The unprecedented but highly scandalous reign of Wu Zetian remains a riveting chapter of China’s imperial past. The only woman sovereign in three thousand years of Chinese history, Wu ruled China during the Tang Dynasty in the seventh century CE. Her extraordinary reign boasted diplomatic, social, and military achievements, but also much controversy: Most notably, she was accused of murdering her own family members, including her own infant daughter, in her quest for ultimate power.

At fourteen years old, Wu joined the imperial palace of Emperor Taizong as a low-ranking concubine. In 655 CE, she married his successor, Emperor Gaozong, and became Empress of China. Over the years, Wu’s power and influence soared, and she ruthlessly eliminated her enemies while keeping her supporters close. In 690, she became the sole ruler of her empire and created a new dynasty, the Zhao.

China prospered under Wu’s reign, and she proved to be a strong, capable leader. Agriculture and trade along the Silk Road thrived, and she poured money into literature, education, and the arts. Buddhism, a foreign import from India, rose to prominence during her rule, as Wu perceived its teachings as being friendlier toward women than those of the official state religion of Confucianism.

In 705 CE, Wu was buried with Gaozong in a special joint tomb. To this day, it remains unopened—keeping the story of Wu alive forevermore.