Empress Xia (Ming dynasty)

Empress Xiaojingyi (1492 – 26 February 1535), of the Xia clan, was a Chinese empress consort of the Ming dynasty, married to the Zhengde Emperor.

Empress Xiaojingyi
孝靜毅皇后
Empress consort of the Ming dynasty
Tenure1506 – 20 April 1521
PredecessorEmpress Xiaochengjing
SuccessorEmpress Xiaojiesu
Born1492
Died26 February 1535 (age 42–43)
SpouseZhengde Emperor
Posthumous name
Empress Xiaojing Zhuanghui Ansu Wencheng Shuntian Xiesheng Yi (孝靜莊惠安肅溫誠順天偕聖毅皇后)
ClanXia (夏)
FatherXia Ru, Count of Qingyang (慶陽伯 夏儒)
MotherLady Ye (叶氏)

Biography edit

Lady Xia was the daughter of Xia Ru (夏儒), and she was virtuous and elegant. She was from the district Shangyuan (in present Nanjing). In 1506, she was selected to become the first consort and empress of the emperor. She had no issue and when her spouse died childless in 1521, he was succeeded by his cousin Jiajing. She was given the title Empress Zhuangsu, because she couldn't be an empress dowager.[1]

Titles edit

  • During the reign of the Hongzhi Emperor (r. 1487–1505)
    • Lady Xia (夏氏; from 1492)
  • During the reign of the Zhengde Emperor (r. 1505–1521)
    • Empress (皇后; from 1506)
  • During the reign of the Jiajing Emperor (r. 1521–1567)
    • Empress Zhuangsu (莊肅皇后; from 27 May 1521)
    • Empress Xiaojing Zhuanghui Ansu Yi (孝靜莊惠安肅毅皇后; from 1535)
    • Empress Xiaojing Zhuanghui Ansu Wencheng Shuntian Xiesheng Yi (孝靜莊惠安肅溫誠順天偕聖毅皇后; from 1536)

Notes edit

  1. ^ GOODRICH, L. Carington; Fang Chaoying, et al., Dictionary of Ming biografi, 1368-1644. New York: Columbia University Press, 1976. xxi + 1751 s. ISBN 0-231-03801-1 (1 vol.) 023103833X (vol. 2).
Chinese royalty
Preceded by Empress consort of China
1506–1521
Succeeded by