Empress Dowager Li (李太后)

Overview

Empress Dowager Li was a Royal Family Member.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 948 to AD 950 後漢隱帝時
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 85, 116

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Hidden Emperor (隱帝)
empress dowager 太后 · maternal line
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passages 85, 125
Sibling of Li Ye (李業)
younger brother 弟 · Uncertain siblings · paternal line
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 125

Kinship Role kin · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 85

References in the histories

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 30Volume 30 Later Han Biographies 10: Su Fengji, Shi Hongzhao, Yang Bin, Wang Zhang, Liu Zhu, Li Ye, Nie Wenjin, Hou Zan, Guo Yunming · 4 passages

Open chapter

隱帝自關西罷兵，漸近小人，與後贊、李業等嬉遊無度，而太后親族頗行幹托，弘肇與楊邠稍裁抑之。 When the western war ended the Hidden Emperor drifted toward petty favorites—Hou Zan, Li Ye, and the rest—and played without restraint. The dowager’s kin peddled influence; Hongzhao and Yang Bin checked them where they could.

太后有故人子求補軍職，弘肇輒斬之。 The dowager’s old friend’s son sought a military post—Hongzhao had him beheaded on the spot.

逢吉諷李濤上疏罷邠與周太祖樞密使，邠泣訴李太后前，太后怒，罷濤相，加邠中書侍郎兼吏部尚書、同平章事。 Fengji urged Li Tao to petition for Bin’s and Guo Wei’s removal from the Privy Council. Bin wept before Dowager Li; she raged, ousted Tao, and made Bin Vice Director, Minister of Personnel, and Associate Grand Councilor.

李太后弟業求為宣徽使，帝與太后私以問邠，邠止以為不可。 The dowager’s brother Ye wanted the Palace Secretariat commission. Emperor and dowager asked Bin in private; he said no.