Wang Zhengjun
Wang Zhengjun (Chinese: 王政君; 71 BC – 3 February 13 AD[1]), officially Empress Xiaoyuan (孝元皇后), later and more commonly known as Grand Empress Dowager Wang, born in Yuancheng (modern Handan, Hebei), was an empress during the Western Han dynasty of China, who played important roles during the reigns of five successive Han emperors (her husband, son, two stepgrandsons, and stepgreat-grandnephew) and later (according to traditional historians, unwittingly) led to the usurpation of the throne by her nephew Wang Mang.
She is largely viewed sympathetically by historians as an unassuming and benevolent if overly doting woman who suffered much in her long life, who tried to influence the empire as well as she could, and tried to use her power for the benefit of the empire, and who was not a party to her nephew's machinations, but whose failure, leading to the downfall of the Western Han Dynasty, was her overdependence on her clan (the Wangs).
Three years after, Wang gave birth to a male child, Ao, whereas none of the crown prince's previous concubines had.
Empress Wang apparently tried to maintain a cordial relationship with both, and she was largely successful, at least as far as Consort Feng was concerned.
In his illness, apparently encouraged by Consort Fu, Emperor Yuan reconsidered whether he should make Prince Kang his heir instead.
They became known as “The Five Vassals.” Thus, Empress Dowager Wang and her brothers were the true rulers of the empire, while the emperor remained a figurehead.
Emperor Cheng was very trusting of his uncles (Empress Dowager Wang's brothers) and put them in important roles in government.
The Wangs, while not corrupt in general and apparently genuinely trying to help the emperor, were largely concerned with aggrandizing their power and not with the best interests of the empire when selecting officials for various posts, and this led to a continued deterioration in the administration of Emperor Cheng, who at times considered modifying this power structure but always failed to do so.
His first favorite was Empress Xu (created 31 BC), from the clan of his murdered grandmother, the first wife of Emperor Xuan.
Circa 19 BC, however, when Emperor Cheng was visiting the Princess of Yang'a (陽阿公主), he became enamored with her dancing girl Zhao Feiyan (趙飛燕) and her sister Zhao Hede (趙合德) and made them his concubines, and they became favored over Empress Xu and Consort Ban.
Emperor Cheng wanted to then create Zhao Feiyan as empress, but Empress Dowager Wang complained about her low birth and prior occupation as a dancing girl; she finally capitulated to her son's wishes in 16 BC, but she was never pleased with the Zhao sisters.
Emperor Cheng died suddenly in 7 BC, apparently from a stroke (although historians also report the possibility of an overdosage of aphrodisiacs given to him by Consort Zhao Hede).
In 1 BC, Emperor Ai died without an heir, and this left the imperial household in immediate turmoil—during which Grand Empress Dowager Wang would play an important role.
When Emperor Ai died, his male favorite (commonly believed to be homosexual lover) Dong Xian was in command of the armed forces and was the most powerful official in government, and there was great uncertainty what was going to happen next.
Wang Mang immediately moved to remove all obstacles to power, but at the same time maintaining an appearance of faithfulness to the Han Dynasty.
Grand Empress Dowager Wang then summoned her remaining stepgrandson Prince Jizi to the throne, as Emperor Ping.
When in her presence, he did everything he could to convince her of his faithfulness to the Han Dynasty and also flattered her, but at the same time continued to purge the government of potential enemies and getting his associates to use propaganda to create an aura of holiness about him.
When he demanded that Grand Empress Dowager Wang turn over the imperial seal, she initially refused, but eventually relented.
Wang Mang initially wanted to abolish Grand Empress Dowager Wang's title and give her a new title that shows more power and majesty than before and only links her to his newly established dynasty and not to the Han, but she immediately indicated that she was greatly offended at his suggestion.
In response, he kept her title but gave her an additional one—Wenmu (文母, The civilization mother), implying that she was a cofounder of his dynasty.
Wang Mang did not fail to pay respect to his aunt and regularly sent her various precious gifts and frequently invited her to dinner or parties.
Wang Mang tried to more attend to her needs earnestly to try to please her, but his attempts failed, and he even freed him from any obedience or departure from his laws and orders, but it was useless.
