Cao Li


Cao Li was a prince in the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was a son of Cao Pi, the first emperor of Wei. His mother, Consort Xu, was a concubine of Cao Pi. He had two full sisters: the elder one was Princess Linfen while the younger one, who was unnamed, died early. Cao Li was enfeoffed as the Duke of Qin in 221, with his dukedom in Jingzhao Commandery. In 222, he was elevated to the status of Prince of Jingzhao. In 225, his title was changed to Prince of Yuancheng. He died in 229 during the reign of his half-brother Cao Rui.
In 231, Cao Rui designated Cao Ti, a son of Cao Kai and grandson of Cao Zhang, as Cao Li's heir; Cao Ti thus became the new Prince of Yuancheng. In 232, Cao Ti's title was changed to Prince of Liang. Throughout the reigns of the subsequent Wei emperors, the number of taxable households in Cao Ti's princedom increased until it reached 4,500.