1. Wu Zetian Killed Her Own Daughter in a Political Ploy
Wu Zetian’s beauty and brains served her well. The emperor was not into intelligent women, so he did not favor Wu. However, being an intelligent woman, she was able to look ahead. So she had an affair with the aging emperor’s son and eventual successor. The son was not intimidated by smart women, and when he became Emperor Gaozong after his father’s death, he made Wu his favorite concubine. He eventually elevated her to his second wife – a huge jump in the imperial harem’s rankings. Not content to remain second fiddle, however, Wu reportedly strangled her own infant daughter, and framed the emperor’s first wife for the death. The intrigue worked, and Wu became the emperor’s official consort.
Wu’s power grew, as she steadily eliminated opponents. When Emperor Gaozong died in 683, Wu became empress dowager and regent, running the empire in her son’s name, Emperor Zhongzong. When Zhongzong ascended the throne in his own right in 684, he tried to buck his mother and escape from under her thumb. He lasted only six weeks on the throne, before Wu had him deposed, exiled, and replaced with her youngest son, whom she made Emperor Ruizong. She maintained all power in her own hands, and six years later, she tired of bothering with any pretense about who actually ran China, and made Ruizong relinquish the throne. Wu officially proclaimed herself empress regnant, and ruled in that capacity until she was overthrown in 705.
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Where Did We Find This Stuff? Some Sources and Further Reading
Ancient Origins – Ching Shih: From Prostitute to Pirate Lord
Baby Gaga – 7 of the Best and 8 of the Worst Moms in History
Clements, Jonathan – The First Emperor of China (2006)
Daily Beast, May 12th, 2019 – Happy Mother‘s Day! Meet the Worst Mothers in History
Gonick, Larry – Cartoon History of the Universe, Volume III (2002)
J Mark Powell – Meet the 5 Worst Moms in History
Mom Me – 10 Moms in History Who Will Make You Feel Like an Awesome Parent
Rejected Princesses – Fredegund: Assassination-Obsessed Queen
Rejected Princesses – Wu Zetian: China’s Only Female Emperor
