The Deadliest Civil War Ever

The Taiping Rebellion of 1850 to 1864 killed an estimated 20 to 30 million people, making it the deadliest civil war in human history and one of the deadliest conflicts of any kind.

It began when Hong Xiuquan, a failed civil service candidate who believed he was the brother of Jesus Christ, launched a movement that conquered much of southern China. The rebellion nearly toppled the Qing dynasty and reshaped Chinese history for generations.

Nanjing, the Taiping capital, lost roughly half its population during the final siege in 1864.