Empress dowager Chengtian - Warrior empress dowager Xiao Chuo (953-1009), formally empress dowager C

Empress dowager Chengtian - Warrior empress dowager Xiao Chuo (953-1009), formally empress dowager Chengtian, was an empress of the Khitan-led Liao dynasty of China. She was empress Yingtian’s grandniece.Chengtian was the daughter of the northern prime minister Xiao Siwen and her family had provided several imperial consorts. According to the Liaoshi, she “exhibited intelligence from a young age” and became emperor Jingzong’s consort and later his empress after giving birth to a son. Chengtian helped her husband in handling his duties. She occasionally accompanied him to the front, managed the state’s affairs during the emperor’s illnesses and took decisions regarding military campaigns.When the emperor died, his son was only 12, which meant that the succession was by no mean secure. Chengtian took in hand state’s matters and relied on her husband’s most trusted ministers. She dominated her son’s reign until her death and didn’t hesitate to scold him in public.Chengtian’s most impressive military victory took place in 986 when the Liao were under attack by the Song Dynasty. She personally commanded her own army of some 10,000 cavalry on the field, one source states that she “beat the war drum herself”. She routed and defeated the enemy.In 1004, the empress once led three divisions of the Liao army against the Song.  Neither camp could secure a decisive victory, they thus turned to negotiations instead. Chengtian played a key role in the process and was given personal ritual status as the Song emperor’s “junior aunt.”Afterward, Chengtian allowed her son to take more and more of an active role in the administration and relinquished the regency in 1009. She died one month later and the neighboring powers sent envoys to her funerals. The Song government ordered his officials to wear white as a sign of respect.Chengtian’s sister, Xiao Hunjan, was also a talented warrior woman. She took control of her husband’s army after his death and commanded an expeditionary force against border tribes in the West. In 994, she led her troops against the Xi Xia and was credited with the establishment of the city of Kodun. She was, however, reportedly accused of plotting to overthrow the empress dowager in 1006 and died in 1007.The Kitan Guozhi gives a different account regarding the empress’s sisters. According this source, the empress had two sisters, thought neither of them is named. The eldest was an accomplished horsewoman and took the head of her husband’s army after his death. She fell in love with a clansman named Talanabo. The empress first sent Talanabo away, but the sister was later allowed to marry him. Talanabo would later try to use his own forces to establish his kingdom and was exiled. According to the Kitan Guozhi, it was the younger sister who plotted against empress Chengtian.Here’s the link to my Ko-Fi if you want to support me.Bibliography: Cooke Johnson Linda, Women of the conquest dynastiesLi Meng, “Xiao Chuo”, in: Lee Lily Xiao Hong, Wiles Sue (dir.), Biographical dictionary of Chinese women: Tang through Ming (618-1644) -- source link

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