The Rise of Empress Lü and the Early Han Succession Crisis

Following the death of Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang), founder of the Han Dynasty, his widow Empress Lü Zhi seized control of the imperial court in 195 BCE. This marked the beginning of a turbulent period where the emperor’s sons faced systematic persecution. The empress’ first victims were Consort Qi and her son Liu Ruyi, the King of Zhao – despite attempts by Emperor Hui (Liu Ying) to protect his half-brother, both were brutally murdered.

The Han succession system clearly designated Liu Ying, Gaozu’s eldest son by Empress Lü, as heir apparent. With her biological son safely enthroned, conventional wisdom suggested Empress Lü might show benevolence. Instead, she grew increasingly paranoid about potential threats to her power, particularly from Gaozu’s other seven sons by different consorts:

1. Liu Fei – King of Qi (eldest son, by a concubine)
2. Liu Ying – Emperor Hui (her own son)
3. Liu Ruyi – King of Zhao (murdered)
4. Liu Heng – King of Dai (future Emperor Wen)
5. Liu Hui – King of Liang/Later Zhao
6. Liu You – King of Huaiyang/Later Zhao
7. Liu Chang – King of Huainan
8. Liu Jian – King of Yan

The Poisoned Banquet: Liu Fei’s Brush with Death

In 193 BCE, Liu Fei, the powerful King of Qi controlling 72 cities, visited the capital. During a family banquet, Emperor Hui honored his elder half-brother by offering him the seat of honor – a gesture of fraternal respect that violated strict court protocol. Empress Lü interpreted this as political insolence.

Her response was chilling: she prepared two cups of poisoned wine, ordering Liu Fei to toast her. When Emperor Hui unwittingly reached for one cup, the empress violently knocked it from his hand. The shocked Liu Fei feigned drunkenness and fled. Later learning of the assassination attempt, he followed his advisor’s suggestion to:

– Surrender the prosperous Chengyang Commandery to Princess Yuan of Lu (Empress Lü’s daughter)
– Humiliatingly declare himself the “son” of his own half-sister

This grotesque submission temporarily appeased Empress Lü, but revealed her growing tyranny. The incident foreshadowed future conflicts, as Liu Fei’s sons would later lead the rebellion against the Lü clan.

The Reign of Terror: Systematic Elimination of Rival Princes

After a period of relative calm, Empress Lü’s paranoia resurged violently in 181 BCE:

Liu You – The Starving King
As King of Zhao, Liu You rejected his Lü clan wife in favor of other consorts. The spurned queen falsely accused him of plotting against the Lü family. Empress Lü imprisoned him without food. Despite loyal retainers smuggling provisions, all were executed when discovered. The starving prince composed a haunting song condemning the Lü clan before perishing.

Liu Hui – The Heartbroken Prisoner
Forced into the now-cursed Zhao kingship, Liu Hui endured constant surveillance by his wife (daughter of Lü Chan). When she poisoned his favorite concubine, the despondent king committed suicide. Empress Lü posthumously punished him by revoking his lineage’s inheritance rights.

Liu Jian – The Extinguished Bloodline
The King of Yan died naturally, but Empress Lü ordered his illegitimate son killed to eliminate potential claimants, dissolving the Yan kingdom entirely.

Survival Strategies: The Clever and the Fortunate

Amidst this carnage, two princes survived through different means:

Liu Heng – The Cautious Strategist
The King of Dai wisely declined promotion to the deadly Zhao position, emphasizing his commitment to frontier defense. His mother’s low status and his own political acumen kept him safe.

Liu Chang – The Adopted Son
Born from Gaozu’s affair with a Zhao palace woman, the infant Liu Chang was raised by Empress Lü herself after his mother’s suicide. This personal connection spared him from her wrath.

Legacy of Blood: Consequences of Empress Lü’s Tyranny

Empress Lü’s brutal reign had lasting impacts:

1. Political Backlash – The systematic persecution of Gaozu’s descendants fueled the later uprising by Liu Fei’s sons that destroyed the Lü clan after her death in 180 BCE.

2. Succession Consequences – The elimination of most princes paved the way for Liu Heng’s ascension as Emperor Wen, beginning the prosperous Wen-Jing era.

3. Historical Reputation – Empress Lü became the archetype of the “power-hungry dowager” in Chinese historiography, her actions serving as cautionary tales about unchecked power.

4. Institutional Changes – Subsequent emperors implemented stricter controls over imperial clansmen to prevent both princely rebellions and dowager domination.

The tragic fates of Gaozu’s sons reveal the destructive potential of absolute power combined with paranoia. Empress Lü’s reign demonstrates how even successful dynasties could be threatened not by external enemies, but by internal power struggles among the ruling family itself. The lessons from this period influenced Han governance for centuries, shaping how the empire balanced imperial authority with clan management.