Empress Dowager (太后)

Overview

Empress Dowager was a Qing Empress Dowager.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 1900 二十六年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 465, passage 48
AD 1898 二十四年政變後
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 465, passage 174

Places and affiliations

Polity Qing 清 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 465, passage 174

Events and relationships

Debated deposing emperor
Political · Ruler · With the Guangxu Emperor (帝)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 465, passage 20
Favored Xu Tong after coup
AD 1898 二十四年政變後 · Political · Ruler · With Xu Tong (徐桐)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 465, passage 174
Trusted Boxers
AD 1900 二十六年 · Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 465, passages 48, 153

References in the histories

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 465Volume 465 Biographies 252: Xu Tong With: Yu Shi, Yu Shi Son: Cheng Yu, Gang Yi, Zhao Shuqiao, Qi Xiu, Ying Nian, Yu Lu With: Ting Yong, Yu Xian With: Li Tingxiao · 6 passages

Open chapter

二十四年政變後，太后以其耆臣碩望，頗優禮，朝請令近侍扶掖以寵之。 After the 1898 coup the Empress Dowager favored this venerable statesman, ordering attendants to support him at court.

方太后議廢帝，立端王載漪子溥儁為「大阿哥」，桐主之甚力，實皆豫師本謀也。 During the debate over deposing the emperor and elevating Prince Duan's son Pujun as "Great Heir Apparent," Xu Tong pushed hard for it—the scheme was Yu Shi's in essence.

太后愈信之，因命剛毅、載勳統之，比於官軍。 The Empress Dowager believed them still more and put Gang Yi and Zai Xun in command, treating the Boxers as the equal of regular troops.

聯軍至，李秉衡兵敗，太后乃令王文韶與舒翹詣使館通殷勤，為議款計。 When the allied armies arrived and Li Bingheng's force was routed, the Empress Dowager ordered Wang Wenshao and Shuqiao to visit the legations with courtesies to open peace talks.

自政變後，桐最被盻遇，欲引參機務，乃舉啟秀自代。 After the 1898 coup Xu Tong was the Empress Dowager's favorite; wanting a proxy in policy, he recommended Qi Xiu to take his place.

太后信其術，思倚以鋤敵而立威。 The Empress Dowager believed in their magic and hoped to lean on them to destroy enemies and assert her power.