Empress Song (Han dynasty)

Empress Song (fl.170 – late 178[1]) was an empress of the Han dynasty of China. She was Emperor Ling's first wife, and later became a victim of the powerful eunuchs.

Empress Song
宋皇后
Empress of the Han dynasty
TenureAug/Sep 171 – Oct/Nov 178
PredecessorEmpress Huansi
SuccessorEmpress Lingsi
BornUnknown
Diedlate 178
SpouseEmperor Ling of Han
FatherSong Feng

Family background and marriage to Emperor Ling

The later Empress Song was born into a clan that was honoured, but not particularly powerful, during the Eastern Han dynasty. Her father Song Feng (宋酆) was a grandnephew of Consort Song, the imperial consort of Emperor Zhang who gave birth to his first crown prince Liu Qing. During the early reign of Emperor Ling, Song Feng served as the commander of the capital (Luoyang) defence forces. Her aunt was the consort of Liu Kui (劉悝), the Prince of Bohai (勃海王), a brother of Emperor Ling's predecessor Emperor Huan.

In 170, Lady Song was selected to be an imperial consort with the rank of guiren.[2] In August or September 171,[3] even though she was not a favoured consort, she was created empress, perhaps because of her noble lineage. Song Feng was created a marquis.

The Liu Kui incident, fall and death

However, even after becoming empress, Empress Song never had Emperor Ling's favour. This, combined with her weak personality, emboldened the concubines who wanted to replace her; these concubines then often defamed her. What proved to be more damaging to her was the "Liu Kui incident".

In 165, Liu Kui had been demoted due to treason; he then approached powerful eunuch Wang Fu (王甫) and promised him a large sum of money if Wang Fu could persuade Emperor Huan to restore his title. In 167, Emperor Huan's posthumous edict restored Liu Kui to the title of Prince of Bohai. However, Liu Kui did not fulfill his promise. In return, Wang Fu falsely accused Liu Kui of treason in 172; Liu Kui was forced to commit suicide, and his entire household was executed. Thereafter, Wang Fu and his confederates became constantly concerned that if Empress Song became powerful, she would avenge her aunt, who was Liu Kui's consort. They therefore joined with the concubines to falsely accuse her of using witchcraft against Emperor Ling.

In October or November 178,[4] Emperor Ling finally believed them and deposed Empress Song. Empress Song was imprisoned and died in despair.[5] Her father Song Feng and her brothers were all executed. Song Qi (宋奇), formally the Marquis of Yinqiang (隐强侯), who was also executed, was probably a brother of the empress; and as his wife was a younger cousin of Cao Cao, Cao Cao was dismissed from his post as the Prefect of Dunqiu. Some of the eunuchs not involved in the plot who took pity on the late empress gathered her body and those of her family members and gave them proper burials, but as commoners.

References

  1. Empress Song's biography in Book of the Later Han recorded that she died soon after being deposed as empress. According to Liu Hong's biography in Book of the Later Han, Empress Song was deposed in the 10th month of the 1st year of the Guanghe era of Liu Hong's reign. This corresponds to 29 Oct to 27 Nov 178 on the proleptic Gregorian calendar.[(光和元年冬十月) 皇后宋氏废] Houhanshu, vol. 08.
  2. (建宁三年,选入掖庭为贵人。) Houhanshu, vol.10 part 2
  3. According to Liu Hong's biography in Book of the Later Han, Lady Song was made empress on the guichou day of the 7th month of the 4th year of the Jianning era of Liu Hong's reign. However, there is no guichou day in that month; the month correspond to 19 Aug to 17 Sep 171 on the proleptic Gregorian calendar. [(建宁四年秋七月)癸丑,立贵人宋氏为皇后], Houhanshu, vol. 08
  4. According to Liu Hong's biography in Book of the Later Han, Empress Song was deposed in the 10th month of the 1st year of the Guanghe era of Liu Hong's reign. This corresponds to 29 Oct to 27 Nov 178 on the proleptic Gregorian calendar.[(光和元年冬十月) 皇后宋氏废] Houhanshu, vol. 08. Volume 24 of Annals of the Later Han by Yuan Hong recorded the event as taking place in the 11th month (28 Nov to 26 Dec 178) instead.
  5. (后自致暴室,以忧死) Houhanshu, vol. 10 part 2
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