Wu Zetian [note 8] (17 February 624 [note 9] [note 10] - 16 December 705), [3] [4] personal name Wu Zhao, was the first and only female emperor in Chinese history, [5] and de facto ruler of the Tang dynasty from 665 to 705, ruling first through others and then (from 690) in her own right. From 665 to 690, she was first empress consort of the ...