Abdul Rahman al-Iryani vs Yuan Shikai

Abdul Rahman al-Iryani became President of the Yemen Arab Republic after the deposition of Abdullah al-Sallal. He led a moderate republican government during the final years of the North Yemen Civil War.

Al-Iryani negotiated a peace agreement with royalist forces, ending the eight-year North Yemen Civil War. The settlement integrated some royalists into the republican government, stabilizing the country.

Abdul Rahman al-Iryani resigned as president following a bloodless coup led by Ibrahim al-Hamdi. He went into exile in Syria, ending his political career. His resignation marked a shift to military rule.

Yuan Shikai took command of the Beiyang Army, the most modern military force in late Qing China. He expanded and trained the army, which became the basis for his political power and later dominated Chinese politics.

Yuan Shikai became the first president of the Republic of China after negotiating the abdication of the Qing emperor. He used his control of the Beiyang Army to pressure the revolutionary government into accepting his leadership.

Yuan Shikai declared himself emperor of the Empire of China, attempting to restore the monarchy. This move sparked widespread opposition from provincial leaders and foreign powers, leading to the collapse of his regime.

Yuan Shikai accepted most of Japan's Twenty-One Demands, which expanded Japanese influence in China. The agreement granted Japan economic rights in Manchuria and Shandong, and was seen as a national humiliation.

Yuan Shikai died of uremia, leaving no clear successor. His death led to the fragmentation of the Beiyang Army into warlord factions, plunging China into a period of civil war and political instability.