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The Turbulent Warlord Era of China: A Century of Chaos and Conflict

The Aftermath of the Qing Dynasty and the Rise of Warlords

In the early 20th century, China was in the throes of a chaotic and violent transformation. The fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912 marked the end of a millennia-old empire, giving way to a fragile republic that was plagued by internal strife. During this period, regional warlords—military leaders who controlled their own armies—clashed for power, fragmenting China into a patchwork of rival territories.