The following is a list of the relatives of Wu Zetian, the only empress regnant recognized in orthodox Chinese historiography, a late 7th and early 8th century ruler of China and the sole emperor of the Wu Zhou dynasty.
Paternal Ancestors These are Wu Zetian's paternal ancestors. Great-Great-Great-Grandfather Wu Keji (武克已), posthumously honored as Emperor Cheng (with the temple name of Yanzu ) Great-Great-Great-Grandmother Lady Pei, Wu Keji's wife, posthumously honored as Empress Chengzhuang () Great-Great-Grandfather Wu Juchang (武居常), posthumously honored as Emperor Zhangjing (with the temple name of Suzu ) Great-Great-Grandmother Lady Liu, Wu Juichang's wife, posthumously honored as Empress Zhangjing () Great-Grandfather Wu Jian (武儉), posthumously honored as Emperor Zhao'an (with the temple name of Liezu ) Great-grandmother Lady Song, Wu Jian's wife, posthumously honored as Empress Zhao'an () Grandfather Wu Hua (武華), posthumously honored as Emperor Wenmu (with the temple name of Xianzu ), sired 4 sons. Grandmother Lady Zhao, Wu Hua's wife, posthumously honored as Empress Wenmu ()
Immediate Family
Father: Wu Shihuo () (559 - 635), 4th son of Wu Hua, Duke Ding of Ying, later further successively posthumously honored as the Duke of Zhou, the Prince of Taiyuan, King Zhongxiao (), and Emperor Wushangxiaominggao (with the temple name of Taizu ) x Lady Xiangli (), first wife. 1st Elder Half-brother:Wu Yuanqing () Half-Nephew:Wu Sansi (). Half-Grandnephew:Wu Chongxun (), married Princess Anle with one son Wu Jizhi. Half-Grandnephews:Wu Chonglie (), Wu Chongqian (), Wu Chongwei (), Wu Chongcao (). Half-Grandnieces: three, married Yan Zexian (), Xue Chongjian (), Pei Guangting () separately. 2nd Elder Half-brother:Wu Yuanshuang () Half-Nephew:Wu Chengsi () Half-Grandnephew:Wu Yanji () (?—701), married his half second cousin, Wu Zetian's granddaughter Li Xianhui (), Princess Yongtai (). Half-Grandnephew:Wu Yanxiu () (?—710), married his half second cousin, Wu Zetian's granddaughter Princess Anle (). Half-Grandnephew:Wu Yanyi (). Half-Grandnephew:Wu Yan'an (). Half-Grandnephew:Wu Yanguang (). Half-Grandniece: Lady Wu, married Zheng Keyi (). x Mother: Lady Yang (, 579 - 3 October 670), Wu Shihuo's second wife, daughter of Yang Da (, 551 - 612) (Wu Zetian's maternal grandfather), honored as the Lady of Rong (), Lady of Zuan, Lady of Wei (), and finally Lady Zhonglie of Lu, later further successively posthumously honored with titles corresponding to Wu Shihuo's; she came from the aristocratic Yang family of the Hong Nong region and was of the same clan as the imperial family of the Sui dynasty. Her father's older brother was Yang Xiong (), the father of Yang Gongren and Yang Shidao. Yang Da had another 1 daughter and 2 sons, his other female descendants married into Wu and Li family. Elder Sister: Wu Shun () (623—October 665), Honored as Lady of Han, after her husband died, she committed adultery with Emperor Gaozong, and allegedly poisoned by her sister Wu Zetian. x Helan Yueshi () Nephew:Helan Minzhi () (642－671), Has raped Li Hong's first fiancée, later committed incest with grandmother Lady Yang. x Lady Yang, Lady of Hongnong County Grandnephew: Helan Wan () Niece: Lady Helan (?-September 666), honored Lady of Wei, also committed adultery with Emperor Gaozong, and poisoned by her aunt Wu Zetian. Younger Sister: Lady Wu, married Guo Xiaoshen ().
Imperial Household Husband Emperor Taizong of Tang, as his concubine, later daughter-in-law. Emperor Gaozong of Tang, 3rd son of Emperor Taizong and his wife Empress Zhangsun, first as his concubine, later his 2nd wife. Major known lovers Huaiyi, né Feng Xiaobao () (name changed 685), the Duke of Liang (created 688) then the Duke of E (created 690, killed 695) Shen Nanqiu (), imperial physician Zhang Yizhi, the Duke of Heng (created 702, killed 705) Zhang Changzong, the Duke of Ye (created 702, killed 705)
Descendants
1st Son: Li Hong () (652-675), originally the Prince of Dai (created 653), later the Crown Prince (created 656, poisoned 675), posthumously honored Emperor Xiaojing with the temple name Yizong, traditionally believed to be murdered by his own mother Wu Zetian. x Lady Pei (Wife), daughter of Pei Judao (), no issue. 1st Daughter: Princess Si of Anding (born and died 654), traditionally supposed to be murdered by Emperor Gaozong's first wife Empress Wang, also traditionally believed to be murdered by her own mother Wu Zetian. 2nd Son: Li Xián () (note different tone than his brother) (655-684), name changed to Li De () 672, changed back to Li Xián 674, originally the Prince of Lu (created 655), later the Prince of Pei (created 661), later the Prince of Yong (created 672), later the Crown Prince (created 675), later demoted to commoner rank (demoted 680, forced to commit suicide by own mother Wu Zetian 684), posthumously initially honored the Prince of Yong, later honored Crown Prince Zhanghuai. x Lady Fang (Wife), granddaughter of Fang Renyu () Li Guangshun () Li Shouyi () x Lady Zhang (Concubine) Li Shouli (), (672-741), has about 60 children sired by different consorts. Li Chengning () Li Chenghong () Li Chengcai () Princess Jincheng (), (698-739), married as consort of Trisong Detsen's father Me Agtsom. 3rd Son: Li Xiǎn () (note different tone than his brother) (656-710), name changed to Li Zhe () 677, changed back to Li Xiǎn 698, changed to Wu Xian () 700, changed back to Li Xian 705, initially the Prince of Zhou (created 656), later the Prince of Ying (created 677), later the Crown Prince (created 680), later Emperor Zhongzong of Tang (enthroned 684), later demoted to Prince of Luling (demoted 684), later the Crown Prince (created 698), later emperor again (705) x Empress Zhao (1st Wife), daughter of Gaozong's aunt, Princess Changle () and her husband Zhao Gui (), murdered by Wu Zetian, no issue. x Empress Wei (2nd Wife) Li Chongrun ()(682-701), murdered by Wu Zetian. Princess Changning () x Yang Shenjiao () (675-724), Wu Zetian's granduncle Yang Xiong's great-great-grandson.x Su Yanbo (), with whom no issue. Yang Hui (), married Princess Xianyi (). Princess Yongtai (), named Li Xianhui () (684-701), murdered by Wu Zetian, married Wu Yanji (). Princess Yongshou () (?-?), died young. Princess Anle () (685-710), presumably Li Guo'er () married Wu Chongxun () with one son Wu Jizhi (), later married Wu Yanxiu (), without issue. x Shangguan Wan'er () (Concubine), rank Zhao Rong (), no issue. x Other Consorts Li Chongfu () (680-710). Li Chongjun () (?-707). Li Chongmao () (695－714), Emperor Shang. Princess Xindu (), married Wu Yanhui (). Princess Yicheng (), married Pei Xun (). Princess Ding'an () (?-733), married three times, son Wang Yao () with Wang Tongjiao (), whom married Princess Yongmu (). son Wei Zhuo () with Wei Hui (), third husband is Cui Xian (). Princess Cheng'an (), married Wei Jie (), their daughter Princess Dongguang (), married Li Lusu (), leader of Xi tribe. 4th Son: Li Dan (), né Li Xulun () (662-716), name changed to Li Lun () 669, changed again to Li Dan 678, changed again to Wu Lun () 690, changed again to Wu Dan () 698, changed back to Li Dan 705, originally the Prince of Yin (created 662), later the Prince of Yu (created 666), later the Prince of Ji (created 669), later the Prince of Xiang (created 675), later the Prince of Yu (created 678), later Emperor Ruizong of Tang (enthroned 684), later demoted to Crown Prince (demoted 690), later demoted to Prince of Xiang (demoted 698), later emperor again (710) x Empress Liu, (?-693), Liu Dewei ()'s granddaughter (Wife) Li Xian () (679-742), originally crown prince. Princess Shouchang (), married Cui Zhen (). Princess Daiguo (), married Zhen Wanjun (). x Virtuous Consort Dou (Major concubine) (?-693), Dou Xiaozhan ()'s daughter, later honored empress by her son. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (685-762), name Li Longji () Number of consorts and children are large, see Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. Princess Jinxian () (689-732), Taoist nun. Princess Yuzhen () (692-762), Taoist nun. x Noble Consort Doulu (), Li Longji's adoptive mother x Lady Liu, Liu Shi ()'s granddaughter Li Zong () x Lady Cui Li Fan () (686-726) x Virtuous Consort Wang Li Ye () Princess Huaiyang (), married Wang Chengqing (). Princess Liangguo (), married Xue Boyang () as second wife. x Worthy Consort Wang, Virtuous Consort Wang's younger sister, raised her children.x Noble Consort Cui Princess Xiguo (), married Xun Jing (), having son Xue Nian (), later remarried Zhen Xiaoyi (). x Other consorts Li Longti () (692-702) Princess Huoguo (), married Pei Xuji (), later forced divorce. Princess Jinshan (), married Xue Boyang () as first wife. 2nd Daughter: Princess Taiping (665-713), name presumably Li Lingyue (). x Xue Shao (), son of Princess Chengyang () Xue Chongxun () Lady Xue Lady Xue, Lady of County Wanquan () (686-710), son Doulu Jian () married Princess Jianping (). Xue Chongjian () (688-724) x Wu Youji () (663-712), grandson of Wu Zetian's uncle Wu Shirang () Wu Chongmin () Wu Chongxing () Lady Wu, Lady of County Yonghe ()
References