Empress Gi

Empress Gi was a Goryeo-born woman who became the empress consort of the Yuan dynasty. She was originally from a lower-ranked aristocratic family of bureaucrats, and was sent to the Yuan court as a tribute concubine in 1333. She quickly became the favorite of Emperor Toghon Temür, and gave birth to his son and heir, Ayushiridara, in 1339. She was promoted to secondary empress in 1340, and became the primary empress in 1365, after the death of Bayan Khutugh. She was one of the most powerful women and political figures in the Yuan dynasty, and exercised de facto imperial authority over the country. She also closely monitored the affairs of her native Goryeo, and supported her brother Gi Cheol, who was appointed as the commander of the Mongol Eastern Field Headquarters. However, her brother's plot to overthrow King Gongmin of Goryeo failed, and the Gi clan was exterminated in 1356. Empress Gi retaliated by launching a military campaign against Goryeo, but the Mongol troops were defeated. She also plotted with her son to depose Toghon Temür, but their plan was foiled by the opposition of the Mongol nobles. She died in 1369, a year before the fall of the Yuan dynasty to the Ming rebels. She was posthumously honored as Empress Puxian Shusheng, meaning "Universally Manifested Virtuous and Holy Empress".¹