Empresses

Empresses usually acquired their power after the death of their Emperor husband. After an emperor died, empresses would get the title of Dowager Empress. As a Dowager Empress, these women would sometimes act as regent.

Lu of Han

I was the wife of Emperor Kao-Ti. He died in 195 B.C. My son Hui-Ti succeeded him as emperor,but he died in 188 B.C. at the age of 23. Hui-Ti had no children with his official empress, so the child of one of his consorts was made emperor. His name was Shao-ti Kung. After 3 years, he was replaced by another child who was still an infant, named Shao-ti Hung. Because of the child emperors, I was able to act as regent and givent he title "Grand Empress Dowager." As regent, I was able to issue edicts under my own authority. Even though I was regent and was in control, I never claimed the title of "Empress" for myself. Meaning I only had the title Empress because of my deceased husband.

My husband Kao-Ti swore an oath with his followers, but I chose to ignore it. Instead I nominated 4 of my family members as kings,I elevated 6 others to marquis, and I posted other family members as generals. By appointing family members, I was able to command forces that were encamped in Ch’ang-an, the capital of the Han dynasty. Even with appointing my family members in high ranking positions, I was unable to keep control over the entire empire.

I died in 180 B.C. Before I died, I had appointed family members as Chancellor of State and General of the Army,the 2 most senior posts. My family wanted to eliminate the imperial house of Liu, which was my husbands family, and take over. However, 3 descendants of Kao-ti still had control of kingdoms, Ch’u, Huai-nan, and Tai. These family members acquired support from other family members. Kao-ti's grandson, the king of Ch'i took control and marched into Ch'ang-an, and eliminated my family.

(Cambridge History, vol 1 1986:132-133, 135-136)

Wu Zetian of Tang

I was a concubine of Gaozong. I influenced him so much in the years from 650 C.E. and 683 C.E., that I replaced his first Empress. Gaozong suffered from a stroke in 660 C.E. and I took control of the Empire. Gaozong died in 683 C.E, but I maintened power through my two sons.

I deposed both of my sons and proclaimed myself Emperor of a new dynasty. This new dynasty was known as Zhou. I was the only woman in Chinese history to proclaim the title of "Emperor."

(Ebrey 2010: 116-117)

Cixi of Qing (Tzu Hsi) 1835-1908

Like many other empresses, I started my political career as a concubine.

In the late 19th century there was a move for reform in China. This is not something I approved of.

In 1898 I made the mistake of allowing my 23 year old nephew, Guangxu, to rule. Guangxu was interested in the ideas of reform. He called on Kang Youwei to help him with reform. Kang Youwei was a leader of a group urging for modernizing and presented Confucius as an “institutional innovator and proponent of change.” With the help of Kang Youwei, passed a number of edicts for reform. Some of these edicts dealt with education, government, and commerce. After three months, I had enough of the reform. I did not want the reform to interfere with my power. I locked Guangxu in prison and had as many of the reformers as I could killed. Unfortunately, Kang Youwei escaped to Japan.

(Ebrey 2010: )

References

Ebrey, Patricia Buckley. Cambridge Illustrated History of China. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010. 2nd ed.

The Cambridge History of China, vol. 1. New York: Cambridge University Press,1986

Seagrave, Sterling, and Peggy Seagrave. Dragon Lady: The Life and Legend of the Last Empress of China. New York: Knopf, 1992