Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Empress

Lady He 何氏

He shi

Attested AD 494

Passages: 4
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Lady He was an empress.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 494 隆昌元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Southern Qi 4, passage 31

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Zhaoye (昭業)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 4, passage 31
Kin of He Yin (何胤)
paternal uncle (collateral) 從叔 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 4, passage 103

Career and standing

Empress 皇后
AD 493 冬十月壬寅 · Established
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 4, passage 31

References in the histories

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 4Volume 4 Annals 4: Prince of Yulin · 4 passages

冬十月壬寅，尊皇太孫太妃爲皇太后，立皇后何氏。 Winter, tenth month, day renyin: the great-grandson's mother was made empress dowager and Lady He was established as empress.

開主衣庫與皇后寵姬觀之，給閹人豎子各數人，隨其所欲，恣意輦取； He opened the imperial wardrobe for the empress and her favorites to see, gave several eunuch boys to each to take what they pleased and cart away at will;

皇后亦淫亂，齋閤通夜洞開，內外淆雜，無復分別。 The empress was debauched as well; the fasting pavilion stayed open through the night, court and camp mingled without distinction.

中書令何胤以皇后從叔見親，使直殿省，嘗隨後呼胤爲三父，與胤謀誅高宗，令胤受事，胤不敢當，依違杜諫，帝意復止。 He Yin of the Secretariat, the empress's collateral paternal uncle, was kept close and set to attend in the Hall of Direct Service. Once the emperor walked behind him calling him "Three Fathers." They plotted to kill the High Ancestor and put Yin in charge; Yin would not take it, stalled and talked him down, and the plan died away.