Beiyang Army

Beiyang Army
北洋軍
Symbol of the Beiyang Army
Active	1895–1928
Country	Qing Empire Republic of China (Beiyang government)
Type	Artillery Cavalry Infantry
Size	20,000 (1901) 60,000 (1905)
Garrison/HQ	Tianjin
Engagements	First Sino-Japanese War Xinhai Revolution Occupation of Mongolia Northern Expedition
Commanders
Notable commanders	Yuan Shikai Duan Qirui Yinchang Feng Guozhang

The Beiyang Army (Chinese: 北洋軍; pinyin: Běi Yáng Jūn; lit. 'Northern Ocean Army'), named after the Beiyang region,^[1] was a large, Western-style Imperial Chinese Army established by the Qing dynasty government in the late 19th century. It was the centerpiece of a general reconstruction of Qing China's military system. The Beiyang Army played a major role in Chinese politics for at least three decades and arguably right up to 1949. It made the Xinhai Revolution of 1911 possible, and, by dividing into warlord factions known as the Beiyang Clique (Chinese: 北洋軍閥; pinyin: Běiyáng Jūnfá), ushered in a period of regional division.

The Beiyang Army had its origins in the Newly Created Army established in late 1895 under Yuan Shikai's command, which rapidly expanded after 1901 with new recruits and by incorporating other forces. By 1906 it had six divisions and was the most advanced army under the command of the Qing dynasty.