Ten Great Campaigns

Quick Facts: Who was Ten Great Campaigns?

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Ten Great Campaigns

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A series of Qing Dynasty military actions securing vast territories across Inner Asia.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Ten Great Campaigns (Chinese: 十全武功; pinyin: Shíquán Wǔgōng) were a series of military campaigns launched by the Qing dynasty of China in the mid–late 18th century during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor (r. They included three to enlarge the area of Qing control in Inner Asia: two against the Dzungars (1755–1757) and the pacification of Xinjiang (1758–1759). The other seven campaigns were more in the nature of police actions on frontiers already established: two wars against the Gyalrong of Jinchuan, Sichuan, another against the Taiwanese aboriginals (1787–1788), and four expeditions abroad against the Burmese (1765–1769), the Vietnamese (1788–1789), and the Gurkhas on the border between Tibet and Nepal (1790–1792), with the last group having two campaigns waged against them. Of the ten campaigns, the final destruction of the Dzungars (or Zunghars) was the most significant. The 1755 pacification of Dzungaria and the later suppression of the Revolt of the Altishahr Khojas secured the northern and western boundaries of Xinjiang, eliminated rivalry for control over the Dalai Lama in Tibet, and thereby eliminated any rival influence in Mongolia.

Career & Major Achievements

In 1752, Dawachi and the Khoit-Oirat prince Amursana competed for the title of Khan of the Dzungars. Dawachi defeated Amursana various times and gave him no chance to recover. Amursana was thus forced to flee with his small army to the Qing imperial court. The Qianlong Emperor pledged to support Amursana since Amursana accepted Qing authority; among those who supported Amursana and the Chinese were the Khoja brothers Burhān al-Dīn and Khwāja-i Jahān. In 1755, Qianlong sent the Manchu general Zhaohui, who was aided by Amursana, Burhān al-Dīn and Khwāja-i Jahān, to lead a campaign against the Dzungars.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After several skirmishes and small scale battles along the river Ili, the Qing army led by Zhaohui approached Ili (Gulja) and forced Dawachi to surrender. Qianlong appointed Amursana as the Khan of Khoit and one of four equal khans – much to the displeasure of Amursana, who wanted to be the Khan of the Dzungars. In the summer of 1756, Amursana started a Dzungar revolt against the Chinese with the help of Prince Chingünjav. The Qing dynasty reacted at the start of 1757 and sent General Zhaohui with support from Burhān al-Dīn and Khwāja-i Jahān. Among several battles, the most important ones were illustrated in Qianlong's paintings.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1752: 1752 Milestone — In 1752, Dawachi and the Khoit-Oirat prince Amursana competed for the title of Khan of the Dzungars.
2. 1755: 1755 Milestone — They included three to enlarge the area of Qing control in Inner Asia: two against the Dzungars (1755–1757) and the pacification of Xinjiang (1758–1759).
3. 1756: 1756 Milestone — In the summer of 1756, Amursana started a Dzungar revolt against the Chinese with the help of Prince Chingünjav.
4. 1757: 1757 Milestone — The Qing dynasty reacted at the start of 1757 and sent General Zhaohui with support from Burhān al-Dīn and Khwāja-i Jahān.
5. 1787: 1787 Milestone — The other seven campaigns were more in the nature of police actions on frontiers already established: two wars against the Gyalrong of Jinchuan, Sichuan, another against the Taiwanese aboriginals (1787–1788), and four expeditions abroad against the Burmese (1765–1769), the Vietnamese (1788–1789), and the Gurkhas on the border between Tibet and Nepal (1790–1792), with the last group having two campaigns waged against them.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Ten Great Campaigns

True or False: “The Ten Great Campaigns were solely focused on expanding the Qing Empire's borders into previously unknown lands.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While expansion was a goal, many campaigns involved policing and pacifying already established frontiers or suppressing internal revolts.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ten Great Campaigns