Empress Zhang (張皇后)

Overview

Empress Zhang was a consort.

PeriodSui and Tang

IdentityHistorical · Female

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 756 to AD 762 肅宗朝
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passages 15, 22

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Emperor Suzong (肅宗)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passage 15
Parent of Son of Empress Zhang (張皇后之子)
mother 母
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passage 22

Career and standing

Assistant Sage 翊聖
Proposed · Negated true
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passages 15, 21

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Consort of
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passage 15

Events and relationships

Imperial clan sought Assistant Sage honorific
Political · Subject of proposal
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passages 15, 21
Secret talk of displacing heir for her son
Political · Beneficiary · With Son of Empress Zhang (張皇后之子)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 126, passage 22

References in the histories

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 126Volume 122 Biographies 72: Zhang Xiancheng, Lu Sigong, Qu Huan, Jin Hanheng, Yang Chaocheng, Fan Ze, Li Shuming, Pei Zhou · 3 passages

Open chapter

其為舍人也，宗室請加張皇后「翊聖」之號，肅宗召揆問之，對曰； While he served as a Secretariat drafter, members of the imperial clan petitioned to add the honorific "Assistant Sage" to Empress Zhang. Emperor Suzong summoned Kui for his view, and he answered:

景龍失政，韋氏專恣，加號翊聖，今若加皇后之號，與韋氏同。 In the Jinglong era the court lost its way, the Wei clan seized power, and the title Assistant Sage was added. If Your Majesty now adds such a title to the empress, you will be repeating the Wei precedent.

時代宗自廣平王改封成王，張皇后有子數歲，陰有奪宗之議。 At that time Daizong had been renamed from Prince of Guangping to Prince of Cheng. Empress Zhang had a young son, and there was secret talk of displacing the heir.