Empress Chen (Longqing) Explained

Empress Xiao'an
Succession1:Empress consort of the Ming dynasty
Reign1:4 February 1567 – 5 July 1572
Reign-Type1:Tenure
Predecessor1:Empress Xiaolie
Successor1:Empress Xiaoduanxian
Succession2:Princess Consort of Yu
Reign2:1558 - 1567
Predecessor2:Empress Xiaoyizhuang
Birth Place:Tongzhou, Zhili (present-day Tongzhou District, Beijing, China)
Death Date:6 August 1596
Burial Place:Zhaoling Mausoleum
Death Place:Beijing
Spouse:Longqing Emperor
Issue:Princess Taihe
Posthumous Name:Empress Xiao'an Zhenyi Gongchun Wenhui Zuotian Hongsheng (孝安貞懿恭純溫惠佐天弘聖皇后)
House:Chen (陳)
House-Type:Clan
Father:Chen Jingxing (陳景行)
Succession:Empress dowager of the Ming dynasty
Reign-Type:Tenure
Reign:5 July 1572 – 6 August 1596
Predecessor:Empress Dowager Zhaosheng
Successor:Empress Dowager Xiao'aizhe

Empress Xiao'an (孝安皇后; died 6 August 1596), of the Chen clan, was a Chinese empress consort of the Ming dynasty. She was the second wife of the Longqing Emperor.

Her father, Chen Jingxing (陳景行), was an imperial guard.

Biography

The future emperor Longqing married Lady Chen after the death of his first primary spouse and son. Upon his succession to the throne in 1567, he declared Chen to be his empress. In 1569, however, she lost favor with the emperor and was moved to a separate palace. She became ill after her move, and was not given proper care. When an official pointed this out to the emperor, he stated that empress Chen was prone to illness and did not have any son and therefore had to be removed, and that the official did not understand his domestic affairs.[1] Another reason for her removal was reportedly that she had at one occasion made the emperor angry by criticizing his indulgence in women and music.[2]

Chen, however, were kindly treated by the crown prince, who took to habit of always visiting her on his way to his father and mother. When the crown prince became emperor in 1572, he granted her as well as his mother the title of empress dowager, and reportedly always treated her with the respect a son was due to his mother, as was customary for a son to the main spouse of his father.[3]

Titles

Issue

References

Notes and References

  1. Keith McMahon: Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing
  2. Keith McMahon: Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing
  3. Keith McMahon: Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing