Princess Dowager Ma
Encyclopedia
Princess Dowager Ma (died 362) was the mother of the Chinese
state Former Liang
's ruler Zhang Chonghua
. She was a concubine of Zhang Chonghua's father Zhang Jun
.
Nothing is known about Lady Ma's acts during Zhang Jun's reign, other than her status as his heir apparent
's mother. (This implies that Zhang Jun's wife Princess Yan
had no sons.) After Zhang Jun's death in 346, Zhang Chonghua succeeded him and honored her as "Princess Dowager" while honoring Princess Yan as "Grand Princess Dowager." After Zhang Chonghua died in 353, his son Zhang Yaoling
carried the Jin Dynasty (265-420)
-created title Duke of Xiping and was the titular ruler, but actual power was in Princess Dowager Ma's and Zhang Chonghua's older brother Zhang Zuo
's hands. Most historians believed that she had an affair with Zhang Zuo, and later that year, she deposed Zhang Yaoling and replaced him with Zhang Zuo. In 355, however, the overly extravagant and cruel Zhang Zuo was deposed and killed by a coalition of officials, including Zhang Guan (張瓘) and Song Hun (宋混), and they pressured her into making Zhang Chonghua's younger son, Zhang Xuanjing
, the new ruler. (Zhang Yaoling had been killed by Zhang Zuo earlier that year.) Zhang Guan initially served as regent, but was killed in 359 by Song Hun, who served as regent until his death in 361. He was replaced by his brother Song Cheng (宋澄), who was in turn killed by Zhang Yong (張邕) later that year. It was said that Princess Dowager Ma also carried on an affair with Zhang Yong, who was in turn overthrown by Zhang Jun's youngest son Zhang Tianxi
late in the year. In 362, Princess Dowager Ma 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...
state Former Liang
Former Liang
The Former Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin dynasty in China. It was founded by the Zhang family of the Han Chinese...
's ruler Zhang Chonghua
Zhang Chonghua
Zhang Chonghua , courtesy name Tailin , formally Duke Jinglie of Xiping or Duke Huan of Xiping was a ruler of the Chinese state Former Liang...
. She was a concubine of Zhang Chonghua's father Zhang Jun
Zhang Jun (Former Liang)
Zhang Jun , courtesy name Gongting , formally Duke Zhongcheng of Xiping or Duke Wen of Xiping was a ruler of the Chinese state Former Liang...
.
Nothing is known about Lady Ma's acts during Zhang Jun's reign, other than her status as his heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
's mother. (This implies that Zhang Jun's wife Princess Yan
Princess Yan
Princess Yan was the wife of the Chinese state Former Liang's ruler Zhang Jun. It is not known when Zhang Jun married her, but it is known that she carried the title of princess even though Zhang, for most of his reign, used the Jin Dynasty -created title of Duke of Xiping, and only late in his...
had no sons.) After Zhang Jun's death in 346, Zhang Chonghua succeeded him and honored her as "Princess Dowager" while honoring Princess Yan as "Grand Princess Dowager." After Zhang Chonghua died in 353, his son Zhang Yaoling
Zhang Yaoling
Zhang Yaoling , courtesy name Yuanshu , formally Duke Ai of Xiping, was briefly the ruler of the Chinese state Former Liang in 353 and early 354....
carried the Jin Dynasty (265-420)
Jìn Dynasty (265-420)
The Jìn Dynasty , was a dynasty in Chinese history, lasting between the years 265 and 420 AD. There are two main divisions in the history of the Dynasty, the first being Western Jin and the second Eastern Jin...
-created title Duke of Xiping and was the titular ruler, but actual power was in Princess Dowager Ma's and Zhang Chonghua's older brother Zhang Zuo
Zhang Zuo
Zhang Zuo , courtesy name Taibo , formally Prince Wei of Liang was a ruler of the Chinese state Former Liang...
's hands. Most historians believed that she had an affair with Zhang Zuo, and later that year, she deposed Zhang Yaoling and replaced him with Zhang Zuo. In 355, however, the overly extravagant and cruel Zhang Zuo was deposed and killed by a coalition of officials, including Zhang Guan (張瓘) and Song Hun (宋混), and they pressured her into making Zhang Chonghua's younger son, Zhang Xuanjing
Zhang Xuanjing
Zhang Xuanjing , courtesy name Yuan'an , formally Duke Jingdao of Xiping or Duke Chong of Xiping was a ruler of the Chinese state Former Liang...
, the new ruler. (Zhang Yaoling had been killed by Zhang Zuo earlier that year.) Zhang Guan initially served as regent, but was killed in 359 by Song Hun, who served as regent until his death in 361. He was replaced by his brother Song Cheng (宋澄), who was in turn killed by Zhang Yong (張邕) later that year. It was said that Princess Dowager Ma also carried on an affair with Zhang Yong, who was in turn overthrown by Zhang Jun's youngest son Zhang Tianxi
Zhang Tianxi
Zhang Tianxi , original courtesy name Gongchungu , later Chungu , nickname Duhuo , formally Duke Dao of Xiping , was the last ruler of the Chinese state Former Liang. He was the youngest son of Zhang Jun , and he seized the throne from his nephew Zhang Xuanjing in 363...
late in the year. In 362, Princess Dowager Ma died.