Liu Yung-fu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Liu Yung-fu (Chinese: 劉永福; pinyin: Liú Yǒngfú; Vietnamese: Lưu Vĩnh Phúc) (1837 - 1917) was the second and last leader of the Republic of Formosa from June 5, 1895 to October 21, 1895.
[edit] Early years
Born in extreme poverty in southern Guangxi province of Zhuang ethnicity, Liu fought in the Taiping Rebellion of 1850-1865.
Following the defeat of the rebellion, Liu led a splinter remnant, the Black Flag Army, into the hills of Guangxi and later into northern Tonkin (in Vietnam). The Black Flags suppressed the Tai and Hmong living in the region, who were opposed to Vietnamese rule. In return, the Vietnamese emperor bestowed official rank upon Liu and took no actions against his band's harassment of French merchants plying the Red River.
Liu's attacks on the merchants led to French military action against Hanoi in 1883, during which the Black Flags killed the commander of the expeditionary force, Henri Rivière. This ultimately resulted in the Sino-French War, during which Liu Yung-fu played an important role. He commanded the Black Flag Army as they besieged a French position at the city of Tuyen Quang.
With the conclusion of a treaty ending the Sino-French War in 1885, Liu returned to China, and was given a commission in the Chinese military. With the start of the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894, he was sent to Taiwan, where he became a leader in the local resistance to the Japanese invasion of Taiwan in 1895.
[edit] President of the Republic of Formosa
With the creation of the short-lived Republic of Formosa on May 25, 1895, Liu Yung-fu was made a brigadier general and given command of southern Taiwan. Contrary to many historic sources, when President Tang Ching-sung fled to Mainland China just ten days after declaring independence, Liu replaced him as head of government but did not succeed the presidency. However, within months the Imperial Japanese Army completed its occupation of Taiwan and the Japanese government formally annexed the island. With the collapse of the Formosan forces, Liu escaped back to mainland China.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tang Ching-sung |
President of the Republic of Formosa June 5, 1895 – October 21, 1895 |
Title dissolved |
