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Empress Ren (Chinese: 任皇后; personal name unknown; fl.315 - 338) was an empress of the Di-led Cheng-Han dynasty of China. Her husband was the founding emperor Li Xiong (Emperor Wu).[1]
She was created empress by Li Xiong in February or March 315.[2] She had no sons of her own, although Li Xiong had sons by concubines. Despite this, he chose his nephew Li Ban (Emperor Ai) as his heir.[1] Empress Ren had raised Li Ban to be the Emperor’s crown prince. After Li Xiong died in August 334, Li Ban became emperor and honored her as empress dowager. A few months later on 5 December, Li Ban was assassinated by Li Xiong's son Li Yue (李越). On 6 December, Li Yue made another son of Li Xiong, Li Qi, whom Empress Dowager Ren had also raised, emperor. Li Yue forged an edict from Empress Dowager Ren to legitimize his actions.[3]
During Li Qi's reign, she continued as empress dowager. When Li Qi was overthrown by Li Shou (Emperor Zhaowen) in c.May 338,[4] Li Shou forged an edict from Empress Dowager Ren as well to legitimize his actions, implying that she was still alive at that point. There was no further records of her in history from that point on; her younger brother Ren Yan (任颜) was accused of treason and executed in c. October that year.[5] It is not known when she died.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ a b Central Asiatic Journal. O. Harrassowitz. 2006.
- ^ 1st month of the 3rd year of the Jian'xing era, per vol.89 of Zizhi Tongjian. The month corresponds to 20 Feb to 21 Mar 315 in the Julian calendar.
- ^ ([咸和九年]冬，十月，癸亥朔，越因班夜哭，弑之于殡宫，并杀班兄领军将军都；矫太后任氏令，罪状班而废之。初，期母冉氏贱，任氏母养之。期多才艺，有令名。及班死，众欲立越，越奉期而立之。甲子，期即皇帝位。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.95
- ^ 4th month of the 4th year of the Xian'kang era, per vol.96 of Zizhi Tongjian. The month corresponds to 6 May to 3 Jun 338 in the Julian calendar.
- ^ 9th month of the 4th year of the Xian'kang era, per vol.96 of Zizhi Tongjian. The month corresponds to 30 Sep to 29 Oct 338 in the Julian calendar.