Qin and Han · Royal Family Member

Empress Dowager 皇太后

Attested BC 141 - BC 87

Passages: 5
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Empress Dowager was a Royal Family Member.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 141 to BC 87 今天子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 125, passages 38, 49

Career and standing

Held
Empress dowager
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 125, passage 49
ordered Han Yan to die 使使賜嫣死
Ordered · Authority Empress Dowager (皇太后)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 125, passage 52

Events and relationships

Refused clemency
Legal · Authority · With Han Yan (韓嫣)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 125, passage 53
Relation Grudge against · Person Han Yan (韓嫣)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 125, passage 50

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 125Biographies of Flatterers · 5 passages

既過，江都王怒，為皇太后泣曰：「請得歸國入宿衛，比韓嫣。」 After the procession had passed, the King of Jiangdu was livid. He went weeping before the Empress Dowager and said, "I beg leave to surrender my kingdom and join the Palace Guard, if only to be treated as well as Han Yan."

太后由此嗛嫣。 From that moment, the Empress Dowager harbored a deep resentment toward Yan.

嫣侍上，出入永巷不禁，以姦聞皇太后。 In his attendance upon the emperor, Yan came and went freely through the Yongxiang, the palace women's quarters, without restriction. Word of his illicit affairs reached the Empress Dowager.

皇太后怒，使使賜嫣死。 The Empress Dowager was furious and dispatched a messenger to order Yan to take his own life.

上為謝，終不能得，嫣遂死。 The emperor pleaded for clemency, but the Empress Dowager would not relent, and Yan was put to death.