Empress Dowager Kezuhun

Empress Kezuhun (可足渾皇后, personal name unknown) was an empress consort and empress dowager of the Chinese/Xianbei state Former Yan. Her husband was Murong Jun (Emperor Jingzhao), who was succeeded by their son Murong Wei (Emperor You).

She appeared to have been Murong Jun's wife when he was his father Murong Huang (Prince Wenming)'s heir apparent. In 353, after he had claimed imperial title, he created her empress. His son Murong Ye (慕容瞱), whom he created crown prince that year, appeared to be her son. After Murong Ye died in 356, he created her younger son Murong Wei crown prince in 357. She appeared to exert some political influence during his reign, and in 358, after Princess Duan, the wife of Murong Jun's brother Murong Chui the Prince of Wu was disrespectful to her, it might have been at her instigation that the eunuch Nie Hao (涅浩) falsely accused Princess Duan of witchcraft, leading to Princess Duan's arrest and death. Murong Chui then married Princess Duan's younger sister as the new princess, but Empress Kezuhun forcibly deposed her and forced him to marry her younger sister. Murong Chui did not dare to refuse but was displeased, and Empress Kezuhun therefore disliked him as well.

In 360, Murong Jun died, and Murong Wei succeeded to the throne. He honored his mother as empress dowager, and she was involved in governmental matters, even though Murong Jun's brother Murong Ke the Prince of Taiyuan served as regent, with assistance from Murong Jun's uncle Murong Ping the Prince of Shangyong and Muyu Gen (慕輿根). Muyu, intending to grab more power, initially tried to persuade Murong Ke to seize the throne, and after Murong Ke refused, tried to persuade Empress Dowager Kezuhun that Murong Ke and Murong Ping were intending to rebel. She believed him and was ready to authorize him to strike against the princes, but the young emperor Murong Wei (then age 10) disbelieved him and stopped him from acting. Soon, Murong Ke discovered this and had Muyu put to death, but contrary to Muyu's false accusations, served the empire faithfully until his death in 367. On his death bed, Murong Ke recommended that major military responsibility be given to Murong Chui, but both Empress Dowager Kezuhun, who disliked Murong Chui, and Murong Ping, who feared that Murong Chui would divide his powers, disagreed, and Empress Dowager Kezuhun and Murong Ping thereafter had dominance at court. Both entrusted corrupt officials, and Former Yan's strength, built up by Murong Jun and Murong Ke, began to be sapped.

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