Empress Wang

Who is Empress Wang?

Empress Wang, personal name unknown, was an empress of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. She was the third wife of Cao Fang, the third ruler of Cao Wei.

Very little is known about her, other than that she was the daughter of Wang Kui, the director of imperial transportation. She was created empress in 254, after Cao Fang's second wife Empress Zhang was deposed in light of false accusations of treason levied against her father Zhang Ji by the powerful Sima Shi. It is not known whether Empress Wang was previously an imperial consort.

Later in 254, Cao Fang considered a coup against Sima, and while he ultimately did not carry out the plan, the news leaked, and Sima deposed him and demoted him to the title of the Prince of Qi. What happened to Empress Wang is not known, although presumably she was allowed to have the title of the Princess of Qi. Nothing further is said about her in the official histories.