Empress Zhang (Cao Fang)

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Empress Zhang (張皇后, personal name unknown) was an empress of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. She was Cao Fang's second wife.

Not much is known about her, other than her grandfather Zhang Jì (張既) was a governor of Liang Province (modern Gansu) and that her father Zhang Jí (張緝, note different tone) was a commandery governor. She was created empress in 252; at that time, her grandfather was already deceased, while her father was promoted to senior minister. (It is unclear whether she was an imperial consort before she was created empress.)

In 254, the powerful Sima Shi, after killing Cao Fang's confidant, the official Li Feng, a friend of Zhang Ji's, falsely accused Li, Zhang, and their friend Xiahou Xuan of treason, and had all of them and their clans executed. One month later, Cao Fang was forced to depose Empress Zhang. It is not known what her fate was, although it would appear likely that she was put under house arrest for the rest of her life but not executed along with the rest of her family.

Preceded by Empress Zhen

Empress of Cao Wei 252–254

Succeeded by Empress Wang

[edit] References

• Records of Three Kingdoms, vol. 4.
• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 75, 76.