Badass Empress Who Killed Her Son To Become China’s Only Female Ruler
Wu Zetian was the most controversial woman in Chinese history.
Wu Zetian rose to prominence during the Tang Dynasty and became China’s only female Emperor.
She created a legacy that would last for thousands of years. Wu Zetian is one of the most successful as well as the most controversial ruler in Chinese history.
She married two emperors and gave birth to two more. There is no way to tell what details of her life are fiction and facts; however, her life remains one of the most exciting chapters in Chinese history. Let’s know more about her:
Wu Zetian Was Emperor Taizong’s Favorite Concubine
Wu Zetian’s (also known as Wu Zhao or Wu-hao) association with the royalty began at 14 when she became a junior concubine of Emperor Taizong.
Her father raised Wu Zetian with utmost care as she was given access to a lifestyle that was not common for women at that time. She was trained to have an intellectually sophisticated mind.
Wu Zetian began her career at the Emperor’s palace by working in the laundry. One day, she dared to speak to the Emperor when he was walking by and started a conversation with him.
Wu Zetian’s courage and intellect amused the Emperor. He removed her from the laundry and gave her the position of his secretary, which gave her access to the world of politics.
She also caught the eye of the Emperor’s son, Prince Li Zhi, and began a clandestine affair with him.
After Taizong’s Death, She Became His Son’s Concubine
After Taizong’s death, his concubines were sent off to the convent, shaving their heads to become nuns.
The idea behind this custom was to keep the Emperor’s mistresses from associating themselves with any other man.
However, the new king, Gaozong (Kao Tsung), was in love with Wu Zetian, allowing her to escape other concubines’ fate.
Wu Zetian continued to be a mistress even after the death of Taizong, and now she was a concubine of his son.
Gaozong’s Wives and Other Concubines Hated Wu Zetian
Gaozong’s wife, Empress Wang or Lady Wang, had no children with the husband. However, Gaozong had fathered children with his top concubine, Xia Shufei and Wu Zetian.
Lady Wang and Shufei did not hate Wu Zetian for her children because Gaozong had already decided his successor — who was to be his Chancellor Liu Shi’s son, Li Zhong.
However, Wu Zetian was hated by these women because she received special attention from the Emperor for her intellect.
Wu Zetian May Have Framed Gaozong’s Wife For The Death of Her Daughter
In 654 BC, Wu gave birth to a daughter who died within a week of the delivery. Wu accused Lady Wang of strangling or smothering her daughter and of practicing witchcraft.
Lady Wang was found guilty and sent to a remote section of the palace. Some historians believe that Wu might have killed her daughter to get rid of Lady Wang.
Soon after Lady Wang’s banishment, the top concubine was also banished, and the Emperor married Wu Zetian.
Wu Ordered Executions of Those who Opposed him
Wu became the empress in 655. Many of Gaozong’s advisors opposed her marriage to Gaozong because she did not belong to a noble family.
Moreover, these advisors argued that Gaozong’s marriage with Wu was incestuous because she had been Taizong’s concubine.
Wu gradually got rid of these men through executions and exiles. In 660, Gaozong suffered from a stroke and became practically invalid. Wu took control into her hands and ruled China for the next 23 years.
Wu Ordered the Execution of Women Who Were Accused of Her Daughter’s Murder
Wu ordered that Lady Wang and the top concubine be killed. Some sources relate that she ordered their hands and feet to be cut off and thrown into a vat of wine to drown.
Wu Eliminated Her Sons to Become the Emperor
Wu’s first son, Li Hong, became the Emperor after his father’s death in 683. He ruled under the name Zhongzong.
Zohnzong and his wife, Lady Wei, pushed their agenda. Wu charged them with treason and had them banished.
Some historians believe that she poisoned her son. Wu’s second son, who took Ruizong, ruled under house arrest while Wu made critical decisions. Wu finally abdicated her second son in 690 and declared herself the Emperor. She ruled as Emperor for 15 years.
Wu Had A Secret Police And A Host of Spies in Her Service
One of the most effective tools of government for Wu was her network of secret police and spies. She gathered information about her rivals and enemies and eliminated them effectively.
Wu Spent More Time With Her Lovers Than Ruling the Empire Towards the End of her Rule
Towards the end of her reign, Wu was corrupted by the excess of pleasures. She took male concubines and neglected her duties towards the Empire.
Wu Became Paranoid
Wu consumed herself with the Zhang brothers, who were party animals. She risked alienating the court officials for the Zhang brothers.
According to some accounts, the court officials became so frustrated with Wu’s male concubines that they stormed the palace, cut off the heads of the Zhang brothers, and took over the government.
In her later years, Wu became paranoid about people conspiring against her and ordered the execution of anyone she thought was against her.
The kingdom was getting neglected and availing this opportunity, one of the sons, whom she exiled earlier, came out of hiding, forcing the woman to give up her royal seat.
Wu died shortly after getting replaced.
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