Empress Dong (Ran Min)
Encyclopedia
Empress Dong was the only empress of the short-lived Chinese
state Ran Wei. Her husband was its only emperor, Ran Min
. When he proclaimed the new state in 350 after overthrowing the Later Zhao
emperor Shi Jian
and declared himself emperor, he created her empress and created her oldest son Ran Zhi
crown prince
. After he was captured and executed by Former Yan
's prince Murong Jun
in 352, Former Yan forces quickly arrived at the Ran Wei capital Yecheng
. Empress Dong, Ran Zhi, and high level officials led by the commander of armed forces Jiang Gan (蔣幹) tried to hold out and enlist Jin
assistance (by sending Jin the imperial seals that had previously been Jin's, but had passed through the hands of Han Zhao
and Later Zhao emperors), but even with (limited) assistance Jin provided, could not hold out. The city fell in late 352, and Empress Dong and Ran Zhi surrendered. Publicly claiming (falsely) that Empress Dong had surrendered the imperial seals, Murong Jun created her the Lady Fengxi (奉璽君, literally "the lady who offered the imperial seals") and Ran Zhi the Marquess of Haibin. No further record of them were mentioned (although officials named Ran in the later Northern Wei Dynasty claimed descent from Ran Min, presumably through Ran Zhi), and it is not known when Empress Dong died.
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...
state Ran Wei. Her husband was its only emperor, Ran Min
Ran Min
Ran Min , also known as Shi Min , posthumously honored by Former Yan as Heavenly Prince Daowu of Wei , courtesy name Yongzeng , nickname Jinu , was a military leader during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China and the only emperor of the short-lived state Ran Wei . Ran is an uncommon Chinese...
. When he proclaimed the new state in 350 after overthrowing the Later Zhao
Later Zhao
The Later Zhao was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It was founded by the Shi family of the Jie ethnicity...
emperor Shi Jian
Shi Jian
Shi Jian was briefly an emperor of the Chinese/Jie state Later Zhao. He was the third of four short-lived emperors after the death of his father Shi Hu . He is sometimes referred to by his title prior to becoming emperor, Prince of Yiyang...
and declared himself emperor, he created her empress and created her oldest son Ran Zhi
Ran Zhi
Ran Zhi was a crown prince of the short-lived Chinese state Ran Wei. His father was the state's only emperor, Ran Min.Ran Zhi, as Ran Min's oldest son, was created crown prince when he proclaimed the new state in 350 after overthrowing the Later Zhao emperor Shi Jian and declared himself...
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....
. After he was captured and executed by Former Yan
Former Yan
The Former Yan was a state of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.Initially, Murong Huang and his son Murong Jun claimed the Jin Dynasty -created title "Prince of Yan," but subsequently, in 352, after seizing most of the former Later Zhao territory, Murong Juan would...
's prince Murong Jun
Murong Jun
Murong Jun , courtesy name Xuanying , formally Emperor Jingzhao of Yan , was an emperor of the Chinese state Former Yan...
in 352, Former Yan forces quickly arrived at the Ran Wei capital Yecheng
Ye, China
Ye or Yecheng was an ancient Chinese city located in what is now Linzhang County, Hebei and the neighbouring Anyang County, Henan....
. Empress Dong, Ran Zhi, and high level officials led by the commander of armed forces Jiang Gan (蔣幹) tried to hold out and enlist Jin
Jìn Dynasty (265-420)
The Jìn Dynasty , was a dynasty in Chinese history, lasting between the years 265 and 420 AD. There are two main divisions in the history of the Dynasty, the first being Western Jin and the second Eastern Jin...
assistance (by sending Jin the imperial seals that had previously been Jin's, but had passed through the hands of Han Zhao
Han Zhao
The Han Zhao , or Former Zhao, or Northern Han , was a Southern Xiongnu state during Sixteen Kingdoms period coeval with the Chinese Jin Dynasty...
and Later Zhao emperors), but even with (limited) assistance Jin provided, could not hold out. The city fell in late 352, and Empress Dong and Ran Zhi surrendered. Publicly claiming (falsely) that Empress Dong had surrendered the imperial seals, Murong Jun created her the Lady Fengxi (奉璽君, literally "the lady who offered the imperial seals") and Ran Zhi the Marquess of Haibin. No further record of them were mentioned (although officials named Ran in the later Northern Wei Dynasty claimed descent from Ran Min, presumably through Ran Zhi), and it is not known when Empress Dong died.