Wu Zetian
%20-%20%E6%AD%A6%E5%89%87%E5%A4%A9.png?width=160 "Likely to be Zhang Xuan (张萱) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons")
624 – 705 · 81 years · Luoyang · Asia
The only woman in Chinese history to rule as emperor in her own right, founding her own Zhou dynasty.
Wikipedia (Russian) · Wikipedia (English) · 7th century
Portrait: Likely to be Zhang Xuan (张萱) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
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Contemporaries around the world
Middle East
- Ali ibn Abi Talib — fourth Rashidun caliph, 24 years older
Asia
- Xuanzang — Buddhist monk and traveller, 22 years older
- Emperor Taizong of Tang — emperor of the Tang dynasty, 26 years older
Americas
- Pakal the Great — Maya ruler of Palenque, 21 years older
- Lady Six Sky — Maya ruler of Naranjo, 58 years younger
The world in their lifetime
- 628 Brahmagupta and the rules of zero — aged 4, Asia
- 629–645 Xuanzang's journey to the West — aged 5, Asia
- 636 Battle of the Yarmuk — aged 12, Middle East
- 652 The Baqt treaty with Nubia — aged 28, Africa
- 680 Battle of Karbala — aged 56, Middle East
- 698 Fall of Carthage and the Arab conquest of the Maghreb — aged 74, Africa
- c. 700 The rise of the Kanem Empire — aged 76, Africa