Empress Zhang (Tang dynasty)

Empress Zhang (⫽dʒæŋ⫽; Chinese: 張皇后, personal name unknown; died May 16, 762^[1]) was an empress of the Chinese Tang dynasty. She was the second wife of Emperor Suzong and gained great power and influence during his reign, in alliance with the eunuch Li Fuguo; both had the emperor's complete trust and were invincible and dominated by uniting their forces at court. But eventually, she and Li Fuguo turned against each other late in Emperor Suzong's reign, as the emperor grew gravely ill and they both wanted to take sole control of the power and choose their favorite candidate to succeed to the throne. Zhang tried to have Li Fuguo put to death, but instead was captured and killed by Li Fuguo and was posthumously demoted to commoner rank by Emperor Daizong. She was recognized as "the last example of chaos and interference by domineering women in the Tang", who, like the powerful women before her, was overthrown in a coup d'état.