Empress Wang (Cao Fang)

Empress Wang (fl.250 – 254), personal name unknown, was an empress of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. She was the third wife of Cao Fang, the third emperor of Cao Wei.

Empress Wang
王皇后
Empress consort of Cao Wei
Tenurec.May 254 – October 254
PredecessorEmpress Zhang
SuccessorEmpress Bian
BornUnknown
DiedUnknown
SpouseCao Fang
FatherWang Kui (王夔)

Very little is known about her, other than that she was the daughter of Wang Kui (王夔), the director of imperial transportation. She was created empress in May or June 254,[1] after Cao Fang's second wife Empress Zhang was deposed in light of false accusations of treason levied against her father Zhang Ji (張緝) by the regent Sima Shi. It is not known whether Empress Wang was previously an imperial consort.

Later in 254, Cao Fang considered a coup against Sima Shi, and while he ultimately did not carry out the plan, the news leaked. Sima Shi then deposed him and demoted him to the title of "Prince of Qi" (which he held during his father Cao Rui's reign) in October 254. What happened to Empress Wang is not known, although presumably she was allowed to have the title of the Princess of Qi. Nothing further is said about her in the official histories.

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References

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  1. ^ 4th month of the 6th year of the Jia'ping era, per Cao Fang's biography in Sanguozhi. The month corresponds to 4 May to 2 Jun 254 in the Julian calendar.
Chinese royalty
Preceded by Empress of Cao Wei
254
Succeeded by