Empress Duan Yuanfei
Encyclopedia
Empress Duan Yuanfei (died 396), formally Empress Chengai (成哀皇后, literally "the successful and lamentable empress"), was an empress of the Chinese
/Xianbei
state Later Yan
. Her husband was the state's founding emperor, Murong Chui
(Emperor Wucheng). Her name is actually lost to history, but her courtesy name Yuanfei was recorded and used by historians. She was the niece of two of Murong Chui's prior wives, who were daughters of the Xianbei chief Duan Mopei (段末怌). Her father Duan Yi (段儀) was a brother of the Princesses Duan.
Murong Chui married Duan Yuanfei in or slightly earlier than 388. His younger brother Murong De
married her sister Duan Jifei
around the same time. He created her empress in 388 and favored her greatly. She bore him two sons, Murong Lang (慕容朗) the Prince of Bohai and Murong Jian (慕容鑒) the Prince of Boling.
Empress Duan was described as being intelligent and a good judge of character. As she saw that Murong Chui's crown prince
Murong Bao
lacked governing talents, she tried to persuade him to make one of his more capable sons, Murong Nong
the Prince of Liaoxi or Murong Long
the Prince of Gaoyang, crown prince, but Murong Chui, believing in the flattery that Murong Bao's associates had given him, disbelieved Empress Duan and kept Murong Bao as crown prince. She had also advised him to put his treacherous son Murong Lin
the Prince of Zhao to death. As a result, Murong Bao and Murong Lin greatly resented her.
After Murong Chui died in 396, Murong Bao sent Murong Lin to threaten her and force her to commit suicide—stating that if she did not, he would do harm to her clan. In anger, she stated that Murong Bao would soon cause the empire's destruction, and then committed suicide. Initially, Murong Bao refused to give her an empress' burial honors, but after his official Sui Sui (眭邃) publicly articulated reasons why she should be honored, Murong Bao relented and buried her with imperial honors.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
/Xianbei
Xianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
state Later Yan
Later Yan
The Later Yan was a Murong-Xianbei state, located in modern day northeast China, during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.All rulers of the Later Yan declared themselves "emperors". Later Yan fell to the Goguryeo dynasty.-Rulers of the Later Yan:...
. Her husband was the state's founding emperor, Murong Chui
Murong Chui
Murong Chui , courtesy name Daoming , formally Emperor Wucheng of Yan was a great general of the Chinese/Xianbei state Former Yan who later became the founding emperor of Later Yan...
(Emperor Wucheng). Her name is actually lost to history, but her courtesy name Yuanfei was recorded and used by historians. She was the niece of two of Murong Chui's prior wives, who were daughters of the Xianbei chief Duan Mopei (段末怌). Her father Duan Yi (段儀) was a brother of the Princesses Duan.
Murong Chui married Duan Yuanfei in or slightly earlier than 388. His younger brother Murong De
Murong De
Murong De , name changed in 400 to Murong Beide , courtesy name Xuanming , formally Emperor Xianwu of Yan , was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Southern Yan...
married her sister Duan Jifei
Empress Duan Jifei
Empress Duan Jifei was an empress of the Chinese/Xianbei state Southern Yan. Her husband was the founding emperor Murong De . Her name is actually lost to history, but her courtesy name Jifei was recorded and used by historians...
around the same time. He created her empress in 388 and favored her greatly. She bore him two sons, Murong Lang (慕容朗) the Prince of Bohai and Murong Jian (慕容鑒) the Prince of Boling.
Empress Duan was described as being intelligent and a good judge of character. As she saw that Murong Chui's crown prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
Murong Bao
Murong Bao
Murong Bao , courtesy name Daoyou , formally Emperor Huimin of Yan , temple name Liezong or Liezu , was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Later Yan...
lacked governing talents, she tried to persuade him to make one of his more capable sons, Murong Nong
Murong Nong
Murong Nong , formally Prince Huanlie of Liaoxi , was a general and imperial prince of the Chinese/Xianbei state Later Yan. He was a son of the founding emperor Murong Chui and a brother of Murong Bao...
the Prince of Liaoxi or Murong Long
Murong Long
Murong Long , formally Prince Kang of Gaoyang , was a general and imperial prince of the Chinese/Xianbei state Later Yan...
the Prince of Gaoyang, crown prince, but Murong Chui, believing in the flattery that Murong Bao's associates had given him, disbelieved Empress Duan and kept Murong Bao as crown prince. She had also advised him to put his treacherous son Murong Lin
Murong Lin
Murong Lin was a general and imperial prince of the Chinese/Xianbei state Later Yan. He was a son of the founding emperor Murong Chui and a brother of Murong Bao ; for a while, he himself was a pretender to the Later Yan throne...
the Prince of Zhao to death. As a result, Murong Bao and Murong Lin greatly resented her.
After Murong Chui died in 396, Murong Bao sent Murong Lin to threaten her and force her to commit suicide—stating that if she did not, he would do harm to her clan. In anger, she stated that Murong Bao would soon cause the empire's destruction, and then committed suicide. Initially, Murong Bao refused to give her an empress' burial honors, but after his official Sui Sui (眭邃) publicly articulated reasons why she should be honored, Murong Bao relented and buried her with imperial honors.