Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.
Empress Wang (Gaozong)
| Empress Wang 王皇后 | |
|---|---|
| Empress consort of the Tang dynasty | |
| Tenure | 12 February 650[1] – 16 November 655[2] |
| Predecessor | Empress Zhangsun |
| Successor | Empress Wu |
| Princess Consort of Jin | |
| Tenure | 7th century – 30 April 643 |
| Crown Princess of the Tang dynasty | |
| Tenure | 30 April 643 – 15 July 649 |
| Predecessor | Crown Princess Su |
| Born | c. 628[3] Bing Prefecture, Tang dynasty |
| Died | 3 December 655 (aged 26–27) Chang'an, Tang dynasty |
| Spouse | Emperor Gaozong of Tang |
| House | Wang |
| Father | Wang Renyou |
| Mother | Lady Liu (daughter of Liu Ze and sister of Liu Shi) |
Empress Wang (c. 628 – c.November 655[4]) was an empress of the Chinese Tang dynasty. She was the first wife and empress of Emperor Gaozong and became empress shortly after he became emperor in 649. She, however, did not bear any sons for him and was not favored. Therefore, in apprehension that one of his concubines, Pure Consort Xiao, who was both favored and had a son, might seek to displace her, she recommended a former concubine of Emperor Gaozong's father Emperor Taizong, Consort Wu (later known as Wu Zetian), to be Emperor Gaozong's concubine as well, hoping to divert favor from Consort Xiao. Soon, however, Consort Wu became dominant in the palace and overwhelmed both Empress Wang and Consort Xiao, eventually accusing them of using witchcraft and conspiracy to poison against Emperor Gaozong. Emperor Gaozong reduced both Empress Wang and Consort Xiao to commoner rank and put them under arrest in 655, replacing Empress Wang with Consort Wu. Soon, as recorded in the New Book of Tang and Zizhi Tongjian, Empress Wang and Consort Xiao were cruelly tortured and executed on the new Empress Wu's orders.
- ^ Volume 199 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Wang was made empress on the bing'wu day of the 1st month of the 1st year of the Yong'hui era of Tang Gaozong's reign. This date corresponds to 12 Feb 650 in the Julian calendar [(永徽元年)春，正月，...丙午，立妃王氏为皇后。]
- ^ Volume 200 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that the deposition of Empress Wang and Consort Xiao took place on the ji'you day of the 10th month of the 6th year of the Yong'hui era of Tang Gaozong's reign, which corresponds to 16 Nov 655 in the Julian calendar. [(永徽六年)冬，十月，己酉，下诏称：“王皇后、萧淑妃谋行鸩毒，废为庶人，母及兄弟，并除名，流岭南。”]
- ^ Historical sources did not indicate the year of Empress Wang's birth.
- ^ The last recorded activity involving Empress Wang and Consort Xiao in Zizhi Tongjian with a defined date was their deposition in volume 200. This took place on the jiyou day of the 10th month of the 6th year of the Yong'hui era of Tang Gaozong's reign, which corresponds to 16 Nov 655 in the Julian calendar. ((永徽六年)冬，十月，己酉，下诏称：“王皇后、萧淑妃谋行鸩毒，废为庶人，母及兄弟，并除名，流岭南。”) Volume 51 of the Old Book of Tang recorded that both women were strangled in the 10th month of the 6th year of the Yong'hui era of Tang Gaozong's reign; said month ends on 3 December 655 in the Julian calendar. (永徽六年十月，废后及萧良娣皆为庶人，囚之别院。武昭仪令人皆缢杀之)
Previous Page Next Page
