Empress Wu Zetian ruled over China during the Tang Dynasty, making her the first and only female emperor in the history of China. However, her rise to power began when she was a concubine for Emperor Taizong.

​

At the young age of 14, Wu was selected by the Emperor to be his concubine. Initially, Wu's role in the royal court was to do chores like laundry. According to the Ancient History Encyclopedia, "Taizong was so impressed at her intellectual abilities, he took her out of the laundry and made her his secretary," (Mark), putting her in charge of dealing with affairs of state. She quickly became his favorite and rose to power. While it is controversial as to whether Wu framed the emperor’s wife for the murder of her daughter, the emperor took Wu’s word and banned his wife and his first concubine from the palace. However, Emperor Taizong died in 649, and Wu married his son, Gaozong. From there, Wu essentially became the 'emperor' of China in 660 CE.

 

She helped take hold of the duties in the office and oversaw imperial business even when she was pregnant with her daughter in 665 CE. Together, she and her husband ruled over China as Emperor and Empress of Heaven.

 

Empress Wu worked to put together a secret police force and spies to prevent anyone from overthrowing her. She organized a government that was efficient and less costly. Government officials were a selection of intellectuals and bureaucrats rather than people with family connections. Empress Wu organized new methods of teaching, agriculture, taxation, and military exams to ensure that everything ran smoothly.

 

Although Empress Wu was greatly recognized for her dominance as the only female leader of China, she is also remembered for her crimes against family members (framing emperor’s wife for murder, as mentioned above).