Battle of Palikao

The bridge of Palikao on the evening of the battle

Date	21 September 1860
Location	Palikao, China Coordinates: 39°54′24″N 116°36′51″E / 39.90667°N 116.61417°E / 39.90667; 116.61417
Result	Decisive Franco-British victory

Belligerents

United Kingdom

France

Qing China

Commanders and leaders

James Hope Grant

Charles Cousin-Montauban

Sengge Rinchen

Strength

10,000

50,000

Casualties and losses

British:
2 killed
29 wounded
French:
3 killed
18 wounded

1,200 casualties

The Battle of Palikao (French: La bataille de Palikao, simplified Chinese: 八里桥之战; traditional Chinese: 八里橋之戰; pinyin: Bālǐqiáo zhī zhàn; literally: "Battle of the Eight-Mile Bridge") was fought at the bridge of Palikao by Anglo-French forces against the Qing Empire during the Second Opium War on the morning of 21 September 1860. It allowed Western forces to take the capital Beijing and eventually defeat the Qing Empire.

The Anglo-French force had been trying for two years to get to Peking (modern-day Beijing). In 1858, the signing of the Treaty of Tianjin stopped the potential visit after capturing the Taku Forts that defended the Peiho River, which were returned to the Qing army. In 1859, an armed attempt to enter the river was stopped by barriers across the river that resulted in a dramatic defeat of the Anglo French forces when they tried to recapture the forts from the river direction.

Sailing from Hong Kong in July, the capture of the Taku Forts on 21 August 1860 had opened up the river route to Peking. The Chinese authorities at the fort had capitulated all 22 forts along the river as far as Tientsin, including that town.

The aim of the Anglo-French expedition was to compel the Chinese government at Peking to observe the trade treaties signed between their governments at Tianjin in 1858, which included allowing the British to continue the opium trade in China. Lieutenant General Sir Hope Grant was the British commander with Charles Cousin-Montauban in charge of the French.

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Wikipedia