Family Background and Accession To The Throne
Then-Prince Hu was born in 94, to Prince Liu Qing of Qinghe and his concubine, Consort Zuǒ Xiǎo É (左小娥). Prince Qing was the older brother of Emperor He, and had once been crown prince under their father Emperor Zhang until the machinations of Emperor Zhang's wife Empress Dou led to his removal and his mother Consort Song's death. During Emperor He's reign, however, he was a trusted advisor to the emperor, and he had a major role in Emperor He's coup d'état against Empress Dou's domineering brother Dou Xian in 92.
Consort Zuǒ and her older sister Dà É (左大娥) were both confiscated and made court servant girls when they were young girls, because their uncle Zuǒ Shèng (左聖) had been accused of and executed for making defamatory remarks against the emperor or imperial administration. As they grew older, they became known for beauty and talent and became ladies in waiting in Emperor He's palace; Xiǎo É was particularly known for her knowledge in history and poetry. When Emperor He was going to reward his brothers with some of the ladies in waiting, Prince Qing had already heard about her and therefore specifically requested her and her sister, a request that Emperor He granted. Both Consorts Zuǒ died sometime before Emperor He's death in 106 and were buried in the capital Luòyáng. After Consort Zuǒ's death, Prince Hu was raised by Prince Qing's wife, Consort Gěng (耿姬).
When Emperor He died in 106, his infant son Emperor Shang ascended the throne. Emperor He's brothers, most of whom had remained in the palace Luòyáng, including Prince Qing, were ordered to report to their principalities. However, as an insurance just in case something happened to the infant emperor, Emperor He's wife Empress Dowager Deng kept Prince Qing's son Prince Hu, then 12, and Consort Gěng in the capital. When Emperor Shang died later in 106, the officials largely wanted to make Emperor Shang's brother, Prince Shèng (劉勝) of Pingyuan, emperor, but Empress Deng, who had initially denied Prince Shèng the throne because she believed him to be frequently ill, was concerned that he would bear a grudge against her, and therefore insisted on making Prince Hu the emperor, and he ascended the throne as Emperor Ān.
Read more about this topic: Emperor An Of Han
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