Empress Zhang (Liu Shan's first wife)

Empress Zhang (died July or August 237),[a] personal name unknown, formally known as Empress Jing'ai (lit. "Respectful and Lamentable Empress"), was an empress of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period. She was a daughter of the Shu general Zhang Fei. She married Liu Shan in 221 and became the crown princess of Shu. In 223 when Liu Bei died, Liu Shan ascended the throne of Shu, and Zhang became the empress. She died in 237 and was buried in Nanling (南陵).[2] She was succeeded by her younger sister.

Empress Zhang
張皇后
Empress consort of Shu Han
Tenure223 – July or August 237
PredecessorEmpress Wu
SuccessorEmpress Zhang
BornUnknown
DiedJuly or August 237[a]
Chengdu, Sichuan
SpouseLiu Shan
Posthumous name
Empress Jing'ai (敬哀皇后)
FatherZhang Fei
MotherUnknown[b]

In the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms she doesn't marry Liu Shan until after he becomes Emperor, with Zhuge Liang recommending her due to her prudence.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Liu Shan's biography in the Sanguozhi recorded that Empress Zhang died in the 6th month of the 15th year of the Jianxing era of Liu Shan's reign.[1] This month corresponds to 11 July to 8 August 237 in the Gregorian calendar.
  2. ^ It is not recorded which of the daughters (the elder or the younger) of Zhang Fei was the mother of the boy that Liu Shan commented was related to Xiahou Ba.

References

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  1. ^ ([建興]十五年夏六月,皇后張氏薨。) Sanguozhi vol. 33.
  2. ^ (後主敬哀皇后,車騎將軍張飛長女也。章武元年,納為太子妃。建興元年,立為皇后。十五年薨,葬南陵。) Sanguozhi vol. 34.
Chinese royalty
Preceded by Empress of Shu Han
223–237
Succeeded by