#10: Empress Wu Zetian (624 – 705)
Empress Wu Zetian started as a low-level palace worker but ended up as the only woman to ever officially rule China as Emperor. She married Emperor Gaozong in 655 after a period of intense internal fighting at the court. When he got sick, she took over the day-to-day running of the country. After he passed away, she pushed her own sons aside to take the top spot for herself in 690. She was a brilliant leader, but she definitely didn’t let family feelings get in her way.
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