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Emperor Qianshao of Han

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Reign
  
188–184 BC

Name
  
Emperor of

Uncles
  
Liu Fei, Prince of Qi

Father
  
Cousins
  
Te Hieu vuong

Successor
  
Died
  
184 BC, China

Predecessor
  
Role
  
Prince


Mother
  
Empress Zhang Yan (legal, adoptive)

Parents
  
Liu Ying, Empress Zhang Yan

Grandparents
  
Emperor Gaozu of Han, Empress Lu Zhi, Zhang Ao, Princess Yuan of Lu

Similar People
  
Liu Ying, Empress Lu Zhi, Princess Yuan of Lu, Emperor Gaozu of Han

Emperor Qianshao of Han (Chinese: 漢前少帝, died 184 BC), personal name said to be Liu Gong (Chinese: 劉恭), was the third emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was a son, likely the oldest son, of Emperor Hui, likely by a concubine—although there is some controversy on the subject—and adopted by Emperor Hui's wife, Empress Zhang Yan. At the instigation of his grandmother, Empress Dowager Lü, Empress Zhang had Emperor Qianshao's mother put to death.

Very little about Emperor Qianshao's life and personality is known. There are only a few major important events in his life that are documented (which does not even include the year of his birth). In 188 BC, his father Emperor Hui died, and he, who had been previously made Crown Prince, succeeded to the throne. However, his grandmother, now Grand Empress Dowager Lü, publicly presided over all government affairs.

Sometime in or before 184 BC, Emperor Qianshao discovered that he was not in fact now-Empress Dowager Zhang's son and that his mother had been put to death. He made the mistake of remarking that when he grew up, those who killed his mother would pay for this. Grand Empress Dowager Lü, once she heard of this, had him secretly imprisoned within the palace and publicly announced that he was severely ill and unable to receive anyone. After some time, she told the officials that he continued to be ill and incapable of governing, and that he had also suffered a psychosis. She proposed that he be deposed and replaced. The officials complied with her wishes, and he was deposed and put to death. He was succeeded by his brother Liu Yi, whose name was then changed to Liu Hong.

Emperor Qianshao, considered to be a mere puppet of Grand Empress Dowager Lü, is often omitted from the official list of emperors of the Han Dynasty.

References

Emperor Qianshao of Han Wikipedia


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