Empress Deng Sui: Encyclopedia II - Empress Deng Sui - As regent for Emperor Shang

Empress Deng Sui - As regent for Emperor Shang

In 106, Emperor He died, creating a succession crisis. Empress Deng and all of the imperial consorts were sonless for a long time. (Emperor He was described to have had a number of sons who died in young age; it is unclear whether Empresses Yin or Deng ever gave birth, but it appears that they did not.) Late in Emperor He's reign, he had two sons -- whose mothers were not mentioned in history -- Liu Sheng (劉勝) and Liu Long (劉隆). Under the superstition of the time, it was thought that they might survive better if they grew up outside the palace in light of their other brothers' early deaths, so both were given to foster parents.

At the time Emperor He died, Liu Sheng, the older son, was still young (but actual age is not recorded in history) and believed to be constantly ill. The younger, Liu Long, was only 100 days old. Both were welcomed back to the palace, and Empress Deng created Liu Long crown prince, believing that he would be healthier, and then that night he was proclaimed emperor, as Emperor Shang. Power was in Empress Dowager Deng's hands, as regent for the infant emperor, and her brother Deng Zhi (鄧騭) quickly became the most powerful official at court. She issued a general pardon, which benefitted the people who had rights stripped from them for associating with the family of Empress Dou -- whose family had been powerful during the early reign of Emperor He but was toppled in a coup d'etat.

Late in 106, the young emperor died, creating yet another succession crisis. By this time, the officials had realized that Prince Sheng (then Prince of Pingyuan) was not as ill as initially thought, and they generally wanted him to be emperor. However, Empress Dowager Deng, concerned that Prince Sheng would bear a grudge for not having been made emperor first, had other ideas. She insisted on making Emperor Shang's cousin Prince Hu emperor instead, and he took the throne as Emperor An, at age 12. (Prince Hu was the son of Prince Qing of Qinghe -- who was once a crown prince under Emperor He's father Emperor Zhang but was deposed due to machinations of Emperor Zhang's wife Empress Dou. Therefore, he was viewed by some as the rightful heir.)

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "As regent for Emperor Shang", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki