Most powerful woman in history?

[bushbush]

I might sound a little sexist here but the truth is history has been dominated by powerful men who led giant empires and armies. Few women do become powerful players in history. But practically none became as powerful as this woman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Zetian

She was the only female EMPEROR of China in chinese history. She was NOT just an empress (aka first lady), she actually proclaimed herself to be the Emperor (huangdi in chinese) and ruled as a legitimate one during the powerful Tang dynasty.



Powerful women were not rare examples in Chinese history. Due to confucian ideal of obeying and respecting parents, emperors often pay great respect to the wishes of their mothers, who most of time were much younger then their husband and lived on for many years as Empress Dowager (mother of emperor). When the emperor is young, Empress Dowager often dominated the court as the de facto ruler being the most respected member of the royal family. Wu Zetian however, moved beyond that. She proclaimed herself the emperor of one of the largest empires in history. I don't think any woman even to this day has matched this (at least being emperor of such a giant country with ACTUAL power, not being ceremonial queen).

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ps. i would consider queen victoria to be in the conversation but I think she was closer to a ceremonial head of state (though she had immense prestige) than an absolute monarch like Wu Zetian. Elizabeth I was probably comparable to Wu Zetian's role.

the bigger difference is that she was not born into a royal family. She was only a concubine of the previous tang emperor and gradually gained power.

[Exarch]

interesting thread, bushbush
powerful women in history; if influence is power, i might consider putting up Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine of France up there; her father was lord of aquitaine which had more power and territory than the king of france himself at the time and it's argued that eleanor may have had a highly influential part in the concept of courtly love and the role of women in Medieval europe.

[CiviC]

The ruler of this Empire was the most powerfull women in history.

[bushbush]

The ruler of this Empire was the most powerfull women in history.

like i said in OP, she probably had more prestige but she was for most part a constitutional monarch with ceremonial power. She was not an absolute monarch. In terms of actual power, Wu Zetian as an emperor had far more than a constitutional monarch like Victoria who left most important powers and roles to prime ministers and other MEN. Not to mention she was born into her role unlike Wu Zetian who fought her way into the throne from a low-born concubine.

[CiviC]

like i said in OP, she probably had more prestige but she was for most part a constitutional monarch with ceremonial power. She was not an absolute monarch. In terms of actual power, Wu Zetian as an emperor had far more than a constitutional monarch like Victoria who left most important powers and roles to prime ministers and other MEN. Not to mention she was born into her role unlike Wu Zetian who fought her way into the throne from a low-born concubine.

So for you a powerfull women is the one who chops the heads of her subjects?

The president of US exerts his role in the limits of the Constitution still he is considered the most powerfull man in the world. You don't need to be a tyrant to have power. Sometimes restraining from abusing power shows you of being more powerful then a tyrant that hides his weaknesses by executing rivals.

And Queen Victoria had much more power and influence then Elizabeth II today. And how she get the throne is irrelevant.

[bushbush]

So for you a powerfull women is the one who chops the heads of her subjects?

YES. Unfortunately the ultimate power any human being can get is chopping the head off another human being. And it is also the most dangerous power to have that's why it is so limited now. Absolute monarchy is really the most scary regime because of how much power is vested to ONE person.

The president of US exerts his role in the limits of the Constitution still he is considered the most powerfull man in the world. You don't need to be a tyrant to have power.

that's because even with the limitation, the president of the US is heavily involved in decision making in both foreign and domestic affair as commander in chief, chief executive, chief clerk, head of a party, and other important roles with enormous powers. he is not a constitutional monarch. You can't compare him to Queen of England can you?

And Queen Victoria had much more power and influence then Elizabeth II today. And how she get the throne is irrelevant.

I am talking about Elizabeth I of course lmao. Victoria for most part relied upon prime ministers and other elites (mostly MEN btw) to make decisions. She was a constitutional monarch. Wu Zetian was an emperor. That's the difference. You can install a rabbit as the head of British Empire and the empire would still run because the decisions aren't made by the Queen. But you can't do that to any regime with an absolute monarchy.

[CiviC]

I am talking about Elizabeth I of course lmao. Victoria for most part relied upon prime ministers and other elites (mostly MEN btw) to make decisions. She was a constitutional monarch. Wu Zetian was an emperor. That's the difference. You can install a rabbit as the head of British Empire and the empire would still run because the decisions aren't made by the Queen. But you can't do that to any regime with an absolute monarchy.

Power can mean and be exerted in many ways. Maybe Wu Zetian had more direct power then Victoria but Victoria was far more influencial then Wu Zetian, thus her power projected on a global scale even beyond the borders of her Empire. Nobody really knows who Wu Zeitan was today, but many people heard about Queen Victoria and even the period is named Victorian. She is a world symbol so I consider her more powerfull because her legacy is very solid and lasting.

[bushbush]

\\. And how she get the throne is irrelevant.

no it is very relevant. It shows the difference in the personal strength and capability of these two people and also reflect their differences in roles. Victoria was born into the royal family and crown handed to her because of her birth. Wu Zetian was supposed to be a nun after death of the emperor but she gained the throne of the entire empire.

[removeduser_4536284751384]

no it is very relevant. It shows the difference in the personal strength and capability of these two people and also reflect their differences in roles. Victoria was born into the royal family and crown handed to her because of her birth. Wu Zetian was supposed to be a nun after death of the emperor but she gained the throne of the entire empire.

The 19th century british monarch had more powers than the current POTUS

don't confuse the monarchs of the 19th with those of the 21st. They have no power now.

[Beeeno]

Most powerful woman ?? ... IMHO Tera Patrick !! LOL

[bushbush]

Most powerful woman ?? ... IMHO Tera Patrick !! LOL

i did NOT expect that answer......you win. +rep.

and an extra giggity giggity for u.

[M D]

Would it not be Hilary Clinton?

[bushbush]

Would it not be Hilary Clinton?

actually even as sectary of state, she is not really the chief of foreign policy for the US. Typically it is the president and his security council making all the decisions with the advice of Hilary. Condi Rice was probably more powerful as a member of Bush team. Wu Zetian was the emperor, not really a cabinet minister.

[Visarion]

Question: Did Xena exist?

[bushbush]

Question: Did Xena exist?

second best answer in this thread.

[Каие]

The most powerful woman in history was the Virgin Mary, without any doubt whatsoever. She still holds the untold and unrivalled loyalty, and love, of over two billion people in the world today, transcending race, culture, language, and even religion to win and keep their hearts. Your empress may have governed and dominated a physical empire, but Mary dominated, and still dominates, a far greater empire... the hearts of man. Just saying.

[bushbush]

The most powerful woman in history was the Virgin Mary, without any doubt whatsoever. She still holds the untold and unrivalled loyalty, and love, of over two billion people in the world today, transcending race, culture, language, and even religion to win and keep their hearts. Your empress may have governed and dominated a physical empire, but Mary dominated, and still dominates, a far greater empire... the hearts of man. Just saying.

her "power" is really not person power but power of church, of Christianity. As a woman, she had little power truly. She watched her son die.

and even believers of christianty don't listen to virgin mary to appoint their local magistrate, pay taxes to her, and build projects based on her decrees. I dont think comparing a mythical religious figure (the idea of mary) to a real person with actual power is fair.

[Augment]

lady gaga

[bushbush]

lady gaga

she has a penis too. She can qualify for most powerful man as well.

[PhilipO'Hayda]

she has a penis too. She can qualify for most powerful man as well.

have you not seen her new Video she is naked in it, and has no penis.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

back to the topic in hand. Celtic and Irish history is full of powerfully women, and from Queen Elizabeth The 1st on English Hisory is also full of Powerfully women.