Empress Liu (Zhenzong)
| Zhangxian Mingsu Empress | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Father | Liu Tong (劉通) |
| Born |
969 probably Jiazhou, Song Empire (modern Leshan, Sichuan, China) |
| Died |
1033 Kaifeng, Song Empire (modern Kaifeng, Henan, China) |
| Burial | Yongding Mausoleum (永定陵) |
The Zhangxian Mingsu Empress (969–1033), née Liu (劉), was an empress of the Song dynasty. She was the empress consort of Emperor Zhenzong from 1012 until his death in 1022, and the empress dowager of his son (but not her biological son) Emperor Renzong thereafter until her own death.
As Emperor Zhenzong suffered from ill health in his later years, and Emperor Renzong was only 12 when he succeeded his father, Empress Liu ruled as the de facto regent until her death for more than a decade. During her reign, Emperor Renzong had falsely believed that she was his biological mother, and did not find out otherwise until after her death.
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| Chinese royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Empress Guo |
Empress of China 1012–1022 |
Succeeded by Empress Guo (Renzong) |
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