Qin and Han · Consort and Empress Dowager

Empress Deng 邓皇后

Deng Huanghou

Attested AD 80 - AD 121

Passages: 7
Chapters: 2
Histories: 2

Overview

Empress Deng was a consort and Empress Dowager.

Life and dates

Death

empress dowager died
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 115, passage 29

Attested activity

AD 80 to AD 121 東漢
Dated from the passage context · Book of Southern Qi 20, passage 84
AD 101 永元十三年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 115, passages 16-17
AD 102 永元十四年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 115, passages 16, 18

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Emperor He (和帝)
honored lady / empress 贵人/皇后
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 115, passages 17-18

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Established
Empress
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 115, passage 18
Deng clan executed after her death
Clan executed
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 115, passage 29

Places and affiliations

Eastern Han 汉
Relation Under
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 115, passage 17

Events and relationships

Enthroned Emperor An instead of Sheng
Political · Kingmaker
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 115, passage 25
Preferred infant Shang for regency
Political · Regent
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 115, passage 23

References in the histories

Book of Later Han, Chapter 115Volume 104: Five Elements Part Two · 6 passages

是时和帝幸邓贵人，阴后宠衰怨恨，上有欲废之意。 Emperor He had turned to Lady Deng while Empress Yin, fallen from favor, smoldered with hate; the emperor meant to cast her off.

明年，会得阴后挟伪道事，遂废，迁于桐宫，以忧死，立邓贵人为皇后。 The next year the Yin empress was caught in a sorcery scandal, stripped of rank, confined to the Cold Palace, and left to die of shame; Lady Deng became empress in her place.

先是和帝崩，有皇子二人，皇子胜长，邓皇后贪殇帝少，欲自养长立之。 After He’s death two princes survived; Liu Sheng was the elder, but Empress Deng preferred the infant Shang so she could prolong her regency.

胜有厥疾不笃，群臣咸欲立之，太后以前既不立胜，遂更立清河王子，是为安帝。 Liu Sheng was fit enough to rule, and the court wanted him, but the dowager—having once passed him over—enthroned the Qinghe prince’s son as Emperor An instead.

司空周章等心不厌服，谋欲诛邓氏，废太后、安帝，而更立胜。 Zhou Zhang and other ministers secretly planned a coup: wipe out the Deng family, depose regent and emperor, and restore Liu Sheng.

及太后崩，邓氏被诛。 After the dowager’s death the Dengs were extirpated.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 20Volume 20 Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts · 1 passage

若使掖作同休，陰教遠燮，則馬、鄧風流，復存乎此。 Had the side palaces rested in one accord and the women's teaching steadied the realm from within, the elegance of the Ma and Deng empresses might have returned here.