraq with Western powers and against Nasser's Egypt, fueling domestic opposition.

Faisal II, along with his uncle and other royal family members, was executed by republican forces led by Brigadier Abd al-Karim Qasim during the 14 July Revolution. The coup ended the Hashemite monarchy in Iraq and established a republic.

Shunzhi, at age six, was installed as emperor in Beijing after Qing forces captured the city from Li Zicheng. This marked the beginning of Qing rule over China proper, with Prince Dorgon serving as regent.

Qing forces under Dorgon and later Shunzhi's own command conquered the Southern Ming regimes. Key campaigns included the capture of Nanjing and the suppression of loyalist resistance in Fujian and Guangdong.

Shunzhi assumed direct control of the government at age 13, ending the regency of Dorgon. He began to assert his authority, promoting Han Chinese officials and reducing the power of Manchu nobles.

Shunzhi actively promoted Confucian governance, sponsoring the compilation of the Kangxi Dictionary and supporting the civil service examination system. He also patronized Chinese scholars and reduced Manchu privileges.

Shunzhi died of smallpox at age 22. His death led to the succession of his son Xuanye, who became the Kangxi Emperor. Shunzhi's reign laid the foundation for the Qing consolidation of China.