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Worldwide
Guide to Women in Leadership
FEMALE GOVERNORS
prior to the 20th century
Listed are
women who were government of countries, understate entities
outlying territories
and provinces
(Last updated 2008)
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Circa 2459-2401 Governor of Markellashi in the Elam District (Iraq) |
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Daughter of King Dungi of Ur (2450-01) in the Mesopotamian Area - today's
Iraq. |
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B.C. circa 1790-1745 Mayor Kirum of Khaya-Sumu's City in Ilansura
(Mesopotamia)
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One of the many daughters of King Zimri-Lim of Mari. She was
married to Khaya-Sumu of Ilansura and her father appointed her Mayor of
Khaya-Sumus' city. She not only administered the city, but also dispensed
political advice to her father. This displeased her husband, who also
married her sister, Shimatum, creating a bitter rivalry, and in the end
she returned back home to her father. |
 |
990-969
Governor of Foreign Countries Queen Nesihonsu of Egypt,
Viceroy
of Nubia |
| Politically influential in Egypt during the reign of her
husband and uncle pharaoh and High Priest of Amon
Pinodzhem II of Egypt, who appointed her Vice-Queen and Chief of Foreign
Countries. She was daughter of High Priest of Amon and pharaoh Smendes II. |
 |
Circa 353-50
Satrap of Asia Minor,
Queen Artemisia II of Karia, Rodhos and Harlikarnassos
(Turkey) |
|
As
Satrap of Asia Minor,
she was
Vice-Reine of the Persian King. Circa 377-53
she had been co-ruler with her husband and brother, King Mausolos of Karia
and Rodhos, who died 353.
After Mausolos' death in 353, she became ruler in her own right, and
constructed the 49 meters high monumental tomb "Mausoleum" at the center
of the city which is a magnificent piece of art in the Hellenistic world
and one of the Seven Wonders of the antique era. |
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340-35 and 334-20
Satrap
of Asia Minor,
Queen Ada II of Karia (Turkey) |
|
Also Satrap of Persia, and was co-ruler with her brother and husband
Idrieus, and after his death she ruled alone for three years until her
younger brother, Pixadarus (341-335), deposed her. She moved to her
fortress Alinda, where she held out for several years. When her Pixadarus
died, she his son-in-law Orontobates, claimed the throne, but Ada
prevented this, but later married him. In 334,
Alexander The Great invaded Halikarnassus and re-appointed her to the
throne. |
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Circa 774
Governor Cara Zon of
Carcasson (Spain)
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A Marurian-Arab Princess. She defended the city-state against Charles the Great.
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1196-1261 Hereditary
Sheriff and 3rd Countess Ela Salisbury Longespee
of Salisbury (United Kingdom)
1226-28 and 1131-36 Countess of Wiltshire
1240-57 Abbess of Lacock
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Married to William Longsworth, Earl of Salisbury by the right of
his wife (d. 1226), son of king Richard I. She was a woman of strong character.
She and William de Longespee each laid a foundation stone of the new Salisbury
Cathedral. During one of his long journeys abroad, when others feared he had
been lost, she refused to marry any of the suitors who had their eye on her
fortune and steadfastly believed in her vision of his return. She was proved
correct. On his death, William was the first to be buried in the Cathedral and
his fine tomb stands in the nave. Ela founded two religious houses in his
memory, one for men at Hinton Charterhouse and the other for women at Lacock.
It is said that she laid the foundation stones for both on the same day, 16
April 1232, requiring a journey of 16 miles. Ela joined Lacock Abbey as a nun
in 1238, and in 1241 became it's first abbess. She lived (1187-1261). |
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1216-18
Hereditary Sheriff Lady Nicola de la
Hay of Lincolnshire and
Constable of Lincoln Castle (United Kingdom) |
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Succeeded father, also as Lady Hay, together with Phillip Mar of Nottingham. She defended her territory
against attacking forces during the rebellion against King John. She was married
to Gerad de Camville and lived (circa 1160-ca.1218). |
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1236-40 Acting Caliph-Governor Dayfat Hatun of
Syria |
| Acted in the name of her grandson Yusuf II al-Malik an Nasir Salah al-Din.
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1283-85
Governor Queen Constance de
Aragón of
Sicily (Italy) |
| In 1262 her father,
Manfredo, arranged her
marriage to Infant Pedro of Aragon. Manfredo lost his crown and life in 1266,
and she was his heir - though the throne remained in the hands of
Charles of Anjou, a brother of King Louis IX of France. Her husband gave her in her own
right the title of Queen, before succeeding to the throne in 1276. In 1282 her
husband - now Pedro III made a triumphant entry into Messina, and in the
following year she left for Sicilia, and it was
announced that the Infant Jaime would be heir to Sicily as the elder son,
Alfonso, would remain heir of Aragon. In the case of Jaime's minority, Constance
would act as regent. Pedro III had to depart Sicily, leaving Constance in
charge.
In November 1285 Constance's husband died at Villafranca de Penadres where he
was buried, and the following year Jaime was crowned - though both she and her
son were excommunicated by the pope.
When in 1291 her eldest son, Alfonso III,
died childless Jaime succeeded him, remaining king of both countries until 1296 when
Fadrique, Constance's third
son, became King of Sicilia. Constance returned to Spain and lived (1249-1301). |
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1286-92 Regent Dowager Queen
Agnes af
Brandenburg of Denmark
1286 Royal County Sheriff of
Lolland-Falster |
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Regent for Erik IV after her husband, Erik V was assassinated. Lolland-Falster
was her dowry which she administered as a royal fief, being in charge of
aspects of the local administration. She later married
Count Gerhard II of Holsten and became mother of another son, Johann, and died
1304. |
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1326-28 and 1328-29
Acting Vicar
Margarete van Holland of Pisa (Italy) |
| Acted as representative of her husband Emperor Ludwig IV, who was Lord of Pisa 1326-29. |
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1338-39
Acting Caliph
Governor and Principal Minister Sati Beg Hatun of the Mongols Il Khans Empires
in Persia (Iran)
|
| Used the title Al-sultana al-radila Sati Bek Khan Khallad
Allah mulkaha - The just sultana Sati Bek, may Allah perpetuate her
reign, and was daughter and sister of some of the earlier rulers. After Mohammad
was overthrown, she took power and married Suleiman, who became titular
co-ruler. The Mongols Il Khans controlled Persia as a sort of local
Mongol authority under the Great Horde.
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1354-59
Acting Governor
Jelena Subica of Rama
(Bosnia) |
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Regent for the ban (governor) Tvrtko I (1353-77/91), who succeeded his
uncle, her husband, Stjepan II Kotromanic, initially with his father, Prince
Vladislav as regent. After his death she took over as regent.
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1359-63 Sovereign Countess
Marie de Capet-Bourbon of Vestitza (Greece)
1364 Governor of Kephalliena (Greek Island State)
1364-70 Sovereign Princess of Achaia (Morea) (Greece) |
| Succeeded the Baronesses Agnes and Guillermetta (Wilhelmina). In Kephalliena
and Achaia she followed her husband
Hugues de Lusignan. |
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1395-97 and
1398-99 Regent-Governor
Queen Maria López de Luna of Aragón (Spain) |
| Acted as
stand-in for husband, King Martin, who was in Sicily where he was also
king. She was Countess de Luna and (d. 1406).
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1409-15
Vice-Reine Blanca de Navarra of Sicilia (Italy) |
| Widow of
Martin I de Aragón (1392-1409). His first wife was Maria of Sicilia,
Duchess of Athens and he was succeeded by his father, Martin II
(1409-10). 1410-12 the throne of Aragon was vacant, until Federico I de
Aragon became king. Blanca lived (1385-1441) |
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1411-19
Governor and Sultan Tandu of Baghdad (Iraq) |
| Also known as
Tindu, she belonged to the Jalarid Dynasty, a branch of the Ilkhan Mongol
rulers, and daughter of king Awis. She was first married to
al-Zahir Barquq, the last Mamluk king of Egypt. She did not like life in
Cairo and her husband let her go back to Baghdad, where she married her
cousin Shah Walad bin Ali, the Governor for the Caliph, and after his
death she acceded to the throne, had coins stuck in her name and the
khutba (sovereign's prayer) proclaimed in her name in the mosques. She
was one of the last Mongol rulers in the area. |
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1416-56
Governor
Queen
Maria
of Aragón and Catalunya (Spain) |
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Regent in Aragón and Cataluña during her husband, Alfonso V's warfare in
Italy, conquering Napoli from Giovanna II.
|
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Around 1434 Governor
Princess Medhyn Zemeda of Damot (Ethiopia) |
| Also held the
high office of "keń bituedded" Daughter of Emperor Zera
Jaykob (ruled 1434-68) appointed his daughters to high state offices and
governors in the provinces. Her sister, Byrhan Zemeda, held the office
of "gyr bituedded". |
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Around 1434 Governor
Princess Amete Meszih of Amhara (Ethiopia) |
| Also daughter of
Emperor Zera Jaykob. |
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Around 1434
Governor Princess Dyl Semra of Tigraj (Ethiopia) |
| Also daughter of
Emperor Zera Jaykob. |
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Around
1434 Governor Princess Atsnaf Semra of Godzham (Ethiopia) |
| Also daughter of
Emperor Zera Jaykob |
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Around 1434
Governor Princess Rom Genejda of Scheua (Ethiopia) |
| Also daughter of
Emperor Zera Jaykob. |
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Around 1434
Governor Princess Atsnaf Segedu of Geń (Ethiopia) |
| Also daughter of
Emperor Zera Jaykob. |
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Around 1434
Governor Princess Sofija of Gyddym (Ethiopia) |
| Also the
Princess Tsebele Marjam (or Abala Marjam), Amete Gijorgis and Bahyr
Mengyscha were governors, but it is not known of which provinces. |
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1451-61
Governor
Queen
Juana Enriques de
Melagar of Navarra
1461-62 Governor of Cataluña/Catalunya (Spain) |
|
For her husband, Juan II of Aragón, who took over the crown of Navarra after the
death of his first wife Queen Blanca I. |
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1481-1521 Royal County Sheriff
Queen Christine von Sachsen of Denmark of Tranekær, Næsbyhoved,
Koldinghus and Ribe Len (Denmark)
1500-02 In charge of the government in
Sweden |
| Married to King Hans of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and was given the fiefs for her personal use after he became king. In 1500-02 she was in charge of the government in Sweden during his engagement elsewhere. She was under
siege from the Swedish nobility and kept in captivity 1502-03. After Hans' death in 1513 she withdrew to her fiefs, being in charge of aspects of the local administration. She died (1521). |
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1484-95 Sheriff
Birgitte Olufsdatter Thott of Dronningholm, Denmark
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A major land-owner, she was married to the Swedish Councillor of State and
lagmand Erengisle Nilsson, who died 1469. She was in dispute with her
husband's children of first marriage over her Swedish castles, and with
her step-mother, Anne Present, over the ownership of Vallø-Castle,
which Birgitte had inherited from her mother, Karen Falk. She was
supported by the Danish king, who appointed her Lensmand (County Sheriff)
of the Royal
Lands of Dronningholm, and as such
she was in charge
of local administration. She sold many of her possessions to king
Hans. Much of her troubles with inheritance and keeping on to her lands
must be seen as a result of her having no children. (d. 1498) |
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1504-12
Politically Influential Mette Iversdatter Dyre in Sweden
1515-circa 27 County Sheriff of Hørby (Denmark) |
|
Known as Mätta
Ivarsdotter in Sweden, she was very influential during the regency of
her third husband was
Svante Nilsson Sture, who was Regent of Sweden for King Hans of Denmark,
Norway and Sweden. She was Svante's assistant and advisor, and an
influential power in the national counsel. In important questions the
great men rather went to her than to her husband. In 1507
she defended Stockholm Castle and in 1510 she was his representative
in Finland. After her husband's death in 1512 she was in dispute with her
step-son, Sten Sture the Younger, about some of her dowry. In 1515 King
Christian 2. appointed Sheriff (Lensmand) of the Bishoply Fief of Hørby near
Holbæk and as Chancellor of the Convent of Saint Agnete in Roskilde.
Her first two husbands were the Norwegian Councillors of the Realm,
Anders van Bergen (d. 1491) and Knut Alvsson (d. 1502). She lived (circa
1460-ca.1527). |
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1507-15
and 1518-30 General-Stadtholder Margareta von Habsburg of the
Netherlands |
| Her
nephew, Emperor Karl V, appointed her regent of the Netherlands. She was daughter of
Emperor Maximilian and Duchess Marie of
Bourgogne. Divorced from her first husband Charles VIII pf Framce, her second husband,
Juan, the Crown Prince of Aragón and Castilla, died shortly after their
marriage in 1497. In 1501 she married Duke Philiberto II of Savoie,
who died three years later. She was also Countess of Artois, Bourgogne,
Charolais and Franche-Comté (1482-1530), as Marguerite II.
She had no children, and lived (1480-1530) |
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1507-18 and
1523-35 County Sheriff Anne Meinstrup of Højstrup, Denmark |
| Also known as
Anne Holgers, she was first married to Holger Eriksen Rosenkrantz and
secondly to Jørgen Ahlefeldt, who was killed in battle in 1500. After
this period she took care of herself and her own possessions, inherited
from her parents. In 1507 she took over the fief of Højstrup as security
(becoming Lensmand or County Sheriff) for a major lone she had given to King Hans. Around 1516 she was
appointed Hofmesterinde (Mistress of the Court) of Queen Elisabeth von
Habsburg. From the following year until 1522 she stayed in Northern
Germany because she had criticized the relationship of King Christian 2
to Dyveke. After Christian fled the country, she returned and was re-appointed both Hofmesterinde and Lensmand. During the civil war,
Grevens Fejde (War of the Count), she supported Count Christoffer, while
her son, Holger Holgersen Rosenkrantz, supported the later Christian 3.,
but was killed in battle in 1534. Some months later Count Christoffer
had called for a meeting at the "Assembly in Ringsted", and
here she was killed by peasant-soldiers. She lived (circa
1475-1535). |
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1510-52
Governor Sayyida al-Hurra of Tetouán (Morocco) |
| First
confirmed as prefect and then appointed governor of the city state of Tetouán
("Hakima Tatwan"). She was the undisputed leader of the
pirates in the western Mediterranean. She was married to Sultan
Al-Mandri and after his death she married Ahmad al-Wattasi, who reigned
(1524-49). After her first husband's death, she gained the title al-hurra
(Sovereign Lady). She
was member of the Andalusian noble family, Banu Rashid, who immigrated
to Morocco after the Christian conquest of Muslim Spain. She was deposed
in 1552. |
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1513-50 County
Sheriff Else Pederdatter Tot of Sundsherred, Denmark
1521-47 County Sheriff of Nørvangsherred and Hønberg |
| She was first
married to Claus Krummedige and secondly to Thomas Nilsson (Lange).
Today the family spells the name Thott. |
|
1514-15
Acting Governor Maria Alvarez de Toledo of Hispanola/Las Isla Espanola (Spanish
Possession) |
| Today
The Dominican Republic and Haïti. Her husband, Diogo
Colón, was Vice-roy 1509-14 and 152023. |
|
1515-19 De Facto Governor
Alfonsina Orsini of The Republic of Firenze (Italy) |
|
As
mother of the de facto ruler of Florence, Lorenzo
II de' Medici, she was able to govern during his
absence. She was involved in the strategic planning of Florence's war
with the French and the plans for making a treaty as well as her
oversight of Pope Leo's entry into Florence in November 1515. Her
governorship was indicative of the increasingly signora nature of the
Medici regime and that she had far more power, influence and authority
than the previous generation of Medici women. She was the daughter of Roberto Orsini, Conte Tagliacozzo and
Catherine San Severino and married to Piero "il Unfortunato"
de' Medici, who lived 1503.
Apart from Lorenzo, she was mother of
Clarissa de' Medici,
and
lived (1472-1520).
|
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1527-circa
75
Governor-in-absentia Aldonza de Villalobos Manrique, Isla de
Margarita (Venezuela/Spanish Possession)
|
| Normally
known as Aldonza Manrique. After her father's death, her
mother, Isabel Manrique, had the king transfer the governorship
to her in 1527 - with the condition that while she was under
age or was unmarried, the governorship was held by "a man with
appropriate age", and her mother therefore appointed a number of governor-lieutenants. In 1535
Aldonza married the conqueror Pedro Ortiz de Sandoval, who came to Santo Domingo from Peru.
In 1539 the Council of the Indians confirmed her rights, but
she did not take over before 1542, when she and her husband
ruled as lieutenant-governors. There are no documents evidencing she ever traveled to the
island, and it cannot be taken for granted that her husband did
it either. After her husband's death in 1546, Aldonza retained the title of Governor of Margarita, but continued
to live in Santo Domingo, until her daughter, Marcela, got
married aged 14 with Juan Gómez de Villandrando, who became the new lieutenant-governor on behalf of
Aldonza. In 1561 the island was invaded, and Marcela's husband
killed. In 1565 Aldonza traveled to Spain with her daughter and
two grandsons, and requested to the Council of the Indians the island Governorship to be transferred
to one of those, Juan Sarmiento de Villandrando. The petition was accepted after 10
years, after she had already died. Aldonza lived (circa 1520-75) |
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1530-33
Acting County Sheriff Anne Jørgensdatter Rud of Roskilde Vor Frue Kloster, Denmark |
| Married Rigsråd
Henrik Krummedige, who was Councillor of the Realm in both Denmark and Norway. In
1502 she was in charge of the defence of the Norwegian boarder-castle Båhus in
his absence. She was an extremely able land-owner, farmer and trader.
Since 1531 she also had possession of a number of minor fiefs in Norway,
administered by her son-in-law, married to her only daughter, Sofie. She
left an extensive correspondence with her daughter, son-in-law and other
relatives, and according to the costum of the time, she were in charge
of the upbringing of her grandchildren, before her death in 1533. |
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1530-55
General-Stadtholder Maria von Habsburg of the Netherlands |
| At
17, she married King Lajos II Jagello of Hungary, who was 15. Four years
later, the Turks over-ran half his kingdom, including the capital,
Budapest. Louis was killed at the battle, and Maria fled west,
taking the Hungarian treasury with her. Her brother, Karl V, appointed
her Governor of the Netherlands after the death of their aunt,
Margaretha. Maria
was
grand-daughter of Duchess Marie of Burgundy, had no children, and lived (1505-58) |
|
1532 County
Sheriff Sofie Podebusk of Malmøhus, Denmark (now Sweden) |
| Malmøhus is
situated in the Landscape of Skåne, which was part of Denmark until 1658
until it was incorporated in Sweden. |
|
1534-36
Acting County Sheriff Kristine Friis of Ørum, Denmark |
| She took over the administration of the fief after her husband's death |
 |
1535-68 Royal
County Sheriff Queen Sophie von Pommern of Denmark of
Lolland-Falster (Denmark) |
| Lolland-Falster was given to
her as a dowry (Livgeding) when her husband, King Frederik I ascended to
the throne in 1523. Also given the German Castles Kiel and Plön and adjourning
areas in Holsten. She lived (1498-1568). |
 |
1535-36 Dowager
Country Sheriff Kirstine Lykke of Gislumsherred , Denmark |
| As Lensmand she
was in charge of the local administration, had juridical authority and
acted as the official representative of the Danish king. |
|
1535-36
Acting
County Sheriff
Mette
Mogensdatter Gøye of Ravnsborg, Denmark |
| She was daughter
of Mogens Gøye til Krenkerup and after the death of her husband, Johan
Oxe til Nielstrup, she acted as County Sheriff or Lensmand until her own death one year
later. Mother of one daughter, Pernille Johansdatter Oxe (b. 1530) |
|
1540-45 County
Sheriff Anne Arvidsdatter Trolle of Åsum and Elleholm Len,
Denmark (Now Sweden) |
| Widow of Axel
Eriksen Urup til Ugerup, who was Lensmand or County Sheriff of Sölvesborg etc. until
his death. After his death she was in charge of the two fiefs in Skåne, which was
incorporated in Sweden in 1658. |
|
1541
Governor Doña Beatriz de la Cueva de Alvarado of Guatemala (For Spain) |
After
the death of her husband, Pedro de Alvarado, she maneuvered her own
election and became the
only woman to govern a major American political division in Spanish
times. A young and ambitious woman who styled herself the Hapless One (La
Sin Ventura), she was drowned a few weeks after assuming office in the
destruction of Ciudad Vieja by a sudden flood from the volcano Agua. She
was succeeded by brother, Francesco de la Cueva y Villacreces, Governor
1540-41 and 1541-42. |
|
1542-51
Acting County Sheriff Sophie Pedersdatter Lykke of Holmekloster, Denmark
1560-63 and 1563-70 County
Sheriff of Lister Len,
Norway |
| Married to
Councillor
of the Realm, Jacob Hardenberg, who died 1542. Thereafter she administered
the possessions of her three young daughters together with
her own lands. She was very unpopular. Her peasants protested to the
king against her, and in 1557 she was convicted of illegally selling
cattle. In 1560 she was given Lister Len as security for a lone, and
moved to Norway. Also here the peasants complained against her, and she
broke the ban against exporting timber abroad, and she lost the fief,
but managed to get it back later the same year, because of her good connections. She lived (circa 1510-70) |
|
1544-60
Governor Brites de
Albuquerque, of Pernambuco (Brazil) |
| Widow
of Duarte Coelho Periera (1534-44) and succeeded by son Duarte Coelho de
Albuquerque, who was governor for the Portuguese King (1560-72). |
|
|
1545 Dowager County Sheriff Ide Mogensdatter Munk of
Abrahamstrup Len, Denmark |
|
A
major land-owner, also known as Ida, she was married to Oluf Nielsen
Rosenkrantz til Vallø, and their daughter was Birgitte Olufdatter
Rosenkrantz til Øster Vallø.
Ide died 1586. |
|
1548-49
Acting County Sheriff Ingeborg Gjordesdatter Drefeld of Lundenæs, Denmark |
| Widow of Peder
Galt Ebbesen til Birkelse etc, Lensmand til Lundenæs. |
|
1549-74 County
Sheriff Abele Hansdatter Breide of Näsbyholm,
Denmark (Now Sweden) |
| After the death
of her husband, Mikkel Hals til Näsbyholm, she acting Lensmand or
County Sheriff of the fief, in Skåne, which has been part of Sweden since 1658. |
 |
1550-61 Acting
County Sheriff Eline Gøye of Skjoldnæs, Denmark |
| Married to Mourits Olufsen Krognos and Vincents Juel. She was daughter
of one of the country's major landowners, Mogens Gøye, but he had
many children, and she therefore only inherited half of the estate
Clausholm together with a brother. She was in dispute with her
sister-in-law Anne Rosenkrantz, and in 1561 a compromise was reached,
which according to Eline favourized Anne. Later same year Anne also was
appointed Lensmand (County Sheriff) Skjoldnæs, which Eline had got
after the death of her first husband. She was sister of another major
landowner and Lensmand, Birgitte Gøye, and lived (circa 1510-63) |
|
 |
Until 1551 County Sheriff Birgitte Bille of Sandby Len, Denmark
(Now Sweden)
Until 1553 County Sheriff of Katsløse Len (Denmark) |
|
Her husband, Jens
Torbensen Rosenspare died in 1553. Sandby is situated in the landscape of Skåne that was annexed by
Sweden in 1658. |
|
1552-53
Acting County Sheriff Sidsel Jensdatter Ulfstand of Kalundborg,
Denmark
1554-circa 75 County Sheriff of Villands Herred (Skåne) |
| Married
Councillor of the Realm and Lensmand (County Sheriff), Knud Pedersen
Gyldenstierne, and after his death she acted as administrator of his
fief for about a year. In 1552 she was given charge of Villands Herred
in the south of Sweden, and she was an able administrator accumulating
quite a big wealth. She died circa 1575. |
 |
1555-56
Acting County Sheriff Anne Pedersdatter Lykke of Stege,
Denmark |
| First married
to Anders Bentsen Bille til Søholm and then to Otto Jørgensen
Krumpen til Trudsholk and was acting Lensmand or County Sheriff of the
fief after the latter's death. Her branch of the family Lykke was also
known as Lykke Munk til Overgaard. She died after 1574. |
|
1555-56 County
Sheriff Sidsel Parsberg of Gårdstange, Denmark (Now Sweden) |
| Gårdstange is
situated in the landscape of Skåne which was annexed by Sweden in
1658. |
|
|
1556-64 Regent for the Governor Mah
Cucak Bigum of Kabul, Afganistan |
| Acted for Governor Miza Muhammad Hakim (1556-85) hereditary
representative of the Grand Mogul of India. She was murdered in 1565 |
 |
1559-67 and 1580-82 Stadtholder
Margaretha
de Parma of The Netherlands
1572-86 Perpetual Governor of L'Aquila (Italy) |
| Also
known as Madama or Margarita de Austria,
her full title was er full title was Archduchess of Austria,
Infanta of Spain, Princess of Burgundy, Milan, Naples and Sicily. She was daughter of Emperor Charles
V and his mistress Johanna van den Gheynst. Her first husband was Alessandro de' Medici, Duke
of Firenze (1510-37), the son of
the Black servant Simonetta da Collavechio and Cardinal Giulio de
Medici ( the later Pope Clement VII),
was finally assassinated a few months after their wedding in 1536.
She then received the titles of Feudal
Duchess of Borbona, Penne and
Posta and Feudal Lady of Campli, Castel Sant'Angelo (now
Castel Madama), Civita Ducale (now Cittaducale), Leonessa, Montereale
and Ortona,
Lady of Amatrice, Borbona, Posta
which she held until her death. In 1538
she was married to Ottavio Farnese (1525-86), whose
father was given the Duchies of Parma and Piacenza by his father, Pope
Paul III. In 1545 she became mother of twins. Her
half-brother, King Felipe
II of Spain, appointed her Governor-General of the Netherlands, and she
proved to be an able administrator, but
resigned after the Duke of Alba's crushing of the Dutch opposition against
the Spanish rule. She then returned to Italy and was governor of
L'Aquila by her brother. Her son Alessandro Farnese was Governor-General
of the Netherlands until 1580 when he was replaced by her. After his
return, she was kept a virtual prisoner in Namur, until she was allowed
to return to Italy in 1583 where she died three years later. She lived (1522-86).
|
 |
1559-71
Royal County
Sheriff
Dowager Queen Dorothea von Sachsen-Lauenburg of Denmark of Koldinghus
Len (Denmark) |
| She was the
widow of Christian III and after his death she withdrew to her dowry
which she also administered as a fief-holder, Lensmand, being in
charge of aspects of the local administration. She was very
influential as head of the family. She lived (1511-71) |
 |
1561-67 County
Sheriff Anne Rosenkrantz of Skjoldnæs, Denmark |
| After the
death of her husband, Albert Gøye, in 1558 she was left in charge of
the family possessions. Her land's were scattered all over the
country, but she managed to unify most of it, and she achieved the
right to appoint the judges within her jurisdiction. Anne was involved
in many disputes with her relatives, among others the sister-in-law
Eline Gøye, and in 1561 she was appointed Lensmand (County Sheriff )
of Skjoldnæs after Eline was removed from this position. In
1566 Anne was ordered to give up the fief again - but only pawed way
for the newly appointed Lensmand the following year. She lived
(1522-89). |
|
1561-62 and
1562-72 Acting County Sheriff Magdalene Banner of
Skivehus, Denmark |
| She was left
in charge of the fief after the death of her husband. At the time
20-25 percent of all lands were actually administered by widows |
|
1562-73
Acting County Sheriff Margrethe Hennekesdatter Rantzau of Skodborg,
Denmark |
| She was
married to her relative, Jesper Hansen Rantzau, Amtmand in Flensborg
and Lensmand in Schmoel, Skodborg, Haderslev and Tørning Len and took
over the administration of one of his fief after his death, |
|
1563-65
Acting County Sheriff Susanne Bølle of Stege, Denmark |
| She ran the
fief during her husband, admiral Jakob Brokenhuus' imprisonment in
Sweden |
|
1563-64 County
Sheriff Else Ulfstand of Svaløv, Denmark (Now Sweden) |
| The fief of
which she was Lensmand or County Sheriff is situated in Skåne,
which was incorporated into Sweden in 1658 |
|
1563-87
County Sheriff Margrethe Ugerup of Søfed, Denmark (Now
Sweden) |
| The local
administration and juridical system was in the hand of a royal
appointed Lensmand (County Sheriff) who each administered a Len
(fief). It was normally the local manor-owner, and if that was an
unmarried woman she was in some cases appointed Lensmand in her own
right, in other cases she administered the Len after her husband's
death. |
|
|
1564-66 Dowager County Sheriff Margrethe Andersdatter Reventlow
of Åstrup Len, Denmark |
|
She
was the second wife of Erik Krabbe (1510-64), and after his death, she
was in charge of the fief until a new Lensmand (County Sheriff)
was appointed. She
lived (1525-1606). |
 |
1565-74
Acting County Sheriff Birgitte Gøye of Kapelgård, Denmark
1565-66 County Sheriff of Tølløse
1565-71
Acting
County Sheriff
of Kappelgården and Ringkloster
1571-72 County Sheriff of Åkær
1572 County Sheriff of Ydernæs
|
| Married
Councillor of the Realm, Admiral Herluf Trolle in 1544 after she had
managed to break off another engagement. They had no children, and in
1564 they founded Herlufsholm Boarding school for children of the
nobility and she was Chancellor 1565-67. In 1571, after she had lost her
other fiefs, Dowager Queen Dorothea, gave her the fief Åkær by Horsens,
but after the Queen's death, Birgitte also lost this possession, until
she was given Ydernæs for life. She lived (circa 1511-74). |
 |
1565-66
Acting County Sheriff Mette Rosenkrantz of Kalundborg, Denmark
1565-67 County Sheriff of Strø (Skåne) |
| All her life
she was extremely rich, and together with her sister, Birgitte, she
inherited Valor, a very big possession, she administered Skarhult for
her children of the first marriage with Councillor of the Realm
Steen Rosensparre, and her second husband, Chancellor Peder Oxe,
had given her possession for life of his enormous lands, which she
could not inherit, since they had no children. She also inherited
lands from her mother and she was probably the biggest landowner of
her time. She lived (circa 1533-88). |
|
1565-85
Acting County Sheriff Abele Skee of Lundenæs, Denmark |
| In charge
after her husband's death. |
|
1565-67 County
Sheriff Elsbet Brade of Fliginde, Denmark (Now Sweden) |
| Fliginde is
situated in Skåne, now Sweden. |
|
1566-? County
Sheriff Sidsel Oxe of Broby (Now Sweden)
1571-92 County Sheriff of Rødinge, Denmark
1573-74 Dowager County Sheriff of Ålborghus |
| Broby and Rødinge
is situated in Skåne, the latter she administered Rødinge together
with Beate Bille. |
 |
1567-70
Acting County Sheriff Gørvel Fadersdatter Sparre of Vefre and Høgby,
Denmark
1574-81 Acting County Sheriff of Verpinge (Skåne)
1574-1605 County Sheriff of Borgeby
1582-1605 County Sheriff of Börreringekloster and Froste
herred
1586-1605 County Sheriff of Sørby
1599-1605 County Sheriff of Skotsherred
1601-05 County
Sheriff of Hiøgby and
Lindholm (Skåne) |
| She was one of
the last members of the "Nordic nobility" which existed
during the Union between Denmark, Norway and Sweden. She had
possessions in all three countries. She was an only child and
inherited Norway's largest estate Giske from her mother's brother in
1537. During the War of the Count 1534-36 she was kept prisoner with
her seven step-children at her second husband's estate, Varberg in Skåne,
and also gave birth to her only son, who died 1548. She secured her
possessions by giving large grants to the king, and in exchange she
became County Sheriff or Lensmand for life of Verpinge, and she were
later given other fiefs to administer for the crown for life. She
continued to grant most of her Norwegian estates to the crown, and in
1601 she appointed king Christian 4 as her sole heir after the death
of her only child, Nils Ulfstad. Married to the Swedish Councillor of
the Realm, Peder Nilsson Grip (d. 1533), Truid Gregersen Ulfstand ( d.
1445) and Lave Axelsen Brahe (d. 1567). She lived (circa 1509-1605) |
|
|
1567-.. County Sheriff Tale Holgersdatter Ulfstand of Rørum
Len, Denmark
1595-99 County Sheriff of Hesselbjerg Len (Skåne) |
|
Her husband, Poul
Pedersen (Laxmand) den yngre til Stenholt, died 1557.
At
first she administered Rørum jointly Else Ulfstand and later with
Lisbeth Rosenkrantz. She owned the castles of Skabersjö, Häckeberga
and Høgestad in Denmark and in the landscapes that was conquered by
Sweden in 1658. |
|
 |
1567 Dowager County Sheriff Vibeke Podebusk of Odensegård Len,
Denmark
1568-69 Dowager County Sheriff of Stege Len |
|
She
was widow of Evert Bildt. She was owner of Ranholt and Lindholm Castle
and in 1580 she was given the right to appoint judges.
(d. 1596) |
|
1567-.. County
Sheriff Else Ulfstand of Rørum, Denmark |
| She
administered Rørum, in Skåne, together with Tale Ulfstand. |
 |
1567
Acting County Sheriff Vibeke Podebusk of Odensegård, Denmark
1568-69 Acting County Sheriff of Stege |
| She was widow
of Evert Bildt. She was owner of Ranholt and Lindholm Castle and in
1580 she was given the right to appoint judges. (d. 1596) |
|
 |
1571-92 Dowager County Sheriff Beate Klausdatter Bille of
Rødinge Len, Denmark (now Sweden) |
|
Beate Bille
was married to Otto Tygesen Brahe, Councillor of the Realm and Fief
holder of Helsingborg. She administered the Len in Skåne, now Sweden,
jointly with Sidsel Oxe. She was mother of the famous astronomer Tycho
Brahe, and lived (1526-1605). |
 |
1573 Acting
County Sheriff Anne Corfitzdatter Hardenberg of Helsingborg (Sweden) |
| Of high nobility,
she was chamber-maid to Queen Dorothea 1557-71, and here she got to know
king Frederik 2 (king from 1559) who fell in love with her, and wanted
to marry her, but this met widespread opposition. In 1572 she married Councillor
of the Realm, Oluf Mouritsen Krognos, who died after only six
months marriage. She lived at her dowry Bregentved and managed to keep
her husband's family at distance with the help of the royal family. She
(d. 1589). |
|
1575-76
Acting County Sheriff Karen Mogensdatter Gyldenstierne of Bygholm and Skt. Hans Kloster, Denmark
1586-? County Sheriff
of Snersted (Skåne) |
| After the
death of her husband, Holger Ottesen Rosenkrantz, she administered his
fief for a period. Rosenkrantz was Stadtholder in Norway, and later
became military commander of the realm. She was in charge of the vast estates inherited by her two sons, until they came of age. Later also
Lensmand of Snersted, which is
situated in the Landscape of Skåne, now Sweden. She lived (1544-1613). |
|
1576...
Adelantada Juana Ortiz de Zárate of Corrientes, Santa Fe and Buenos
Aires, Adelantado of Chile (Chile) |
|
Following
the death of her father, Juan Ortiz de Zárate, Adelanto and Governor,
founder of the City of Santa Fe and Buenos Aires, she inherited the
estates of the family and apparently Emperor Charles V named her
Adelantado of Chile. She was married to Juan de Torres de Vera y Aragón,
who became Governor in 1578, and mother of Juan Alonso de Vera y Zárate.
Apparently her mother was the Inca Princess, Leonor Yupanqui, daughter of
Tupac-Hupalla (Originally Auqui Huallpa Tupac) puppet-emperor in 1533. |
 |
1577-82
Superintendent Maria Marguerite de Mérode of Bergen op Zoom (The
Netherlands) |
| Given
the Marchionate as a fief by the States of Brabant. It had been
administered by the king of Spain after the death of her uncle, Jan IV
van Glymes, who died childless in 1567. Joint administrator with her husband, Jan
baron van Wittem from 1578. Both were
deposed by the Dutch after they sided with the Spanish, and the
possession was given to the Prince of Oranje and not until 1588 is the
eldest of their three daughters, Maria, given the Marchionate as a fief. (1560-88) |
 |
1578-79 Acting County Sheriff Margrethe Eriksdatter Lange of Ålborghus, Denmark |
| After the death
of her first husband, Jens Nielsen Kaas, she was acting Lensmand (County
Sheriff) until
a successor was appointed. Afterwards married to Knud Brahe (1555-1615).
She died 1622. |
|
 |
1580 Dowager County Sheriff Birgitte Rosenkrantz of Kalundborg
Len, Denmark |
|
She
was widow of Bjørn Kaas who was Lensmand in Helsingborg and Malmöhus.
She later had a relationship to her late husband's cousin, Gjord Kaas.
Because it was considered to be incest at the time, she was executed
on the command of King Christian 4. When Gjord went into exile, and
when returned after 17 years he too was executed. According to the
legend she is today the "White Lady" a ghost at Stårup Castle. |
|
|
1580-1604
County Sheriff
Ingeborg Skeel, Segelstrup in Denmark
1586-1604
Dowager County Sheriff
of Amtofte and Strekhals |
|
A
major landowner, she held the fief for life. She was widow of Otte
Banner (1515-85), and lived (circa 1545-1604) |
|
1580-81
Acting County Sheriff of Gårdstange Anne Verner Parsberg,
Denmark (now Sweden)
1580-93 County Sheriff of Vram, Visby, Stibberup and Revinge |
| She was married
to Hans Skovgaard til Gundestrup (1526-80), Councillor of the Reaml and
Lensmand of Helsingborg. |
|
1582-1611 County
Sheriff Karen Banner of Orlofgård, Denmark
1611-13 Acting County Sheriff of Jungshoved
1612 Acting County Sheriff of Vordingborg |
| She held
Orlofgård after the death of her first husband Gregers Ulfstand and
Jungshoved after the second, Henrik Lykke. |
|
1583-1603 Acting County Sheriff Beate Brade of Gislumsherred and
Ramsø
, Denmark |
|
She was given the fief for life as security for a lone. She was widow of Jørgen
Lykke. |
|
|
1583-84 Dowager County Sheriff Karen Henriksdatter Friis of
Aalborghus Len, Denmark |
|
Acting Lensmand or (County Sheriff) after the death of her husband,
Bjørn Andersen Bjørn til Stenalt, Bjørnsholm, Voer, Gunderupgård og
Strandbygård. 1562-66 Judge in Zealand, Councillor of State 1567,
Lensmand of Fredsgård, Stege,
Københavns Slot, Roskildegård, Tryggevælde, Århusgård og Ålborghus.
They had 3 children and he had 6 children with his first wife, Sidsel
Ulfstand. Karen Friis lived (1541-1601). |
|
|
1585-86 Dowager County Sheriff Kirstine Lykke of Vordingborg
Len, Denmark |
|
Also known as
Kirsten Lykke, she was
charge of the administration of the fief after the death of her
husband, Eiler Grubbe til Lystrup (1532-85), who was at one time
Chancellor of the Realm. In 1594 she
married Niles Gyldenstierne til
Bjørnholm,
and lived
(1558-1630) |
|
|
1585-1604 Dowager County Sheriff Ingeborg Skeel of Sejlstrup
Len
1586 County Sheriff of Amtofte and Strekhals Len, Denmark |
|
She
was an able farmer and trader, and administered both her own and her
husband's estate. After the death of her husband, Otto Banner til
Asdal, she took over the administration of the fief, and after her
mother, Karen Krabbe died the following year, she took over her two
small royal fiefs; Amtofte in Thy and Strekhals in Mors (Northern
Jutland). There are many stories about her as an evil mistress, who
killed the architect of one of her estates and a harsh employer
towards the peasants, but the stories does not seem to be based on
facts. She had no children, and lived (circa 1545-1604). |
 |
Until 1586 County
Sheriff Karen Krabbe of Amtofte and Strekhals, Denmark |
| Married to Nils
Skeel (d. 1561). After her death her daughter, Ingeborg Skeel, took over
her fiefs. |
|
|
1586-87 County Sheriff Kirstine Andersdatter Lindenov of
Vesterstad Len, Denmark (now Sweden) |
|
Kirsten Lindenov was
widow of Steen
Clausen Bille (1527-86), who was
Judge, diplomat and soldier, and
she held the fief, which is situated in
the Landscape of Skåne, now Sweden.
She owned the estate of Herrevad Kloster
and Sellerup in her own right. After 17 years of marriage she had a
son followed by one more son and a daughter (d. 1612). |
|
1586-1626
County
Sheriff Beate Hvitfeldtof Møllerud
and Epholt (Skåne),
Denmark (now Sweden)
1615-26 County
Sheriff of Lunde and St. Peders Kloster |
|
She was widow of Knud Ulfeld and held the small fiefs as security for some loans. |
|
 |
1586-89 County Sheriff Karen
Ottesdatter Gyldenstierne of Snersted in Skåne,
Denmark (now Sweden) |
|
Her husband Jørgen Marsvin (1527-81) was
Lensmand at Landskrona and Member of the Danish Council of State until
his death. She lived (1542-89). |
|
1587-95 County Sheriff Pernille Gøs of Vesterstad, Denmark (now Sweden) |
| Vesterstad is
situated in the Landscape of Skåne, now Sweden in succession to
Kirstine Lindenov. |
|
1587-90 County Sheriff Tale Tot of Åhus and Åsum, Denmark,
(now Sweden) |
| Åhus and Åsum
is situated in the Landscape of Skåne, now Sweden |
 |
1588-94 Regent
Queen Dowager Sophie von Mecklenburg-Schwerin of Schleswig-Holstein
(Slesvig-Holsten) (Denmark and Germany)
1588-1631 Royal County
Sheriff of Lolland-Falster and Ravnsborg |
| Widow of
Frederik 2., she was regent for son Christian 4. in Slesvig-Holsten
1588-94. She was engaged in a power struggle with the Regents of Denmark,
The Council of State, which had Christian declared of age in 1593, but
she did not give up her position in the Duchies before the following
year. She then withdrew to Lolland-Faster, where she managed her estates extremely
well and became very rich and she lend her son a lot of money for his
warfares. She lived (1557-1631). |
|
1589-93
Governor Luisa Grinalda, Espírito Santo (Brazil) |
| After the death
of her husband, Vasco Fernandes Coutinho, she acted as governor
for the King of Portugal, until she returned to her homeland and died in
a convent in Èvora some years later. |
|
1589-94 County Sheriff Anne Pedersdatter of
Nederby,
Denmark (now Sweden)
|
| Nederby is
situated in the Landscape of Skåne. |
|
|
1591 Dowager County Sheriff Anne Gyldenstierne of Malmøhus Len,
Denmark (now Sweden)
1591-92 Dowager County Sheriff of Kalundborg Len, Denmark |
|
Malmøhus is situated in the Landscape of Skåne, now Sweden. |
 |
1592 Acting
County Sheriff Hilleborg Daa of Hald, Denmark |
| After her the
death of her husband, Jørgen Skram, she took over the administration of
the fief. Daughter of Claus Daa af Ravnstrup. |
|
 |
1594 County Sheriff Tale Ulfstand of Malmøhus Len, Denmark (Now
Sweden) |
|
In
various documents she wrote her name as Thaale Wlffstandt til
Skabersøe. She took over as Lensmand after the death of her brother
Hack Holgersen
Ulfstand, who had been Government Councillor, Councillor of State,
Marsk, Knight of the Order of the Elephant and after the death of King
Frederik 2, guardian for his son, Christian 4, but in 1590 he was
executed for treason. (d. 1604). |
|
1595-96
Acting County Sheriff Birgitte
Braade of Åkjær and Sønderlyngherred, Denmark |
| In charge of the
administration of the fief after her husband died. |
|
1596-99
Acting County Sheriff Margrethe Rosenkrants of
Hindsgavl, Denmark |
|
After the death of her husband, Hans Johansen Lindenov. |
|
1596-...
Governor and Admiral Isabel Barreto de Castro, Santa Cruz (Solomon
Islands - then a Spanish Possession)
|
| After
the death of her husband, Alvaro
Mendana de Neyra, Spanish navigator (1541-96), she
proclaimed herself governor and took command of the fleet as the
only Admiral of the Spanish Amada. Her husband had been given
command of a small fleet by his uncle, the Governor-General of
Peru in 1567. After his return they married and in 1594 Philip II
appointed him as governor of the island of San Cristobal in the
Solomons, and gave orders to found a colony there. They left for the islands in
1595 and on the way they discovered the
Marquesas de Mendoza Islands and another large island
which they named Santa Cruz, and resolved to establish the colony
there. Some of the crew murdered one of the native chiefs, and a bloody war was
begun against the invaders. Afterward there was a mutiny among
the troops. These adversities undermined Mendana's health, and
he soon died, leaving the government to Isabel. Soon after
she and the chief
pilot, Quiros resolved to abandon the colony, and she directed
her ships to the Philippines. She held the title “La
Amiranta de la Mar Oceana”. |
|
1600-01
Acting County Sheriff Mette Ulfstand of Lykå and
Sølvitsborg in Blekinge and Høgby and Vefre in Skåne,
Denmark (Now Sweden) |
|
After the death of her husband, Knud Grubbe |
|
|
1600-12 County Sheriff Mette Urne of Vemb Skibrede Len, Norway |
|
Administered the fief in her own name after the death of her husband,
Alexander Durham, until she passed away herself in 1612. She was the
official local representative of the King of Denmark-Norway.
|
|
1601-02 Acting County Sheriff Elisabeth Trolle of Dalby in Skåne,
Denmark (Now Sweden) |
|
Acted after her husband, Gabriel Sparre, had died. |
|
1601-02 Acting County Sheriff Else Lindenov of Dalum,
Denmark |
| Widow of Absalon
Gø til Kærstrup |
|
1601-02 Acting Joint
Acting County Sheriff Agate Sefeld of Bygholm, Denmark |
|
Took over after the death of her husband, Niels Skram til Urup together with
daughter. |
|
1601-02 Acting Joint
County Sheriff Elsebet Skram of Bygholm,
Denmark |
|
Acted together with her mother. |
|
1603-16
Acting County Sheriff Viveke Gris of Sandby in Skåne Denmark (Now Sweden)
1608-40 Lensmand of Hørjre (Skåne) |
|
She was widow of Peder Munk, and held the fief of Hørjre for life. |
|
1603-04
Acting County Sheriff
Anne Brok of
Onsø, Norway |
|
After her husband, Erik Mortensen (Mormand) had
died. She was the official local representative of the King of
Denmark-Norway
|
|
1604-05
Acting County Sheriff Anne Rønnow til Skousborg of Hagenskov and Eskebjerg
1604.... County Sheriff of Strynø , Denmark |
|
After the death of her husband, Erik Hardenberg. |
|
1606-07
Acting County Sheriff Adel Hansdatter of Sorø,
Denmark |
|
After the death of her husband, Anders Kristensen |
|
1607-08
Acting County Sheriff Lensmand Maren Jul of Visborg in
Gotland, Denmark (Now Sweden) |
| She acted after the death of her husband, Herman Jul til Aabjerg
|
|
1607-08
Acting County Sheriff Birgitte Brun of
Frølands Skibrede and Ejdsberg Sogn, Norway |
|
She administered the fief after the death of
her husband, Peder Knutsøn (Maaneskjold) til Akervik. She was the
official local representative of the King of Denmark-Norway
|
 |
1612-19 Governor
Dowager Queen Marie de' Medici
of Normandie |
|
1610-17
Regent of France
and
1619-39 Countess d'Anjou.
Daughter
of Francesco de' Medici, grand duke of Toscana and became the
second wife of King Henri IV in 1600. After his assassination
she became regent for her son Louis XIII. She reversed the
policies set by her husband. Having remained in power for three
years beyond the king's majority, Marie was forced into exile
after the murder of Concini in 1617. In 1619 her partisans rose
in revolt, but she was reconciled to her son in 1622. After the
rise to power of her former favourite, Cardinal Richelieu, she
attempted to regain influence by urging the king to
dismiss his minister of state; instead Louis forced his mother
into a new exile at Compiègne, whence she fled to the
Netherlands in 1631, never to return to France. One of her
children was the politically influential Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I of
England. Marie lived (1573-1642)
|
|
1610-11
Acting County Sheriff Beate Hvidtfeld til
Møllerød of Gersherred in Skåne, Denmark (Now Sweden) |
|
Mistress of the Court of the Queen and widow of Knud Ulfeld.
|
|
1610 Acting County Sheriff Elsebet Jul of Hammershus, Denmark |
|
After the death of her husband, Hans Lindenov til Øsløf
|
 |
1611-12
Acting County Sheriff Ellen Marsvin of
Odensegård, Denmark
1620-39 County Sheriff of Dalumkloster
1626-38 Acting County Sheriff of Davinde |
| Fru
Ellen Marsvin was of high noble family and one of the biggest
landowners of her time Fru means Mrs but at the time the title
was only used for noble ladies. Her daughter, Kirsten Munk, was married
to King Christian IV. The local administration and juridical
system was in the hand of royal appointed lensmænd (fiefholders)
who each administered a len (fief). It was normally the local
manor-owner, and if that was an unmarried woman she was in some
cases appointed Lensmand in her own right, in other cases she administered
the len after her husband's death. She lived
(1572-1649). |
|
|
1612-29 Governor
Margherita de Austria of Lisboa (Portugal)
1633-42 Vice-reine of Portugal
|
|
1603-12 she was regent in
Mantua and Monferrato
for son, who died in 1612, she was later appointed
Governor of Lisbon and Vice-Queen of Portugal by her
brother King Felipe IV of Spain and Portugal (1605-21-65). In 1640 the
Spanish were driven out of Portugal by the Duke of Bragança, King João
IV and she was taken prisoner. Her aunt was Isabella Clara Eugenia
von Habsburg of the Southern Netherlands. Margarita lived (1589-1655). |
|
 |
1612-13 Dowager County Sheriff Anne Nielsdatter Lykke of Arnsborg Len,
Denmark |
|
After the death of her husband, Klavs Maltesen Sehested til Højris og
Nøragergård. She lived (1568-1645). |
|
1612
Acting County Sheriff Margrethe Brade, Landskrona in Skåne, Denmark (Now
Sweden) |
|
She acted after the death of her husband, Kristen Bernekov. |
|
1613-14
Acting County Sheriff Else
Bilde of Århusgård, Denmark |
|
After the death of her husband, Karl Bryske. |
|
1614-16
Acting County Sheriff Karen Skinkel of Holbæk, Denmark |
|
She was in charge of the fief after the death of her husband, Anders Dresselberg
til Vognserup. |
|
1616-17
Acting County Sheriff Mette Hardenberg of Bøvling, Denmark |
|
After the death of her husband, Preben Gyldenstierne til Vosborg. |
|
1616-17
Acting County Sheriff Kristine Hardenberg of Dalum and Strynø,
Denmark |
| In control of
the fief after her husband Axel Brade til Elved died |
|
1616 Acting County Sheriff Hilleborg Krafse of Søbygaard, Denmark |
| Acted after the death of her husband, Mogens Gø. |
|
1616-40 County
Sheriff Karen Andersdatter of Hven, Denmark |
|
She was the mistress of King Christian 4. in the years 1613-16 and mother of two
daughters, who died in infancy, and the son; Hans Ulrik Gyldenløve with
him. She (d. 1673) |
|
1617-18
Acting County Sheriff Sofie Belov of Skivehus, Denmark |
|
After the death of her husband, Kristen Tot til Boltinggård. |
|
1617-18
Acting County Sheriff Jutte
Gyldenstierne of Verne Kloster and Ingedals Skibrede, Norway |
|
She acted as fiefholder after the death of her husband, Kristoffer von der
Grøben til Fitseband. She was the official local representative of the King of
Denmark-Norway
|
|
1618-19
Acting County Sheriff Anne Hansdatter Baden of Kronborg, Denmark |
|
She acted after the death of her brother, Kristen Hansen (Baden) til Nørård.
|
|
1618-... County Sheriff
Else Galde of Verne
Kloster and Ingedals Skibrede, Norway |
|
The fief was given to her and her husband, Siverd Gabrielsen (Akeleje) til
Krengerup and Kambo for the duration of their lifetimes. She was the official
local representative of the King of Denmark-Norway.
|
|
1618-19
Acting County Sheriff Sofie Oldeland
of Brunla and Numedalen, Norway |
|
After her husband, Kasper Markdanner, had passed away. She was the official
local representative of the King of Denmark-Norway
|
|
Around 1620
Governor Elena de Caso, Dos Ilheus (Brazil) |
| The
Vice-Kingdom of Brazil was a part of the Portuguese Empire. She was
followed on the post by Antonio Ribeiro. |
|
1620 Acting County Sheriff Sofie Rostrup of Kalundborg, Denmark |
|
After the death of her husband, Sten Brade til Knudstrup. |
 |
1621-33 Governor
Isabel Clara Eugenia of Austria
of the Southern Low Countries (Belgium-Luxembourg) |
|
Joint Duchess of Burgundy, Lothringen, Brabant,
Limbourg, Luxembourg and of Gelders, Joint Countess of Vlaanderen,
Artois and Bourgogne and Tirol, Palatine of Hainault,
Holland, Namour and of Zuytphen, Margravine of the Holy Roman
Realm, Joint Lady of Friesland, Salins, Mechelen, of the
City, Cities and Lands of Utrecht, Overijssel and Groeningen 1598-1621.
Daughter
of King Felipe II of Spain and Elisabeth de Valois. In 1598 she married
Archduke Albrecht of Austria (son of Maximilian II of Germany) and
they became joint Governors of the Southern Netherlands, which was in
theory an independent state, but in reality dependent on Spain. After Albrechts death the Duchies reverted to the Spanish crown, and she was
appointed governor. She had not children and lived (1566-1633)
|
|
1622 Acting
County Sheriff Helle Jørgensdatter
Marsvin of Arnsborg, Denmark |
| In 1601 she had
inherited Vapnö, one of the three biggest manor houses in Halland. She
became acting County Sheriff after the death of her husband, Jakob Bek til Beldringe |
 |
1623-63
Queen Nzinga M'Bandi of Ngola and Kongo (Angola and Congo)
1623-26 Governor of Luanda for the Portuguese |
| Also
Known as Pande Doña Ana Souza. Nzinga (or Jinga) was Queen of the N'dongo and Matamba
kingdoms. She assigned women important government offices. Constantly driven east by the Portuguese, Nzinga organized a
powerful guerrilla army, conquered the Matamba, and developed
alliances to control the slave routes. She even allied with the
Dutch, who helped her stop the Portuguese advancement. After a
series of decisive setbacks, Nzinga negotiated a peace treaty
with the Portuguese, but still refused to pay tribute to the
Portuguese king. Two of her
war leaders were reputedly her sisters, her council of
advisors contained many women, and women were called to serve in her army. She was daughter of N'Gola Kiluanzi Kia Samba
and succeeded her brother. Lived (1581-1663) |
|
1623
Acting County Sheriff Anne Lykke of Kalundborg with Arts,
Skippinge and Samsø and County Sheriff of København, Denmark |
|
A major landowner, she took over as County Sheriff after the death of her
husband Kaj Rantzau til Rantzausholm, She was owner of Harridslvesgaard Castle
1623-31. |
|
1624 Acting
County Sheriff
Lisbeth Gyldenstierne of Dragsholm, Denmark
|
|
Acted after the death of her husband, Oluf Ronsensparre
|
|
1624-?
Acting County Sheriff
Kirsten Hansdatter of
Kullegaard in Skåne, Denmark (Now Sweden) |
|
She was widow of Bernd Vacke
|
 |
1630-31
Acting County Sheriff Birgitte
Brockenhuus of Nyborg, Denmark |
| She acted as
administrator of the fief and local representative of the king after the death of her husband, Jakob
Ulfeldt til Ulfeldsholm. They were parents of Corfitz Ulfeldt,
Chancellor of the Realm etc. and husband of Leonora Christine, the
daughter of King Christian 4. |
|
1631-32
Acting County Sheriff Jytte Brok
of Vestervig, Denmark
|
|
After her husband, Jørgen Skeel, died.
|
|
|
1632-4.. County Sheriff
Karen Christoffersdatter Pax
of Kornerupgård Len,
Denmark |
|
Widow of Erik Madsen Vasspyd til Vinderup (d. 1615). She apparently
(d. 1650). |
|
1634-35
Acting County Sheriff Birgitte
Lindenov, Ålborghus , Denmark
|
|
After the death of her husband, Otto Skeel. |
|
1634-35
Acting County Sheriff
Margrethe von der
Lühe of Ryfylke, Jøderen and Dalerne (Stavangers Len), Norway |
|
After the death of her husband, Jørgen Brukkenhus til Sebberkloster. She was
the official local representative of the King of Denmark-Norway
|
|
|
1637-48 Stadtholder Countess Ursula von Solms-Braunfels of the
Principality of Orange (France) |
|
Appointed to the post after the death of her husband,
Christoph, Burgrave and Lord zu
Dohna-Schlobitten, who had been an Aide of the Princes of Anhalt-Köthen,
Advisor of Elector Friederich V. von der Pfalz, the Winter-king of
Bohemia, before he was appointed Governor of Oranje in 1630 by her
brother-in-law,
Friedrich Heinrich of Orange-Nassau, Stattholder of the Netherlands, who was maried to her
sister,
the politically influential Amalia zu Solms-Braunfels. She was followed on
the post by her son Friedrich (1621-48-60-88). The daughter of Count Johann Albrecht I von Solms-Braunfels in Braunfels and Gambit
and Countess Agnes zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, she lived (1594-1657). |
|
1641-42
Acting County Sheriff
Maren Skram of
Mariæ Kirkes Domprovsti (Oslo), Norway |
|
After the death of her husband, Hartvig Hvitfeld til Skjelbred. She was the
official local representative of the King of Denmark-Norway, and Mariæ
Kirke is the Cathedral of Oslo.
|
 |
1643-76
Hereditary High Sheriff Lady Anne Clifford of Westmoreland (United
Kingdom) |
| Anne
Clifford was the third and only surviving child of George
Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, and his wife Margaret Russell.
When she was 15, her father died, and the vast estate was
inherited by his brother, and from that moment her mission in life was to regain her
inheritance. She married and had five children, but her husband
was obstructive to her claim for the inheritance. Six years
later he died, and she married Philip Herbert, Earl of Pembroke,
who did support her claim. Eventually she did inherit the estate
in 1643 in the middle of the Civil War raging. Lady Anne was now 60 years
old, and spent
the next 26 years rebuilding churches and castles. Skip ton, Pen dragon, Appleby,
Borough and Brougham Castles were restored to
their former glory. As a devout Christian she built and restored
churches and almshouses. She lived (1590-1676) |
|
1644-46 Acting County Sheriff Anne Bek, Laholm in Halland, Denmark (Now Sweden) |
|
After the death of her husband Kristen Bülow til Ingelstad
|
|
1645-54
Acting County Sheriff
Regitze Grubbe of Hven, Denmark (Now Sweden) |
|
She was widow of Hans Ulrik Gyldenløve til Vindinge (1615-45), the son of Karen
Andersdatter and Christian 4. Hans Ulrik was given the fief Kronborg for life in
1641, and apparently took over as acting fiefholder of Hven from his
mother in 1640. Regitze lived (1618-1689).
|
|
1646-47
Acting County Sheriff Anne Lunge of Kalø,
Denmark
|
|
After the death of her husband, Jost Høg til Gjorslev
|
 |
1647-51
Exequtrix and Acting Lord Proprietor
Margaret Brent of
Maryland (USA) |
| 1648
she appeared before the assembly and requested two votes.
She asked for one for herself as a landowner and one as Lord
Baltimore's attorney.
Together with
two brothers and a sister,
she
had arrived from England to Maryland 10 years before. She became a
substantial landowner and
she was named
with Governor Leonard Calvert as joint guardian for Mary
Kittamaquund, daughter of the chief of the Piscataways. Margaret
Brent was not the only woman to claim land in her own right or to
pursue her own interests in court. However, she chose to do so;
she was not forced. Her continuing unmarried state was unusual in
a settlement where the male/female ratio was about six to one. In
1645, the civil war raging in England between Charles I and
Parliament spilled over into Maryland. Richard Ingle, a Protestant
and a partisan of the English Parliament, invaded St. Mary's City,
destroyed the property of Catholic settlers. Governor Leonard
Calvert and other settlers fled to Virginia, and the population of
the colony dropped drastically. Late in 1646, the Governor
returned with soldiers to reestablish Calvert control. However,
Governor Leonard Calvert died in 1647 with his own and Maryland's
affairs still in turmoil. From his deathbed, exhorting her to
"Take all and pay all," he appointed Margaret Brent his executor,
a testimony to his faith in her abilities.
The most pressing problem was paying Leonard Calvert's soldiers,
who were on the verge of a mutiny. Margaret averted that disaster
by having the assembly transfer to her Leonard Calvert's power of
attorney for his brother Lord Baltimore. Because Leonard Calvert's
estate was not sufficient, she sold some of Lord Baltimore's
cattle to pay the soldiers. Her most famous action, requesting two
votes in the assembly, occurred while she was trying to resolve
the Calvert affairs. Ultimately, Margaret's actions in averting
disaster were commended by the assembly to Lord Baltimore, who
could not see beyond the loss of his cattle. The Brents never
regained his favour and relocated to Virginia by 1651,
where she set up a large planetation.
She lived
(1610-71). |
 |
1647-53
Royal County Sheriff Dowager Hereditary Princess Magdalene Sibylla von Sachsen of
Denmark of Lolland-Falster, Denmark |
| After
her husband, Hereditary Prince Christian died, she withdrew to
her dowry in the south of Denmark, but in 1652 she married Duke
Friedrich Wilhelm II zu Sachsen-Altenburg (d. 1669), with whom
she had her first child Johanna Magdalene in 1656 and the next, Friedrich Wilhelm II,
in 1658.
She lived (1617-68). |
|
1648-49
Acting County Sheriff
Anne Rammel in Skåne, Denmark (Now Sweden)
|
|
Took over after the death of her husband, Knud Ulfeld til Østergaard.
|
|
1648-49
Acting County Sheriff
Margrethe Lunge of Koldinghus,
Denmark |
| In charge of the
fief after her husband, Mogens Bilde til Tirsbæk died.
|
|
1649-51 Acting
County Sheriff Kristense Lindenov of
Hindsgavl, Denmark
|
|
After the death of her husband, Klavs Sehested til Tim og Ørslev
|
|
1650-57 Captain-Donataria
Dame Beatriz de Mascarenhas of the Islands of Flores
and Corvo
, The Azores (Portugal) |
| She
was daughter of Don Martinho Mascarenhas, 2. Conde de Santa Cruz
and Joana de Vilhena and married her relative João Mascarenhas
(circa 1600-68), who was 3. Conde de Santa Cruz by the right of
his wife. Las
Ilhas das Flores e Corvo are remote part of the Azores. Beatriz lived (circa 1610-57). |
|
 |
1650-51 Dowager County Sheriff Jytte Styggesdatter Høeg of
Århusgård Len, Denmark
|
|
Another version of
her name was Jutte Høg, and she acted as administrator of the fief after the death of her husband, Niels Krag til Trudsholm.
She lived
(1589-1659). |
|
|
1651-61 County Sheriff Anne Gyldenstierne of Hagenskov Len,
Denmark |
|
Married to Jørgen Brahe to Hvedholm (1585-1661), she was daughter of
Predbjørn Gyldenstierne (1548-1616) and Mette Hardenberg (1569-1629),
mother of a number of children, and lived (1596-1677). |
|
1651-52
Acting County Sheriff
Dorote Bjekke of Bakke Kloster, Norway |
|
After the death of her husband, Daniel Bild til Morland. She was the official
local representative of the King of Denmark-Norway
|
|
1651-52
Acting County Sheriff
Margrete Hvitfeld of Dragsmark Kloster, Norway |
|
After her husband, Thomas Dyre til Sundsby, had died.
|
|
1652-54
Acting County Sheriff
Anna Margrethe von Gøtzen of
Abrahamstrup with Hornsherred , Denmark
|
|
After the death of her husband, Jørgen Schult til Finstrup.
|
|
1652-58
Acting County Sheriff
Karen Lange of Søbygaard, Denmark |
|
Acted after the death of her husband, Kristoffer Gø til Assendrup.
|
|
1652-...
County Sheriff Elsbet of Kullegaard in Skåne, Denmark (Now
Sweden) |
| It is not known
how long she was in charge of the fief.
She was widow of Thomas Jakobsen. |
|
1653-55
Acting County Sheriff Margrethe Skeel of Stege , Denmark |
|
After the death of her husband, Henrik
Rammel. |
|
1653-55
Acting County Sheriff Hilleborg Krafse of Hald, Denmark |
|
She became acting fiefholder after her husband, Frans Pogvisk til Ranvholt had
died.
|
|
1655-67
Vice-Reine
Geronima of Aragona,
Princess of the Holy Roman Empire, 5th Duchess of Monteleone,
Countess of Borrello (Italy)
|
|
She was daughter of Ettore III, IV Duca di Monteleone (1572–1622 ) ,
Viceroy of Catalogna and Caterina Caracciolo Countess of S. Angelo dei
Lombardi. |
|
1655-56
Acting County Sheriff
Dorte Abilgaard of Antvorskov Denmark |
|
After the death of her husband, Wentzel Rotkirk
|
|
1655-56
Acting County Sheriff
Dorothea Daa of Akershus, Norway |
|
After the death of her husband, Gregers Krabbe til Torstedlund. She was the
official local representative of the King of Denmark-Norway
|
|
1656-59 County Sheriff
Dorothea Sehested of Hasnø Kloster and Hardanger Len, Norway |
|
After the death of her husband, Peder Jul, she was given control of the fief for
two years. She was the official local representative of the King of
Denmark-Norway
|
|
1656-... County Sheriff Anne Blomme of
Koldinghus, Denmark
|
|
After the death of her husband Hans Schak, she was given the fief for life, but
it is not known when she died.
|
|
1656-58 Acting
County Sheriff
Sidsel Fris of Nyborg, Denmark |
|
After her husband, Mogens Kaas til Støvring, had died.
|
|
1657-58
Acting County Sheriff
Edel Rosenkrantz, Landskrona in Skåne , Denmark (Now Sweden) |
|
She acted after the death of her husband, Kristen Bernekov.
|
|
1658 Acting County Sheriff Anne Vind of Kronborg, Denmark |
|
She acted after the death of her husband, Arent von der Kuhla
|
|
1658-90
Governor Marie Bonnard du Parquet of Martinique (French External
Territory) |
| After
the death of her husband, governor Jacque Dyel de Parquet (1635-46 and 1647-58),
she took over as regent for the oldest of their six children,
who had been designated as governor by the French king. After an insurrection of the colonists, she left for France but
died at sea. |
|
 |
1659 Dowager County Sheriff Elisabeth Avgusta Christiansdatter
of Kalundborg Len, Denmark |
|
Frøken (Miss)
Elisabeth Augusta was daughter of King Christian 4. of Denmark and
Kirstine Munk. According to contemporary sources she gambled a lot and
was not a good "housewife", and therefore she had to sell the estates
of Boller and Rosenvold, which she inherited from her mother in 1658
in order to pay off her debts. She administered the fief for the
remaining part of the year after the death of her husband, Councillor
of the Realm (Rigsråd) Hans Hansen Lindenov,
til
Fovslet, Allingkloster, Hundslund, Gavnø, Oregaard and Borgeby.
Like her sisters, she was sometimes known as Christansdatter and held
the title of Countess of Holsten.
Her only daughter, Sophie Amalie
Lindenov (1649-88), inherited the estates and bought a number of new
ones. Her husband, Claus Då til Krængerup, Vedtoftegård og Dåsborg,
was murdered in 1678 apparently on her command. 1681 she had Dåsborg
named a Free-lordship (Barony) of Lindenborg with her nephew,
Christian Gyldenløve, as heir, since her only child had died as an
infant. Elisabeth Augusta
lived (1623-77). |
|
Before 1659-6...
Acting County Sheriff Anne Skeel of Ørum, Denmark |
|
Acted as local administrator after the death of her husband, Kristoffer Hvas til
Herregaard.
|
|
1660-61
Acting County Sheriff Kristense Lykke of København
with Smørrum, Sokkelund and Ølstykke Herred, Denmark |
|
Acted after the death of her husband. The English version of København is
Copenhagen, the Capital of Denmark.
|
|
1661-62
Acting County Sheriff
Katherine Sehested of Dragsholm, Denmark |
|
Acted after the death of her husband, Siverd Urne til Raarup.
|
|
 |
1661-62
Dowager County Sheriff
Margrethe Frederiksdatter Reedtz of Århusgård Len, Denmark
|
|
After her
husband, Malte Sehested til Ryhave og Boller, had died. She (d. 1697).
|
 |
1670-85
Royal County Sheriff Queen Dowager Sophie Amalie zu
Braunschweig-Lüneburg of Denmark of Lolland-Falster
Len and
Hørsholm Len, Denmark |
| She
already got the fief as security for loans to her husband,
Frederik 3, in 1660, and she also administered the estates of Ibsholm and
Dronninggaard. She was quite influential during the reign of her
husband from 1648. She was mother of
among others, Prince Jørgen (George) the husband of Queen Anne
of England and Scotland. Sophie Amalie lived (1628-85) |
 |
1674-88/89
Acting Patron Maria van Cartland van Rensselaer of
the Patroonship of Rensselaerswijk in New Amsterdam (USA) |
| After
the death of her husband, Jeremia van Rensselaer, she acted as
patron for son. The Dutch colonized the area which later became
New York after it was sold to the British. She lived
(1645-88/89) |
 |
1699-1714
Royal County Sheriff Queen Dowager Charlotte Amalie zu Hessen-Kassel
of
Denmark of Lolland-Falster Len, Denmark |
| Widow of
Christian 5 (1646-70-99). Though her husband was Head of the
Lutheran Church she resisted the pressure to give up her
Reformed faith, and was a big sponsor of Reformed and Calvinist
communities in Copenhagen. She gathered a number of estates and
became quite wealthy. Mother of four children, she lived (1650-1714) |
 |
1711-33
Governess Dowager Princess Marie-Louise von Hessen-Kassel of
Friesland, Groningen, Drente and Gelderland (The Netherlands)
1759-65 Governess of Friesland |
|
Her husband Johan Willem Friso van Oranje-Nassau,, had been non hereditary Stadtholder
of the Netherlands, and she ruled for son, Willem IV, Price of Oranje
and Nassau and for Grandson Willem V, after the death of his mother, Princess
Anne. Known as Marijke Meu, she was the sister of Friedrich, who became king of
Sweden in 1720 after the abdication of his wife, Queen Ulrika
Eleonora, and she lived (1688-1765) |
 |
1711-14
Stadtholder and
General-Captain
Elisabeta Cristina von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel of Aragón, Catalunya and Valencia
(Spain)
1735 Politically Influential in Austria |
|
1708 she married her husband, Carlos III of
Spain, who was only in control of Aragón, Cataloña and Valencia during the succession-war between the
Habsburgs and Borbons, and acted as regent during his absences. In 1711 he succeeded
his brother, Josef I and became Emperor Karl VI of the Holy Roman
Empire, and left for Austria. After the victory of the Bourbons, she joined her
husband. In 1716 she gave birth to a son, who died soon after, the following
year the later Empress Maria Theresia was born and two other daughters followed.
It was only in 1735 that she gained political influence, forming a party against
the Spanish Council in Vienna, but also her daughter, kept her away from the
government. She lived (1691-1750)
|
 |
1712-24
Acting Governor Hannah
Callowhill Penn of The Colony of Penn (British Possession/USA) |
|
Her
husband was given the lands by the King of England in 1693. In 1712 he
was paralyzed and she became acting governor or Proprietor of the Colony
of Penn. He died in 1718 but his son (her stepson) did not “take power”
until 1724. The last of the Penn-family to rule the state of
Pennsylvania was deposed in 1776. She lived (1671-1727).
|
|
1714-21
Governor Ann Andros of Alderny (United
Kingdom Crown Dependency) |
| Followed George Andros on the post and resigned in favour of
John Le Mesurier, who became the first official hereditary
governor of the island, which at the time was a separate dependency.
It was later subordinated to Guernsey in the Channel Islands,
but still has its own government. She lived (1684-1729). |
|
1722-29
(†) Governor Ann Le Mesurier of Alderny (United
Kingdom Crown Dependency in the Channel Islands) |
| Succeeded
John Le Mesurier, who had succeeded Ann Andros the year before.
She was succeded by Henry Le Mesurier (.1713-30-44-79). Ann
lived (1684-1729). |
 |
1725-41
Stadtholder Archduchess Maria-Elisabeth von Habsburg of the
Southern Low Countries (Belgium-Luxembourg) |
| Daughter
of Leopold I, and appointed by her uncle, Emperor Karl VI. Her niece became Empress and
Queen of Austria-Hungaria. Maria-Elisabeth lived (1680-1741).
|
 |
1751-59
Governess Dowager Princess Anne of Great
Britain of Friesland, Nassau and
Oranje etc. (The Netherlands) |
| After
the death of husband, Willem IV van Oranje-Nassau, she became
regent for her minor son. In government affairs, she at first
pleased by her quick actions and decisions; however, she was
also tyrannical and unpredictable. Born as daughter of the future
King George II of Great Britain, she was Princess of Great Britain and
Ireland, Princess of Hanover,
Duchess of Braunschweig and Lüneburg and from 1727 also Princess Royal.
When she died after a long period of consumption, her
mother-in-law, Marie-Louise von Hessen-Kassel, became
regent for the second time. Anne
lived (1709-59).
|
|
1754
and 1761
Governor-Regent Muglani Suraiya Bigum of
Lahore
(India)
|
|
Regent for
Muhammad Amin Han, who lived 1751-54 and was governor for
the Emperor of the Mongul-Afgan Empire of India in 1754.
|
 |
1756-70
Royal County Sheriff Queen Dowager Sophie Magdalene
zu Brandenburg-Kumblach of Denmark of Hørsholm
Len,
Denmark |
| After
the death of her husband, Christian 6, she became administrator
of the fief of Hørsholm, but the system of fiefholders (County
Sheriffs or Lensmand) as local
administrators had been abolished, and she was the last Dowager
Queen to be given a dowry. She lived (1700-70) |
 |
1765-66
Governess Princess Carolina of Oranje-Nassau of Friesland
(The Netherlands) |
|
Her parents third, but first surviving child, and in 1747 it was decreed that the position
of Stadtholder could be inherited by females,
however her brother, the future Willem V, was born the
following year. Her brother became Stadtholder in 1755, aged
three, first with their mother, Anna of Hanover and then with
their grandmother, Marijke Meu as regents. After the death of
the grandmother, Carolina became regent in the Northern Provinces. She had 15 children with her husband, Prince Karl of Nassau, Count of
Saarbrücken and Saarwerden, Herr of Lahr, Mahlberg, Wiesbaden and Idstein. She
lived (1743-87). |
 |
1780-93/98
Co-Governante-General Princess Maria-Christina Johanna Josefa Antonia von
Habsburg-Lothringen of the Southern Low Countries (Belgium and
Luxembourg) |
| Duchess of Teschen 1765-98 together with husband, Albrecht
of Sachsen, Duke of Teschen (1765-98) and Governor of Hungary
(1766-80). Daughter
of Maria Theresa.
Maria-Christina lived (1742-98)
|
 |
1784
Co-Administrator Princess Natasha Shelikova of the Colony Alaska
(Russia) |
| The first white woman to live in Alaska. Married to the
first Russian manager of the Alaskan territory, Gregory Shelikof.
They grew barley, millet, peas, beans, gourds, parsnips, mustard,
beets, potatoes, turnips and rhubarb. They picked berries and
hunted. When Natasha's husband would leave to go on expeditions
she was left in charge. Perhaps one could consider her the
first woman Governor of Alaska, if not in title, then in action. |
|
Around
1795 Governor Queen
Ana Jambakur-Orbeliani of Imerati of Mingrelia (Georgia) |
| Widow
of King Davit II of
Imerati and Amierati (1756-82-92-95), who was forced to abandon his
throne when attacked by King Irakli II of Georgia, but returned when the
latter faced an invasion by the Turks. Continued in rebellion until
1792, when he retreated into Russia, and was allowed to settle at
Akhaltzykh. She abandoned her children, was received with honour at
Moscow and appointed as Governor . Daughter of Prince Mamuka
Jambakur-Orbeliani and a Princess of Kvenipneveli-Sidamoni of Ksani.
Mother of one son and four daughters (1765- 1832). |
|
From 1804
Acting Governor Marie Louise Ferrand, Hispanola (Las Isla
Espanola) (Spanish Possession) |
| Today
the island houses two countries: The Dominican Republic and
Haïti.
She
was probably
the wife of Jean Louis Ferrand, who was governor of the islands
(1804 –1809). Marie Louise lived (1753-1811). |
 |
1809-14 Governor General and Titular Grand Duchess
Elisa Baciocchi Bonaparteof
Toscana
(Italy)
|
|
1805-14
she was
Sovereign Princess
of Elba e Lucca-Piobino.
The eldest of Napoleon's sisters. Elisa-Anne-Maria married Felix
Baciocchi, a former officer of the Royal Corsican regiment, on 1 May 1797. On 18
March 1805, Napoleon handed over the principality of Piombino to her, to
which that of Lucca was added three months afterwards. She proved to be
extremely serious in her duties as sovereign, taking an interest not only in
improving the roadways and opening a school and an academy, but also showing a
knowledge of military affairs. In 1809 she was made Governor General with courtesy
title of Grand Duchess. After the fall of Napoleon, she lived in various places, including
Moravia, Trieste, and Bologna, where she was known by the name of the Countess
Compignano. She lived (1777-1820)
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1805-15
Reigning
Abbess-General
Bernarda de Orense of
the Monastery of Santa
Maria la Real de las Huelgas in Burgos (Spain)
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Her full title was noble
Lady, the superior, prelate, and lawful administratrix in spirituals and
temporals of the royal abbey.
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1829-31 Governor Kuini Liliha of Oahu, Hawaii (USA) |
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When her third husband,
The Hon Alii Boki (Poki Kama'ule'ule),
went off to the New Hebrides to harvest sandalwood, he entrusted her
with the administration. One of her new responsibilities was to become
legal guardian and sole trustee of the properties of Kamehameha III,
who became king as a child. This was opposed by the Regent, Queen
Kaahumanu. When her husband and his entourage of chiefs were lost at
sea and pronounced dead, she was left permanently in administration as
royal governor. Her second husband had been
Prince Kahalaia Luanu'u. She (d. 1839). |
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1831-41
Governor Chiefess Kapiolani of Kao, South-Kona and Hawai'i, Hawaii (USA)
|
| Daughter
of Chiefess Kekikipaa, formerly married to Kamehameha I. She
lived (circa 1781-1841). |
 |
1839-51
(†) Governor Weyzero Elleni of Hamasen (Eritrea) |
| Murdered together with grandsons in the fighting
with the Emperor of Ethiopia. |
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Circa
1840-51 Governor MaMotshiame of the Central Province of the Bulozi Kingdom (Zambia)
1851-58
Makololo Morêna of Bulozi (or Barotseland) |
| Her
father, king Sebutuabe, appointed her as governor of a central
province. On his deathbed, he appointed her as his successor.
She later abdicated in favour of brother, Sekeletu. She died (1888) |
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1840-42
Governor Queen Kalakaua of Maui ,
Hawaii (USA)
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| Also
known as, Kaheiheimalie, she was member of the Royal family,
married first to Kaleimamahu and afterwards to his half brother
King Kamehameha the Great. (d. 1842) |
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1842-44
Governor HRH Princess Anna Keahikuni-i-Kekauonohi of Hawai'i
of Maui,
Hawai'i (USA)
|
| The
daughter of Prince Kinau Kahoanuku of Hawaii and Princess
Kahakuha'akoi Wahini-pio of Maui, she was married to King
Lihohilo Kamehameha II, Prince Keali'iahonui (whose first
wife was Queen Elizabeth Ka'ahumanu, whose first husband was
king Kamehameha the Great) and Levi Ha'alelea. Princess Anna
lived (1805-51). |
 |
Until 1844 Governor
HRH Princess Kekauonohi of
Kauai of Hawaii
(USA)
1844-51 Member of
the Privy Council of Hawai'i
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| The
granddaughter of Kamehameha I, she was one of the five wives of
Kamehameha II. In 1828 she married Aaron Keliiahonui, son
of Kaumualii the last King of Kauai, and she married
Levi Haalelea in 1850.
Stephen Reynolds in his Journal (now in the Peabody Essex
Museum) noted at her death that she was "the last of the
old stock of chiefs – one of the best of them – good natured,
benevolent, liberal and generous." She lived (1805-1851). |
 |
Around
1878 Governor HRH Princess Ruth Luka Ke'ekikolani
of Hawai'i,
Hawi'i (USA) |
| Married
HE The Hon. Alii William Pitt Leleiohoku, and John Young Davis.
She lived (1826-83) |
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1878-80
Governor of Hawaii HRH Princess Miriam Kapili Likelike
Kekaukuohi of Hawaii (USA) |
| Sister
of King David La'amea Kamanakapu'u Mahnulani Nalaiaehu-o-kalani
Lumialani Kalakaua I and Queen Lydia Kamakaeha Liliu-o-Kalani.
She was granted the title of HRH Princess in 1874 and mother of
Crown-Princess Victoria Kauilani Kalaninuiahilakalapa
Kawekiu-i-Lunalilo' (1875-95) who was heiress to the throne from
1891. Princess Miriam lived (1851-87). |
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1878-91 Proprietor
Malie of Swain Island (American Samoa) |
|
Took over as managing owner after the death of her husband Eli Hutchinson
Jennings (1814-56-78) in the name of her son, Eli Hutchinson Jennings Jr. (1863-1920). The 3.25 square kilometer ring of
land surrounding a brackish lagoon never recognized by the international
community, that behaved as an independent state until 1925, when annexed
by the USA. Culturally and geographically
it belongs to the Tokelau Islands, but today it is part of American
Samoa, and is still owned by the Jennings family. She (d. 1891) |
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1880-84
Governor of Hawaii HRH Princess Victoria Kinoike Kekaulike of
Hawaii (USA) |
| Daughter
of HH Princess Kinoike Kekaulike and Alii Kuhio Kalaniana'ole,
she was married to Alii David Kahalepouli Piikoi and mother of
two sons. In 1891 the oldest, HRH Prince David La'amea Kahalepouli
Kawananakoa, was appointed Heir Presumptive after HRH
Princess Victoria Kauilani. After her death in 1899 he was
second-in-line for the Hawaiian throne. He died in
1909 and therefore his son, Prince David succeeded Queen Lydia
Kamakaeha Liliu-o-Kalani as head of the royal house in 1917.
Princess Victoria lived (1843-84). |
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1880-95 Governor of Kauai HRH Princess Virginia Kapo'oloku
Po'omaikelani of Hawaii (USA)
1888-95 Guardian of the Royal Tombs |
| Daughter
of HH Princess Kinoike Kekaulike and Alii Kuhio Kalaniana'ole
and married to Hiram Kahanawai, a cousin of King Kalakaua. She
lived (1839-95). |
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1888-1902
Representative of the British and Judge Mary Slessor, Okoyongo
District (Nigeria) |
|
An ordinary Dundee mill worker who became a notable missionary in West Africa. With enormous strength of will she unflinchingly took on the
authorities to bring genuine benefits to the natives, setting up many schools,
hospitals and churches throughout the region. Called 'Great Mother' by
the Nigerians, she provided healthcare and education and stamped out barbaric
tribal practices such as human sacrifice, ritualistic rape and the murder of
twins. She
lived (1848-1915) |
 |
1896-1944
Captain and Governor HRH Princess Beatrice of United Kingdom and
Ireland of the Isle of Wright (United Kingdom) |
| The
ninth child of Queen Victoria, she was private secretary of her
mother 1874-1901. She married Prince Henry of Battenberg and
after his death of malaria in Ghana, she succeeded him as governor
of the Isle of Wright. Mother of three sons and a daughter, the
later Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain. Princess Beatrice Mary
Victoria Feodore lived (1857-1944). |
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1920-21
Joint Proprietor Ann Eliza Carruthers-Jennings of Swain
Island (American Samoa) |
| Joint managing owner with her brother, Alexander Hutchinson
Jennings, and was married to the Britton, Irving H. Carruthers,
who had been named executor and trustee, and they lived in
American Samoa. The 3.25 square kilometer ring of
land surrounding a brackish lagoon never recognized by the international
community, that behaved as an independent state until 1925, when
annexed by the USA. Culturally and geographically
it belongs to the Tokelau Islands, but today it is part of American
Samoa, and is still owned by the Jennings family. She lived
(1897-1923) |
Last update 18.03.08
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