Empress Hiến Từ

Empress Hiến Từ (1299–1369), also called the Lệ Thánh empress, was the chief consort of Trần Minh Tông and mother of Emperor Trần Dụ Tông. At court she was known for kindness and tact, and was praised as ‘a Yao and Shun among women’.

Made empress in 1323, she became empress dowager in 1342 and bore two princes, Trần Nguyên Dục and Trần Hạo. After Minh Tông died in 1357, she followed his wish and withdrew from court.

After Dụ Tông died in 1369, she supported the accession of his adopted heir Dương Nhật Lễ. When she came to regret it, Nhật Lễ had her poisoned.