Knowledge (XXG)

Empress Cao (Li Siyuan's wife)

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240:, turned against Wang and surrendered to Li Congke. Li Congke marched on Luoyang, and Li Conghou fled the capital. In the emperor's absence, the officials turned to Empress Dowager Cao, who subsequently issued edicts deposing Li Conghou and declaring Li Congke regent, and then emperor. Li Conghou was subsequently killed in flight — as Shi, who was initially intending to support him against Li Congke, also turned against him when he saw how little support Li Conghou had by that point, killed all of his remaining guards and leaving him unable to fend for himself when Li Congke subsequently sent emissaries to kill him. Empress Dowager Cao continued to be empress dowager. 277:
Congke's rebellion against Li Conghou), and so had them removed from their military governor posts and had them reside at Luoyang. In 934, at a feast that Li Congke held for the imperial clan, in the middle of the feast, Li Congke suddenly turned to Li Congzhang and Li Congmin, stating to them, "What kind of things are you two, that you get to occupy important circuits repeatedly?" They became very fearful. Empress Dowager Cao, apparently to save them, stated to them, "The Emperor is drunk. Leave now!"
296:, defeated the Later Tang troops that Li Congke sent against him. He then marched toward Luoyang. Believing that defeat was inevitable, Li Congke gathered his family members, including Empress Dowager Cao, and a group of officers still loyal to him, to commit suicide by fire. Consort Dowager Wang tried to persuade Empress Dowager Cao not to participate in the mass suicide — noting to her that Shi was her son-in-law. Empress Dowager Cao rejected her overture, stating: 273:) would be fearful that they would be targeted next. Li Congke thus allowed Shi to return to Hedong. Subsequently, Shi used the daughter-mother relationship between his wife (who had then been created the Grand Princess of Jin) and Empress Dowager Cao to bribe Empress Dowager Cao's attendants to spy on the events of Li Congke's court. 276:
Li Congke also intensely disliked his cousins Li Congzhang (李從璋) the Prince of Yang and Li Congmin (李從敏) the Prince of Jing, for their brashness and corruption, and particularly because Li Congmin had participated in the killing of Li Congke's son Li Chongji (李重吉) (at Li Conghou's order, during Li
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After what had occurred, Shi Jingtang remained at Luoyang for some time and did not dare to speak of returning to Hedong, because there had a long-time rivalry previously between Li Congke and Shi when both were serving under Li Siyuan, and because Li Congke knew that Shi had initially intended to
149:
In 930, Li Siyuan was preparing to create Consort Cao empress. She stated to Consort Wang, "I have always despised minute matters, and I do not want to be involved in ceremonies. You, sister, should substitute for me." Consort Wang responded, "The Central Palace matches the Supreme One . Who
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Li Siyuan died in late 933, and his second son by Lady Xia, Li Conghou the Prince of Song, succeeded him as emperor. (Lady Xia's older son Li Congrong the Prince of Qin, who had previously been considered the likely heir, had tried to seize power in Li Siyuan's illness, but was killed by the
249:
support Li Conghou. However, both Empress Dowager Cao and Shi Jingtang's wife the Princess of Wei often spoke in defense of Shi. Li Congke's associates who came to Luoyang with him from Fengxiang mostly advocated keeping Shi at Luoyang, but the imperial scholars
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to Tianxiong. However, at that time, many generals who were transferred met ill fates, and Li Congke feared that these actions were intended against him. He thus rebelled, and the army that Li Conghou sent against him, under command of the general
700: 154:. Consort Wang served both Li Siyuan and Empress Cao carefully, such that Empress Cao and Consort Wang became very close. However, it was said that because of this, Consort Wang effectively controlled what occurred in the palace. 211:)) had (as Shi and Li Congke had both been long-time generals under Li Siyuan and were respected by the army), decided to move them to prevent them from being entrenched. They also wanted to summon their ally, the eunuch 308:
the Prince of Xu, as well as Li Congyi's younger sister, thus hid at a polo field and did not participate in the mass suicide, but Empress Dowager Cao joined and died in the mass suicide. In 940, Shi gave her a
693: 1516: 686: 84:, indicated. It is further unclear how she became the wife — or one of multiple wives — of Li Siyuan's, or whether two other wives or concubines of his, Lady Xia (the mother of his sons 223:), back to Luoyang. They therefore issued a series of orders (without an imperial edict) transferring Li Congke to Hedong, Shi to Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern 70:
It is not known when the future Empress Cao was born — indeed, virtually nothing was known about her background even by the time of the next succeeding united Chinese dynasty,
96:, who was fathered by Lady Wei's original husband, named Wang), were considered of coequal status with her or not. It appeared that she had no son, but had at least one 1496: 300:
My son, grandson, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters, have reached this point. How do I have the heart to live by myself? You, sister, protect yourself.
1156: 1532: 1093: 134:, which otherwise lacked biographical information for her in its biographies for Later Tang empresses), she was given the imperial consort title 709: 257:(who had also married a sister of Li Congke's and who was then serving as the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern 27: 1504: 1500: 770: 1492: 1573: 1420: 760: 780: 1488: 535: 523: 411: 374: 130: 76: 818: 803: 576: 1568: 1456: 1351: 1210: 1174: 940: 1528: 1480: 1277: 1259: 150:
would dare to step in?" Li Siyuan subsequently created Consort Cao empress, and later promoted Consort Wang to the rank of
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and Li Zhuanmei (李專美) both advocated sending Shi back to Hedong, believing that if Li Congke did not do so, both
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In 936, Shi, after Li Congke issued an edict transferring him to Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern
678: 108:, Lady Cao, as Li Siyuan's wife, was created the Lady of Chu. After Lady Xia's death, Li Siyuan also took a 1544: 1540: 1536: 1524: 1520: 1512: 1476: 293: 1508: 1484: 1192: 1017: 913: 895: 836: 97: 1382: 1313: 186: 215:, who was then temporarily overseeing the governance of Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered in modern 203:)) and Li Congke (who was then the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern 112:
as a concubine, and Lady Wang became his favorite, as Lady Cao was described to favor the simple life.
1045: 935: 774: 764: 109: 1583: 784: 142:, Lady Wang, who then carried the title of the Lady of Han, was given the lesser consort title of 1241: 1087: 670: 643: 124:
in 926, and Li Siyuan subsequently claimed imperial title. Either that year (as stated by the
1269: 1009: 1118: 24: 310: 169: 39: 547: 335: 100:, the future Princess of Wei, then of Jin, who married Li Siyuan's subordinate officer 1557: 1287: 1040: 1027: 212: 189:, apprehensive of the powers that Shi Jingtang (who was then the military governor ( 1067: 991: 905: 873: 854: 813: 591: 289: 254: 232: 224: 182: 101: 71: 51: 1451: 1443: 1374: 1305: 1113: 1055: 981: 250: 237: 85: 1295: 1233: 1202: 1148: 1072: 1035: 963: 927: 795: 266: 89: 81: 43: 31: 104:. Sometime during the reign of Li Siyuan's adoptive brother and predecessor 1251: 305: 93: 62:, she died in a mass suicide with Li Congke, his family, and some officers. 47: 35: 281: 863: 666: 639: 622: 285: 191: 177: 105: 128:) or later, in 928 (as stated in the annals of Li Siyuan's reign in the 509: 270: 258: 208: 196: 121: 59: 651: 269:
the military governor of Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern
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imperial guards.) In 934, Li Conghou honored Empress Cao as
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and buried her pursuant to the ceremonies due an empress.
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Her husband was Later Tang's second emperor 694: 175:Shortly after, Li Conghou's chiefs of staff ( 8: 1439: 1408: 1370: 1339: 1229: 1144: 1060: 959: 888: 730: 701: 687: 679: 570: 304:Consort Dowager Wang and her adoptive son 488: 486: 484: 482: 465: 463: 446: 444: 330: 328: 326: 369: 367: 365: 363: 361: 42:during the subsequent reigns of his son 427: 425: 406: 404: 322: 710:Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period 28:Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period 7: 58:and attacked the Later Tang capital 288:), rebelled, and, allying with the 231:), and Chengde's military governor 50:. Eventually, when her son-in-law 14: 536:New History of the Five Dynasties 375:New History of the Five Dynasties 126:New History of the Five Dynasties 77:New History of the Five Dynasties 600:Empress of China (Most regions) 38:(Emperor Mingzong), and she was 116:As imperial consort and empress 46:(Emperor Min) and adoptive son 23:(和武憲皇后), was an empress of the 265:)) and Zhao's adoptive father 1: 1517:5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms 524:History of the Five Dynasties 512:Edition of the Zizhi Tongjian 432:History of the Five Dynasties 412:History of the Five Dynasties 140:History of the Five Dynasties 131:History of the Five Dynasties 719:Empresses and queens consort 650:Wife to Sovereign of China ( 621:Wife to Sovereign of China ( 74:, as the Song author of the 1574:Suicides by self-immolation 1405:(and other northern states) 1383:Grand Empress Dowager Huang 1336:(and other northern states) 1141:(and other northern states) 727:(and other northern states) 1600: 1469: 1436:(other than Northern Han) 1395: 1367:(other than Northern Han) 1352:Grand Empress Dowager Liu 1326: 1226:(other than Northern Han) 1131: 1063: 956:(other than Northern Han) 891: 717: 663: 648: 636: 619: 607: 598: 588: 581: 573: 163:During Li Conghou's reign 138:(淑妃). (According to the 244:During Li Congke's reign 146:(德妃) at the same time.) 1328:Grand empresses dowager 1569:Suicides in Later Tang 583:Empress of Later Tang 302: 1314:Empress Dowager Huang 243: 162: 1564:Later Tang empresses 1397:Posthumous empresses 1278:Empress Dowager Wang 1046:Queen Zhou the Elder 712:empresses and queens 317:Notes and references 1175:Empress Dowager Liu 1157:Empress Dowager Cao 914:Liu Chong's empress 754:concurrent warlords 1579:9th-century births 1260:Empress Dowager Li 1242:Empress Dowager Xu 1211:Empress Dowager Fu 158:As empress dowager 1551: 1550: 1465: 1464: 1429: 1428: 1391: 1390: 1360: 1359: 1322: 1321: 1219: 1218: 1133:Empresses dowager 1127: 1126: 1100: 1099: 949: 948: 922: 921: 677: 676: 664:Succeeded by 589:Succeeded by 1591: 1440: 1409: 1371: 1340: 1230: 1145: 1061: 960: 889: 731: 703: 696: 689: 680: 637:Preceded by 608:Preceded by 574:Preceded by 571: 515: 506: 500: 490: 477: 467: 458: 448: 439: 429: 420: 408: 399: 389: 383: 371: 356: 350: 344: 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Dynasties 1501:S. 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Xia 1471:Xia → 652:Fujian 282:Tai'an 217:Handan 201:Shanxi 152:Shufei 136:Shufei 30:state 1473:Shang 1106:Wuyue 615:Wuyue 263:Henan 229:Hebei 221:Hebei 205:Baoji 144:Defei 1545:Qing 1541:Ming 1537:Yuan 1525:Song 1521:Liao 1513:Tang 1477:Zhou 855:Liao 185:and 88:and 1533:Jīn 1509:Sui 1493:Jìn 1485:Han 1481:Qin 1444:Min 1375:Min 1306:Min 1088:Yin 1056:Min 775:Yan 765:Yan 671:Min 669:of 654:) ( 644:Min 642:of 625:) ( 613:of 565:280 561:279 557:278 553:277 292:'s 1560:: 1543:→ 1539:→ 1535:→ 1531:/ 1527:/ 1523:/ 1519:→ 1515:→ 1511:→ 1507:→ 1503:/ 1499:→ 1495:/ 1491:→ 1487:→ 1483:→ 1479:→ 1475:→ 1270:Wu 1010:Wu 785:Qi 658:) 629:) 563:, 559:, 555:, 539:, 527:, 495:, 481:^ 472:, 462:^ 453:, 443:^ 434:, 424:^ 415:, 403:^ 394:, 378:, 360:^ 339:, 325:^ 284:, 261:, 227:, 219:, 207:, 199:, 181:) 172:. 80:, 853:( 787:) 783:( 777:) 773:( 767:) 763:( 702:e 695:t 688:v 567:. 543:. 531:. 499:. 476:. 457:. 438:. 419:. 398:. 382:. 355:. 343:.

Index

Chinese
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
Later Tang
Li Siyuan
empress dowager
Li Conghou
Li Congke
Shi Jingtang
Later Jin
Luoyang
Song Dynasty
New History of the Five Dynasties
Ouyang Xiu
Li Congrong
Li Conghou
Li Congke
daughter
Shi Jingtang
Li Cunxu
Lady Wang
Luoyang
History of the Five Dynasties
empress dowager
shumishi
Zhu Hongzhao
Feng Yun
Jiedushi
Taiyuan
Shanxi
Baoji

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