10 Deadliest Wars In History

2. Taiping Rebellion (China, 1851-1864): 32 Million-70 Million Deaths

Returning to China for a final time, on this occasion it is for the Taiping Rebellion (1851-1864) in which anywhere between 32million and 70million natives lost their lives. In one of the most bizarre - and unfortunately, bloody - uprisings in history, Hong Xiuquan led a millenarian movement against the Manchu Qing dynasty in southern China after claiming he received visions that taught him he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ. After establishing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in southern China, Xiuquan attempted to destroy the remaining imperial government - but the Qing dynasty was aided by French and British forces, who wanted to retain the status quo in the nation. In one of the first examples of "total war" anywhere in the word, almost every single citizen of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was given formal military training and was conscripted into the army - helping lead to such a huge death toll. The number of deaths was further exacerbated by the decision by both sides to burn large agricultural areas, completely massacre the population of 600 entire cities and burn infrastructure in order to greatly weaken the opposition. In one example, the province of Guangdong saw more than 1million civilians executed by the Imperial forces. Undoubtedly the most brutal rebellion in the history of mankind.