Empress Zhang Yan
Encyclopedia
Zhang Yan (died 163 BC), known formally as Empress Xiaohui (孝惠皇后) was an empress during the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...

. She was the daughter of Princess Luyuan (the only daughter of Emperor Gao (Liu Bang) and his wife Empress Lü) and her husband Zhang Ao (張敖, son of Zhang Er), the Prince of Zhao and later Marquess of Xuanping.

In 192 BC, at the insistence of then-Empress Dowager Lü, Lady Yan married her uncle Emperor Hui
Emperor Hui of Han
Emperor Hui of Han was the second emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was the second son of the first Han emperor, Han Gaozu and Empress Dowager Lü. He is generally remembered as a weak character dominated by his mother, Empress Dowager Lü, personally kind and generous but unable to escape...

, the son of Emperor Gao and Empress Dowager Lü, and she was created empress. The marriage was a childless one. At Empress Dowager Lü's instruction, Empress Zhang took several male children as her own and killed their mothers. (Whether these children were Emperor Hui's is a matter of controversy, although it appears likely that they were Emperor Hui's children by his concubines.)

When Emperor Hui died in 188 BC at the age of 22, one of the children that Empress Zhang adopted, Liu Gong
Liu Gong
Emperor Qianshao of Han , personal name Liu Gong , was the third emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was a son, likely the oldest son, of Emperor Hui, likely by a concubine -- although there is some controversy on the subject—and adopted by Emperor Hui's wife, Empress Zhang Yan...

, became emperor (as Emperor Qianshao), but Grand Empress Dowager Lü had effective total control of the imperial government. Empress Zhang, who was then made empress dowager, did not appear to have significant influence. Nevertheless, when Liu Gong found out in 184 BC that he was not actually her child, he made a careless comment that he would take vengeance on her—at which Grand Empress Dowager Lü had him deposed and executed, and replaced him with his brother Liu Hong (as Emperor Houshao), who was also adopted by Empress Zhang. It was during Emperor Qianshao's reign that Empress Zhang's brother Zhang Yan (張偃, pinyin Zhāng Yǎn—notice difference in tone) was created the Prince of Lu.

After Grand Empress Dowager Lü died in 180 BC, and the Lü clan overthrown and slaughtered by the officials opposed to the Lüs in the Lü Clan Disturbance
Lü Clan Disturbance
The Lü Clan Disturbance refers to a political disturbance after the death of Grand Empress Dowager Lü of Han Dynasty, the aftermaths of which saw the clan of the deceased empress' family, the Lü consort clan being overthrown from their seats of power and massacred, the deposing of the puppet...

, Emperor Houshao was deposed and killed. Empress Dowager Zhang was not killed, but she was deposed from her position as empress dowager and henceforth referred to as Empress Hui. Her brother, the Prince of Lu, was also deposed and reduced in rank to Marquess of Nangong. After this she went to live in a palace to the north and no records exist of her later life until her death. Empress Zhang died in 163 BC and was buried with her husband of merely four years.

Family

  • Maternal great-grandfather: Liu Taigong
    Liu Taigong
    Liu Taigong , literally meaning a senior person named Liu, was the father of Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty, which reigned for over 400 years. He was honored the title Taishang Huang after Liu Bang declared himself emperor. He died at the Royal Palace of Xiang Yang in 197 BC.His...

  • Paternal grandfather: Zhang Er, Prince Jin of Zhao
  • Maternal grandfather/father-in-law: Emperor Gaozu of Han
  • Maternal grandmother/mother-in-law: Empress Lü Zhi
    Empress Lü Zhi
    Empress Lü Zhi , commonly known as Empress Dowager Lü or formally as Empress Gao , courtesy name Exu , was the wife and empress of Emperor Gaozu of Han, founder of the Han Dynasty. They had two known children—the eventual Emperor Hui and Princess Luyuan...

  • Uncle/Husband: Emperor Hui of Han
    Emperor Hui of Han
    Emperor Hui of Han was the second emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was the second son of the first Han emperor, Han Gaozu and Empress Dowager Lü. He is generally remembered as a weak character dominated by his mother, Empress Dowager Lü, personally kind and generous but unable to escape...

  • Father: Zhang Ao, Prince of Zhao and Marquess of Xuanping
  • Mother: Princess Luyuan
  • Brother: Zhang Yan, Prince of Luyuan and Marquess of Nangong
  • Brother: Zhan Shou, Marquess of Lechang
  • Adopted son: Liu Gong
    Liu Gong
    Emperor Qianshao of Han , personal name Liu Gong , was the third emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was a son, likely the oldest son, of Emperor Hui, likely by a concubine -- although there is some controversy on the subject—and adopted by Emperor Hui's wife, Empress Zhang Yan...

    , Emperor Qianshao
  • Adopted son: Liu Qiang, Prince Huai of Huaiyang
  • Adopted son: Liu Buyi, Prince Ai of Hengshan
  • Adopted son: Liu Hong, Emperor Houshao
  • Adopted son: Liu Zhao, Prince of Hengshan
  • Adopted son: Liu Wu, Prince of Huaiyang
  • Adopted son: Liu Tai, Prince of Liang

Titles

  • 202 BC - 192 BC: Her Imperial Highness Princess Zhang Yan of Zhao
  • 192 BC - 188 BC: Her Imperial Majesty The Empress of China
  • 188 BC - 163 BC: Her Imperial Majesty Empress Xiaohui
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