Qin and Han · Empress Dowager

Empress Dowager Lü 高后

Gao hou

Died BC 180

Passages: 3
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Empress Dowager Lü was an empress Dowager.

Life and dates

Death

BC 180 今高后崩
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 66

Attested activity

BC 180 高后崩…誅諸呂
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 64

Family

Kinship Role Lü clan members elevated · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passages 64, 67

Places and affiliations

Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 64

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 52House of Prince Daohui of Qi · 3 passages

惠帝崩，高后用事，春秋高，聽諸呂擅廢高帝所立，又殺三趙王，滅梁、燕、趙以王諸呂，分齊國為四。 After Emperor Hui died, the Empress Dowager took control of the government. Being advanced in years, she heeded the Lü clan, who arbitrarily deposed those whom Emperor Gaozu had installed, put three Kings of Zhao to death, abolished the kingdoms of Liang, Yan, and Zhao to grant them to the Lü clan, and carved Qi into four parts.

忠臣進諫，上惑亂不聽。 Loyal ministers offered their counsel, but the Empress Dowager was too befuddled to heed them.

今高后崩，皇帝春秋富，未能治天下，固恃大臣諸（將）［侯］。 Now the Empress Dowager has died. The Emperor is young and not yet able to govern the realm on his own; he must depend upon the great ministers and marquises.