Nine Forgotten Queens who Shaped the World

Empress Wu Zetian of China

Wu Zetian, the only woman to rule China in her own right, was a controversial figure known for her ruthless tactics to ascend the throne. However, her reign was also a period of relative peace, administrative reforms, and cultural and intellectual flourishing. She expanded the civil service examination system, allowing more commoners to enter government service. Her rule, albeit contentious, proved that a woman could effectively govern the vast and complex Chinese Empire.