Manchu/Qing Notes

[SirGarnet]

I thought I had posted this a couple of weeks ago, but apparently not.

This list covers the Later Jin Dynasty declared by Nurhaci (d. 1626) in 1616 after his decades-long wars of unification of the Jurchen (renamed “Manchu”) tribes (he also claimed the Mandate of Heaven in that year<check>), and the Qing Dynasty proclaimed on the Ming model in 1636. The Inner Mongolian princes were defeated in 1629 and recognized the Manchu emperor as khan in 1636 (Outer Mongolia becoming a vassal in 1691). The Manchu raided Korea often and twice launched successful invasions (in 1627 to break Korean allegiance to the Ming and in 1636-37 to make it a vassal), blocked the Russian advance to the Pacific in the north, and fought a series of campaigns relying on skillful mix of fighting and defections against the Chinese Ming Dynasty that pushed the border back towards Beijing. These were punctuated by Ming successes such as the 1626 heroic defence of Ningyuan, notable for skillful use of Portuguese artillery, and the battles of Ningyuan-Jinzhou. Captured Shenyang (Mukden) served as the Manchu capital from 1625 until 1644. In 1644, the only good Ming army opposing the Manchus was under the capable Wu Sangui. When the Shun rebels took Beijing in 1644, Wu was caught between two enemies and chose to side with the Manchus, who took the city and installed a Qing emperor. Fighting against Ming successors in the south continued until 1662, when the survivors fled to Taiwan. Manchu expansion continued after our period. Ironically, the original Manchu ambition was favorable tributary status within the Ming system, but Ming intransigence and weakness provoked the Manchu conquest.

The Manchu people were organized starting at 1601 at the latest into social units called banners (Ba Qi), subdivided into companies, each of which was in theory to provide 300 troops. By 1616 there were 8 Manchu banners, 3 of which were senior and whose troops formed the Imperial Guard. The banners in their order of precedence were as follows: Yellow, Yellow Bordered, White, Red, White Bordered , Red Bordered, Blue, & Blue Bordered. Banners were generally formed on an ethnic basis, starting with the Manchus, then 8 banners each of Han Chinese and Mongols from 1630-1644. Unlike the Ming hereditary militia system, which deteriorated, the banner system remained an effective social and military organization.

The Manchus favoured fighting on horseback like their nomad forebears, so the Qing also established the Green Standard troops (Lu Yong), formed originally of surrendered Ming soldiers and later of long-service volunteers. These were mainly Han Chinese foot troops organized in a multitude of often small and widely distributed units of infantry and specialists such as artillery or engineers under provincial commanders. These started to supplant the military role of the Han bannermen.

The Manchus reached Beijing in 1629 but lacked the troops and artillery for an effective siege. Captured Chinese experts allowed creation of a respectable artillery arm, which helped them win at Songjin in 1639. After this period of adoption, Manchu artillery and small arms technology changed little, and usage of gunpowder weapons may have declined from Ming levels.

Other military technology stagnated after the conquest of Beijing. The conservative Manchu favoured bows. Manchu and Mongol horse archers remained the core of the army (though they might also carry lance, sword or gun). Although later Qing might be better classified as Lancer Bow* at some point, during our period Bow Swordsmen appears safer. Other than barbarian tribesmen, the infantry was almost entirely Han. Mixed infantry formations with numerous bowmen and crossbowmen remained common to the 1800s. The bow was removed from service in 1901.

An important breakpoint appears in the early 1630s, when Mongol allies and Han became integrated into the bannermen system and when Manchu artillery manufacture developed enough to be represented in BGs. Another breakpoint would be after 1644 with the resources and manpower of former Ming north China available.

Troop Notes:

Manchu Cavalry: Average, some may be Superior, Armoured Cavalry – Bow Swordsmen
Manchu Light Horse: Average, Unarmoured Light Horse – Bow, Swordsmen

Mongolian Cavalry: (Allies from 16xx, non-Allied from 1634:
Basically the same types as Manchu.

Firearms: 0-1 BG of Manchu maybe. More Mongols (assuming Inner Mongolians adopted firearms like the Outer Mongolians on the Mongol list, having easier access), with Carbine from 1650.

Infantry: Sounds like none in 1619 at Sarhu. Some Chinese in the 1620s, and over time more, eventually enough Chinese to form banners in 1630 and after that. Reasonable to assume these served in Chinese mixed style formations at this date as they did later, so copy over Ming bow and maybe crossbow mixed formations and light infantry in modest numbers. Infantry plentiful from 1645. On quality, the first BG up to 1644 should be the best of the bannermen, so Average. Question:
How much quality for the Qing vs. Ming, especially after 1644?

Artillery: 0-1 Light Artillery from 1620 on. More Light and some Medium Artillery starting in 1630, numerous by 1639.

Picture of Qing Field Artillery Firing Across a River
http://www.grandhistorian.com/chinesesi ... nnons.html

For banner flags and the familiar Blue Banner painting. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_Banners

[nikgaukroger]

Cheers, most useful