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Emperor Cheng of Han

Western Han emperor in whose reign his mother's Wang clan took over the court; he made Zhao Feiyan empress and died without an heir

Also known as Liu Ao

Liu Ao, Emperor Cheng of Han, was the eldest son of Emperor Yuan and Wang Zhengjun; born in 51 BC, he came to the throne in 33 BC, using seven reign titles from Jianshi to Suihe. He made his uncle Wang Feng commander-in-chief and in 27 BC enfeoffed five more uncles on one day, the 'Five Marquises' whose family came to dominate the court. In 26 BC he set Liu Xiang to collate the palace library and sent Chen Nong to collect lost books. He deposed Empress Xu in 18 BC and in 16 BC made Zhao Feiyan empress, with her sister Zhao Hede as a favoured consort; the Book of Han (Hanshu) says Hede had the sons of other palace women killed. He died suddenly in the Weiyang Palace in 7 BC and was succeeded by his nephew Liu Xin. Ban Gu's verdict praises his dignity on the throne but blames his self-indulgence for the Zhao sisters' hold on the palace and his uncles' grip on government.

Life and times

  1. 51 BCEBornHan
  2. 18 BCEThe Zhao Sisters of Zhaoyang PalaceTook partage 33Zhao Feiyan became Empress and Zhao Hede became Zhaoyi at Zhaoyang Hall, as the sisters jointly dominated the late Western Han inner court.
    1. Zhao Feiyan Dancing at Zhaoyang PalaceIn 18 BCE, Zhao Feiyan's dance won Emperor Cheng of Han's favor, opening the rise of Zhao Feiyan and Zhao Hede as the favored sisters of Zhaoyang Palace.
    2. Emperor Cheng Invests Zhao Feiyan Empress16 BCEage 35In 16 BCE, Emperor Cheng of Han invested Zhao Feiyan as Empress and Zhao Hede as Zhaoyi, establishing the sisters at the center of the inner court.
    3. Zhao Hede Invested as Imperial Zhaoyi16 BCEage 35In 16 BCE, Emperor Cheng of Han invested Zhao Hede as Zhaoyi at Zhaoyang Hall, consolidating the Zhao sisters' inner-court dominance.
  3. 7 BCEDied

Family tree

  1. Direct kin
    Wang Zhengjun
    Mother
    Emperor Yuan of Han
    Father
    Emperor Cheng of Han
    Husband (emperor)
    Zhao Hede
    Husband (emperor)
    Zhao Feiyan
  2. Other kin2
    1. Emperor Ai of HanNephew · 27 BCE - 1 BCE
    2. Wang MangCousin · 45 BCE–23 CE

Connections

  1. Rulers and officials1
    1. Liu XiangScholar of the imperial library · c. 77 BCE–6 BCE