Wu Zetian (Celestial Ascendance)

Like most civilizations, China has been male-dominated throughout much of its history. In most of China's history, women were afforded few rights, and direct power was all but totally denied to them. For a woman to attain the rank of Emperor, to become the most powerful person in China, was almost unheard of. Wu Zetian became the first woman to do so in the entire history of China. She was one of the most remarkable rulers - female or male - the world has ever seen.