Kansu Braves

Gansu Braves
Three Muslim soldiers from the Gansu Army
Active	1895–1901
Country	Qing Empire
Allegiance	Emperor of China
Branch	Wuwei Corps
Type	Army
Role	Force protection Land warfare Public security
Size	Division ~10,000
Garrison/HQ	Gansu, then Beijing
Nickname(s)	Kansu Braves
Equipment	Krupp artillery, Mauser rifles, swords, halberds
Engagements	Dungan revolt (1895–96) Battle of Langfang Siege of the International Legations (Boxer Rebellion) Battle of Peking
Commanders
Notable commanders	Dong Fuxiang (general in chief) Ma Fuxiang, Ma Fulu, Ma Fuxing

The Gansu Braves or Gansu Army was a combined army division of 10,000 Chinese Muslim troops from the northwestern province of Kansu (Gansu) in the last decades of the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). Loyal to the Qing, the Braves were recruited in 1895 to suppress a Muslim revolt in Gansu. Under the command of General Dong Fuxiang (1839–1908), they were transferred to the Beijing metropolitan area in 1898, where they officially became the Rear Division of the Wuwei Corps, a modern army that protected the imperial capital. The Gansu Army included Hui Muslims, Salar Muslims,^[1][2][3] Dongxiang Muslims, and Bonan Muslims.

The Braves, who wore traditional uniforms but were armed with modern rifles and artillery, played an important role in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion. After helping to repel the Seymour Expedition, a multinational foreign force sent from Tianjin to relieve the Beijing Legation Quarter in early June, the Muslim troops were the fiercest attackers during the siege of the legations from 20 June to 14 August.^[4] They suffered heavy casualties at the Battle of Peking, in which the Eight-Nation Alliance relieved the siege. The Kansu Braves then guarded the Imperial Court on their journey to Xi'an.