Empress Ren
Encyclopedia
Empress Ren was an empress of the Chinese
/Di
state Cheng Han
. Her husband was the founding emperor Li Xiong
(Emperor Wu).
She was created empress by Li Xiong in 315. She was sonless, and although Li Xiong had sons by concubines, he chose his nephew Li Ban
, whom she raised, to be his crown prince
. After Li Xiong died in 334, Li Ban became emperor and honored her as empress dowager
. Less than a year later, Li Ban was assassinated by Li Xiong's son Li Yue (李越), who subsequently made another son of Li Xiong, Li Qi
, whom Empress Dowager Ren had also raised, emperor. Li Yue forged an edict from Empress Dowager Ren to legitimize his actions.
During Li Qi's reign, she continued as empress dowager. When Li Qi was overthrown by Li Shou
in 338, Li Shou forged an edict from Empress Dowager Ren as well to legitimize his actions, implying that she was still alive at that point, but there was no more mention of her in history from that point on. It is not known when she 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...
/Di
Di (ethnic group)
The Di were an ethnic group in China from the 8th century BCE to approximately the middle of the 6th century CE. Note that the character Di is used to differentiate this group from the Beidi , a generic term for "northern barbarians". They lived in areas of the present-day provinces of Gansu,...
state Cheng Han
Cheng Han
The Cheng Han was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It represented two states, the Cheng state proclaimed in 304 by Li Xiong and the Han state in 338 by Li Shou...
. Her husband was the founding emperor Li Xiong
Li Xiong
Li Xiong , courtesy name Zhongjuan , formally Emperor Wu of Cheng , was the first emperor of the Chinese/Ba-Di state Cheng Han and commonly regarded as its founder...
(Emperor Wu).
She was created empress by Li Xiong in 315. She was sonless, and although Li Xiong had sons by concubines, he chose his nephew Li Ban
Li Ban
Li Ban , courtesy name Shiwen , posthumous name initially Crown Prince Li , later Emperor Ai of Cheng , was briefly an emperor of the Chinese/Ba-Di state Cheng Han....
, whom she raised, to be his 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 Li Xiong died in 334, Li Ban became emperor and honored her as empress dowager
Empress Dowager
Empress Dowager was the title given to the mother of a Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Vietnamese emperor.The title was also given occasionally to another woman of the same generation, while a woman from the previous generation was sometimes given the title of Grand empress dowager. Numerous empress...
. Less than a year later, Li Ban was assassinated by Li Xiong's son Li Yue (李越), who subsequently made another son of Li Xiong, Li Qi
Li Qi
Li Qi , courtesy name Shiyun , posthumous name Duke You of Qiongdu , was an emperor of the Chinese/Ba-Di state Cheng Han. He seized the throne after his brother Li Yue assassinated their father Li Xiong's designated heir, their cousin Li Ban, in 334...
, whom Empress Dowager Ren had also raised, emperor. Li Yue forged an edict from Empress Dowager Ren to legitimize his actions.
During Li Qi's reign, she continued as empress dowager. When Li Qi was overthrown by Li Shou
Li Shou
Li Shou , courtesy name Wukao , formally Emperor Zhaowen of Han , was an emperor of the Chinese/Ba-Di state Cheng Han...
in 338, Li Shou forged an edict from Empress Dowager Ren as well to legitimize his actions, implying that she was still alive at that point, but there was no more mention of her in history from that point on. It is not known when she died.