| Empress Wei 韋皇后 | |
|---|---|
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| Empress regent of the Tang dynasty | |
| Regency | 3 July 710 – 21 July 710 |
| Predecessor | Empress Wu |
| Successor | Princess Taiping |
| Monarch | |
| Empress dowager of the Tang dynasty | |
| Tenure | 3 July 710 – 21/28 July 710 |
| Empress consort of the Tang dynasty | |
| Tenure | 3 January 684 – 26 February 684, 23 February 705 – 3 July 710 |
| Died | July 21, 710 Chang'an |
| Spouse | Emperor Zhongzong of Tang |
| Issue |
|
| Father | Wei Xuanzhen |
| Mother | Lady Cui |
Empress Wei (Chinese: 韋皇后; pinyin: Wéi Huánghòu; personal name unknown; died July 21, 710)[1] was an empress consort of the Chinese Tang dynasty.[2] She was the second wife of Emperor Zhongzong,[3] who reigned twice, and during his second reign, she tried to emulate the example of her mother-in-law Wu Zetian and seize power. She was de facto in charge of the governmental affairs during her husband's reign, though she was not formally regent. Emperor Zhongzong's death in 710 — a death traditionally believed to be a poisoning she carried out together with her daughter Li Guo'er the Princess Anle — made her the empress dowager, and she took formal power as regent de jure during the minority of Emperor Shang of Tang. After a reign of seventeen days as regent, she was overthrown and killed in a coup led by Emperor Zhongzong's nephew Li Longji (the later Emperor Xuanzong) and Emperor Zhongzong's sister Princess Taiping.
- ^ According to her biography in the Old Book of Tang, Lady Wei was killed along with Wu Yanxiu and her daughter Princess Anle on the dingwei day of the 6th month of the 4th year of the Jinglong era of Tang Zhongzong's reign. This date corresponds to 28 July 710 in the Gregorian calendar. However, volume 209 of the Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Wei was killed on the gengzi day of the 6th month of the 1st year of the Jingyun era of Tang Ruizong's reign; this date corresponds to 21 July 710 on the Gregorian calendar.[(景龙四年六月)丁未，...,后惶骇遁入殿前飞骑营，及武延秀、安乐公主皆为乱兵所杀。] Old Book of Tang vol 51. / [(景云元年六月)庚子,...韦后惶惑走入飞骑营，有飞骑斩首献于隆基。] Zizhi Tongjian vol. 209.
- ^ Bennett Peterson, Barbara (2000). Notable Women of China. New York, London: M.E. Sharpe. p. 202. ISBN 9780765619297.
- ^ Wintle, Justin (2002). China. Rough Guides. ISBN 978-1-85828-764-5.