Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history, is legendary in her rise and death. She broke through the shackles of male superiority and inferiority, ascended the throne as emperor, established the Zhou Wu Dynasty, ruled the country with an iron fist, and demonstrated the wisdom and determination of women. And the cause of her death has always been the focus of people's speculation and **. Today, we will deeply analyze this historical mystery and reveal the real cause of Wu Zetian's death.
First of all, we have to make it clear that Wu Zetian is a very long-lived woman. Although she only ascended to the throne at the age of 67, she reigned for nearly 20 years before dying at the age of 83. According to historical records, Wu Zetian's physical condition was already poor in her later years, and she worked day and night on state affairs, which undoubtedly increased her health burden.
However, there have always been different opinions about the cause of Wu Zetian's death. In some wild histories and legends, Wu Zetian was poisoned by his nephew Wu Chenghei. But this claim has been denied by many historians. According to the official history, when Wu Zetian was seriously ill, he summoned Li Xian many times to discuss the successor. After Wu Chengsi and Wu Sansi learned the news, they repeatedly asked to make themselves the crown prince, but they were all rejected by Wu Zetian.
In fact, Wu Zetian was already worried about the issue of heirs in his later years. She knew that her physical condition was deteriorating day by day, and she had to identify an heir as soon as possible. And her favorite Zhang brothers also support Li Xian as the crown prince, which undoubtedly increases Li Xian's competitiveness.
But the ministers who supported the Li family put pressure on Wu Zetian. They secretly plotted to return Li Xian to Beijing, and successfully persuaded Wu Zetian to make Li Xian the crown prince. This also marked the end of the Zhou Wu Dynasty, and the Li Tang Dynasty would return to the hands of the Li family.
Although Wu Zetian was no longer able to manage the government in person during her serious illness, she still maintained control of the situation. She was worried that the Li family and the Wu family would not tolerate it after her death, so she asked them to swear in the Ming Hall that this incident would be recorded in history and hidden in the History Museum, so that they would remember it in their hearts. This move undoubtedly reflects Wu Zetian's political wisdom and foresight.
Still, there is some controversy about the cause of Wu Zetian's death. Some believe that Wu Zetian was poisoned by his favorites Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong. They were so powerful when they were favored that some speculated that they may have chosen to poison Wu Zetian for self-preservation. However, this claim is also not supported by conclusive evidence.
In any case, the cause of Wu Zetian's death has become a historical mystery. Her legendary life is over, but her influence and contributions will forever be etched in Chinese history. As the only female emperor in Chinese history, she not only showed the wisdom and courage of women, but also realized her own values and ideals politically.
In conclusion, we cannot fully reveal the truth about the cause of Wu Zetian's death, but what we can be sure of is that the life of this female emperor is full of legends. She established the Zhou Wu Dynasty and demonstrated her political wisdom and decisiveness. And in the last stages of her life, she also showed thoughtful consideration and political wisdom for her heir. Whatever the cause of her death, her legendary life will forever be remembered in the annals of history.