Empress Cao (Han dynasty)

Cao Jie (pronunciation ) (197 – 2 July 260),[lower-alpha 1] formally known as Empress Xianmu, was an empress of the Eastern Han dynasty of China. She was the second wife of Emperor Xian, the last Han emperor, and became known as the Duchess of Shanyang after her husband's abdication. She was a half-sister of Cao Pi, who ended the Han dynasty by forcing Emperor Xian to abdicate the throne in his favour and established the state of Cao Wei.

Cao Jie 曹節
Empress of the Han Dynasty
Tenure	215 – 25 November 220
Predecessor	Empress Fu Shou
Duchess of Shanyang (山陽公夫人)
Tenure	25 November 220 - 2 July 260
Born	197
Died	July 2, 260(260-07-02) (aged 62–63)[lower-alpha 1]
Spouse	Emperor Xian of Han
Issue	Liu Man, Princess Changle
Posthumous name Empress Xianmu (獻穆皇后)
Father	Cao Cao

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Cao.

Family background and marriage to Emperor Xian

Cao Jie was a daughter of the warlord Cao Cao, who by 196 had Emperor Xian under his control and issuing edicts in Emperor Xian's name to his own benefit in his campaign to reunite the empire, which had been held by regional warlords. In 213, Cao, who by that point had been created the Duke of Wei (later King of Wei), offered three daughters to be Emperor Xian's consorts – Cao Jie and her elder sister, Cao Xian (曹憲), and younger sister, Cao Hua (曹華). Initially, their titles were Furen (夫人), and in 214 their titles were upgraded to Guiren (貴人).

In 214, Emperor Xian's first wife Empress Fu Shou was discovered to have advocated a conspiracy against Cao Cao in 200, and although 14 years had elapsed, Cao Cao was still so angry at her that he forcibly had her deposed and executed. In 215, Cao Jie was named Empress to replace her.

As empress and duchess

Not much is known about Empress Cao's life as empress, but it was clear that by that point her husband was thoroughly powerless, as her father held all power. In 220, her father died, and her brother Cao Pi succeeded him as the King of Wei. Later that year, he forced Emperor Xian to abdicate in favour of him, ending the Han dynasty. It is said by traditional historians that when Cao Pi sent messengers to demand Empress Cao surrender her empress's seal, she refused several times, but finally relented. As her husband was created the Duke of Shanyang, she was given the title the Duchess of Shanyang. Her husband died in 234, and she died 26 years later and was buried with him with honours befitting an empress, using Han ceremonies.

See also

• Cao Wei family trees#Cao Cao's other wives and children
• Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

Notes

1. Cao Huan's biography in the Sanguozhi recorded that Cao Jie died on the jiwei day of the 6th month of the 1st year of the Jingyuan era of Cao Huan's reign.[1] This date corresponds to 2 July 260 in the Gregorian calendar.

References

1. ([景元元年六月]己未，故漢獻帝夫人節薨，) Sanguozhi vol. 4.

• Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
• Fan, Ye (5th century). Book of the Later Han (Houhanshu).
• Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.

Chinese royalty
Preceded by Empress Fu Shou	Empress of Eastern Han Dynasty 215–220	Dynasty destroyed
	Empress of China (Northern/Central) 215–220	Succeeded by Empress Guo Nüwang of Cao Wei
	Empress of China (Southwestern) 215–220	Succeeded by Empress Wu of Shu Han
	Empress of China (Southeastern) 215–220	Succeeded by Empress Pan of Eastern Wu