Qin and Han · Consort

Empress Dou 竇皇后

Dòu huánghòu

Attested AD 76 - AD 88

Passages: 3
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Empress Dou was a consort.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 88 章帝崩
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 25
AD 76 to AD 88 章帝時
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 21

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Sibling of Dou Xian (竇憲)
elder brother 兄 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 21
Spouse of Emperor Zhang (章帝)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 21

Career and standing

regent empress dowager 太后攝政
AD 88 章帝崩 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 25
Held
Favored empress
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 21

References in the histories

Book of Later Han, Chapter 114Volume 103: Five Elements Part One · 3 passages

章帝時，竇皇后兄憲以皇后甚幸於上，故人人莫不畏憲。 Under Emperor Zhang, Dou Xian—the empress's brother—terrified the whole court because his sister held the emperor's complete favor.

上以后故，但譴敕之，不治其罪。 For the empress's sake the emperor limited himself to a stern reprimand and brought no charges.

後章帝崩，竇太后攝政，憲秉機密，忠直之臣與憲忤者，憲多害之，其後憲兄弟遂皆被誅。 After Zhangdi's death the Dou empress dowager ruled as regent while Dou Xian monopolized confidential business; anyone who stood up to him tended to disappear, until at last the whole Dou clan was wiped out.