Empress Wang Zhengjun - Marriage and Accession

Marriage and Accession

In the middle of the 50s BC, Consort Sima, the favorite consort of Crown Prince Liu Shi (later Emperor Yuan) died from an illness. Crown Prince Shi was grief-stricken and became ill and depressed himself. His father, Emperor Xuan, was concerned, so he had his wife, Empress Wang (unrelated to Wang Zhengjun) select the most beautiful of the young ladies in waiting and had them sent to Crown Prince Shi. Wang Zhengjun was one of the ladies in waiting chosen. She bore him his firstborn son, Liu Ao (later Emperor Cheng) circa 51 BC. Prince Ao became Emperor Xuan's favorite grandson and often accompanied him.

In 49 BC, Emperor Xuan died, and Crown Prince Shi became emperor. In 48 BC, he created then-Consort Wang, as the mother of his firstborn son, empress. Her father was created the Marquess of Yangping. (His title was later inherited by his son and Empress Wang's brother Wang Feng (王鳳), who would later play a large role in government.)

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