In 690 CE, after Gaozong’s death, Wu Zetian took an extraordinary step—she declared herself emperor, founding her own dynasty, the Zhou Dynasty, and ruling under the title "Empress Regnant." Her decision to rule as emperor was unprecedented in Chinese history, and it sparked ou

Wu Zetian (625–705 CE) stands as one of the most remarkable and controversial figures in Chinese history. She was the only woman in China to ever rule as emperor in her own right. Her reign as the sole monarch of the Tang Dynasty has been the subject of both admiration and criticism throughout

In the 20th century, the Pennant family’s fortunes began to decline. The estate was eventually passed down through several generations, but with no direct heirs to the title, the family decided to sell Penrhyn Castle to the National Trust in 1951. This decision ensured that the castle would be

The transformation of Penrhyn Castle into the imposing Victorian mansion we recognize today began in the early 19th century. Following the death of Sir Charles Pennant, the estate was inherited by his nephew, George Hay Dawkins-Pennant, who became the 1st Baron Penrhyn. In the 1820s, George, a man o