第二次鴉片戰爭期間英法聯軍對廣州的軍事佔領（1857-1861）

王天衛

1857年底，英法聯軍攻陷廣州，開始了長達三年十個月的軍事佔領。由於中外交戰和談判的重心北移，這一時期的廣州在第二次鴉片戰爭史中往往被邊緣化，與戰爭全域呈現出割裂狀態。既有研究多未能覆蓋整個佔領過程，難以形成整體性認知。探討英法聯軍為何選擇佔領廣州，以及這一佔領為何得以維持，有助於深化理解廣州在戰爭全域乃至中外關係中地位與作用。

本文在第二次鴉片戰爭史，以及近代中外關係史的視野下，運用中、英、法三語史料，從雙重維度展開研究：一是在戰爭全域下，討論英法聯軍的戰略意圖，清廷的應對措施，考察廣州與戰爭全域走向的互動；二是在區域的視角下，探討聯軍軍事佔領的建立及運作，以及清政府官員與聯軍的博弈過程。

英法聯軍佔領廣州的動機經歷多次調整，但始終服務於兩國外交目的，而非領土要求。聯軍選擇廣州為佔領目標，旨在展示武力威脅、獲取談判籌碼。《天津條約》規定由廣東官府償付賠款，廣州成為聯軍確保賠款支付的擔保。第二次大沽口之戰後，軍事需求進一步延長了聯軍的佔領時間。隨著《北京條約》調整賠款方案，聯軍提前結束了對廣州的佔領。

聯軍佔領的實現既依賴其軍事力量與管治機制，也與清廷的戰略選擇密切相關。聯軍方面，其在廣州維持四千人以上的駐軍，並通過設立會理華洋政務總局和警隊，監視清政府官員的政務活動。清廷方面，其“粵事歸粵辦”方針未能實現收復廣州的目標。該方針要求兼任五口通商大臣的兩廣總督與聯軍談判，同時暗中支持廣東團練武裝收復廣州。在樞廷授意下，廣東形成“督撫不同城”的局面。雖然該方針在一定程度上牽制了城內聯軍，但外交和軍事努力均告失敗。此外，聯軍控制範圍有限降低了佔領的影響，使清政府缺乏主動收復的緊迫性。

本研究表明，近代中外關係史的研究應關注不同地區並行發展的“複調”線索。全域與區域層面的演進及其互動，常共同構建出多聲部的歷史圖景。

關鍵字：第二次鴉片戰爭；廣州；英法聯軍；天津條約；北京條約

 

The Anglo-French Military Occupation of Canton during the Second Opium War, 1857-1861

Tianwei Wang

In late 1857, the Anglo-French allied forces captured Canton, marking the beginning of a military occupation lasting for three years and ten months. However, as the conflict and negotiations subsequently shifted northward, the occupation of Canton has often been marginalized in the historiography of the Second Opium War, appearing disconnected from the broader war. Existing studies have mostly failed to cover the entire time span of the occupation, making it difficult to achieve a comprehensive understanding. Exploring why the allied forces chose to occupy Canton and how this occupation was sustained helps to deepen our understanding of the city’s role in the war and in Sino-Western diplomatic relations.

This study, situated within the themes of the Second Opium War and modern Sino-Western relations, uses Chinese, English, and French primary sources to examine the period from two dimensions: first, from the perspective of the Second Opium War, analysing the strategic objectives of the allied forces and the Qing court’s responses, while considering the interaction between Canton and the overall trajectory of the war; second, from a regional perspective, investigating the establishment and operation of the military occupation, as well as the power struggles between Qing officials and the allied forces.

The motives behind the Anglo-French occupation of Guangzhou underwent multiple changes but consistently served diplomatic purposes rather than territorial claims. The allied forces chose Guangzhou as a site of occupation to demonstrate military strength and gain leverage in negotiations. The Treaties of Tianjin signed respectively between China and Great Britain, and between China and France, stipulated that Guangdong’s provincial authorities were responsible for indemnity payments, making Canton a guarantee for securing these payments. After the Second Battle of the Taku Forts, military necessity further prolonged the occupation. The subsequent revision of indemnity terms in the Conventions of Peking led to the allied forces’ early withdrawal.

The durability of the occupation can be attributed to the allied forces’ military strength and their governance mechanisms, as well as the Qing court’s strategic choices. On the allied side, they maintained a garrison of over 4,000 soldiers in Canton and established the Allied Commission and a police force to monitor Qing officials. On the Qing side, the court’s policy of “handling Guangdong affairs within Guangdong” failed to recover Canton. This policy tasked the Viceroy of Liangguang—who also served as Superintendent of Trade for the Five Ports—with negotiating with the allied forces, while secretly encouraging local militia forces to retake the city. Under the Qing court’s direction, the Viceroy of Liangguang and the Governor of Guangdong were stationed in different locations. Although this approach constrained the allied forces within Canton city to a certain extent, both diplomatic and military efforts ultimately failed to retake Canton. Moreover, the allied forces’ limited control beyond Canton reduced the occupation’s immediate impact, diminishing the Qing court’s urgency to actively retake the city.

This research suggests that studies of modern Sino-foreign relations should pay attention to the “polyphonic” narratives of parallel developments across different regions. The interplay between macro-level and regional dynamics often constructs a multi-layered historical landscape.

Key Words：The Second Opium War; Canton; Anglo-French allied forces; Treaties of Tianjin; Conventions of Beijing