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A strong, charismatic, vengeful, ambitious, well-educated woman who enjoyed her husband's absolute affection, Wu was the most powerful and influential woman at court during a period when the Tang dynasty was at the peak of its glory.
Mar 17, 2016 · Empress Wu Zetian (Empress Consort Wu, Wu Hou, Wu Mei Niang, Mei-Niang, and Wu Zhao, l. 624-705 CE, r. 690-704 CE) was the only female emperor of Imperial China. She reigned during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) and was one of the most effective and controversial monarchs in China's history.
- Emily Mark
- She started out as an imperial concubine. Wu Zetian was born into a rich family. Her father Wu Shiyue made sure that she was well-educated – a trait that was uncommon among women.
- She had an affair with the emperor’s son. While Emperor Taizong was still alive, Wu had an affair with his youngest son, Li Zhu (628-683). When Taizong died in 649, Li succeeded him as Emperor Gaozong.
- She may have murdered her own baby. In 654, shortly after she gave birth to a daughter, the baby died. Wu accused Empress Wang – the wife of Emperor Gaozong – of murder.
- She deposed her sons to become empress. Upon the death of Emperor Gaozong in 683, Wu became empress dowager and her son Li Zhe (656-710) took the throne as Emperor Zhongzong.
Jul 5, 2024 · Wuhou (born 624 ce, Wenshui [now in Shanxi province], China—died December 16, 705, Luoyang) was the woman who rose from concubinage to become empress of China during the Tang dynasty (618–907). She ruled effectively for many years, the last 15 (690–705) in her own name.
- Charles Patrick Fitzgerald
Learn about Wu Zhao, the first and only woman emperor of China, who ruled as the “Holy and Divine Emperor” of the Second Zhou Dynasty for fifteen years. Explore her rise to power, her political achievements, and her controversial reputation in this online article.
Wu Zetian, the only female emperor to rule China, was born in 624 and was the de facto ruler of the Tang Dynasty from 665 to 705. However, Wu Zetian’s rise to power was long and complex.
Oct 3, 2019 · Learn about the life and legacy of Wu Zetian, who ruled the Zhou dynasty from 690 to 705 C.E. as the only woman to sit on the imperial throne of China. Discover how she rose to power, expanded the empire, and faced rivals and challenges.
