Lu Zhi

Lü Zhi (241 BC – 18 August 180 BC), courtesy name Exu (娥姁) and commonly known as Empress Lü (traditional Chinese: 呂后; simplified Chinese: 吕后; pinyin: Lǚ Hòu) and formally Empress Gao of Han (漢高后; 汉高后; Hàn Gāo Hòu), was the empress consort of Gaozu, the founding emperor of the Han dynasty. They had two known children, Liu Ying (later Emperor Hui of Han) and Princess Yuan of Lu. Lü was the first woman to assume the title Empress of China. After Gaozu's death, she was honoured as empress dowager and regent during the short reigns of Emperor Hui and his successors Emperor Qianshao of Han and Liu Hong (Emperor Houshao). When Liu Bang was still humble, Lü Zhi became his consort. Lü Zhi was married to Liu Bang by her father in her early years and gave birth to a son and a daughter (Emperor Hui of Han, Liu Ying, and Princess Luyuan). Shortly after the Chu–Han Contention began, Lü Zhi and Liu Bang’s parents were captured by Xiang Yu. In the fourth year of the Han dynasty (203 BCE), due to unfavorable circumstances, Xiang Yu was forced to make peace with Liu Bang, and Lü Zhi along with Liu Bang’s parents were released. The following year, Liu Bang proclaimed himself emperor and established Lü...