Empress Dowager Yan Ming

Who was Empress Dowager Yan Ming?

Empress Dowager Yan Ming, formally Empress Xiaochong was an empress dowager during Han Dynasty -- even though she was never empress and, for that matter, was never married to an emperor. She became empress dowager because her son Liu Zhi became emperor in 146.

Yan Ming was a concubine of Liu Yi, the Marquess of Liwu. After Marquess Yi died, her son Zhi, as the oldest son of the marquess, inherited the title. After the young Emperor Zhi was poisoned by the powerful official Liang Ji in 146, the 13-year-old Marquess Zhi, because he was betrothed to Liang Ji's younger sister Liang Nüying, was selected by Liang to succeed to the throne. After he became emperor, he initially only honored his mother with the title of an imperial consort. After the regent Empress Dowager Liang died in 150, Emperor Huan honored Consort Yan with an empress title, effectively making her the empress dowager. He gave her nine counties as her fief. She died in 152.