Wu Zetian: The Bloody Rise of China's Only Female Emperor

Wu Zetian: The Bloody Rise of China's Only Female Emperor How did a discarded concubine become Wu Zetian, China's only female emperor? Discover the ruthless brilliance of the woman who defied the Tang Dynasty to claim absolute power. Banished to a monastery after the emperor's death, Wu Zhao was expected to fade into history. Instead, she orchestrated a masterful return to the imperial court, seducing the new emperor and dismantling her aristocratic rivals with a chilling network of informants. From allegedly weaponizing her own infant daughter's death to operating a crowdsourced secret police force that decimated the royal family, Empress Wu let nothing stop her ascent. Yet, beneath the terror, she was an administrative genius who built a meritocracy, expanded the empire, and led China into an era of unprecedented prosperity. Was she a bloodthirsty tyrant or the ultimate geopolitical strategist? 00:00 The Concubine Banished to a Monastery 02:48 Return to the Imperial Court 05:40 The Death of the Infant Daughter 09:05 Dismantling the Old Aristocracy 18:20 The Ultimate Surveillance State 25:12 Wu Zetian Becomes Emperor of China 28:16 The Final Coup and Wordless Stele Subscribe to WF Historians for more hidden truths and forgotten chapters of history! #WuZetian #ChineseHistory #EmpressWu #TangDynasty #WFHistorians