Empress Meng facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Empress Zhaoche昭慈圣献皇后 |
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| Empress of the Northern Song Dynasty | |||||
| Reign | 23 June 1092 – 17 October 1096 | ||||
| Predecessor | Empress Xiang | ||||
| Successor | Empress Liu | ||||
| Born | 1073 | ||||
| Died | 12 May 1131 (aged 58) | ||||
| Spouse | Emperor Zhezong of Song | ||||
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| Father | Meng Yuen | ||||
Empress Meng (Chinese: 昭慈圣献皇后; 1073 – 1131) was an important empress in ancient China. She was married to Emperor Zhezong of Song, a ruler of the Song Dynasty. Empress Meng played a big role in Chinese politics. She even served as a regent, which means she ruled for a short time when the emperor was not able to. This happened in 1127 and again in 1129. She helped decide who would be the rightful emperor during a difficult time for China.
Contents
Life as Empress
Becoming Empress
Meng was chosen to be the main wife and empress of Emperor Zhezong. The Empress Dowager Regent Gao selected her. Their wedding took place in 1092. Meng came from a family that valued education. She was taught proper manners for a wife and empress.
Life at Court
Empress Meng and Emperor Zhezong did not have a good relationship. The Emperor did not like her, possibly because Empress Dowager Regent Gao had chosen her. He seemed to let his favorite, Consort Liu, be rude to Empress Meng. However, Zhezong's mother, Dowager Empress Xiang, liked Empress Meng very much. She often supported Meng against Consort Liu.
A Time of Change
The Fall of Kaifeng
In 1126, Emperor Huizong gave up his throne to his son, Emperor Qinzong. The next year, in 1127, the Jurchen army captured China's capital city, Kaifeng. Emperor Qinzong was removed from power. He, along with his father Emperor Huizong and most of the royal family, were captured. They were sent far away to Manchuria. This event was called the Jingkang Incident.
Empress Meng's Role
Empress Dowager Meng was living in a temple, not in the royal palace. Because of this, she was not captured with the rest of the royal family. She was one of the few members of the Song dynasty left in Kaifeng. The Jurchen dynasty did not take over all of China right away. Instead, they created a new, smaller state called Chu. They put Zhang Bangchang, a former Chinese prime minister, in charge. He became the emperor of this new state, called Da Chu.
Zhang Bangchang needed support to make his rule seem fair and proper. He asked Empress Dowager Meng for her help. He made her a regent, giving her the title Empress Dowager Yuanyou. This gave his new rule some royal approval.
Ending the Da Chu Dynasty
Empress Meng's time as regent lasted for two months. In mid-1127, Emperor Gaozong of Song returned to the city. He was the 9th son of Emperor Huizong and had escaped before Kaifeng fell. Empress Meng declared him the rightful Emperor. She then stepped down from her role as regent. This action also ended the Da Chu dynasty and state.
Emperor Gaozong then started the Southern Song dynasty. He was very grateful to Empress Meng for her help. He honored her greatly and gave her the new title Empress Dowager Longyou.
Empress Dowager of Southern Song
A Short Regency
In 1129, two military leaders, Miao Fu and Liu Cheng-yen, took control of the new capital, Linan. They forced Emperor Gaozong to give up his throne. His three-year-old son, Zhang, was made emperor. Empress Dowager Meng was asked to be regent again, to rule while the young emperor was a child. She agreed to be regent, but she made it clear she did not support the military takeover.
Her second time as regent lasted only 25 days. Emperor Gaozong soon got his throne back. Because Empress Meng had shown loyalty to him, he honored her even more.
Later Life
Later in 1129, Emperor Gaozong left Linan. He sent Empress Dowager Meng with royal guards to a safe place. He knew she was important for showing that the Song dynasty was still strong. The Jurchen army tried to capture her, but she managed to escape. She returned to Linan when it was safe again and received a grand welcome. Emperor Gaozong treated her with great respect, like his own mother, for the rest of her life. He also gave official jobs to her relatives.
Empress Meng passed away in 1131.
