Wu Zetian (Empress Wu)

Also known as Wu Zhao · Wu Meiniang · Shengmu Shenhuang · Ze Tian Da Sheng Huang Di · Wu Zetian

Wu Zetian, who later took the self-coined name Zhao, came from Wenshui in Bingzhou; her father Wu Shiyue had helped found the Tang. Summoned to Emperor Taizong's palace at fourteen as a lady of talent and named Wu Mei, she became Emperor Gaozong's consort after Taizong's death, and in 655 she was made empress. She came to share in government, the pair being called the Two Sages, and after Gaozong died in 683 she ruled as empress dowager, deposing Zhongzong and setting up Ruizong, crushing Xu Jingye's rising and encouraging informers with copper petition boxes. Early in 690 she personally examined candidates in the palace, and that autumn she renamed the dynasty Zhou and took the title emperor; she later created military examinations, promoted ministers such as Di Renjie and had Shangguan Wan'er draft her edicts. Forced by Zhang Jianzhi's coup in 705 to hand the throne to Zhongzong, she died that year, renounced the imperial title in her testament and was buried with Gaozong at Qianling, where her stele was left uninscribed.