Sultan Jahan Begum vs Xianfeng Emperor

Sultan Jahan Begum succeeded her mother Shah Jahan Begum as the ruling Begum of Bhopal. She governed the state for 25 years, implementing progressive reforms in education and women's rights.

Sultan Jahan Begum opened several schools for girls in Bhopal, including the Sultan Jahan Girls School. She also established a women's hospital and advocated for female literacy, challenging conservative norms.

Sultan Jahan Begum introduced laws in Bhopal to protect women's property rights and restrict child marriage. These reforms were progressive for the time, though they faced resistance from conservative factions.

Sultan Jahan Begum wrote 'The Story of a Pilgrimage', an account of her Hajj journey to Mecca. The book provided insights into Islamic practices and the experiences of a female ruler, gaining international readership.

Sultan Jahan Begum contributed significantly to the founding of Aligarh Muslim University, serving as its first chancellor. She donated funds and advocated for the institution, which became a major center for Muslim education in India.

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.