Empress Zhang (Cao Fang)
Encyclopedia
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.
Not much is known about her, other than her grandfather Zhang Jì (張既) was a governor of Liang Province (modern Gansu
) and that her father Zhang Jí (張緝, note different tone) was a commandery governor. She was created empress in 252; at that time, her grandfather was already deceased, while her father was promoted to senior minister. (It is unclear whether she was an imperial consort before she was created empress.)
In 254, the powerful Sima Shi
, after killing Cao Fang's confidant, the official Li Feng
, a friend of Zhang Ji's, falsely accused Li, Zhang, and their friend Xiahou Xuan
of treason, and had all of them and their clans executed. One month later, Cao Fang was forced to depose Empress Zhang. It is not known what her fate was, although it would appear likely that she was put under house arrest for the rest of her life but not executed along with the rest of her family.
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 second 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.
Not much is known about her, other than her grandfather Zhang Jì (張既) was a governor of Liang Province (modern Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
) and that her father Zhang Jí (張緝, note different tone) was a commandery governor. She was created empress in 252; at that time, her grandfather was already deceased, while her father was promoted to senior minister. (It is unclear whether she was an imperial consort before she was created empress.)
In 254, 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...
, after killing Cao Fang's confidant, the official Li Feng
Li Feng
Li Feng , style name Anguo , was an official of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a trusted official of the emperor Cao Fang, and did not follow the regent Sima Shi's wishes...
, a friend of Zhang Ji's, falsely accused Li, Zhang, and their friend Xiahou Xuan
Xiahou Xuan
Xiahou Xuan , style name Taichu , was a minister of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the son of Xiahou Shang. Xiahou Xuan's mother was Cao Shuang's aunt , and thus he was close to Cao Shuang's faction. Despite this, he survived the overthrow and execution of Cao...
of treason, and had all of them and their clans executed. One month later, Cao Fang was forced to depose Empress Zhang. It is not known what her fate was, although it would appear likely that she was put under house arrest for the rest of her life but not executed along with the rest of her family.