In his later years Emperor Gaozong was often ill, and most state affairs were handled by Wu Zetian.
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history
He made 武则天, once a junior consort of his father, his empress in 655. The court came to call the two of them the 二圣 'Two Sages', and in 674 they took the titles 天皇 'Heavenly Emperor' and 天后 'Heavenly Empress'.
culture
He and Wu Zetian lie together in the 乾陵 tomb in Shaanxi, the only Tang imperial tomb that holds two emperors. Her famous blank stele stands in front of it.
