Empress Liu (Liu Yao)
Encyclopedia
Empress Liu (died 326), formally Empress Xianlie (獻烈皇后, literally "the wise and achieving empress") was an empress of the Chinese
/Xiongnu
state Han Zhao
. She was Liu Yao
's second empress.
Very little is known about Empress Liu, who was created empress in 325. It was likely that she was ethnically Han
, because if she were Xiongnu, Liu Yao would not likely have married her due to the prohibition against endogamy
given that they had the same family name. When Empress Liu neared her own death in 326, Liu Yao asked her what her last requests were. She stated that she was raised by her uncle Liu Chang (劉昶) and wished that Liu Yao could grant him honors. She also stated that Liu Fang
, the daughter of her other uncle Liu Ai (劉皚), was beautiful and virtuous, and she hoped that Liu Yao would create her empress. After her death, Liu Yao created Liu Chang a duke and married Liu Fang, creating her empress.
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...
/Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
state 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...
. She was Liu Yao
Liu Yao
Liu Yao , courtesy name Yongming , was the final emperor of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao. He became emperor in 318 after most other members of the imperial Liu clan were massacred by Jin Zhun in a coup. However, the empire was soon divided in half, as the general Shi Le declared...
's second empress.
Very little is known about Empress Liu, who was created empress in 325. It was likely that she was ethnically Han
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
, because if she were Xiongnu, Liu Yao would not likely have married her due to the prohibition against endogamy
Endogamy
Endogamy is the practice of marrying within a specific ethnic group, class, or social group, rejecting others on such basis as being unsuitable for marriage or other close personal relationships. A Greek Orthodox Christian endogamist, for example, would require that a marriage be only with another...
given that they had the same family name. When Empress Liu neared her own death in 326, Liu Yao asked her what her last requests were. She stated that she was raised by her uncle Liu Chang (劉昶) and wished that Liu Yao could grant him honors. She also stated that Liu Fang
Empress Liu Fang
Empress Liu Fang was an empress of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao. She was Liu Yao's third empress. It was likely that she was ethnically Han, because if she were Xiongnu, Liu Yao would not likely have married her due to the prohibition against endogamy given that they had the same family...
, the daughter of her other uncle Liu Ai (劉皚), was beautiful and virtuous, and she hoped that Liu Yao would create her empress. After her death, Liu Yao created Liu Chang a duke and married Liu Fang, creating her empress.