Empress Yi'an (Empress Xiao'aizhe) (1606–1644), of the Zhang clan, was the empress consort of the

Tianqi Emperor The Tianqi Emperor (23 December 1605 – 30 September 1627), personal name Zhu Youjiao (), was the 16th Emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigning from 1620 to 1627. He was the eldest son of the Taichang Emperor and a elder brother of the Chongzhen ...

of the Chinese

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...

Empress

Empress Zhang was selected to be the primary spouse and empress of the emperor in 1621. Her original name is not known, nor is that of her mother. Her father was

Zhang Guoji Zhang may refer to: Chinese culture, etc. * Zhang (surname) (張/张), common Chinese surname ** Zhang (surname 章), a rarer Chinese surname * Zhang County (漳县), of Dingxi, Gansu * Zhang River (漳河), a river flowing mainly in Henan * ''Z ...

(張國紀), who was elevated to the position of ''Bo'' (count) of Taikang when she became empress. Empress Zhang, though young, was described as calm and straightforward to her behavior, and strict but fair in palace affairs. The

, who has been described as badly educated and possibly mentally deficient, was deeply dependent upon the wet nurse Madame Ke and the eunuch

Wei Zhongxian Wei Zhongxian (1568 – December 12, 1627), born Wei Si (魏四), was a Chinese court eunuch who lived in the late Ming dynasty. As a eunuch he used the name Li Jinzhong (李进忠). He is considered by most historians as the most notorious eunuc ...

, and Empress Zhang is known to have opposed their influence. She reportedly informed the Emperor about the misdeeds of his two favorites, but he always refused to take action against them. In one incident, she subtly compared Wei Zhongxian to the eunuch

Zhao Gao Zhao Gao (died 207 BC) was a Chinese politician and calligrapher. He was an official of the Qin dynasty of China. Allegedly a eunuch, he served as a close aide to all three rulers of the Qin dynasty – Qin Shi Huang, Qin Er Shi and Ziying � ...

, who was blamed for bringing about the end of the

Qin dynasty The Qin dynasty ( ; zh, c=秦朝, p=Qín cháo, w=), or Ch'in dynasty in Wade–Giles romanization ( zh, c=, p=, w=Ch'in ch'ao), was the first Dynasties in Chinese history, dynasty of Imperial China. Named for its heartland in Qin (state), ...

. On one occasion, she had Madame Ke summoned and ordered for her to be caned, but the emperor appeared and stopped the punishment from being executed. Wei Zhongxian reportedly induced miscarriages among the consorts and concubines of the emperor, while Madame Ke is said to have caused the deaths of some of the women themselves. Empress Zhang herself became pregnant in 1623, but her pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, which was reportedly caused by a plot between Madame Ke and some of the palace women. Wei Zhongxian and Madame Ke could not attack Empress Zhang personally, but they attempted to cause her downfall by accusing her father of piracy, thereby indirectly pointing her out as the daughter of a criminal and therefore not suitable as Empress, undermining her position. The plot failed as it was opposed by court officials.

Later life

In 1627, the

died without issue, all the pregnancies of his consorts and concubines having ended in miscarriages or deaths in infancy. In the unclear succession crisis, Wei Zhongxian attempted to usurp the throne by a plot in which he convinced some palace women to falsely claim pregnancy, a pregnancy he would have a male accomplice made true. Empress Zhang thwarted the plot by securing the throne for the brother of the late emperor instead. In recognition for this help, the new emperor awarded her the title ''Empress Yi'an''. In April 1644, the army of the rebel

Li Zicheng Li Zicheng (22 September 1606 – 1645), born Li Hongji, also known by the nickname, Dashing King, was a Chinese peasant rebel leader who overthrew the Ming dynasty in 1644 and ruled over northern China briefly as the emperor of the short-li ...

were approaching the capital through Juyong Pass. On 23 April, the Chongzhen Emperor held his last audience with his ministers. Li Zicheng offered Chongzhen the opportunity to surrender, but the emperor refused. The following day, the rebel army attacked the capital. The Chongzhen Emperor ordered the crown prince and his two brothers to hide in the home of relatives, and summoned the rest of his family. Rather than to let them be captured by the rebels, the emperor started to kill the female members of his family, concubines and consorts. Using his sword, he killed Honored Consort Yuan and Princess Kunyi, and severed the arm of

Princess Changping Zhu Meichuo (2 May 1630 – 26 September 1647), known by her title Princess Changping, was a Chinese princess of the Ming dynasty. She was one of the children of the Chongzhen Emperor and Empress Zhou. Biography Changping was born to the Chong ...

, before dressing himself as a eunuch and trying to escape himself. Empress Zhou was ordered by the emperor to commit suicide, which she performed by hanging, while Empress Zhang Baozhu committed suicide by strangulation.Lily Xiao Hong Lee, Sue Wiles: Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 - 1644

Titles

*During the reign of the

Wanli Emperor The Wanli Emperor (; 4 September 1563 – 18 August 1620), personal name Zhu Yijun (), was the 14th Emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigned from 1572 to 1620. "Wanli", the era name of his reign, literally means "ten thousand calendars". He was the ...

(r. 1572–1620): **Lady Zhang (張氏; from 1606) *During the reign of the Tianqi Emperor (r. 1620–1627): **Empress (皇后; from February 1621) *During the reign of the

Chongzhen Emperor The Chongzhen Emperor (; 6 February 1611 – 25 April 1644), personal name Zhu Youjian (), courtesy name Deyue (),Wang Yuan (王源)，''Ju ye tang wen ji'' (《居業堂文集》), vol. 19. "聞之張景蔚親見烈皇帝神主題御諱字德� ...

(r. 1627–1644) **Empress Yi'an (懿安皇后; from 1627) *During the reign of the

Hongguang Emperor The Hongguang Emperor (; 1607–1646), personal name Zhu Yousong (), childhood nickname Fuba (福八), was the first emperor of the Chinese Southern Ming dynasty. He reigned briefly in southern China from 1644 to 1645. His era name, ''Hongguang'', ...

(r. 1644–1645) **''Empress Xiao'ai Cijing Gonghui Wenzhen Xietian Xiesheng Zhe'' (孝哀慈靖恭惠溫貞偕天協聖悊皇后; from 1644)

Issue

*As empress: **Zhu Ciran, Crown Prince Huaichong (懷衝皇太子朱慈燃; 4 November 1623), the Tianqi Emperor's first son

Notes

* Lily Xiao Hong Lee, Sue Wiles: Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 - 1644 {{DEFAULTSORT:Zhang, Empress 1606 births 1644 deaths Ming dynasty empresses 17th-century Chinese women 17th-century Chinese people Suicides in the Ming dynasty 17th-century suicides People from Kaifeng