Empress Liu

Who is Empress Liu?

Empress Liu was an empress of the short-lived Chinese state Chu. Her husband was Chu's only emperor, Huan Xuan.

She was the great-granddaughter of the Jin official Liu Qiao, and her father Liu Dan was also an official. She married Huan Xuan before he became a major warlord, although the exact time was not known. After Huan Xuan seized the throne from Emperor An of Jin in 403, he created her empress in spring 404. She was described as one who had good judgment of character, and she, suspecting the intentions of the general Liu Yu, told Huan Xuan that Liu Yu would not be his subordinate long and should be killed. Huan Xuan refused. Later in 404, however, Liu Yu started an uprising that eventually forced Huan Xuan from the capital Jiankang and led to his downfall and death. It is not known what Empress Liu's fate was.