Wu Zetian
Empress of Gaozong of Tang who in 690 declared her own Zhou dynasty, ruled from Luoyang as the ‘divine capital’ and was forced to abdicate at the end of her life.
| Lived | AD 624 – AD 705 |
| Known as | China’s only empress regnant |
| Birthplace or main place | Luoyang |
| Places on the map | Luoyang, Xi'an |
LuoyangSee the world of Wu Zetian in the interactive map
Who ruled these places in her lifetime
| Place | At birth (map of AD 600) | At death (map of AD 700) |
|---|---|---|
| Luoyang | Sui Empire | Tang Empire |
| Xi'an | Sui Empire | Tang Empire |
From the border maps nearest to each date; borders are approximate.
Events in her lifetime
| Year | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| AD 690 | Wu Zetian makes Luoyang her "Divine Capital" | Luoyang |
Battles and sites of the time
- Battle of Baekgang · AD 663
Further reading
Contemporaries
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| AD 602 – AD 664 | Xuanzang | Buddhist monk and translator |
| AD 598 – AD 649 | Emperor Taizong of Tang | Tang emperor |
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.