The Monarchists were one of the two major belligerents of the Chinese Civil War and, for a long time, had total control over much of the country. The Monarchists were formed out a variety of conservative and reactionary factions that opposed the reforms proposed by the Guangxu Emperor or his ambitious nephew, the Prince Chun Zaifeng. The term "Monarchists" was first used in 1911 to describe the factions supporting the forces of General Yuan Shikai and his stated goal to insert Zaifeng's infant son Pu Yi as Emperor with a regent overseeing his development, similar to the Empress Dowager Cixi in the late 19th century. Prior to the war being framed as a battle between "Monarchists" and their enemies, the forces of Guangxu and his compatriots were derisively referred to as "West-dogs" due to t