Princess Yuan of Lu

Biography

Princess Yuan's exact birth date is unknown, but her appearance in official records suggests that she was born before 211 BC. She was born before her father Liu Bang became a serious political contender, after which most of her early life was spent avoiding capture by enemy forces.

In 204 BC, during the Chu–Han Contention, the carriage of Princess Yuan and her brother Liu Ying was pursued by forces of the Chu State. Duke Teng, a member of the Xiahou family, ordered the two to leave the carriage and replaced them with two decoy travellers to allow them to escape.

Liu Bang was proclaimed Emperor Gaozu of the Han dynasty in 202 BC. Princess Yuan's mother Empress Lü Zhi had little power after her husband became emperor and was powerless to prevent Emperor Gaozu from making plans to marry Princess Yuan, as the daughter of the legitimate wife, to a Xiongnu leader to prevent the nomads from causing trouble on the northern border. She was married later, however, to Zhang Ao of Zhao, who succeeded his father as ruler in 204 BC. The exact date of their marriage is unknown. Their daughter Zhang Yan was married to Princess Yuan's younger brother Liu Ying in c. November 192 BC, as part of their mother's attempts to control the imperial household.

In c.December 194 BC, King Daohui of Qi presented Chengyang Commandery to Princess Yuan and honoured her as Queen dowager.