Chinese Concubines who became Empresses
History Tea Time26 Elo 2025

Chinese Concubines who became Empresses

For thousands of years, Emperors of China had harems of dozens or even hundreds of wives. Emperors had the right to select concubines from among the teenage daughters of the nobility or the peasantry. During the Ming dynasty 5,000 beautiful woman were brought from around the country and lined up in front of the palace. They were narrowed down to just a handful who were admitted into the palace and had a chance of spending a night with the emperor. Inside the forbidden city, imperial wives had an intricate system of hierarchy. At the top was the Empress. She was usually chosen for her nobility and political connections. When the emperor died, she could claim the title Empress Dowager, and continue her influence through her son. Below her were consorts, then concubines and maids. The emperor alone had access to all of them, and they were closely guarded by eunuchs. If the Emperor favored a particular concubine for her beauty, brains, or for baring him a son, he had the right to promote her, even to the rank of Empress. Today lets met 7 imperial concubines who, through allure, sex appeal, child-birth, and or ruthlessness, managed to climb their way to power in Imperial China. Empress Deng Sui Empress Liang Na Empress Dowager Hu Empress Wu Zetian Empress Liu Empress Gi Empress Dowager Cixi Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091781568503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyteatimelindsayholiday/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@historyteatime Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell Music: Lau Tzu Ehru by Doug Maxwell #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact ⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠ if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jaksot(212)

Who will be the World's Next Queen Regnant?

Who will be the World's Next Queen Regnant?

In 2013, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands stepped down and handed the throne to her son, Willem Alexander. In 2022 Queen Elizabeth II of the UK died at the age of 96 and her son, Charles III inherited...

9 Syys 202531min

7 Women Who Escaped Marrying Henry VIII

7 Women Who Escaped Marrying Henry VIII

Henry VIII is famous for marrying 6 wives, abandoning 2 of them and beheading another 2. Some might say he ruined their lives! And though they may have briefly been Queens, they also likely cursed the...

2 Syys 202532min

Princess Margaret - Queen Elizabeth II’s Infamous Sister

Princess Margaret - Queen Elizabeth II’s Infamous Sister

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was a bright rose, who bloomed even in the shadow of her older sister, Queen Elizabeth II. She was a fashion icon and the life of many parties. She had a scandal...

19 Elo 202532min

A History of Alcohol

A History of Alcohol

I’m at Ye Olde Mitre, one of the oldest pubs in London with a cold pint of Ale. And I can think of no better place to discuss the history of alcohol. Intoxicating beverages has been a part of human cu...

12 Elo 202533min

Royal Yacht Britannia - Queen Elizabeth II’s Floating Palace

Royal Yacht Britannia - Queen Elizabeth II’s Floating Palace

When Queen Elizabeth II and her family went on vacation, they didn’t fly coach or take a carnival cruise. They traveled in style aboard Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia. The Queen designed the ship herse...

5 Elo 202531min

Children of Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette

Children of Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette

King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette of France had 4 offspring. They also adopted 6 orphans. These children spent their early years in the lap of luxury at the Palace of Versailles. But the Frenc...

29 Heinä 202532min

Future Queens & Consorts of Europe

Future Queens & Consorts of Europe

Catherine, Princess of Wales is one of the best known, best liked and best dressed women in the world. But she’s far from the only future queen with a fairytale love story, who’s now busy greeting dip...

22 Heinä 202525min

Suosittua kategoriassa Historia

olipa-kerran-otsikko
gogin-ja-janin-maailmanhistoria
mayday-fi
huijarit
mystista
rss-ikiuni
tsunami
totuus-vai-salaliitto
konginkangas
sotaa-ja-historiaa-podi
rss-i-dont-like-mondays-2
rss-sattuu-sita-suomessakin
rouva-diktaattori
apinan-vuosi
rss-subjektiivinen-todistaja
rss-kirkon-ihmeellisimmat-tarinat
historian-nurkkapoyta
tiedetta-ja-sirkushuveja-vanhojen-aikojen-podcast
hippokrateen-vastaanotolla
rss-peter-peter