Empress Wang (Cao Fang)
Encyclopedia
Empress Wang, personal name unknown, was an empress of Cao Wei
during the Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
. She was the third wife of Cao Fang
, the third ruler of Cao Wei.
Very little is known about her, other than that she was the daughter of Wang Kui (王夔), the director of imperial transportation. She was created empress in 254, after Cao Fang's second wife Empress Zhang
was deposed in light of false accusations of treason levied against her father Zhang Ji (張緝) by the powerful Sima Shi
. It is not known whether Empress Wang was previously an imperial consort.
Later in 254, Cao Fang considered a coup against Sima, and while he ultimately did not carry out the plan, the news leaked, and Sima deposed him and demoted him to the title of the Prince of Qi (which he held during his father Cao Rui
's reign). What happened to Empress Wang is not known, although presumably she was allowed to have the title of the Princess of Qi. Nothing further is said about her in the official histories.
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
during the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
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...
. She was the third wife of Cao Fang
Cao Fang
Cao Fang , formally known as Duke Li of Shaoling, was the third emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He retained the title Prince of Qi after he was deposed by the regent Sima Shi...
, the third ruler of Cao Wei.
Very little is known about her, other than that she was the daughter of Wang Kui (王夔), the director of imperial transportation. She was created empress in 254, after Cao Fang's second wife Empress Zhang
Empress Zhang (Cao Fang)
Empress Zhang, personal name unknown, was an empress of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. She was the second wife of Cao Fang, the third ruler of Cao Wei....
was deposed in light of false accusations of treason levied against her father Zhang Ji (張緝) by the powerful Sima Shi
Sima Shi
Sima Shi , style name Ziyuan , was a military general and regent of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. In 249, he assisted his father Sima Yi in overthrowing the emperor Cao Fang's regent Cao Shuang, allowing the Sima family to become paramount authority in the state, and he...
. It is not known whether Empress Wang was previously an imperial consort.
Later in 254, Cao Fang considered a coup against Sima, and while he ultimately did not carry out the plan, the news leaked, and Sima deposed him and demoted him to the title of the Prince of Qi (which he held during his father Cao Rui
Cao Rui
Cao Rui , formally known as Emperor Ming of Wei, was the second emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a son of Cao Wei's first emperor Cao Pi according to Liu Song dynasty historian, Pei Songzhi, but was a son of Yuan Xi according to modern...
's reign). What happened to Empress Wang is not known, although presumably she was allowed to have the title of the Princess of Qi. Nothing further is said about her in the official histories.
See also
- List of people of the Three Kingdoms