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Wu Zetian

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The Resume

    (625-December 16, 705)
    Empress of China (655-705)

Why she might be annoying:

    She was a concubine of Emperor Taizong and the wife his son, Gaozong.
    She had her husband's former wife executed.
    She formed a cruel and ruthless secret police force.
    She had her enemies arrested and killed on false charges.
    She was willing to have her own sons deposed to stay in power.
    Chinese Confucians were shocked and disgusted by her.
    She was overthrown in a coup in 705.
    She remains a polarizing figure among the Chinese.

Why she might not be annoying:

    She was very beautiful.
    She took over the Chinese empire after her husband suffered as stroke.
    Although her husband and children were nominal emperors, she was the real ruler of the empire.
    She declared herself empress in her own right in 690.
    She was China's only reigning empress.
    She went out of her way to recruit only the best people for government jobs.
    She hired even people from lower backgrounds.
    She supported women's rights.
    She revitalized Chinese agriculture.
    She was extremely well-educated in Chinese literature and music.

Credit: The Truffle


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 26 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 84.62% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 31 Votes: 51.61% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 32 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 23 Votes: 52.17% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 88 Votes: 60.23% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 64.71% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 290 Votes: 52.41% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 22 Votes: 68.18% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 38 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 209 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 73 Votes: 69.86% Annoying