Yan Ji

Yan Ji (阎姬, died 126 CE) was an Empress of the Han dynasty. She was the wife of Emperor An and wielded considerable influence during his reign and, more substantially, after his death.

As Empress, Yan Ji was not particularly noted for good or bad conduct. After Emperor An's sudden death in 125 CE, she, in conjunction with her brothers Yan Xian (閻顯), Yan Jing (閻景), and Yan Yao (閻耀), and the eunuch Jiang Jing (江京), kept the emperor's death a secret and installed Liu Yi, the Marquis of Beixiang (and previously crown prince, deposed by Emperor An), as emperor instead of Emperor An's only son, Liu Bao. They believed that Liu Bao resented Yan Ji for the prior mistreatment of his mother, Consort Li.

Liu Yi proved sickly and died later that year. Yan Ji, still in control, installed Liu Hu, another distant relative of the imperial clan, as emperor. However, a coup d'état led by the eunuchs Sun Cheng (孫程) and others overthrew her regime in 126 CE and installed Liu Bao (as Emperor Shun). Yan Ji was placed under house arrest and died later that year. Her brothers and the Yan clan were slaughtered. Her title of Empress was revoked posthumously.