The National Protection War (simplified Chinese: 护国战争; traditional Chinese: 護國戰爭; pinyin: Hù guó zhànzhēng), also known as the anti-Monarchy War, was a civil war that took place in China between 1915 and 1916. Only three years earlier, the last Chinese dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, had been overthrown and a Republic of China established in its place. The cause of the war was the proclamation by Yuan Shikai, the Republic's President, of himself as a new Emperor. In Yunnan province, military leaders including Tang Jiyao, Cai E, and Li Liejun declared their independence and launched expeditions against Yuan. Yuan's army experienced several defeats which led other provinces in the south to declare independence as well. Eventually, under immense pressure from the entire nation, Yuan Shikai was for