Consort Yuan, Of The Niohoru Clan

Consort Yuan (元妃; 1593–1612) was a member of the Niohuru clan belonging to the Bordered Yellow Banner during the Ming and Qing dynasties period. She was the wife of Hong Taiji, the founding emperor of the Qing dynasty, and is later regarded in historical records as his first wife and primary consort.

Family Background:

Her father was Eidu (額亦都, 1562–1622), a Manchu officer and close associate of Nurhaci, the founder of the Later Jin (later Qing) state. Eidu had a total of 17 brothers, among whom Daqi (達啟/达启) was his second son. Turgei (圖爾格/图尔格, 1594–1645), Eidu’s eighth son, served as an officer in the Manchu armies during Hong Taiji's reign. Ebilun (died 1673) was one of the Four Regents for the Kangxi Emperor and held the title of a first-class duke (一等公). Lady Niohuru also had five younger sisters; one was the wife of Nikan, Prince Jingjinzhuang of the First Rank (敬謹莊親王), and another was the primary consort of Jirgalang, Prince Zhengxian of the First Rank (鄭獻親王).

Life and Marriage:

Lady Niohuru was born in the 21st year of the Wanli Emperor's reign (around 1593). The specific date of her marriage to Hong Taiji and her accession as his primary consort remains undocumented. In 1611, she bore Hong Taiji's eighth son, Lobohoi (洛博會), who died prematurely in 1617 without receiving a posthumous name. It is not recorded when she was given the title of primary consort; it was during Hong Taiji’s reign that she was referred to as Consort Yuan (元妃), a title acquired after 1626.

Her status as Queen Consort was not posthumously recognized alongside Lady Ulanara and others after Hong Taiji's ascension, indicating a historical complexity in her official recognition.

Death:

Consort Yuan died in 1612, aged approximately 19 years. Her early death precluded her from being named an empress during Hong Taiji’s lifetime.

Titles:

- During the Wanli era, from her birth in 1593, she was known as Lady Niohuru.

- She was later titled Primary Consort (嫡福晋), though the exact date is unspecified.

- Following Hong Taiji’s ascension of the Qing throne in 1626, she was posthumously titled Consort Yuan (元妃).

Issue:

Her known issue from her marriage was:

- Lobohoi (洛博會; 1611–1617), the third son of Hong Taiji.

References:

The historical records include the "Manuscripts of Qing History," "Genealogy of Aisin Gioro," and the "Mǎnwén Lǎo Dàng." Additional references are provided by scholarly works such as Veronika Veit’s "The Role of Women in the Altaic World" (2007).

Note: Due to limited information, aspects such as her precise marriage date and detailed personal life remain undocumented in historical sources.