King Abdullah II vs Xianfeng Emperor

Abdullah II became King of Jordan upon the death of his father King Hussein. He inherited a stable monarchy and continued his father's policies of moderation and economic reform.

Abdullah II initiated a series of economic reforms including privatization, trade liberalization, and promotion of foreign investment. These policies aimed to modernize Jordan's economy and attract international capital.

Abdullah II responded to widespread protests by dismissing the government, enacting constitutional reforms, and promising political liberalization. He avoided the violent crackdowns seen in other Arab states.

Jordan joined the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria and Iraq. Jordanian airstrikes targeted ISIS positions, and the country hosted coalition forces and Syrian refugees.

Abdullah II placed his half-brother Prince Hamzah under house arrest, accusing him of involvement in a foreign-backed plot to destabilize the monarchy. The incident highlighted internal royal family tensions.

The Taiping Rebellion began in southern China under Hong Xiuquan. The rebellion would become the deadliest civil war in history, lasting until 1864 and causing millions of deaths.

Xianfeng became Emperor of China at age 19 after the death of his father, Daoguang. He inherited a crumbling empire facing internal rebellion and foreign pressure.

Britain and France launched a military campaign against China, leading to the capture of Beijing in 1860. The war resulted in the Treaty of Tientsin, which forced China to open more ports and legalize the opium trade.

As Anglo-French forces approached Beijing, Xianfeng fled to the summer palace at Rehe. He left his brother Prince Gong to negotiate the peace settlement.

Xianfeng died in Rehe at age 30, possibly from tuberculosis. He was succeeded by his young son, the Tongzhi Emperor, with a regency led by Empress Dowagers Cixi and Ci'an.