May 20, 1858 · North China Theater
May 20, 1858
Anglo-French forces stormed the Taku (Dagu) Forts guarding the Beihe River approach to Tianjin — and Beijing beyond. The forts fell in a single day, opening the road to the capital and compelling the Qing government to negotiate the Treaty of Tientsin. For the first time in the war, European forces threatened Beijing itself.
Commanders