Wu Zetian

Wu Zetian, personal name Wu Zhao, was Empress of China from 660 to 705, ruling first through others and then in her own right. She ruled first as empress consort, through her husband Emperor Gaozong and then as an empress dowager, through her sons Emperors Zhongzong and Ruizong, from 660 to 690, not unprecedented in Chinese history. She subsequently founded and ruled as female emperor of the Wu Zhou dynasty of China from 690 to 705. She was the only female sovereign in the history of China widely regarded as legitimate. Under her 45-year reign, China grew larger, becoming one of the great powers of the world, its culture and economy were revitalized, and corruption in the court was reduced. She was eventually removed from power during a coup and died a few months later.

17 February 0624

Born on the same birth day (17 February): Al-Juwayni • Arcangelo Corelli • Barry Humphries • Bo Yibo • Buddy DeFranco • Charles III, Duke of Bourbon • Dennis Green • Friedrich Alfred Krupp • Jiřina Jirásková • Michael Frolík • Pierre Le Pesant, sieur de Boisguilbert • Rebecca Adlington • Rowdy Gaines • Vasiliy Lomachenko • Václav Prospal