Empress Gao (Former Shu)


Empress Gao was an empress of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Former Shu. She was the first wife of Former Shu's last emperor Wang Yan.

Background

The future Empress Gao's father was the Former Shu official Gao Zhiyan, who was known for being a minister of defense. She probably married Wang Zongyan while he was crown prince, as her father-in-law, the emperor Wang Jian, created her crown princess.

As empress

Upon Wang Zongyan's assumption of the throne, he created Crown Princess Gao empress. However, he did not favor her, particularly after he took his cousin Consort Wei as an imperial consort. In 921, he sent her back to the house of her father Gao Zhiyan, effectively deposing and divorcing her. In shock, Gao Zhiyan stopped eating and died thereafter. Nothing further was recorded in history about her.