Empress Wu Zhao of China

Wu Zhao (624–705), also known as Empress Wu Zetian, was the first and only woman emperor of China. She ruled as the “Holy and Divine Emperor” of the Second Zhou Dynasty (690–705) for fifteen years. Whether completely deserved or not, Wu has a reputation of being one of the most cruel rulers in China’s history. She remains a controversial figure primarily because of stories about her personal actions against rivals. Male Confucian officials who were deeply prejudiced against strong and ambitious women undoubtedly exaggerated this aspect of Wu’s life in later accounts of her reign. Still, there is also substantial verifiable evidence of her ruthlessness toward powerful real or imagined opponents.