MORE WOMEN RULERS

"I need to learn more about Nefertari, queen of Egypt. Please list her in the Great Rulers section." - William S.
(Nefertari was the first, and principle, queen of Ramses II. Ramses II had many wives and children housed in his large harem. but Nefertari, the "Great Wife," was the one honored in two of Egypt's most famous monuments - her large, beautifully painted tomb in the Valley of the Queens and a temple at Abu Simbel in Nubia. The tomb paintings shows several full-length portraits of a fashionably dressed woman whose flesh was painted with the dark color usually reserved for males. The Abu Simbel temple seems to have been built to establish Nefertari as a cult figure in that part of the world. She also appears as a tiny figure behind the colossal leg of her husband in the first court of the Luxor Temple.
Nefertari had two sons and daughters; her father and brother both held prominent positions in Egypt's political life. She died during the 25th year of Ramses' reign - ca. 1290 to 1224 B.C.E..)

"Irene overthrew and then blinded her son in order to rule in her own name and managed to hold onto her power for five years. She actively intervened the the religious controversy of the time., using her power to favor one doctrine over another."  "I hate what she did to her son in order to keep on ruling, but at least one source I checked states that Charlemagne wouldn't have risen to power if she hadn't ruled in her own right. Lovers of icons should be happy that she fought iconoclasm." - Ann N.

She was regent for her son, Constantine VI from 780-790. After Constantine VI assumed power in 790, he reigned for 7 years before his mother blinded him and reigned for another 5 years. So in reality, her reign lasted for 15 years and fought off several uprisings, although she will most be remembered for her idol worship. - Carl R.

(Her victory over iconoclasm in the council which met in 787 in Constantinople restored the worship of icons in the Byzantine world).

"She was wife of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Granddaughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, and Mother of Philip II (Husband to Queen Mary). Charles V, of Spain and the Hapsburg Empire, needed to make a strong political alliance. He looked to the west to Portugal. Isabella brought unity to a Spain who was longing for leadership with Spanish blood (Charles V being a Hapsburg). Thus Charles V left Isabella to rule Spain on his many absences to fight wars in other countries. She beget him several children, one of whom was to be Philip II of Spain. A strong willed woman, though delicate, She ruled the country and her children with a strong hand. Though a rarity in arranged marriages it is believed Charles and Isabella shared a strong love for one another. When she died in her 30's following a miscarriage, Charles was heartbroken. He collected all the paintings that were done of her and had more commissioned to keep the memory of her alive." - Natasha B

"Born in August of 1102, Maud (also called Matilda) was the daughter of England's King Henry I and his Queen Edith of Scotland....When Maud was about 12 years old, she was sent to marry the Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich V, thus becoming Empress of Germany. The pair were married for some years, but produced no children.
Meanwhile, Maud's elder brother Prince William drowned at sea in the wreck of the White Ship. As William was Henry I's heir, Henry found himself on an increasingly unstable throne. The chief candidate for King now that William was dead was King Henry's nephew Stephen of Blois, son of his sister Adela. But Henry decided that he did not want Stephen to rule after him, and recalled Maud (whose husband had conveniently died). Maud was twenty-three years old at the time, and her father had plans to create her a sort of 'female king'. He arranged a marriage for her with Geoffrey V Plantagenet, the Count of Anjou, who was some eleven years younger than Maud! Despite being a lowly Count, he was extremely powerful, owning a large portion of France. Maud and Geoffrey were notorious for their fighting and angry spats, but were able to produce a son and heir, Henry, who was born in 1133.
Now that his grandson had been born, King Henry gathered together his barons and advisors and made them swear an oath of loyalty to Maud when he died. The King passed away in 1135. Treacherously, Maud's cousin Stephen seized her rightful throne and had himself declared King of England. This plunged England into a frightful civil war, with the added intervention of Anjou. While Stephen was handsome and charismatic, he lacked the confidence to instill loyalty in his followers, who deserted him and switched sides at leisure. Maud's most ardent supporter was her bastard half-brother Robert of Gloucester, who became her commander-in-chief....Maud sent Robert to Anjou to convince her husband to come to her aid. However, Geoffrey declined to help until he had conquered Normandy... In 1143 Robert defeated Stephen at Wilton, but sadly died of a fever a couple of years later.
The death of her devoted half-brother was a major blow to Maud, but she and her son pressed on in their civil war against Stephen. Just a few years later, in 1151, her husband died also, making Maud a widow twice over. On the 25th of October, 1154, Stephen died. Not long afterwards, Maud abdicated the throne she had fought for so long to her eldest son, who became King Henry II, and his Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Maud died September 10th, 1167, in Notre Dame, France, having outlived both her husbands, her father, her brothers, and her cousin. She ruled only briefly as Queen of England, she continued to be known as the Dowager Empress of Germany all her life. It was to be more than three hundred years before another woman would sit on the throne of England, with the coronation of Queen Mary I."  Jessica K.

"I would like to suggest that you add Kim Campbell in your world leaders category. She was the first woman appointed as a Justice Minister in Canada, and became the first female Prime Minister of Canada in 1993. Although she only served in that capacity for about 4 months, she still broke that barrier for women in Canada. You can access a number of different internet sites by searching MSN for "Kim Campbell" or there is a site under: www.cnet.unb.ca/achn/pme/akcdb.htm."  - Corey B. Canada.

"Salamasina was the first and only queen of Samoa. She was related to all the major sovereigns of Polynesia by blood. She was a role model for all the village virgins of Samoa thereforth." - Arny
(The queen united Samoa in the 15th century. A passenger ferry, called the MV Queen Salamasina, served the people of Samoa for many years. She was built in 1977).

"Deborah was one of the Judges of Israel between the death of Joshua and the anointing of Saul as King (See "Judges", the Bible). General Barak refused to lead the battle unless Deborah, as judge and prophetess, accompanied him." - Ann N.
(Deborah is featured in our unit Women in the Ancient Near East)

"Her fights against British colonialists is a story woven throughout the history of Ghana.... She led the Ashantis troops against the British. Yaa Asantewaa's war was the last of the major wars in Africa led by a woman." - Mary Ann P.

"She died in 1930 after becoming the first woman to rule in over three thousand years of Ethiopian history. She was a strong and intelligent woman who ruled the country from 1917-1930."  - Arsema, Ethiopia

"Queen Zenobia challenged the Roman empire and ruled the city-state of Palmyra in the third century A.D. Palmyra was an important stopping point for caravans carry trade goods along the Old Silk Road. She declared Palmyra independent of Roman rule after her husband's murder. In their first attempts the Roman generals failed badly. Zenobia was an extremely able general....but was finally captured and taken captive back to Rome and walked in golden chains in Aurelian's triumphal parade." - Joseph A.
"Zenobia's husband died, but before he did, she bore him a son. Since the son wasn't of age to rule, she ruled in his place. She expanded her empire to three times it's size while she was in power....It didn't say whether she died while being held captive or not." - Michelle O.

“ Zenobia governed Syria from about 250 to 275 AD. She led her armies on horseback wearing full armor and during Claudius' reign defeated the Roman legions so decisively that they retreated from much of Asia Minor. Arabia, Armenia and Persia allied themselves with her and she claimed dominion over Egypt by right of ancestry. Claudius' successor Aurelian sent his most experienced legions to conquer Zenobia but it took almost 4 years of battles and sieges before her capital city of Palmyra fell and Zenobia along with nine other martial queens of allied provinces were paraded through the streets of Rome in chains. Aurelian exiled Zenobia to Tibur. Her daughters married into influential Roman families and her line continued to be important in Roman politics for almost three centuries.” - Kathleen O’B.

(1626-1689)  "She was an intellect who transformed her court into a 'New Athens" by attracting the finest minds to her throne to Stockholm. She turned Sweden into an empire that dominated the Baltics and parts of Germany. After ten years in power, she abdicated, wandered through Europe, converted to Catholicism, and tried to secure the throne of Naples, again Sweden, and Poland. In all attempts she failed. "She was an excellent political navigator and did it all on her own!" - Sweetpea

"Empress in her own right, and certainly the power behind the throne of her brother Anastasius II. She convened the council of Ephesus at which the Virgin Mary was declared "Theotokos" - (Mother of God). They ruled together for fifteen or so years." - Christopher K.

"The most married monarch of the Macedonian dynasty. She legitimized three husbands as emperor as she was the imperial heir." - Christopher K.
The see our biographic information on Zoe click here.

The women of Kashmir from early times down to the 12th century C.E. played prominent roles in the political life of the region. "The widowed Queen Didda ruled Kashmir from 980/1 - 1003, first as a regent for her son Abhimanyu, and thereafter as sole ruler in her own right after killing her three grandsons. Her influence behind the throne spans 50 years, covering the reign of her husband, King Kshemagupta, the time of her regency, and later as sovereign ruler. She eventually handed over the throne to her maternal family from Lohara in undisputed, peaceful succession. Didda was very beautiful but was apparently lame. She was able to transform herself from a comparatively unsure and politically naive persona into a ruthless, decisive and ambitious one. Her alternate bribe-and-placation policy helped in quelling rebellions..."- Devika - India.

Sister of a French King, Isabella married Edward II, King of England. Told that Isabella was plotting against him, in 1324 Edward took away her estates, cut her allowance, and friends at court. "She raised an army against his weak kingship, he abdicated [or was perhaps murdered by her], and she was not named the Regent, but took over the reigns of power with her lover, Roger Mortimer. She ruled for several years, until her son Edward III took over when he chose to." - Kelli - Michigan, USA.

"Thrace had queens of equal rank to its kings. Audata, general of her army and warrior, married King Philip of Macedon, Alexander's father...But when Philip finally conquered the rest of Greece, he no longer needed her alliance and divorced her. Back to her other kingdom, with the daughter she had from this marriage, she organized her army and trained her daughter to be at its head, and formed alliances with all the neighboring kingdoms who wished to get rid of Philip. But the time she and her daughter were ready, Philip had been murdered and Alexander was on the throne, and Audata was senile." - D., Greece.

She was "a queen of Epirus in her own right and ruled on the throne of Macedon and even after Philips's death nearly won all the battles she led against successors." She acted as regent for Philip during his military campaigns, and after his death, with her daughter Cleopatra, she ruled Epirus. - D., Greece.

Interested in power and wealth, she managed to manipulate her uncle/husband, Claudius and position her son, Nero, to become emperor. She may have murdered Claudius by poison. She remained a power behind Nero's throne, but when she threatened to dethrone him, Nero, after many failed attempts, managed to get her assassinated. "Due to her great influence on both the emperors (even coins of her were made without the picture of Claudius on the reverse), I think she would fit your biographies." - W. S., Austria.

Candace was the Greek name given to all the impressive Nubian/Kushite warrior queens. One "was such a great military leader that Alexander the Great simply chickened out from matching his army against hers. (in 332 BC)." Instead he turned to wage a more successful war in Egypt. - R. de R., Nicaragua

"She was a homgongous headache for the Romans until she swallowed poison to avoid being caught." - R. de R., Nicaragua  (Featured in our unit, I Will Not Bow My Head)

She sponsored music, singing, and the creation of literature written in the local language. Poet singers wrote versus of praise and respect for women in her court, raising the value of women in the eyes of the rough nobility. She was "a countess in Champagne during the 1100s (and) very much responsible for the way women are treated here today." - N. & B.

Nandi, with other women surrounding Shaka, was put in charge of military kraals and given power to govern while he was on campaign. Nandi was a force for moderation in Shaka's life, suggesting various political compromises to him rather than violent action. At her death, in an orgy of grief, he committed extreme violence against his own people for not mourning correctly. - R. de R., Nicaragua

Razia, who ruled during the Mughal era in India, was "the only woman who ever sat on an Indian throne." It was her father who wished her accession to his throne, over her brothers. Once there, she dressed as a man and appeared in public with her face uncovered. Her her choice of a lower class lover and unfortunate military losses led to her downfall." - S. & R. de R..
"Razia's ancestors were from Moslems of Turkish descent who invaded India in the 11th century. Like other Moslem princesses, she was trained to lead armies and administer kingdoms if necessary. Contrary to custom, her father selected her over her brothers to be his successor....She established peace and order, encouraged trade, built roads, planted trees, dug wells, supported poets, painters, and musicians, constructed schools and libraries, appeared in public without the veil, wore tunic and headdress of a man. State meetings were often open to the populace at large. Yet, she made enemies when she tried to eliminate some of the discriminations against her Hindu subjects. She died in battle trying to regain her kingdom." - Leela S.

She ruled India not for a long period but as long as she ruled, ruled very bravely and
courageously. She finally fell victim of palace intrigue and was killed by the people on whom the responsibility of her protection
was bestowed. - Shafiqul A.M.

(Featured in our unit, I Will Not Bow My Head)

"She ruled and fought against the British. She is the lady ruler most referred to in India history." - R. S.
"Lakshmi Bhai, Queen of Jhansi. was the great heroine of the First war of India Freedom, Lakshmi Bai, the Rani of principality called Jhansi in northern India , led an uprising against a takeover of her homeland by the British. She became a heroine and a symbol of resistance to to the British rule. She lived for only twenty-two years. She became a window in the eighteenth year. Jhansi was in the grip of the cunning British. She was the embodiment of patriotism, self-respect and heroism. ...The Rani was active in defending her country and was in charge of the eastern side of defense. However, she lost her life on the second day of fighting. The British won back Gwalior, where she ruled...A popular Indian ballad said that she was the most dangerous of all the rebel leaders." - Leela S.
(More information on Lakshmi Bai can be found in I Will Not Bow My Head)

"She defended her throne against Frederick the Great of Prussia and unified the diverse regions of her Austro-Hungarian Empire. She instituted a policy of centralized government and inaugurated social and economic reforms." "She was an excellent ruler and an interesting character."- R. de R., Nicaragua & M. W., the UK.
"Empress Maria Theresia was the first woman on a throne in middle Europe, ruled over a empire inhabited by different peoples (Hungary, Austrians, Germans, etc.) Frederic II of Prussia was her principal enemy and she proved to be his equal. Mother of eleven children (among them Marie - Antoinette of France) she was a wise and powerful ruler without losing her womanly and motherly qualities. She became a symbol of Austria. Her portrait on coins, the Maria Theresia Taler was worldfamous and spread all over the world. In Ethiopia it was the currency up to World War II." - Carol S.

"Educated as a doctor, she was Norway's first prime minister in 1981. Her first government consisted on 18 person, with eight women ministers. She stayed as primer minister for three periods. Her first government didn't last for long, but she came back strong in 1986, and stayed there throughout 1989. Now she is president of the WHO (World Health Organization.)" - G. T., Norway.

Corazon rose to power following the assassination of her husband, a popular political leader opposed to the Marco regime. "She was a great leader and people do look up to her as a role model." - V.

"She became primer minister ( in 1960) following her husband's assassination. She was the first woman elected to lead a country. Her son was the leader of the opposition and her daughter - Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga - is now the executive president of Sri Lanka. She plans to abolish the presidency and sit in parliament. This itself will make history." - Ms. W., Sri Lanka.

She was also known as Wu Zetian - D. (To see our biography on Empress Wu Zetian - click here.)

She was elected the First female Governor of Puerto Rico in November of 2000 and she will take power in January 2, 2001. - Del Valle J.    
(Sila 's "Popular Democratic Party" is opposed to statehood, which was championed by the outgoing governor Pedro Rossello. She also wants the U.S. Navy to get out of its bombing range on Vieques Island immediately. She is past major of San Juan and a former vice president of Citibank in Puerto Rico. She has said, "When I was a little girl everybody who had power were men. Now girls know that it is very normal for power to be shared with men and women." - Women in World History Curriculum)

"She was twice elected as the Prime Minister of New Zealand. And before that we had another. " -Frances V. - New Zealand
[additional site comments: Jenny Shipley was Prime Minister from 1997 to 1999. Heading up the conservative National Party, she was the first women in New Zealand to serve as Prime Minister. A former primary school teacher and farmer, she rose quickly in her party to become first Social Welfare Minister and then Health Minister. Her reforms in both these agencies, which led to cuts, made her a prime target for Labour opposition leader Helen Clark. Clark's priorities have been quite different than Shipley's. A social activist whose involvement in politics was sparked by issues such as the Vietnam war, apartheid in South Africa, and nuclear testing in the South Pacific, she continued to work for peace and disarmament, conservation, and housing. Elected to office in 1999, she has made support of the arts an important part of her agenda as well.]

"Are you planning on having any articles about Empress Himiko, the first ruler of ancient Japan. In such a male dominated society, having a female as their first leader seems pretty cool." - Megan D.
(Himiko (or Pimiko) came to power in about 183 C.E. After years of constant warfare, the people decided to take a woman as a rule. Himiko had shamanic authority that was translated into political power. She was described in the Wei chronicles as being unmarried, living in relative seclusion, and attended by many women. The only male in her palace transmitted her words to society as a whole. She also sent envoys to China to pay homage to the Chinese emperor, which led to trade and diplomatic relations between the two countries. - Women in World History Curriculum).

"You should include Wilma Mankiller. She was principle Chief of the Cherokee People. And the first woman to rule a captive nation within the confines of the United States." - Carol C.

(Mankiller was elected to office of principle chief, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, in 1985. Her goal was to create a financially independent and self-governing Cherokee Nation, and in 1990 helped re-establish the Cherokee tribal judicial system).

“There are women political personalities from Asia that this website does not mention. Ms. Khaleda Zia being one.” - S. Chowdhury
(Prime minister of Bangladesh from 20 Mar 1991 to 30 Mar 1996 and again from 10 Oct 2001 to current date (2003). Khaleda became involved in politics after the death of her husband, Ziaur Rahman, President of the country who assassinated in 1981. She heads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and is a close rival of Sheikh Hasina. - Women in World History Curriculum).

“There are women political personalities from Asia that this website does not mention. Ms Sheikh Hasina being one.” - S. Chowdhury
(Sheikh Hasina was Prime minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001. She is the daughter of Sheik Mujibur Rahman who is considered by many to be the founder of modern Bangladesh - not related to Ziaur Rahman. After five years in office, she and her party, the Awami League, lost the 2001 general elections to her rival Khaleda Zia. - Women in World History Curriculum).

“There are women political personalities from Asia that this website does not mention. Benazir Bhutto being one.” - S. Chowdhury
(Benazir was Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 6 Aug 1990, and again from 1993 to 5 Nov 1996. Daughter of former ruler Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was overthrown in 1977 and executed by the military regime in 1979, she was only 35 when she was elected Prime Minister, becoming the first woman to lead a Muslim nation in modern age. Differences between her Government and the Establishment, however, led to her dismissal in 1990. She returned to power in 1993, but again was dismissed by the president in 1996 on charges of corruption. She was assassinated December 27, 2007 as she was campaigning ahead of elections due in January 2008.- Women in World History Curriculum).

“During the 180s four women ruled over the India Ocean island of Madagascar beginning with Ranavalona I 1828-61, Rasoherina, 1863-68, Ranavalona II 918688888-83) and Ranavalona III (1883-96 - deposed and exiled 1896).” - R. Duncan
(The unification of many small kingdoms into one occurred in the 19th century. Ranavalona I was the widow of Radama, the second king, and she succeeded him to the throne. She was know for her refusal to sign the treaties of white foreigners and for repelling two European invasions. The widows of her son, queens Rasoherina and Ranavalona II ruled but held less authority than did the first Ranavalona. The last queen of Madagascar was Ranavalona III, who was exiled by the French to the island of Reunion, and then to Algeria. - Women in World History Curriculum).

“Despite the fact that Elisabeth (also known as Sisi), Empress of Austria and Queen of a range of small states from Dalmatia to Hungary, was never allowed to rule or never took the opportunity to exert a sense of independence into her station, she is still a particular favourite historical figure. She was brought up very far away from court life, in a liberal family where she was the least important people of the household...[In 1853] she married Emperor Franz-Joseph of Austria, whom she hardly knew, and did not whoolly want to be married to....
Being a bit of a mummy's boy, Franz-Joseph was very dependent on his mother, the Archduchess Sophie, and trusted only her in state business. Elisabeth was only his wife and the child bearer of the Empire. Her first child (of four) was a daughter named Sophie, born when Sisi was just 16. Sisi was practically forbidden to see her, and was not included in any of her upbringing. The same goes for her next two children, another daughter (to the dismay of the Empire) and a son.
Though her father had caused her to be an opinionated young woman, and despite the fact that Sisi tried very hard to be politically aware, she was almost forgotten away from the bedroom. She was immensely beautiful, a fact noticed by all her subjects, but she hated to be cooped up in palaces, used only as a figure of style, grace, and beauty, and she felt that she could do more as an Empress. She became very depressed, and starved herself to try and become the perfectly petite person that her mother in law and husband wanted.
Franz-Joseph and Elisabeth eventually [were] crowned King and Queen of Hungary, merging it together to become the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This was something that Sisi threw herself into headlong... She learnt to speak fluent Hungarian (one of the most difficult of languages) in a matter of weeks in preparation for her presentation to the Hungarian people. And as for them? They fell instantly in love with her..... Sisi was the 'Hungarian Queen.'...
Still, Sisi was shunned to the side. Her husband refused to let her help in the governing of Hungary, and she was confined to visiting orphanages and hospitals in the surrounding area. This became her next passion....The poorer people of Austria came to love their simple Empress who was born and bred and conditions closer to theirs than the palace she hated so much.
Convinced that she could do more, she took to expressing herself in her poetry, and pushing her lost dreams into her children....Though Empress Elisabeth of Austria never came around to changing the society she lived in and so hated, she is still an example. Why? Because she is a prime example of a woman with potential and hope to change a world - as was her original plan - which soon became a woman enclosed on her own depression, cooped up in a void of unhappiness. The way women of promise have been shunned over history must stand as an example for the future so that people like Sisi are never under estimated and forgotten about again.” - Lucy B.
[Edited by Women in World History Curriculum]

“A pirate queen of Galway, Ireland who gave Elizabeth Rex a run for her money. ‘Twice widowed, twice imprisoned, fighting her enemies both Irish and English for her rights, condemned for piracy, and finally pardoned in London by Queen Elizabeth herself, Gráinne was one of the few sea-raiders to retire from the sea and die in her own bed, though where she's buried remains a mystery.’ See site; www.legends.dm.net/pirates/grainne.html” - Kathleen O’B.

“Queen and Warrior of the Brigantes tribe which worshipped Brigantia the Goddess Queen of the Land as their direct ancestress - her name means "sleek pony". She refused to join Bouddicca's revolt. See site; www.romans-in-britain.org.uk/clb_tribe_brigantes.htm” - Kathleen O’B.

"Artemisia I, ruler of the Greek city-state of Halicarnassus and Cos and advisor to Xerxes the ruler of the Persian empire, assisted him in his attacks on the Greeks by commanding a force of warships in the naval battle of Salamis around 480 BC.”- Kathleen O’B.

“ One of a number of Spartan princesses who led female troops. She fought against Pyrrhus during the siege of Lacedemon in the 3rd century BC. The Princess Chelidonis captained women warriors atop the city wall during a siege of Sparta in 280 BC.” - Kathleen O’B.

“Zabibi and her successor Samsi reigned as Arabian warrior queens from approximately 740 to 720 BC. Both commanded armies containing large numbers of women.” - Kathleen O’B.
( They fought against the Assyrians.)

“Mavia was Queen of the Bedouin Saracens from 370 to 380 AD. She led her troops in defeating a Roman army then made a favorable peace and married her daughter to the Roman commander in chief of the eastern Emperor Valens.” - Kathleen O’B.

“An 8th century religious leader, the Kahina, united the Byzantine and Berber forces against the invading Arab army. She maintained an independent Berber monarchy for many years before her death in battle against the Arabs.” - Kathleen O’B.

“Aethelflaed, oldest daughter of Alfred the Great, was considered the chief tactician of her time. She united Mercia, conquered Wales and subdued the Danes becoming the de facto ruler of the Mercians and Danes. She was killed in battle in June 918 AD at Tammorth in Staffordshire.” - Kathleen O’B.
(She was first known as “The Lady of the Mercians.” Later, the Mercians felt these terms insufficiently strong and called her “lord” and “king.”)

“Nancy Ward -Cherokee warrior and ‘Beloved Woman,’ the title of civil leaders of the Cherokee, was “still very young when she married a warrior named Kingfisher; while still a teenager, she bore two children. When she went to battle with her husband, at Taliwa against the Creeks, she was just 17, maybe younger. She chewed bullets for her husband's musket; a well-masticated bullet was known to cause more damage in enemy flesh. When her husband fell dead, Nany'hi took up her husband's musket. She was honored for her bravery with the title Ghigau, or Beloved Woman, the highest title available to Cherokee women, a sacred position that sometimes trumped the highest chiefs. Considering the Cherokee held women in higher esteem than any other tribe, especially the pale one, Nancy Ward may have been the highest-ranking woman in America." - Kathleen O’B.

"Antoinette defied Versailles etiquette gracefully to expose its falseness, and became an excellent state craftswoman in a hurry when she became queen." - Sweetpea

"She was adored by millions for her more than monumental role in Argentina's 'healing' and personally saw and spoke with (as well as answered) 10,000 letters a day. She called Juan's and her supporters the 'shirtless ones." - Sweetpea.

"Being the daughter of King John of England, she owed her loyalties to her father due to the fact that he provided her a suitable title. Joan was born from an outcast mother who played mistress to King John, and was illegitimate. Her father being able to gain her the title of Princess of Wales was a feat that earned her respect and loyalty. At the beginning of her marriage with Llewelyn, she showed her first sign of spunk by burning her husband's bed after she walked in on him with his lover. At the time she was only 14, and didn't know that under Welsh law, she could have rightfully murdered the woman her husband was with... Llewelyn and King John became allies through the marriage of Joanna. While Llewelyn would assist King John on crusades and paid him homage, King John constantly betrayed their alliance by encouraging wars among the Marcher lords and stirring up trouble for Llewelyn. Knowing this, Joanna openly defied her father when her husband was forced to yet again pay homage to the king and pay him a ridiculous amount of money. When Llewelyn paid homage to the king, Joanna walked over to her husband, knelt, and swore fealty and loyalty to him. She ruled alongside her husband in Wales, created a scandal or two, but was still considered a powerful and loyal woman." - Star M.

"I think Anne should be added because she was queen of France twice and was an intelligent woman...and was very kind." - Student D.
(Anne was a woman of great wealth and land. She first married Maximilian of Austria - a marriage that was annulled when he failed to protect her duchy. After her second husband, King Charles VIII of France, died, her lands were so valuable that Louis XII, his successor, divorced his own wife so that he could marry Anne. Anne was a resourceful woman who used to power and influence to help promote high culture in France. She was an influential part of the intellectual climate of the Renaissance. During the reign of Charles VIII, she commissioned the translation of Boccaccio's "Concerning Famous Women," and filled her court with educated women and discussions of platonic love. She inherited the volumes that both husbands had bought or stolen from Italy during her husband's campaigns, and commissioned some more to be made to enrich her collection.)

"What about Roxelana, also known as Rossa, also known as Haseki Hurrem, who got Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent to marry her. She had quite a lot of power over him." - Ann N.
(Hurrem is featured in our curriculum unit A Message for the Sultan.)

“Great dame of the late Roman Republic and the first really modern woman in history considered herself equal with men and lived according to this. She directed her son Brutus’ career and Caesar’s, as his most loving mistress. She led Roman and world political life with Caesar until his death. From this she led the Senate and thereby Rome to the start of Augustus’ reign.” S. Kondra

“She was legendary with her beauty, and powerful and clever. She was the last civilized ruler of Greece in the middle age, and only woman leader in the conquered Greece by crusaders. After her domination her kingdom fell into anarchy.” S. Kondra