Gao Wei, the empress of Qi, was born in 556 AD, ascended the throne in 565 AD, and abdicated in 576 AD, reigning for 12 years. Year names: Tiantong, Wuping, Longhua.

Qi Hou Zhu Gaowei

Qi Hou Lord Gao Wei was born in 556 AD, ascended the throne in 565 AD, and abdicated in 576 AD, reigning for 12 years. Year names: Tiantong, Wuping, Longhua.

At the beginning of Gao Wei's accession to the throne, since the military and political power was still controlled by the Supreme Emperor Gao Zhan, he had to be cautious everywhere; however, since November of 568 AD (the fourth year of Tiantong), after the death of the Supreme Emperor (32 years old), Gao Wei Wei personally took control of the political power, so he didn't care and did whatever he wanted.

▼ The people are in dire straits

Compared with the previous emperors, they were more politically corrupt and lived more luxuriously, which made the Northern Qi Dynasty crumbling and was soon destroyed by the Northern Zhou Dynasty.

When Gao Wei became emperor, the country's financial resources were already weak and the people were miserable. After he took office, he continued to build magnificent palaces and magnificent temples.

Countless craftsmen died in extreme toil, while the dogs, horses, chickens and other livestock of noble families were also granted titles to "Chi Biao Yi Tong", "Xiaoyao Junjun", "Lingxiao Junjun" and "Lingxiao Junjun". Official titles such as "Kaifu" and enjoy a salary.

As a result, the treasury was empty, and the Empress of Qi simply asked his favorite ministers to sell their official positions separately, such as which counties were sold to a certain person, and which counties were sold to a certain person; even the officials and township officials of the states and counties were sold. Officials were also included in the sub-sale. As a result, many wealthy businessmen bought official positions.

These people spent money to buy official positions, and then put all the money and profits on the people, doubling their profits.

▼ Foolish and cruel

Empress Qi is very foolish and cruel, and cannot listen to negative opinions at all. In 573 AD (the fourth year of Wuping), Gao Wei killed all the Han officials who wrote letters of remonstrance and sent their families to the northern border. Women were punished as official slaves, young boys were castrated, and all their property was confiscated. .

In the past, during the reign of Emperor Wenxuan, people with the surname Yuan were massacred, killing more than 3,000 people in total, and only a few were spared; now Gao Wei is killing Han officials. These two massacres caused the Gao family's regime to split first with the Xianbei gentry, and now with the Han gentry. The empress of Qi indeed became a loner.

▼ fled north with his concubine

In October of 576 AD (the first year of Longhua), Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty led his army to attack Northern Qi .

When the Northern Zhou army attacked the city of Jinzhou , the Empress of Qi was still out hunting with his favorite concubine Feng Xiaolian , and did not send troops to fight the next day. When the battle began, the lustful and fatuous emperor rode with Concubine Feng Shu to watch the battle.

It was not until the Northern Zhou army approached Jinyang that the Queen of Qi panicked and immediately appointed his brother King Ande Gao Yanzong as the prime minister, and the governor of the annexed state was responsible for defending the city. However, he led Feng Shufei and others to flee in panic. north. He was killed in 578 AD at the age of 23.

After the empress fled north, the Qi army had no master. Tang Yong, who was dismissed by the empress, discussed with the generals of Bingzhou. In December, they decided to support Gao Yanzong, the king of Ande, as the emperor.

Ande King Gao Yanzong

Ande King Gao Yanzong's birth date is unknown. He ascended the throne in December 576 AD. He was captured by the Northern Zhou Dynasty in less than one month after reigning. Year name: Dechang.

After King Ande ascended the throne, he appointed Tang Yong as prime minister. King Ande summoned the generals to discuss plans to resist the Northern Zhou invasion. When the people heard that the new king had ascended the throne, they were determined to fight back against foreign invasion. They cheered and came without summons. Even women and children stood on the roofs and threw bricks and stones to attack the Zhou army.

King Ande took the lead, holding a big spear in his hand, killing left and slashing on the right, leading the crowd to fight. But in the end, he was outnumbered and captured by the Zhou army.

In December of 576 AD (the first year of Longhua), the Empress of Qi negotiated with Shangshu Ling Gao Yuanhai and others, and abdicated the throne to Prince Gao Heng; in the first month of the next year, Gao Heng ascended the throne, and was known as the Young Lord in history. Respect the queen as the supreme emperor.

Qi Youzhu Gao Heng

Qi Youzhu Gao Heng was born in 570 AD. He came to the throne in the first month of 577 AD at the age of 8. He was captured by the Northern Zhou army after breaking the city and reigned for less than one month. Year name: Chengguang.

Less than a month after Gao Heng came to the throne, Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty led his army to attack Jinyang, marched heavily into Yecheng, and burned the west gate of the city. Yecheng was destroyed, and all the princes and ministers of the Northern Qi Dynasty surrendered.

The queen of Qi, Lord Gaowei, had crossed the river and fled to Jeju.Before leaving, he ordered the young master Gao Hengchan to stay at Gao Mi, the king of Rencheng. 高湝 Hearing that Yecheng had been lost, he discussed with Xiaoheng, King of Guangning, to jointly attack the Zhou army. As a result, the entire army was defeated miserably, and Gao Min and Xiaoheng were captured.

Gao Wei felt isolated and helpless and fled to Qingzhou. He was later captured by the Zhou army and demoted to Wen Guogong.

At a banquet in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty made his empress happy and made him dance. After that, he and more than 30 people including his concubines, royal family, princes and ministers were killed.

The king of Rencheng, Gao Mi, was so sad and angry that he drank medicine and committed suicide. Gao Wei was 22 years old when he died, and his son Gao Heng also died at the age of 8. So far the Northern Qi Dynasty was destroyed.

(image source network)