Mother Lü

Mother Lü (; died 18 AD) was a rebel leader against the Xin dynasty of China. She started a peasant uprising after her son was executed by the government for a minor offence, and became the first female rebel leader in Chinese history. After she died of an illness, her followers became a major force of the Red Eyebrows rebellion which played a significant role in the downfall of the Xin dynasty and the restoration of the Han dynasty by Liu Xiu.

Background Mother Lü was born during the Western Han dynasty of China. In 9 AD, the chief minister Wang Mang usurped the imperial throne and proclaimed himself Emperor of the Xin dynasty. Wang implemented a number of policies which were opposed by the wealthy landowning class. Economic stress caused by the flooding of the Yellow River further weakened the legitimacy of his rule.

Mother Lü lived in Haiqu County , Langya Commandery, in present-day Rizhao, Shandong province. Her family was very wealthy, worth millions of coins according to the Book of the Later Han.

Rebellion In 14 AD, her son Lü Yu , who had served in the government of Haiqu County, was executed by the county magistrate for a minor offence. Mother Lü assumed the title of general and led her rebel force to storm the capital of Haiqu County. After capturing the county magistrate, she beheaded him