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Overview The translated histories identify Empress Dowager as a royal family member and ruler. This record brings together 15 passages from 1 chapter across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.
Names Type English Chinese Pinyin
Personal
Empress Dowager
太后
Title
empress dowager
太后
Title
Empress Dowager
皇太后
Identity
Historicity Historical
Identification Title only
Sex Female Life and dates Attested activity Works and attributed material References in the histories Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.
History of Liao, Chapter 83 Volume 83 Biographies 13: Yelu Xiuge, Yelu Xiezhen, Yelu Xidi, Yelu Xuegu · 15 passages
聖宗即位，太后稱制，令休哥總南面軍務，以便宜從事。
When Emperor Shengzong ascended the throne and the empress dowager assumed regency, Xiuge was placed in overall charge of southern military affairs with full discretion.
聞太后軍至，彬等冒雨而遁。
When they heard the empress dowager's army was coming, Bin and his commanders fled through the rain.
太后益以銳卒，追及之。
The empress dowager reinforced the pursuit with crack troops and overtook them.
太后旋旆，休哥收宋屍為京觀。
As the empress dowager turned homeward, Xiuge heaped the Song dead into a victory mound.
及太后南征，休哥為先鋒，敗宋兵於望都。
On the empress dowager's southern campaign, Xiuge served as vanguard and defeated the Song at Wangdu.
會太后軍至，接戰，殺敬源，廷讓走瀛州。
When the empress dowager's army arrived they gave battle, killed Li Jingyuan, and Tingrang fled to Yingzhou.
太后嘉其功，詔免拜、不名。
The empress dowager praised his achievements and decreed that he need not bow when appearing and that his name was not to be spoken aloud in his presence.
統和初，皇太后稱制，益見委任，為北院樞密使。
At the beginning of Tonghe, when the empress dowager assumed regency, he was increasingly trusted and made Commissioner of the Northern Court Privy Council.
太后親帥師救燕，以斜軫為山西路兵馬都統。
The empress dowager led the army in person to relieve Yan and appointed Xiezhen overall commander of the Shanxi Route forces.
從太后南伐，卒於軍。
On the empress dowager's southern campaign he died in the field.
太后親為哀臨，仍給葬具。
The empress dowager mourned him in person and provided funeral goods.
後太后南伐，屢有戰績。
On the empress dowager's later southern campaigns he won repeated victories.
及德讓為大丞相，薦其材可任統軍使，太后曰：「烏不呂嘗不遜於卿，何善而薦？」
When Derang became Grand Chancellor he recommended Wubulü as fit to be an army commander. The empress dowager said, "Wubulü was once disrespectful to you—why do you praise him now?"
太后從之，加金紫崇祿大夫、檢校太尉。
The empress dowager agreed and added the titles Golden Purple Glory Grandee and Inspector Grand Commandant.
恐禍及母，陰使人召國留，紿曰：「太后知事之誣，汝第來勿畏。」
Fearing harm would reach his mother, he secretly sent men to summon Guoliu, telling him, "The empress dowager knows the charge is false—come alone and have no fear."