Empress Shi

Empress Shi (史皇后, personal name unknown) (fl. c. 23 CE) was an empress for a mere matter of months near the end of the brief Xin dynasty. She married emperor Wang Mang in spring 23 CE, as his Xin dynasty was crumbling. Despite that, he married her as a public show of confidence. She was the daughter of one of his officials, Shi Chen (史諶).

In autumn of 23, the Xin dynasty's capital Chang'an fell, following losses to forces of agrarian rebels – the Red Eyebrows – which were capitalized upon by an army organized and led by members of the formerly-ruling Liu, who were seeking to re-establish the Han dynasty. Emperor Wang Mang died in the battle for the main palace, Weiyang Palace. It is not known what happened to Empress Shi, although it is known that her father, Shi Chen, surrendered to the Han forces and was executed.