Wu Zetian: Finally Emperor - Chinese History - Part 4 - Extra History

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The capital pulsates with strange signs and foreboding omens as Emperor Gaozong, lying on his deathbed within the palace, contemplates the legacy he leaves behind. Amidst the complexities of war in Korea, border clashes, support for the exiled Emperor of Persia, and a dynamic religious landscape, Gaozong finds solace in the knowledge that the true power behind the throne, Empress Wu Zetian, will continue to shape the destiny of China. Delve into the political machinations, diplomatic finesse, and religious patronage that characterize this tumultuous period.
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Miss an episode in our Wu Zetian Series?
Part 1 - • Wu Zetian: Hated by Go...
Part 2 - • Wu Zetian: China’s Mos...
Part 3 - • Wu Zetian: Bloody Ghos...
Part 4 - • Wu Zetian: Finally Emp...
Part 5 - • Wu Zetian: Boy-Toys an...
Series Wrap-up & Recommended Reading / Lies Episode - • Empress Wu Zetian - LI...
Thanks for the high-quality conversations & for following our community guidelines here: bit.ly/ECFansRNice
Artist: Ali R Thome I Writer: Robert Rath I Showrunner & Narrator: Matthew Krol I Video Editor: Devon House Creative I Audio Editor: Clean Waves I ♪ Music by Demetori: bit.ly/1EQA5N7 I ♪ "Across the Pacific" by Tiffany Roman
#ExtraHistory #WuZetian #History

[@extrahistory]

Take control of your meal time with healthy portioned meals from Factor! Just use code EXTRACREDITS50 to get 50% off your first Factor box at bit.ly/3kHfe03 ! Then eat and know you're helping the show out in the process. Thanks for Watching!

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Love your content guys! You're the Best!😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤

[@also_arles]

Holy crap, this lady is merciless! Such an absolute badass, especially with how she's been pulling all the strings behind the scenes. :0

[@rebecca8744]

Nice! I need a new meal service haha

[@LegoCookieDoggie]

In the beginning of the video the narrator says "17th century" instead of 7th century

[@staribbix]

i love your stuff sm ive been binge watching all the series after the dday short i saw LMAO 😭 also joan of arc sticker wowie

[@RedWizrobe]

I unironically love how Wu straddles the line between Girlboss and Supervillainess. She's like Medea, but without the access to sorcery.

[@the_idiot_eris5029]

I would highly recommend iron widow by Xiran jay zhao It’s a futuristic sci fi twist on the story of wu zetian and it rly shows her bordering the line on super villainess I fantastic read

[@Ayem427]

Oh god, imagine Wu Zetian WITH access to sorcery, she'd be unstoppable!

[@ecurewitz]

@@Ayem427oh dear good, Demilich Wu Zetian sounds scary AF

[@Ayem427]

@@ecurewitz I'm kinda here for it tho, I think Dragon Priest Wu Zetian could be a fun time

[@nicolasvidal92]

Madea of Tyler Perry fame?

[@blaster915]

Something odd about having the complaints department next to the injustice department 😂

[@extrahistory]

😂😂😂

[@zenkomenhi]

Oh yeah funny that huh

[@jorgelotr3752]

I find it more weird and dangerous to have the recommentadion department right besides the "accuse a traitor" department.

[@samuelebincoletto637]

I've got to say, Wu Zetian would definetly be one of the best players in Game of Thrones.

[@barrymoore4470]

She was kind of like the real-life Cersei of classical China.

[@samuelebincoletto637]

@@barrymoore4470 I doubt it, Cersei could only dream to be as smart and cunning as Wu Zetian.

[@user-tl5gj9dw4x]

1:35 *Pay No Attention To The Woman Behind The Curtain.* Good god the one thing I'll always relearn from extra history is to never eat while listening to a good historian.

[@abthedragon4921]

9:11 That look Matt gave Allie and Robb was hilarious XD

[@Mrtroop-bd3xu]

Matt:”I am your emperor and you will obey me!!”

[@louthegiantcookie]

This has been one of my favourite series' you have done! Wu is so fascinating. For all her ruthlessness, I gotta respect the hustle. To go from such humble beginnings to ruling China is incredible.

[@TheAntoine48]

OMG THE ANIMATION IS CUUUUTTTEEEE Whoever drew this one deserves a raise.

[@lontongstroong]

I know riiiiigggghhhttttt????

[@user-nl7gt4zx5p]

Like Riggy

[@savabout6487]

Idea for a new series. Irene of Athens. The only woman to rule the Roman Empire in its nearly 2000-year history. Alleglied blinded in her own son to stay in power.

[@dominicguye8058]

It's a lot more than "alleged". . .historians generally agree that she did indeed have her own son blinded

[@savabout6487]

@@dominicguye8058 alleged might have been a generous term.

[@skiasimi]

2:47 17th century? Isn't it the 7th century? Just nit-picking a series I love and have enjoyed for many years, I look forward to seeing what the Extra History team how instore for us in the future.

[@zrthia1754]

2:49 17th century Tang is my favorite

[@shuriken4573]

I noticed that too, he must have meant 7th century

[@displacerkatsidhe]

It's not the first time he says 17th century either.

[@lucasmiguel1498]

This series is among my favorites. It's not very well-known, so it's great you chose to animate it and show it to the world!

[@MalikF15]

Am I the only one getting come Catherine the great echos. Also having the treason, injustice and complaints in the space is so funny and terrifying 😂

[@barbiquearea]

Except for the fact that Catherine didn't rule through her husband or son and just cut out the middle man to her ascent to power from the get-go.

[@MalikF15]

@@barbiquearea ya things way more progressive in Russia to have ruling female monarchs I mean up to that point there was two others before.

[@teddyhoffman8391]

This might be my current favorite series? I *love* palace intrigue, and to see someone so utterly dominate for so long is like watching a master painter at work!

[@wezza668]

what a weird figure. I get the sense that her policies were broadly a good thing for the empire, yet her personal intrigues are just so awfully evil

[@conho4898]

she did just as much as any famous male emperor that gets thrown around as "the great". The greatest emperor of Tang, Li Shimin? Killed his entire family to reach the throne. The unifier of China, Qin Shi Huang? Secret police, killed his most trusted, killed those who opposed him. Wu Zetian could never become the first and only empress regnant of China without playing just as dirty.

[@RomLoneWolf23]

History hates simplicity.

[@shadowprincess3724]

Yep. That’s exactly it.

[@everett6072]

Eh, most male rulers would've killed/exiled political rivals and enemies. That's just the nature of imperial power at that time. Wu made more than her fair share of enemies that needed to be dealt with sure, but that's because as a woman she lacked the more legitimate/peaceful ways of accessing power.

[@epicyamiphobs5217]

Which is better than most male rulers of that time.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Always looking forward to your videos guys! This series has been truly espectacular! This woman is one of a kind like you all! You're the Best❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

This series has been amazing! You guys are the Best 😊😊😊❤❤❤❤

[@Solqueen86]

5:49 Why did I get a "Waking up in the middle of the night to adult swim be like" meme flash in my head just now

[@TurquoiseInk]

Is there a part 5 coming out? I hope so, I am totally invested in this! Thank you, Extra History team for your splendid work, I love your channel.

[@ndemers]

There should be, Wu still has 20 more years to go!

[@extrahistory]

Part 5 this saturday!

[@aruppanda7]

I highly recommend the story of Nur Jahan for the next history lesson she is also one of the very few women rulers of medieval India

[@trevinbeattie4888]

Watched this last week on Nebula. Watching again here to help it sink in, and because the story is just so enjoyable!

[@extrahistory]

Thanks so much for joining us on Nebula!

[@philtkaswahl2124]

Those heirs were pretty much just chair-warmers for her.

[@crushingon]

A speech impediment called "it's my house, my rules young man."

[@abcdef27669]

That part about some of the messed up Gaozong's relationships... Yup, NOPE indeed!

[@garethfullin9722]

6:26 that's a solid scooby-doo reference. The creeper is a classic and that robot one was one of my favorite episodes growing up

[@dogood8750]

When you were talking about the military for a second I thought Empress Wu was the inspiration for Mulan

[@asies_lavida]

I thought it said "the woman behind the slaughter" I was about to sob

[@julianmitchell3035]

I mean... in a way...

[@asies_lavida]

@@julianmitchell3035 😭

[@krislochlan5366]

2:51 ”chinas religious landscape was changing in the 17th century" Damn she reigned for 1000 years!? /s

[@KayMusicSeoul]

Crazy how it makes history even funner

[@Goat-tz6gs]

Awesome video :D

[@samanthapohl8033]

To be honest, I really like your videos and I hope you keep posting

[@Tdiddy77]

Yay new upload

[@countryboy333]

9:43 bro was excited about the smoothies

[@user-yk7qg7lh5v]

I love your videos! This one inspired me to read a book about wu zetian!

[@extrahistory]

Yes!

[@thatreddude8796]

Hi! I noticed a typo at 2:50 where 7th century was misread as 17th century. I thought I was tripping when I first heard it

[@Mackyle-Wotring]

Am I the only one to notice that Matt said 17th century at the 2:50. Aside from that, thank you for making the video about this topic. I wonder if you can make a video about Nurhaci (pronunciation: Nurhachi) the founder of the Later Jin Dynasty which would give rise to the Qing Dynasty. I think it would be interesting.

[@katebergeron8090]

New to this channel do you guys post every Saturday? also I watch a unhealthy amount of this Channel it's one of the few things keeping Me sane while i'm sick.

[@extrahistory]

Yep every Saturday!

[@bomb8149]

Feels good to watch this movie n my birthday🎉

[@Liam_Mellon]

god this serious is so great

[@FakeBlocks]

Please do the Greek war of independence of 1821 against the ottoman empire next I've been asking for this since the first episodes of the sengoku Jidai!

[@kingbeans6947]

you sould make a video about the greek war of independenc 1821

[@marcomartinez1843]

Despite including the exiled shahs, you omitted the three Persian religions: Zoroastrianism, (Nestorian) Christianity, and Manichaeism.

[@ferretyluv]

These were around, along with Islam and later Judaism in Kaifeng, but they never held sway at court like Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. They were just tolerated as something the provincials did.

[@dayangmarikit6860]

​@@ferretyluv True, the sexism in these religions wouldn't have benefitted Wu.

[@thinkimpostergaming4626]

Can you please make a series on English civil war

[@shadiafifi54]

Love the Wizard of Oz reference

[@rodrigoanzures2950]

As a heads up, in 2:50 it is said in the voiceover and subtitles "since China's religious landscape was changing in the 17th century". This was probably a typo in the script, as it should be the 7th century.

[@iamathousandapples]

The Ritual of 666 would be a badass song name

[@shahansindhi8141]

Well designed costume at 6:35

[@Olebull93]

Sup boss, how's the tomb building going?

[@Notsosmartguy453]

Sequel on Xuanzong and An Lushan? maybe?

[@VolkoTheShadow]

Around 2:55 did you guys name drop the irl, Journey to the west?

[@postapocalypticnewsradio]

PANR has tuned in.

[@ananonymousnerd.2179]

Of all the facts I learned this time, one sticks out... 9:07 you paint Warhammer minis?

[@brutalusgaming8809]

I caught that too!

[@nuagor]

3:52 ooh the heaven button is pretty

[@user-uq8wz3vt6k]

The not yet got me 9:09

[@brutalusgaming8809]

Me!

[@sourabhmayekar3354]

Nice

[@CHRF-55457]

Oh yeah... dont remind me about that one chinese student dropout who got so stressed about failing his civil services exams that after the third time, he just casually starts a civil war that kills more people than the holocaust did...

[@KelsaRavenlock]

That pure land Buddhism they developed sure is wild. It's like a religious Moorcock universe or reading DnD cosmology. Except of course where the point of going to another world is to have a really good meditation session or to be taught a cosmic lesson by way of punishment.

[@leastnationalistMaten]

Wu is so badass

[@Windona]

That Feel when your mom steals your promotion. Though given her propensity for pardons, promoting the prestige of a more common religion, and the increased meritocracy I'm guessing the general populace loved her.

[@GeneralJerrard101]

My brain melted when I thought they said "the emperor's position was apolitical."

[@Featheredbird]

Im just here watching these for fun

[@Tsetse217]

Make a Vasco da gama history❤🎉

[@HowieDewitt535]

0:29 HE MENTIONED MY FAV COUNTRY!!!!!!!!! 12TH LARGEST EMPIRE BABY!!!!!

[@CARL_093]

dae jo young defeated the protectorate of tang in gogouryeo tehn found the balhea kingdom he become king go then tang Empress Wu became the empress dowager and regent and power fell completely and solely into her hands. She proceeded to depose Emperor Zhongzong for displaying independence and held onto power even more firmly thereafter. She then had her youngest son, Ruizong, made emperor.

[@kinghenriquevolta]

2:49 7th century, not 17th century

[@katebergeron8090]

Another question what does EC mean?

[@cheesychess5573]

Will you guys continue the Hercules tales

[@erikgustafson9319]

Again Sectonia Is basically Empress Wu's bug persona

[@terryalexander9069]

1:36 - 1:39 lol

[@Kilgorio]

Wow

[@cj-ace]

Wasnt the tang dystanty in the 7th not 17th?

[@robowisanveithasung6022]

It was a mistake

[@cj-ace]

@@robowisanveithasung6022 I know, but I was really hoping a tang remnant was around in the 17 century lol

[@robowisanveithasung6022]

@@cj-ace Lol

[@morganyan5580]

who saw the 40k figure 9:07

[@user-ArccommanderBlitz88]

Hi

[@EksaStelmere]

Video: \*Highlights Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism* Fǎjiā: "Have we truly been forgotten?"

[@1hiddenearth]

Wu Zetian ain't no one to prepare fudge with. 😏 As always, I enjoyed this mini-learning-saga. Thank you for half a decade+ of information and entertainment via animated education. Much appreciated. 🫡

[@extrahistory]

Thank you for helping support the channel! All the artists, writers, narrators, production crew & people behind the scenes really appreciate it!

[@Puget55]

It was a natural poisoning

[@alfrancisbuada2591]

Do Andres Bonifacio he needs more attention.

[@CARL_093]

👍👍

[@TyLarson]

Did he say 17th century?

[@jamesonpace726]

Wow, used to be pretty tough having rich, powerful parents. Um, yeah, used to be....

[@Blueon123]

Finally rich by chief keef

[@alexatrr7089]

Woa-man, Its a woman!

[@rickykehler2728]

Wu Hella based

[@brebbread]

bread

[@lionelhubeny404]

hi

[@YD39222]

Emperor ZzzZzzZ

[@user-gi8pk9uc7q]

First and only female emperor in the history of the world!

[@dominicguye8058]

There have been female kings though

[@FrancisTheBerd]

Theodora

[@EGSBiographies-om1wb]

118th

[@devilscry3737]

My God she was a terrible mother

[@darreljones8645]

Why does he keep pronouncing "Taoist" as if it were spelled "Daoist"?

[@WaterShowsProd]

It can be spelt Taoism or Daoism, and pronounced either way.

[@ethanl868]

"Dao" is how it is actually most widely pronounced, in Mandarin. "Tao" is the older and now mostly defunct Wade-Giles system for Romanization.

[@bobted6266]

third

[@samdumaquis2033]

She sounds horrible

[@KazyQ]

Ivan the terrible episode

[@annemccormick2561]

People please I preach to you out of love belive on the lord jesus christ and trust in him for you salvation and not in yourself christ came to die for our sin we have all sinned and deserve hell but god is so merciful and jesus died on the cross to take our punishment so that who ever belive on him will not perish but have eternal life john 3:16 romans 10:9 if we confess with our mouth jesus is lord and belive in our heart that god rose him from the dead we will be saved we can not earn salvation it is the free gift from god❤❤❤❤,,....

[@Googledeservestodie]

Do we know what illness the emperor may have had?