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Constantine VI (771-804) was the only child of Emperor Leo IV and Empress Irene. He was crowned co-emperor in 776, and became sole emperor in 780, aged only nine. Due to his young age, his mother Irene and her chief minister Staurakios ruled in his stead. However, even when Constantine was of age at sixteen, his mother still refused to hand over executive authority to him.
Constantine VI (771-804) was the only child of Emperor Leo IV and Empress Irene. He was crowned co-emperor in 776, and became sole emperor in 780, aged only nine. Due to his young age, his mother Irene and her chief minister Staurakios ruled in his stead. However, even when Constantine was of age at sixteen, his mother still refused to hand over executive authority to him.<br/><br/> Constantine was to marry Rotrude, the daughter of the future Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, in 788, but his mother broke off the engagement and instead supported Charlemagne's enemies. When Irene attempted to get official recognition as empress in 790, the plan backfired and Constantine was finally given the throne through military support, though his mother was still allowed to keep the title of empress.<br/><br/> Constantine soon proved he was not a capable leader however, suffering humiliating defeats at the hands of the Arabs and Bulgarians. When his uncle was favoured to replace him, he had his eyes put out and the tongues of his other uncles torn off. He became vastly unpopular, and in 797 was himself blinded and imprisoned by his mother's supporters. Irene was then crowned as Constantinople's first Empress Regnant. Constantine's date of death is unknown, though it was definitely before 805. Irene herself ruled until she was overthrown in 802, where she was then exiled to Lesbos and died the following year.
Empress Shoken (Shoken-kogo, 9 May 1849 – 9 April 1914), also known as Empress Dowager Shoken (Shoken-kotaigo), was empress consort of Emperor Meiji of Japan.
Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi (7 February 1906 – 17 October 1967), of the Manchu Aisin Gioro ruling family, was the last Emperor of China.<br/><br/> He ruled in two periods between 1908 and 1917, firstly as the Xuantong Emperor from 1908 to 1912, and nominally as a non-ruling puppet emperor for twelve days in 1917. He was the twelfth and final member of the Qing Dynasty to rule over China proper.<br/><br/> Gobulo Wan Rong ('Beautiful Countenance') was the daughter of Rong Yuan, the Minister of Domestic Affairs of the Qing Government and head of one of Manchuria's most prominent, richest families. At the age of 17, Wan Rong was selected from a series of photographs presented to the Xuan Tong Emperor (Puyi). The wedding took place when Puyi reached the age of 16. Wan Rong was the last Empress Consort of the Qing Dynasty in China, and later Empress of Manchukuo (also known as the Manchurian Empire). Empress Wan Rong died of malnutrition and opium addiction in prison in Jilin.<br/><br/>
Gobulo Wan Rong ('Beautiful Countenance') was the daughter of Rong Yuan, the Minister of Domestic Affairs of the Qing Government and head of one of Manchuria's most prominent, richest families. At the age of 17, Wan Rong was selected from a series of photographs presented to the Xuan Tong Emperor (Puyi). The wedding took place when Puyi reached the age of 16.<br/><br/> Wan Rong was the last Empress Consort of the Qing Dynasty in China, and later Empress of Manchukuo (also known as the Manchurian Empire). Empress Wan Rong died of malnutrition and opium addiction in prison in Jilin.<br/><br/>
Tonggiya (or Tunggiya), Empress Shen Cheng, was of the Tongiya clan, and was the daughter of Shu Minga. She became a concubine in her early years and then became Daoguang's official wife in 1808 just after the death of Empress Xiao Mu Cheng. Lady Tongiya gave birth to the eldest daughter of the Daoguang Emperor in 1813, and was elevated to an Empress Consort in 1822. Empress Xiao Shen Cheng died in the thirteenth year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign, and was later interred into the Muling Mausoleum.
Empress Xiao Quan Cheng (1808–1840), born Lady Niuhuru, third Qing Dynasty Empress Consort of the Daoguang Emperor (1782–1850). Niuhuru was born to Baron Liyang of the Niuhuru clan, an official in the city of Suzhou in the south. In 1820, at the age of twelve, she was given as a concubine 'of the third class' to the new emperor in the Forbidden City. Two years after the death of the Emperor's second Empress Xiao Shen Cheng in 1833, Niuhuru was officially made Empress Consort with the title of 'Empress Xiao Quan Cheng'. Empress Xiao Quan Cheng died in 1840 aged 32, being 7 years Empress Consort. She was the mother of the Xianfeng Emperor.
Empress Mu Cheng was of the Niuhuru clan. She was the first Empress Consort of the Qing Dynasty Daoguang Emperor. Niuhuru became the principal wife of the then Prince Mianning in 1796. She died in 1808, and when in 1820 Mianning (Minning) ascended the throne as the Daoguang emperor, Niuhuru was posthumously made Empress and given the title of "Empress Xiao Mu Cheng". Long after her death she was removed from her tomb to the Muling mausoleum.
Empress Xiao Quan Cheng (1808–1840), born Lady Niuhuru, third Qing Dynasty Empress Consort of the Daoguang Emperor (1782–1850). Niuhuru was born to Baron Liyang of the Niuhuru clan, an official in the city of Suzhou in the south. In 1820, at the age of twelve, she was given as a concubine 'of the third class' to the new emperor in the Forbidden City. Two years after the death of the Emperor's second Empress Xiao Shen Cheng in 1833, Niuhuru was officially made Empress Consort with the title of 'Empress Xiao Quan Cheng'. Empress Xiao Quan Cheng died in 1840 aged 32, being 7 years Empress Consort. She was the mother of the Xianfeng Emperor.
Empress He Rui came from the Manchu Niuhuru clan. Lady Niuhuru entered the Forbidden City as a lady in waiting to Prince Yong Kan (the future Jiaqing Emperor) in 1795. Xiao He Rui was given the title of Empress in 1801. When the Jiaqing Emperor died she became Empress Dowager.
Empress Xiao Shu Rui was born in 1747, during the twenty-fifth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, into the Manchu Hitara clan. She was the daughter of Hitara He'erjing'e, Duke En of Cheng. In 1774, Lady Hitara married the Qianlong Emperor's son Yongyan, Prince Jia, as his primary wife and consort. Yongyan and Lady Hitara had three children including Minning or Mianning (16 September 1782 - 25 February 1850), later the Daoguang Emperor. On 9 February 1796, the Qianlong Emperor abdicated the throne in favor of his son Yongyan, who became the Jiaqing Emperor. Lady Hitara was created Empress. However, she died of illness after being Empress Consort for only one year. After her death, she was given the title of Empress Xiao Shu. Then, in 1820, the title of Empress Xiao Shu Rui after the death of the Jiaqing Emperor. Later, Hitara was interred in the Changling Mausoleum.
The Empress Dowager Ci'an (1837 - 8 April 1881), popularly known in China as the East Empress Dowager, officially known posthumously as the Xiaozhen Empress, was the second Empress Consort of the Xianfeng Emperor (1831 - 1861) of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China, and then Empress Dowager after 1861. Born the Lady Niuhuru, she was the daughter of Muyangga, an official from a powerful Manchu family, the Niuhuru clan. Her mother was Lady Giyang, of the Giyang clan.
The Empress Dowager Ci'an (1837 - 8 April 1881), popularly known in China as the East Empress Dowager, officially known posthumously as the Xiaozhen Empress, was the second Empress Consort of the Xianfeng Emperor (1831 - 1861) of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China, and then Empress Dowager after 1861. Born the Lady Niuhuru, she was the daughter of Muyangga, an official from a powerful Manchu family, the Niuhuru clan. Her mother was Lady Giyang, of the Giyang clan.
Tonggiya (or Tunggiya), Empress Shen Cheng, was of the Tongiya clan, and was the daughter of Shu Minga. She became a concubine in her early years and then became Daoguang's official wife in 1808 just after the death of Empress Xiao Mu Cheng. Lady Tongiya gave birth to the eldest daughter of the Daoguang Emperor in 1813, and was elevated to an Empress Consort in 1822. Empress Xiao Shen Cheng died in the thirteenth year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign, and was later interred into the Muling Mausoleum.
China: Empress Zhangxian Mingsu (969-1033), consort of Emperor Zhenzong, 3rd ruler of the Song Dynasty (r.997-1022). Hanging scroll painting, Song Dynasty (960-1279). Lady Liu, formally Zhangxian Mingsu, was the consort of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty. Initially an entertainer and dancer, she caught the eye of the young Zhenzong, who back then was known as Prince Zhao Yuanxiu, and made her his consort when he became emperor. She eventually became empress and served as de facto co-ruler and regent when the emperor was sick from 1020 until 1022. She also served as regent for her adopted son, Emperor Renzong, who was still a minor at the time of his ascension.
Roxelana (c. 1500–1506 – April 18, 1558) was a slave who became a concubine who then became the beloved wife of Suleyman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire. Known in Ottoman Turkey as Hürrem or Karima, she was actually born Alexandra Anastasia Lisovska as a Ukrainian in Poland. In the 1520s, Roxelana was captured by Crimean Tatars during one of their frequent raids into this region and taken as a slave, probably first to the Crimean city of Kaffa, a major centre of the slave trade, then to Constantinople, and was selected for Süleyman's harem.<br/><br/> Roxelana quickly became the sultan’s favourite, enchanted as he was with her beauty and sensuality. Their romance inspired artists, poets and writers for many years after.
China: Empress Zhangxian Mingsu (969-1033), consort of Emperor Zhenzong, 3rd ruler of the Song Dynasty (r.997-1022). Hanging scroll painting, Song Dynasty (960-1279). Lady Liu, formally Zhangxian Mingsu, was the consort of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty. Initially an entertainer and dancer, she caught the eye of the young Zhenzong, who back then was known as Prince Zhao Yuanxiu, and made her his consort when he became emperor. She eventually became empress and served as de facto co-ruler and regent when the emperor was sick from 1020 until 1022. She also served as regent for her adopted son, Emperor Renzong, who was still a minor at the time of his ascension.
Her Imperial Majesty The Empress consort Hürrem Sultan of the Ottoman Empire or Karima, known to Europeans informally as simply Roxelana (c. 1500–1506 – April 18, 1558) was the wife of Süleyman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire.
Roxelana (c. 1500–1506 – April 18, 1558) was a slave who became a concubine who then became the beloved wife of Suleyman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire. Known in Ottoman Turkey as Hürrem or Karima, she was actually born Alexandra Anastasia Lisovska as a Ukrainian in Poland. In the 1520s, Roxelana was captured by Crimean Tatars during one of their frequent raids into this region and taken as a slave, probably first to the Crimean city of Kaffa, a major centre of the slave trade, then to Constantinople, and was selected for Süleyman's harem.<br/><br/> Roxelana quickly became the sultan’s favourite, enchanted as he was with her beauty and sensuality. Their romance inspired artists, poets and writers for many years after.
China: Empress Zhangxian Mingsu (969-1033), consort of Emperor Zhenzong, 3rd ruler of the Song Dynasty (r.997-1022). Hanging scroll painting, Song Dynasty (960-1279). Lady Liu, formally Zhangxian Mingsu, was the consort of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty. Initially an entertainer and dancer, she caught the eye of the young Zhenzong, who back then was known as Prince Zhao Yuanxiu, and made her his consort when he became emperor. She eventually became empress and served as de facto co-ruler and regent when the emperor was sick from 1020 until 1022. She also served as regent for her adopted son, Emperor Renzong, who was still a minor at the time of his ascension.