Empress Cao

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Empress Cao (1016 - 16 November 1079) was a Chinese empress consort of the Song dynasty, married to Emperor Renzong of Song. She served as regent of China during the illness of Renzong's successor Emperor Yingzong, from 1063 until 1064. Cao was born in modern Hebei Province. She was the granddaughter of Cao Bin, one of the founding generals of the Song Dynasty. She was a painter, calligrapher, and gardener, and proved to be a wise choice as empress. Unlike her predecessor, Empress Liu, who had bestowed favors upon her own family, Empress Cao refrained from seeking or allowing any special privileges for her relatives. In 1033, after the death of Empress Dowager Liu, Emperor Renzong deposed his first empress, Guo, under the pretext of her not bearing children, and she was confined to Chang Ning Palace. Emperor Renzong originally intended to appoint Chen, the daughter of a merchant as empress, but this proposal faced opposition from state officials and ministers. Consequently, eighteen-year-old Cao was summoned to the palace and was made empress in September of the following year. Before marrying Emperor Renzong, Empress Cao had a brief previous marriage.