New Delhi: Since the ancient times, the world has seen numerous powerful women who have overcome stereotypes and broken gender barriers. There have been women who amassed so much wealth that it would put their male counterparts to shame. Take for example Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, who in December 2023 became the first woman to amass a $100 billion fortune. She is the heir of the L’Oréal empire and is one of the richest person in the world. Here, a question comes to the mind: Who is the richest woman ever? That title reportedly belongs to Wu Zetian, the Empress of China.
Who was Wu Zetian, the richest woman in history?
China had witnessed dynastic rule for 2,000 years, stretching from 220 BCE to 1911, and had 557 emperors. However, only one of them was a woman. Wu Zetian, China’s only female emperor was born in 624 and was the de facto ruler of the Tang Dynasty from 665 to 705.
From harem to throne: A complex journey
Wu Zetian’s rise to power was a long and complex journey. Born in an affluent family which was close to the ruling dynasty, Wu was encouraged by her parents to read books and pursue her education, which was uncommon for women at the time. She read and learned about many topics and became an astute woman. When she was just 14 years old, Wu was chosen to be an imperial concubine of Emperor Taizong. However, an intelligent Wu rose through the ranks quickly and became the secretary of the emperor.
When Taizong died in 649, his youngest son, Li Zhi, the son of the emperor’s main wife Wende, succeeded him as Emperor Gaozong. Notably, he had an affair with Wu when Taizong was still alive. Wu did not have any child with Taizong and as per the norm at the time, she was supposed to be exiled to a convent. However, thanks to her closeness with Emperor Gaozong, she escaped that fate.
Becoming the Empress of China
In 655, Wu married Emperor Gaozong and became the empress consort, the highest-ranking woman in China. She started to control the court and after Gaozong’s debilitating stroke in 660, she became the most powerful person in the court. After Emperor Gaozong died in 683, Wu broke the traditions of the male-dominated society and started her fight for the throne. In 690, she officially became the Empress of China and changed the royal family’s name from Li to Wu.
Empress Wu is hailed as one of the greatest Chinese emperors who proved herself to be a strong leader and efficient administrator. During her time, China became one of the most powerful countries in the world. The boundaries of China expanded massively under her leadership and the Chinese society also underwent a change due to her policies. She reformed the government, reduced bureaucracy and brought down public spending. She reduced the taxes on rural peasants and helped them to become aware about the prevalent modern agricultural ideas. Also, she reformed the imperial examination system and opened it up to people from all social classes, which made the bureaucracy more efficient than ever. Despite being considered a ruthless ruler, Wu worked for the development of China.
How wealthy was Wu Zetian?
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, Wu possibly had assets worth more than $16 trillion. Moreover, during her rule, China’s economy accounted for around 23 per cent of global GDP. All these make Wu Zetian the richest woman to have ever lived in all probability. In 705, Wu Zetian was removed from the throne and she died shortly after at the age of 81. Her son, Emperor Zhongzong succeeded her, with Wu remaining as the lone female ruler in the history of China.
Wu Zetian, China’s sole female emperor, ruled the country for decades. Rising from concubine to empress, her shrewd political maneuvering and administrative reforms transformed China, expanding its borders and economy. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
