Dugu Qieluo

Also known as Dugu Galuo

Dugu Qieluo came from Luoyang, a daughter of the Northern Zhou grand marshal Dugu Xin, and according to the Sui History (Sui shu) she married Yang Jian at fourteen. When he took control of the Zhou court as chancellor, she sent word that a man riding a wild beast cannot get off, urging him to see the venture through. After he founded the Sui in 581 she became empress, rode with him to audiences, waited outside the hall and had eunuchs report on his decisions, so that the palace called the couple the Two Sages. She had him spend the price of a chest of pearls on rewards for soldiers, curbed concubinage at court and among the princes, and helped bring down Crown Prince Yang Yong in favour of Yang Guang. She died at the Yong'an Palace in 602 and was named Empress Wenxian. The Sui History records that the dying emperor, learning of Yang Guang's misconduct, said Dugu had truly misled him.