Lady Abahai

Empress Xiaoliewu (1590 – 1 October 1626), of the Manchu Plain White Banner Ula Nara clan, personal name Abahai, was a consort of Nurhaci. She was 31 years his junior.

Abahai was erroneously identified with Hong Taiji, Nurhaci's eighth son and successor, in earlier sources.

Family background

 * Father: Mantai (滿泰; d. 1596), held the title of a third rank prince (貝勒)
 * Paternal grandfather: Bugan (布干), held the title of a third rank prince (貝勒)
 * Paternal uncle: Bujantai (1575–1618), held the title of a third rank prince (貝勒)

Wanli era
In November or December 1601, Lady Ula Nara married Nurhaci, becoming one of his multiple wives. Following the death of Empress Xiaocigao on 31 October 1603, Lady Ula Nara was elevated to Nurhaci's primary consort. She gave birth on 28 August 1605 to Nurhaci's 12th son, Ajige, on 17 November 1612 to his 14th son, Dorgon, and on 2 April 1614 to his 15th son, Dodo.

In early 1620, Lady Abahai was regularly spotted visiting Daišan, the Emperor's eldest son's chambers. She also prepared dishes for him. A lady-in-waiting reported those incidents to Nurhaci, who was outraged. However, wanting to protect the royal family's reputation, Nurhaci berated her for another matter, stealing gold and jewels. Lady Abahai was banished from the palace by Nurhaci, who then deposed her.

Tianqi era
After Lady Abahai's banishment, the Emperor started to miss her. By 1622, he was considering bringing her back. Around late 1622 to early 1623, Nurhaci brought back Lady Abahai to the palace, as she was restored to her titles as Empress and returned to her royal duties.

Tiancong era
When Nurhaci died on 30 September 1626, Lady Ula Nara was forced to commit suicide by her stepson, Hong Taiji. According to legend, Lady Ula Nara was forced to be buried alive beside Nurhaci to prove her love for him. Other sources claim that she was strangled by Hong Taiji's servants as she stood as a threat to his ascension. Either way, Lady Ula Nara committed suicide on 1 October 1626, the day after Nurhaci's death, on the order of Hong Taiji. She was 36.

Shunzhi era
During the early reign of the Shunzhi Emperor, Dorgon served as Prince-Regent for the underage emperor. In 1650, Lady Ula Nara was posthumously elevated to "Empress Xiaoliewu". In 1653, the Shunzhi Emperor revoked Lady Ula Nara's posthumous title.

Titles

 * During the reign of the Wanli Emperor (r. 1572–1620):
 * Lady Ula Nara (from 1590)
 * Secondary consort (側福晉; from November/December 1601 )
 * Primary consort (大福晉; from 1603)
 * During the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor (r. 1643–1661):
 * Empress Xiaoliewu (孝烈武皇后; from 1650 to 1653)

Issue

 * As primary consort:
 * Ajige (阿濟格; 28 August 1605 – 28 November 1651), Nurhaci's 12th son, granted the title Prince Wuying of the Second Rank in 1636, elevated to Prince Ying of the First Rank in 1644
 * Dorgon (多爾袞; 17 November 1612 – 31 December 1650), Nurhaci's 14th son, granted the title Prince Rui of the First Rank in 1636, posthumously honoured as Prince Ruizhong of the First Rank
 * Dodo (多鐸; 2 April 1614 – 29 April 1649), Nurhaci's 15th son, granted the title Prince Yu of the First Rank in 1636, posthumously honoured as Prince Yutong of the First Rank

In fiction and popular culture

 * Portrayed by Eva Lai in The Rise and Fall of Qing Dynasty (1987)
 * Portrayed by Siqin Gaowa in Xiaozhuang Mishi (2003)
 * Portrayed by Cheng Lisha in Taizu Mishi (2005)
 * Portrayed by Tao Huimin in Da Qing Fengyun (2006)
 * Portrayed by Kara Hui in The Legend of Xiaozhuang (2015)
 * Portrayed by Chen Xinyu in Rule the World (2017)