Empress Chu Lingqu
Encyclopedia
Empress Chu Lingqu was an empress of the Chinese
dynasty Southern Qi
. Her husband was Xiao Baojuan.
Chu Lingqu came from an aristocratic family, as the daughter of the official Chu Cheng (褚澄), a younger brother of Chu Yuan
, who served as a high level official during late Liu Song and later served as prime minister for Southern Qi's founding emperor, Emperor Gao
. Xiao Baojuan's father Emperor Ming
took Chu Lingqu to be the wife of Xiao Baojuan, who was then crown prince
, in 495, and she thereafter carried the title of Crown Princess. She was not favored by Xiao Baojuan, who was, according to the History of Southern Dynasties
, carrying on an incest
uous affair with his sister the Princess Shanyin. However, after Emperor Ming died in 498 and was succeeded by Xiao Baojuan, Xiao Baojuan did create Crown Princess Chu empress. She continued to be not favored, however, and she bore him no children. (His favorite was Consort Pan Yunu
, and his only known son Xiao Song (蕭誦) was born of Consort Huang, who died shortly after giving birth to Xiao Song. Empress Chu might have raised Xiao Song as her own son.)
Xiao Baojuan was a violent ruler who executed officials whimsically, and this eventually drew a number of rebellions, the last of which, by the general Xiao Yan
, overthrew him, as he was assassinated within the capital Jiankang
in 501 as Xiao Yan sieged it. Once Xiao Yan entered the capital, he had Xiao Baojuan posthumously demoted to the title of Marquess of Donghun, and he had both Empress Chu and Crown Prince Song demoted to commoner status. Nothing further is known in history about her, including 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...
dynasty Southern Qi
Southern Qi
The Southern Qi Dynasty was the second of the Southern dynasties in China, followed by the Liang Dynasty. During its 23-year history, the dynasty was largely filled with instability, as after the death of the capable Emperor Gao and Emperor Wu, Emperor Wu's grandson Xiao Zhaoye was assassinated...
. Her husband was Xiao Baojuan.
Chu Lingqu came from an aristocratic family, as the daughter of the official Chu Cheng (褚澄), a younger brother of Chu Yuan
Chu Yuan
Chu Yuan , courtesy name Yanhui , formally Duke Wenjian of Nankang , was a high level official of the Chinese dynasties Liu Song and Southern Qi.-Background:...
, who served as a high level official during late Liu Song and later served as prime minister for Southern Qi's founding emperor, Emperor Gao
Emperor Gao of Southern Qi
Emperor Gao of Southern Qi , personal name Xiao Daocheng , courtesy name Shaobo , nickname Doujiang , was the founding emperor of the Chinese dynasty Southern Qi...
. Xiao Baojuan's father Emperor Ming
Emperor Ming of Southern Qi
Emperor Ming of Southern Qi , personal name Xiao Luan , courtesy name Jingqi , nickname Xuandu , was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Southern Qi...
took Chu Lingqu to be the wife of Xiao Baojuan, who was then 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....
, in 495, and she thereafter carried the title of Crown Princess. She was not favored by Xiao Baojuan, who was, according to the History of Southern Dynasties
History of Southern Dynasties
The History of Southern Dynasties is one of the official Chinese historical works in the Twenty-Four Histories canon. It contain 80 volumes and covers the period from 420 to 589, the histories of Liu Song, Southern Qi, Liang Dynasty, and Chen Dynasty. Like the History of Northern Dynasties, the...
, carrying on an incest
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
uous affair with his sister the Princess Shanyin. However, after Emperor Ming died in 498 and was succeeded by Xiao Baojuan, Xiao Baojuan did create Crown Princess Chu empress. She continued to be not favored, however, and she bore him no children. (His favorite was Consort Pan Yunu
Consort Pan Yunu
Consort Pan Yunu was an imperial consort during the Chinese dynasty Southern Qi. She was a concubine of Xiao Baojuan. During his reign, she carried the title Guifei -- a rank that was higher than the usual ranks for imperial concubines.Consort Pan was described to be exceedingly beautiful, and...
, and his only known son Xiao Song (蕭誦) was born of Consort Huang, who died shortly after giving birth to Xiao Song. Empress Chu might have raised Xiao Song as her own son.)
Xiao Baojuan was a violent ruler who executed officials whimsically, and this eventually drew a number of rebellions, the last of which, by the general Xiao Yan
Emperor Wu of Liang
Emperor Wu of Liang , personal name Xiao Yan , courtesy name Shuda , nickname Lian'er , was the founding emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty...
, overthrew him, as he was assassinated within the capital Jiankang
Jiankang
Jiankang was the capital city of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and Southern Dynasties. Its walls are extant ruins in the modern municipal region of Nanjing.-History:...
in 501 as Xiao Yan sieged it. Once Xiao Yan entered the capital, he had Xiao Baojuan posthumously demoted to the title of Marquess of Donghun, and he had both Empress Chu and Crown Prince Song demoted to commoner status. Nothing further is known in history about her, including when she died.