Empress Xiao (Sui dynasty) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Empress Xiao |
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| Empress consort of the Sui dynasty | |||||
| Tenure | 605 – 11 April 618 | ||||
| Born | 566 Jiangling, Western Liang |
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| Died | 17 April 648 (aged 82) Chang'an, Tang China |
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| Burial | Jiangdu | ||||
| Spouse | Emperor Yang of Sui | ||||
| Issue | Yang Zhao, Crown Prince Yuande Yang Jian, Prince of Qi Princess Nanyang |
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| House | Western Liang (by birth) Sui (by marriage) |
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| Father | Emperor Ming of Western Liang | ||||
| Mother | Lady Zhang | ||||
Empress Xiao (蕭皇后, personal name unknown; March 566 – 17 April 648), also known as Empress Min, was an important empress of the Sui dynasty in China. She was married to Emperor Yang of Sui.
Contents
Early Life and Marriage
Empress Xiao was born in 566 into the royal family of the Western Liang dynasty. Her father was Xiao Kui, who was Emperor Ming of Western Liang. At the time, some people believed that being born in the second month of the year brought bad luck. Because of this, young Xiao was sent to live with her uncle, Xiao Ji.
Sadly, both Xiao Ji and his wife soon passed away. So, Xiao was then raised by her mother's brother, Zhang Ke. Zhang Ke's family was not wealthy, and Xiao helped with daily chores, which she did willingly.
In 582, Emperor Wen of Sui was looking for a wife for his son, Yang Guang. Emperor Wen had been helped by Emperor Ming in the past. Fortunetellers were asked to see which of Emperor Ming's daughters would be a good match. At first, they said none were suitable. But when Xiao was brought back from Zhang's house, the fortunetellers said she was perfect. So, she married Yang Guang and became known as the Princess of Jin.
Life as a Princess and Crown Princess
Princess Xiao was known for being kind, smart, and good at reading and telling fortunes. Emperor Wen, Yang Guang's father, liked her very much. Yang Guang also respected and cared for her.
Yang Guang wanted to please his mother, Empress Dugu. Empress Dugu did not like men who had many wives. So, Yang Guang pretended to only have Princess Xiao as his wife, even though he had others. He also tried to show that he was a good and simple person.
In 600, Yang Guang's older brother, Yang Yong, was removed from his position as crown prince. This happened because his parents were unhappy with him. Yang Guang then became the new crown prince, and Princess Xiao became the crown princess.
Empress Xiao and Yang Guang had two sons together: Yang Zhao and Yang Jian. It is also believed that their only daughter, Princess Nanyang, was her child.
Becoming Empress
In 604, Emperor Wen died. After his death, Yang Guang became the new emperor, known as Emperor Yang. In 605, he made Crown Princess Xiao the empress.
Once he was emperor, Emperor Yang started living a very grand and expensive life. He had many people in his palaces. Even so, he still respected Empress Xiao. He gave many important jobs in his government to her relatives, including her older brother, Xiao Cong.
However, their son, Yang Zhao, who was the crown prince, died in 606. Another son, Yang Jian, later lost the emperor's favor. Empress Xiao often traveled with Emperor Yang around the empire. She noticed that he was not ruling as well as he should. She even wrote a special poem to try and gently suggest he change his ways. But Emperor Yang either did not understand her message or chose to ignore it.
Challenges and the Siege
In 607, Empress Xiao joined Emperor Yang on a trip to visit Qimin Khan, a leader of the Eastern Turkish Khaganate. She even visited the tent of Princess Yicheng, who was Qimin Khan's wife and a relative of Emperor Yang.
In 615, while Emperor Yang and Empress Xiao were traveling in the northern part of the empire, Qimin Khan's son, Shibi Khan, launched a surprise attack. Princess Yicheng, who was still married to the khan, sent a warning to the emperor and empress. This warning helped them reach a safe city called Yanmen Commandery.
On September 11, Shibi Khan surrounded the city. Empress Xiao's younger brother, Xiao Yu, suggested asking Princess Yicheng for more help. Princess Yicheng then sent a false message to her husband, saying there was an attack in his own land. This, along with news of many Chinese soldiers coming to help, made Shibi Khan end the siege and leave.
End of the Sui Dynasty
By 618, many rebellions were happening across the empire against Emperor Yang's rule. Empress Xiao was with her husband in Jiangdu, a city that was protected by a special army called the Xiaoguo Army.
However, even these soldiers were planning a rebellion because they missed their families in the north. A lady-in-waiting tried to tell Empress Xiao about the plot. Empress Xiao said she would let her tell the emperor. But Emperor Yang did not want to hear bad news and had the lady-in-waiting executed. Later, when other ladies-in-waiting wanted to report the plot, Empress Xiao told them not to, believing nothing could save the dynasty anymore.
Soon, a general named Yuwen Huaji led the plot. Emperor Yang was killed, along with his sons Yang Jian and Yang Gao, and his grandson Yang Tan. Empress Xiao and her ladies-in-waiting respectfully prepared Emperor Yang and Yang Gao for burial.
Life After Emperor Yang
After Emperor Yang's death, Yuwen Huaji made Emperor Yang's nephew, Yang Hao, the new emperor. Yuwen Huaji then left Jiangdu, taking Empress Xiao and her ladies-in-waiting with him. However, Yuwen Huaji was not a good leader, and his army faced many problems. In late 618, he poisoned Yang Hao and declared himself emperor.
In 619, Yuwen Huaji was captured and killed by another rebel leader, Dou Jiande. Dou Jiande treated Empress Xiao with great kindness and respect. Princess Yicheng then asked Dou Jiande to send Empress Xiao to her, which he did. Empress Xiao traveled to Tujue, north of the Great Wall.
While in Tujue, one of Yang Jian's wives gave birth to a son, Yang Zhengdao, after his father's death. Empress Xiao raised him. The leaders of Tujue used Yang Zhengdao to attract people who had fled from the Sui dynasty.
In 630, Emperor Taizong of Tang, the son of the new Tang dynasty emperor, sent his general Li Jing to attack Tujue. During this time, Empress Xiao and Yang Zhengdao were brought back to China. Emperor Taizong treated Empress Xiao with respect. Yang Zhengdao was given an honorable job.
Empress Xiao's brother, Xiao Yu, was an important official in the Tang government. Because of this, Empress Xiao was treated with honor in the Tang capital, Chang'an. She was later in charge of reburying Emperor Yang with proper honors.
Empress Xiao passed away on April 17, 648, in Chang'an. She was buried with the honors of an empress, next to Emperor Yang in Jiangdu.
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Empress Xiao
