Empress Li (李皇后, personal name unknown) (died 954), known as Empress Dowager Zhaosheng (昭聖太后) during Later Zhou, was an empress of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Later Han. She was the wife of Later Han's founder Liu Zhiyuan (Emperor Gaozu) and the mother of its second emperor Liu Chengyou (Emperor Yin). She served as regent in the interregnum of 951, after the death of her son until the installation of his successor.
Background
It is not known when the future Empress Li was born, but it is known that she was from Jinyang (晉陽, i.e., Taiyuan) and that her father was a farmer. Her future husband Liu Zhiyuan was then a soldier in the army of Jin, which had its capital at Taiyuan, and one night, when he was out letting his horses graze, he intruded into her house, seized her, and made her his wife. Of his three sons — Liu Chengxùn (劉承訓), Liu Chengyou, and Liu Chengxūn (劉承勳, note different tone than his brother) — it is known that Liu Chengyou was born of her, but it is not known whether Liu Chengxùn or Liu Chengxūn was. After Liu Zhiyuan became a prominent general during Later Jin, she was given the title of Lady of Wei. She had six brothers, of whom Li Hongjian (李洪建), Li Hongyi (李洪義), and Li Ye (李業) were known in history and all of whom were younger. The oldest brother was named Li Hongxin (李洪信), and it is not known whether he was older or younger than she.
During Later Han
During Liu Zhiyuan's reign
In 947, Later Jin fell to an invasion by the Khitan Liao dynasty. Liao's Emperor Taizong declared himself the emperor of central China as well, and Liu Zhiyuan, then the military governor (Jiedushi) of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in Taiyuan), after some initial hesitations, rose in resistance against Liao, declaring himself emperor. (He initially did not declare a name for his state, but the state later became known as Later Han.) To fund his resistance of Liao, he considered forcibly borrowing money from the general populace so that he could give the money as reward to the soldiers. Lady Li opposed, stating:
Liu accepted her suggestion and cancelled the plan to forcibly borrow money. He gave out what was stored in the personal headquarters, and when the news spread, the people were impressed, both at Hedong and elsewhere. Shortly after, he created her empress.
Liu was able to unite the people rising against Liao rule under his authority, and his Later Han state was able to take over central China, with Kaifeng serving as its capital. However, he ruled only a year before he died in spring 848. Liu Chengxùn predeceased him, so Liu Chengyou became the new emperor. Liu Chengyou honored Empress Li as empress dowager. Per Liu Zhiyuan's directions, the authority over the imperial government largely rested in the hands of several generals and officials — Su Fengji, Yang Bin, Shi Hongzhao, and Guo Wei.