Empress Dowager

The title was also given occasionally to another Woman of the same generation, while a woman from the previous generation was sometimes given the title of Grand Empress Dowager . Numerous empress dowagers held Regency during the reign of an underage emperor. Many of the most prominent empress dowagers also extended their control for long periods after the emperor was old enough to govern. This was a source of political turmoil according to traditional view of Chinese history.

Chronological list of famous Chinese empress dowagers

Han Dynasty

Empress Dowager Wu , more commonly known as Wu Zetian

Empress Dowager Wei , daughter-in-law of Wu Zetian.

Qing Dynasty

Empress Dowager Ci'an

Empress Dowager Cixi

Empress Dowager Longyu

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Empress Dowager