Empress Cao Jie

Empress Cao Jie (Chinese曹 节v =曹 节, pinyin Cao Jie, W.-G. Chieh Tsao, † 237), formally Empress Xianmu (献 穆 皇后, Xiànmù huánghòu, wise and righteous Empress ' ) and after abdication of her husband, Princess of Shanyang (山阳 公 夫人, shanyang Furen Gong, Shan -yang kung fu -jen ) was the second wife of the last Han emperor Xian and the last empress of the Han Dynasty.

Life

Family background and marriage to Emperor Xian

Cao Jie was a daughter of the powerful warlord Cao Cao, of the Emperor Xian had from 196 under his control. Cao Cao issued edicts in the Emperor's name to unite China, which was then under the control of numerous warlord. In 213, Cao Cao offered (then the Prince of Wei appointed ) three of his daughters as concubines for Emperor Xian to: Cao Jie, her elder sister Cao Xian (曹 宪) and her younger sister Hua Cao (曹 华). First, her title Furen (夫人) had been, in 197 they had been raised to Guiren (贵人).

In 214, Cao Cao discovered that Emperor Xian's wife Empress Fu Shou had tried a conspiracy against him in the year 200. He was allowed to settle and executed, and forced Emperor Xian to replace them by Cao Jie in the year 215.

As Empress and Princess

Little is known about Cao Jie's life as empress, but it is clear that her husband had no power, while Cao Cao turned in the country and presided. In the year 220, her father died, and her brother Cao Pi succeeded him as Prince of Wei. That same year, he forced Emperor Xian to abdicate in his favor, and destroyed the Han Dynasty. In the traditional history it is said that Empress Cao Jie, Cao Pis as messengers demanded their imperial seal, have rejected a few times before they got it handed to him. When her husband was appointed Prince of Shanyang, she received the title of Princess of Shanyang. Her husband died in 234, and she died three years later and was buried with imperial honors and according to the customs of the Han dynasty.