Empress Sima Maoying
Encyclopedia
Empress Sima Maoying (393?–439) was a princess of Jin Dynasty (265–420) (with the title Princess Haiyan (海鹽公主)) and an empress of the Liu Song Dynasty
. Her father was Emperor Gong of Jin
, and her husband was Emperor Shao of Liu Song
(Liu Yifu).
Sima Maoying was the daughter of Emperor Gong and his wife, Empress Chu Lingyuan
. She must have been created princess during her father's brief reign (419-420), and it was also at that time that she married Liu Yifu, then the heir apparent
to the powerful general Liu Yu
. In 420, her father-in-law forced her father to yield the throne to him, ending Jin and starting Liu Song. He created Liu Yifu crown prince
, and she therefore carried the title of crown princess. In 421, he had her father killed. In 422, after Liu Yu died, Liu Yifu took the throne as Emperor Shao, and she was created empress.
However, in 424, officials that Liu Yu had left in control of the government deposed Emperor Shao, believing him to be unfit to be emperor, demoting him to the title of Prince of Yingyang. Empress Sima was therefore also demoted to Princess of Yingyang. Soon, the officials had Liu Yifu killed. They replaced him with his capable brother Liu Yilong
(as Emperor Wen), and Emperor Wen, in 432, posthumously had his nephew Liu Lang (劉郎) (the son of his brother Liu Yigong (劉義恭) the Prince of Jiangxia) adopted into Liu Yifu's line as his son and created Liu Lang the Prince of Nanfeng. The former Empress Sima therefore carried the title Princess Dowager of Nanfeng. She died in 439.
Liu Song Dynasty
The Liu Song Dynasty , also known as Song Dynasty , Former Song , or Southern Song , was first of the four Southern Dynasties in China, succeeding the Eastern Jin Dynasty and followed by the Southern Qi Dynasty....
. Her father was Emperor Gong of Jin
Emperor Gong of Jin
Emperor Gong of Jin was last emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China. He became emperor in 419 after his developmentally disabled brother Emperor An was killed by the regent Liu Yu, and during his brief reign, actual power was in Liu Yu's hands. In 420, under pressure from Liu Yu, he...
, and her husband was Emperor Shao of Liu Song
Emperor Shao of Liu Song
Emperor Shao of Song , also known by his post-removal title Prince of Yingyang , personal name Liu Yifu , nickname Chebing , was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song. He was the oldest son of the founding emperor, Emperor Wu, and became emperor after his father's death in 422...
(Liu Yifu).
Sima Maoying was the daughter of Emperor Gong and his wife, Empress Chu Lingyuan
Empress Chu Lingyuan
Empress Chu Lingyuan , formally Empress Gongsi , was the last empress of Jin Dynasty . Her husband was the last emperor of the dynasty, Emperor Gong ....
. She must have been created princess during her father's brief reign (419-420), and it was also at that time that she married Liu Yifu, then the heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
to the powerful general Liu Yu
Emperor Wu of Liu Song
Emperor Wu of Song , personal name Liu Yu , courtesy name Dexing , nickname Jinu , was the founding emperor of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song. He came from a humble background, but became prominent after leading a rebellion in 404 to overthrow Huan Xuan, who had usurped the Jin throne in 403...
. In 420, her father-in-law forced her father to yield the throne to him, ending Jin and starting Liu Song. He created Liu Yifu 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....
, and she therefore carried the title of crown princess. In 421, he had her father killed. In 422, after Liu Yu died, Liu Yifu took the throne as Emperor Shao, and she was created empress.
However, in 424, officials that Liu Yu had left in control of the government deposed Emperor Shao, believing him to be unfit to be emperor, demoting him to the title of Prince of Yingyang. Empress Sima was therefore also demoted to Princess of Yingyang. Soon, the officials had Liu Yifu killed. They replaced him with his capable brother Liu Yilong
Emperor Wen of Liu Song
Emperor Wen of Liu Song , personal name Liu Yilong , nickname Che'er , was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song. He was the third son of the dynastic founder Emperor Wu . After his father's death in 422, Liu Yilong's eldest brother Liu Yifu took the throne as Emperor Shao...
(as Emperor Wen), and Emperor Wen, in 432, posthumously had his nephew Liu Lang (劉郎) (the son of his brother Liu Yigong (劉義恭) the Prince of Jiangxia) adopted into Liu Yifu's line as his son and created Liu Lang the Prince of Nanfeng. The former Empress Sima therefore carried the title Princess Dowager of Nanfeng. She died in 439.