The [G 11 / Manchu] court had more serious problems than the European threat. The [G 24 / Taiping] Rebellion, led by a man who believed himself to be Jesus Christ's younger brother, was aimed at overthrowing the Qing dynasty to establish the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace. An entirely new society was planned and Nanjing, captured in 1853, was chosen as its capital. However, the rebellion failed to take Beijing.
The Europeans, meanwhile, were not quite sure of whose side to take. The British and the French finally decided to ally with the Manchus. In exchange for support against the Taipings, 11 ports were opened to foreign trade and foreign residents were granted numerous extra-territorial privileges. Nanjing was retaken by the Manchus in 1864 and the revolt was crushed.
