Empress Meng

Timeline

1. 1092–1102Dongjing Kaifeng Prefecture · Kaifeng CityGrand Empress Dowager Gao selected Lady Meng for the empress's position and invested her as empress of Zhezong. In the third year of Shaosheng she was deposed over the secret prison case of the inner court and lived in the Yaohua Palace; in the third year of Yuanfu, after Zhezong died and Huizong succeeded, Empress Dowager Xiang restored her as empress; in the first year of Chongning she was deposed again, granted the title Miao Jing Xian Shi, and lived in the Yaohua Palace for over twenty years.
2. 1126–1127Private residence in front of Xiangguo Temple, Dongjing Kaifeng Prefecture · Kaifeng CityIn the early Jingkang years, Lady Meng moved to a private residence in front of Xiangguo Temple because of a fire in the palace. After the city fell, most of the six palaces with titles followed the two emperors north; only Lady Meng, as a deposed empress, remained in Bianjing, becoming the only dowager-level figure of the Song house left in the capital.
3. 1127Yanfu Palace, Dongjing Kaifeng Prefecture · Kaifeng CityZhang Bangchang established the false Chu and invited Lady Meng into the palace to rule behind the screen. Empress Meng was restored to the title of Empress Yuanyou, issued an edict by her own hand to all under heaven, and advocated enthroning Prince Kang Zhao Gou, then far away in Jizhou. After Zhao Gou ascended the throne she was honored as Dowager Longyou and the screen was withdrawn, ending her regency.
4. 1129–1131Lin'an Prefecture · Hangzhou CityIn the third year of Jianyan, Miao Fu and Liu Zhengyan forced Gaozong to abdicate and installed his young son Zhao Fu; Empress Meng again ruled behind the screen. She placated the mutinous troops, summoned Liang Hongyu to urge Han Shizhong to rescue the throne, and after the rebellion was quelled Gaozong was restored. She died in Lin'an in the first year of Shaoxing, posthumously named Zhaoci Xianlie, later changed to Zhaoci Shengxian.