Xiao Chuo

Timeline

1. 1001–1005Chanzhou · PuyangIn the late Tonghe era she continued to hold overall control of government. In the twenty-second year of Tonghe (1004), on the pretext of demanding the lands south of the passes, she and Shengzong led a great army south, reaching Chanzhou; after the Liao general Xiao Talin fell into an ambush and died, the empress dowager resolved to negotiate peace, sending Han Derang and others as envoys to Song, ultimately concluding the Chanyuan Treaty with Song's Zhenzong, establishing the brotherhood of Song and Liao and the system of annual tribute payments, ending the long large-scale wars.
2. 1006–1009Supreme Capital, Linhuang Prefecture · Barin Left BannerIn 1006 Shengzong and his ministers presented her with the exalted title Empress Dowager Chengtian of Ruide Shenlüe Yingyun Qihua. On the first day of the eleventh month of 1009 the fire-register ceremony was held, formally returning power to Shengzong. She fell gravely ill in the twelfth month; Shengzong granted a general amnesty to pray for her recovery; she died at the temporary palace after the eighth day of the twelfth month, posthumously titled Empress Shengshen Xuanxian, and was buried at Qianling the following year.