Empress Lü (Houshao)
Encyclopedia
Empress Lü (died c. 180 BC) was an empress during Han Dynasty
.
Lady Lü was the daughter of Lü Chan (呂產), the grandnephew of the powerful Grand Empress Dowager Lü Zhi
, who was the true power at the time even though her grandson Emperor Houshao
(Liu Hong) was the titular emperor. As Grand Empress Dowager Lü grew sick in 180 BC, she put Lü Chan (along with her nephew Lü Lu
(呂祿)) in charge of Emperor Houshao's regency, and married Lady Lü to Emperor Houshao.
When the Lü clan was later destroyed that year, in the Lü Clan Disturbance
, Emperor Houshao was deposed and executed. Historians implied that Empress Lü was also executed, although her fate was not explicitly stated.
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
.
Lady Lü was the daughter of Lü Chan (呂產), the grandnephew of the powerful Grand Empress Dowager Lü Zhi
Empress Lü Zhi
Empress Lü Zhi , commonly known as Empress Dowager Lü or formally as Empress Gao , courtesy name Exu , was the wife and empress of Emperor Gaozu of Han, founder of the Han Dynasty. They had two known children—the eventual Emperor Hui and Princess Luyuan...
, who was the true power at the time even though her grandson Emperor Houshao
Liu Hong
Emperor Houshao of Han , personal name Liu Hong, was the fourth emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was a son of Emperor Hui, likely by a concubine -- although there is some controversy on the subject—and adopted by Emperor Hui's wife, Empress Zhang Yan...
(Liu Hong) was the titular emperor. As Grand Empress Dowager Lü grew sick in 180 BC, she put Lü Chan (along with her nephew Lü Lu
Lu Lu
Li Xiaolu is a Golden Horse award-winning Chinese actress, best known for her role in Joan Chen's directing debut Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl.Li was born in Beijing, China...
(呂祿)) in charge of Emperor Houshao's regency, and married Lady Lü to Emperor Houshao.
When the Lü clan was later destroyed that year, in the Lü Clan Disturbance
Lü Clan Disturbance
The Lü Clan Disturbance refers to a political disturbance after the death of Grand Empress Dowager Lü of Han Dynasty, the aftermaths of which saw the clan of the deceased empress' family, the Lü consort clan being overthrown from their seats of power and massacred, the deposing of the puppet...
, Emperor Houshao was deposed and executed. Historians implied that Empress Lü was also executed, although her fate was not explicitly stated.