Atlas of Battles

war, 13 engagements

Battles of Second Opium War

The atlas places 13 engagements of Second Opium War (1856 to 1860): 12 battles and 1 naval action, all in present-day China.

See them on the globe

Battle of CantonCapture of the French Folly FortBattle of the BogueBattle of Macao FortBattle of Escape CreekBattle of Fatshan CreekBattle of ZhangjiawanBattle of the Pearl River FortsBattle of CantonBattle of Taku FortsBattle of Taku FortsBattle of Taku FortsBattle of PalikaoBattle of the Pearl River FortsBattle of CantonBattle of Taku FortsBattle of Taku FortsBattle of Taku FortsBattle of PalikaoŌsakaSeoulTaipeiChengduWuhanChongqingShenyengHanoiXianNanjing1000 km31.341N, 115.416E
13 placed engagements, coloured by era. Present-day coastlines; ringed marks are the most widely documented.

Engagements by year

1856: 4 engagements4 in 18561857: 4 engagements4 in 18571858: 1 engagements1859: 1 engagements1860: 3 engagements18561860
13 dated engagements, one bar per year, coloured by era.

The war in time order

Battle of Canton, 1856Capture of the French Folly Fort, 1856Battle of the Bogue, 1856Battle of the Pearl River Forts, 1856Battle of Macao Fort, 1857Battle of Escape Creek, 1857Battle of Fatshan Creek, 1857Battle of Canton, 1857Battle of Taku Forts, 1858Battle of Taku Forts, 1859Battle of Taku Forts, 1860Battle of Zhangjiawan, 1860Battle of Palikao, 186018561860
One tick per dated engagement; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Commanders 3 with pages

Engagements by date

DateEngagementPlaceResult
23 October 1856Battle of CantonGuangzhou, People's Republic of ChinaBritish victory
6 November 1856Capture of the French Folly FortFrench Folly Fort, People's Republic of ChinaBritish victory
12 November 1856Battle of the BogueChinaBritish victory
16 November 1856Battle of the Pearl River FortsPearl River, ChinaAmerican victory
4 January 1857Battle of Macao FortPearl River, ChinaInconclusive
27 May 1857Battle of Escape CreekChinaBritish victory
1 June 1857Battle of Fatshan CreekGuangzhou, People's Republic of ChinaBritish victory
28 December 1857Battle of CantonGuangzhou, People's Republic of ChinaFranco-British victory
20 May 1858Battle of Taku FortsTaku Forts, People's Republic of ChinaAnglo-French victory
1859Battle of Taku FortsTaku Forts, People's Republic of ChinaQing victory
12 August 1860Battle of Taku FortsTaku Forts, People's Republic of ChinaFranco-British victory
1860Battle of ZhangjiawanTongzhou District, ChinaFranco-British victory
21 September 1860Battle of PalikaoBaliqiao, ChinaFranco-British victory

Engagements are the Wikidata records placed within Second Opium War (or a campaign of it) that carry coordinates; actions without coordinates are not shown.