Wu Zetian enjoys the title of the only recognised Empress Regnant in China's history. She was simply the middle daughter of a middle-class family, but she able to do what no woman before or since did - climb the ranks of the inner palace to gain power first for her sons, and then for herself, in her own right. Her supporters painted her as a magnificent ruler, her enemies as a ruthless demonic tyrant. This video looks at her early years and her marriage to Emperor Gaozong, and tries to find out who the real Wu was...
For my images and footage, thanks to:
Pexels
Pixabay
Wikimedia Commons, primarily:
Charlie Fong
Kanegen
Many of my images in this video were made with Midjourney, see if you can spot which ones! All other images and footage are either from iStock or are my own.
I strive to always credit everyone whose images I use, and try as much as possible to use images freely in the public domain (purchased where not possible) - please let me know if I have missed you so I can give you due credit.