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Empress Wu, monarch of her self-proclaimed Zhou Dynasty<ref>Not to be confused with the [[Zhou Dynasty]], c. 1046–256 BCE.</ref> which briefly interrupted the [[Tang Dynasty]], is known as the only woman to have ever ruled China in her own name, as Empress Regnant (that is, not as regent or empress dowager, on behalf of a son or husband).

Empress Wu, monarch of her self-proclaimed Zhou Dynasty<ref>Not to be confused with the [[Zhou Dynasty]], c. 1046–256 BCE.</ref> which briefly interrupted the [[Tang Dynasty]], is known as the only woman to have ever ruled China in her own name, as Empress Regnant (that is, not as regent or empress dowager, on behalf of a son or husband).

Wu's father was a scholar-official; her mother was a descendant of the Imperial family of the [[Sui Dynasty]]. By age thirteen, Wu was a low-ranking concubine in the harem of [[Emperor Taizong of Tang]]. Following Taizong's death in [[649]], all of the other concubines who had not bore him children took the tonsure and became nuns; Wu somehow managed to remain at (or return to) Court, and bore [[Emperor Gaozong]] (Taizong's son & successor) an heir in [[652]].

Wu's father was a scholar-official; her mother was a descendant of the Imperial family of the [[Sui Dynasty]]. By age thirteen, Wu was a low-ranking concubine in the harem of [[Emperor Taizong of Tang]]. Following Taizong's death in [[649]], all of the other concubines who had not bore him children took the tonsure and became nuns; Wu somehow managed to remain at (or return to) Court, and bore [[Emperor Gaozong of Tang]] (Taizong's son & successor) an heir in [[652]].

Three years later, in [[655]], as the only one of Gaozong's wives to have given birth to a son, Wu managed to secure for herself the position of first (primary) wife, and the title of Empress. She then proceeded to eliminate the former empress, and another concubine who represented a threat to her; it is said she did so in a rather gruesome manner, having the two women's limbs cut off and their bodies disposed of in vats of wine.

Three years later, in [[655]], as the only one of Gaozong's wives to have given birth to a son, Wu managed to secure for herself the position of first (primary) wife, and the title of Empress. She then proceeded to eliminate the former empress, and another concubine who represented a threat to her; it is said she did so in a rather gruesome manner, having the two women's limbs cut off and their bodies disposed of in vats of wine.