Empress Ma formally Empress Xiao Min Rang (孝愍讓皇后), was the Empress Consort to Jianwen Emperor

Jianwen Emperor

The Jianwen Emperor , with the personal name Zhu Yunwen , reigned as the second Emperor of the Ming dynasty...

 and the second Empress Consort of China's Ming Dynasty

Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...

.

Family Background

Born in 1378, daughter of Ma Quan.She married the Crown Prince, Zhu Yunmen

Jianwen Emperor

The Jianwen Emperor , with the personal name Zhu Yunwen , reigned as the second Emperor of the Ming dynasty...

, grandson of Hongwu Emperor

Hongwu Emperor

The Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China...

 as the Crown Princess.

As Empress

After Zhu Yunmen ascended the throne in 1399, she was created Empress. She had two sons. Zhu Wenkui, Crown Prince Hejian

Zhu Wenkui

Zhu Wenkui is the elder son and Crown Prince of Jianwen Emperor of Ming Dynasty, born by Empress Ma.In 1402, Zhu Di Prince of Yan sacked Nanjing, both Jianwen and Wenkui disappeared...

 and Zhu Wengui, Prince Huai of Run.

Death

She committed self-immolation

Self-immolation

Self-immolation refers to setting oneself on fire, often as a form of protest or for the purposes of martyrdom or suicide. It has centuries-long traditions in some cultures, while in modern times it has become a type of radical political protest...

 and died in the palace in 1402.