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Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
WOMEN IN
POWER
500-750
Female
leaders
and women in other positions of political authority
of independent states and
self-governing understate entities
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Early 500s-520s Khanum Regnant Bogharik of Sabir (Russia)
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Head of the Hunnic normanic tribe that briefly established a
powerful state north of the Caucasus. They may have been attested to
as early as 124 BCE, in which case they are ultimately Sarmatian or
Scythian in origin. They were allied with Sassanid Persia until c.550,
when they were enticed to join a Byzantine-led coalition. |
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511-527 Lady Ix Yo K'in of Tikal (Guatemala) |
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Also known as Lady Kalomte', she succeeded her father Chak Tok Ich'aak
II at age six. While she was considered the queen and nineteenth
successor, she ruled the important Classic-Age Mayan city-state
located in northwestern Guatemala with a coregent, Kalomte' B'alam a
prominent warrior. Her name means Baby Jaguar, and she was succeeded
by king K'inich Muwaan Jol. |
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515-20 and 525-28 Regent Dowager Queen Ling Tai Hu of Touba Wei
(Northern China) |
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A
member of the Ziongnu Dynasty in Northern China, she executed lovers,
forced a rival into a convent and had her executed. I in 528 she
executed her son, Yuan Xu (Emperor Xiao Mingdi (515-28), who ruled in
a period with 9 pretenders and is described as a forceful leader with
an exceptional energy. As regent, she carried on imperial sacrifices
in place of her son, issued edicts, competed in archery contests with
her officials, travelled around the country side to receive petitions,
personally interviewed new candidates for office, and took frequent
pleasure trips to sacred and scenic spots. She was removed from office
but later reinstated. She was the last member or the Tabatch dynasty
to display the ancient strength, but her extravagant spending in
favour of Buddhism resulted in a revolt, she sought refuge in a
Buddhist nunnery, but she and her son were thrown into the Yellow
River and around 1.000 courtiers were murdered. In the following chaos
the Northern Wei-Empire (Bei Wei) were divided among various warlords. |
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518-65 Co-Ruler Empress Theodora of The Byzantine Empire
(Covering what is now Greece and Turkey) |
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Before becoming Empress, she was an actress. During this time in
history the theatre was looked down upon and in fact banned by the
church. She later became a devote Christian and married Emperor
Justinian, who viewed her as an equal and accepted her many ideas. She
was influential in changing the administrative and legislative
sectors. She was an advocate of women’s rights. The Empress, along
with her husband changed laws on guardianship to include women, and
created a law that allowed women to own property. The two also rebuilt
cities that were ruined during earthquakes, and built the church Hagia
Sophia. In 532, mobs attempted to overthrow Justinian, causing the
Emperor the desire to flee his city. But it was his wife who convinced
him to stay. |
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520
Snake Lady Naah Ek' of Palenque (Mexico)
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According to the historic texts, she was the first Snake Lady to
arrive to the kingdom. Her name meant "House Star", and is
specifically said to have been u nahtal ix kan ajaw, "the first Snake
Queen" a position with geat significance and political power. She is
also said to have been the wife of Tuun K'ab' Hiix (ruled circa 520-circa
550), one of the great early rulers of the Snake Kingdom, who on La
Corona Stela 1 is associated with rites in 544 that may be part of the
founding of the site. |
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528... Queen Regnant Boa of the Sabira Tribe (Caucasus) |
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A
political ally of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora of the
Byzantine Empire. |
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528 "Reigning Queen" of Northern Wei (China) |
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When her
son
Suzong
was killed after having asked Er-zhu Rong, the Xiongnu leader in
Shansi, to free him from her Chinese advisors, she she placed her
infant grand-child on the throne, but it was a girl and this turned
out to be unacceptable and the infant was replaced by Gaozu’s
two-year-old grandson by the Xiongnu and Xianbei leaders, who had
brought their troops to the capital. |
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526-34 Regent Princess Amalasuentha of the Ostrotoths (Italy)
534-35 Joint Reigning Queen |
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Daughter of King Theodoric and Audofleda, a sister of King
Clovis. Exceptionally well educated, she studied both Greek and Latin
and took a keen interest in art and literature. Married to Eutharic at
the age of 17, she found herself Queen in 522, following the deaths of
both her father and her husband. She served as regent for her
10-year-old son, Athalric. Like her father, she maintained a
pro-Byzantine policy, which was not popular with the Ostrogothic
nobles. She suppressed a rebellion and executed three of its leaders.
She also purged her lands of dishonest office holders and limited the
power of grasping landowners. After her son died, in 534, she shared
the throne with her cousin, Theodahad who later led a palace
revolution and caused her to be exiled to an island, where she was
strangled in her bath as an act of vengeance by relatives of the
nobles she had executed. |
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529
Army Leader Princess Halima of the Ghassan Kingdom (Arabia) |
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Leader of a battle against the Labmidians who had sacrificed her
brother to their goddess. Daughter of King al-Harit (529-69). |
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554... Regent Queen Hind al-Hirah of Lakhm (Syria) |
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A Christian Princess of either Ghassan or Kindah origin who
married Mundhir al Mundhir III, whose mother was Mariyah or Mawiya. He
raided Byzantine Syria and challenged the kingdom of Ghassan. After
his death, she was regent for their son, Amr ibn-Hind, and she ruled
as an independent and resourceful Queen. |
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556-78 Political Influential Lady Lu Lingxuan of Northern Qi
(China) |
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Nurse of Emperor Gao Wei (556-78), the fifth and last ruler of
Northern Qi. He was only 12 when his father died and his political
survival in the years between his father’s death and the fall of the
dynasty was in many ways due to her assistance and support. She was
promoted to the post of Female Attendant of the Palace that gave her –
a grade equivalent to that of a second class official in the outer
bureaucracy. Her relatives were all given official positions. The
emperor's confidence in her was almost absolute and she was careful
not to damage the relationship by antagonizing the Empress Dowager who
was afraid of her son. For a short while she was also promoted to the
post of Empress of the Left but later stripped of the title. She died
by her own hand when she heard that her son had defected to Northern
Chou on the eve of Northern Qi’s defeat. Emperor Gao Wei (Houzhu) and
Empress Mu were both executed by the Chou in 578; the Empress Dowager
was captured and survived into the Sui era.
She (d.578). |
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565-572 and 574-578 Co-ruler Empress Sophia of The
Byzantine Empire (Covering what is now Greece and Turkey)
572-574 Sole Regent
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The
niece of Empress Theodora and married to emperor Iustinus II
(565-578), and sole regent during her husband's mental illness. She
nominated his two successors without marrying either, and continued
exercise a high degree of influence on the government and is believed
to have played a major role in various financial measures and took an
active part in foreign politics, mainly in her dealings with Persia. |
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575-580 Queen
Regnant Kambuja-raja-lakshmi of Chen-la |
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Maternal
cousin of king Sresthavarman and the daughter of king Viravarman. She
was married to king Bhavavarman I. It was through her that he
inherited the royal lineage. |
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575-84 Regent Dowager Queen Brunhilde of Austrasia and
Burgundy (France) |
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Also known as Brunhildis, the Visigoth Princess exerted great
influence over political life in the Frankish kingdoms of Austrasia,
Neustria, and Burgundy. She married King Sigebert of Austrasia in 567,
while her sister Galswintha, married his brother Chilperic, king of
Neustria. Rivalry between the brothers developed into open war when
Chilperic had Galswintha murdered. When Sigebert was assassinated on
the orders of Fredegunde - Chilperic's second wife - in 575, Chilperic
claimed his lands. Brunhilde resisted this claim in the name of her
son Childebert II. However, her nobles deserted her and she fled to
Burgundy. Childebert remained in Austrasia and in 592 inherited
Burgundy. When Childebert died in 595, Brunhilde attempted to assert
her control as regent over Burgundy and Austrasia, which her grandsons
Theodoric II and Theodebert II had inherited. In 612 Theodoric
murdered his brother at her instigation. Theodoric himself died in
613. When Brunhilde tried to make her great-grandson Sigebert II king,
the nobles rebelled and acknowledged Clotaire as king. In the autumn
of 613, near Dijon, France, Clotaire had both Sigebert and Brunhilde
executed. |
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Circa
575 Queen Regnant Gokadi of Kuba (Congo-Brazzaville) |
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Another version of her name is Ngokay. She was ruler in the legendary
period where the Kuba people moved to its present location, and was
succeeded by king Bonga Mashu Mashi. |
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583-605 Ruler Lady Yohl Ik'nal of B'aakal (Palenque) (Mexico)
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Ascended to the throne after the deah of Kan B'alam I, who was probably her father, and remained in
power for over 20 years, as one of the few women in the Classical
Mayan period to carry full royal titles and enjoy a full term. She was
succeeded by son, Aj Ne' ohl, as head of the Mayan
Empire at Palenque in the Yucatan. Alternative versions of her name
are Lady Kanal Ikal, Ix Yohl Ik'nal, Lady Olnal, Kan-Ik, Lady Ik, or
K'anal-Ik'al. |
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584-94 Regent Dowager Queen Fredegundis of France |
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Fredgunde or Fredegunda was a slave-girl at the court of Neustria when
she came to the attention of Chilperic I, Merovingian King of Soissons
(Neustria). She became his mistress and then eventually third wife.
She persuaded Chilperic to repudiate his first wife Audovera and was
said to be the driving force behind the murder in 568 of Chilperic's
second wife Galswintha. Fredegunda also engineered the murders of
Audovera's three sons and Sigibert of Austrasia, Chilperic's brother.
Finally her husband was murdered or assassinated, shortly after the
birth of their son Lothair in 584. Fredegunda seized her late
husband's wealth and fled to Paris with her remaining son Lothair (Clotaire
II), and persuaded the Neustrian nobles to recognize her son as the
legitimate heir to the throne and she took over the regency and
continued her longtime power struggle with Guntrum of Burgundy (d.593)
and Brunhilda, Queen-Mother of Austrasia (d.614), whom she defeated
around 597. Fredegunda (d. 598). |
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590
Reigning Dowager Queen Theodelinda of the Lombards (Italy)
615-25 Regent of the Kingdom |
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Co-ruler with husbands, king Autharis (584-90) and Agilulf (591-615)
and regent for son King Adololdo of the Lombards or Langobards, who
was deposed by her son-in-law. She was instrumental in restoring
Athanasian Christianity - the ancestor of modern Roman Catholicism -
to a position of primacy in Italy against its rival, Arian
Christianity. With a stable base in Italy thereafter, the Papacy could
begin subduing those it regarded as heretics elsewhere. |
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592-628 Suiko Tennō of Japan |
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推古天皇
was the 33rd imperial ruler in succession to a brother, and even
though ancient Chinese history records earlier reigning women, and in
spite of the regency of Jingo-kogo (200-69), she was the first
reigning Empress listed in Japanese history. She was a daughter of the
Emperor Kinmei and after the death of her half-brother and husband,
Emperor Bidatsu, she had some influence in politics. But after she
ascended the throne she took little active part in affairs of state,
which were handled by her nephew and son-in-law Prince Shotoku. During
her reign, the total supremacy of the monarch was established, and she
was one of the first Buddhist monarchs in Japan and had taken the vows
of a nun shortly before becoming empress. She sent many embassies to
China. The mother of 5 children, she was succeeded by Jomei, the
grandson of her husband and brother of Emperor Bidatsu. Her posthumous
name is Toyomike-Kashikiya-hime no Mikoto, and she lived (544-628). |
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Circa
600 Army Leader Kahula in Arabia |
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An
army commander in the battle of Yermonks, she joined her forces with
those of another female commander, Wafeira. Together they turned back
the Greek army. |
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606-47 Politically Influential Queen Rajyasri of Kanyakubja
(India) |
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Regularly took a seat of honour beside her brother king Harsa, and
shared in state deliberations. |
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612-15 Ruler Zac-Kuk of B'aakal or Palenque (Mayan Empire at
Palenque in the Yucatan - Mexico) |
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The
Princess was the great-granddaughter of Kanal-Ikal and succeeded
father, Aj Ne' ohe. Zak means white and Kuk means
quetzal. ak Kuk was a powerful woman. She manipulated facts to secure
her son, Pakal's divine right to rule, thus restoring her family's
reign following a devastating defeat from a neighbouring city. She
resigned in his favour, and died in 640. |
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618-34 Politically Influential Queen Mother Lady Batz' Ek' of
Caracol (Mexico) |
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At
the age of 18, she arrived in the centre of Oxwitza in 584, and
married king Knot Ajaw of the Mayan kingdom of Caracol, who had
already been in power for 31 years. Her prominence in the sources
suggests that she took a very prominent and politically influential
role during the reign of her son K'an II (618-58) until her own
death. |
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Circa
618-23 Military Leader Princess Pin-yang of
China |
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Helped her father, the first Tang emperor, Li Yuan (618-26), overthrow
the Sui by organizing the "Woman's Army". Her husband, Cai Shao was
the leader of the palace guards protecting the Sui crown prince. She
also made allies of other rebel forces in the region who began to join
her when they heard of her father’s successes, and the rural people
saw her forces as liberators rather than conquerors, offering them
food and drink upon arrival. After her victories, her army would
distribute food and win over the people in the captured territories.
When her army grow to 70.000 troops, the Sui took her seriously and
launched an attack but were defeated. When her father became emperor,
she was made a marshal allowing her to have her own military aides and
staff just like a prince would be entitled to.
(circa600-623). |
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624
Opposition Leader Hind al-Hunnud in the Arab World |
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A
member of the Quaish Tribe in the Kingdom of Kindah, she was one of
the leaders of the opposition to Muhammed. She led a battle against
him in 624, where her father and brother were killed and she then led
a battle of vengeance against him, but in the end she submitted and became a Muslim convert. |
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626-72 Co-Ruler Ahpo-Hel of Palenque (Mexico) |
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The primary wife of Hanab Pakal (603-15-83). Some archaeologists
think that he made his her a co-ruler. This would be very unusual.
They had no children for the first nine years of heir marriage, but in
the end they had at least two sons. |
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626-36 Politically Influential Empress Zhangsun of China |
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During the first years of their marriage her
husband,
Li Shimin, fought over the succession to the throne with his royal brothers,
she repeatedly cleared him before Emperor Gaozu of the
misdeeds with which he had been falsely framed. During the Xuanwumen
Mutiny in which Emperor Gaozu's sons fought for the throne, she made a
personal appearance in order to raise the army's morale, thus
ultimately helping her husband get rid of his political enemies. She
continued to assist in the handling of state affairs after her husband
became Emperor under the name of Taizong, of the Tang Dynasty.
She was of Xianbei origin (an ancient ethnic group in China) and grew
up on the central plains and received a very good education there,
having a particularly good command of literature and history. She lived (600-36). |
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630-31 Queen Regnant Purandokht of Persia (Iran) |
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Also known as Buran or Poran, she was daughter of the King Khosrau II
of Persia (590–628), and ascended to the throne after the murder of
the general Shahrbaraz, who killed her brother Ardashir III, she
brought stability to the empire by a peace treaty with the Byzantine
Empire, the revitalization of the empire through the implementation
of justice, reconstruction of the infrastructure, lowering of taxes,
and minting coins. She was largely unsuccessful in her attempts to
restore the power of the central authority which was weakened
considerably by civil wars, and resigned or was murdered soon after.
Ferdowsi refers to Purandokht in his epic poem the Shahnameh. She
was committed to reviving the memory and prestige of her father,
during whose reign the Sassanid Empire had grown to its largest
territorial extent. Succeeded by sister Azarmidokht.
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631-32 Queen Regnant Azarmedukht of Persia
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After the death of her sister Purandokht,
Gushnasp Bandah ascended the throne, but he was deposed within a few
weeks.
The next person to ascend the throne was , a
distant cousin of Khushrow Parvez, but he was dethroned within a few
weeks. Azarmidokht, a young and very beautiful daughter of Khushrow
Parvez succeeded him. Farrokh Hormazd, powerful but an aged
commander made a bid for the throne. His plan was to occupy the
royal palace by force, marry her and establish his own
dynasty, but she had him murdered before he could attack, but his
son murder attacked the palace, captured the her and killed her
after about 18 months on the throne. |
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631-56 Politically Influential 'A'ishah Bint Abi Bakr in the
Arab World |
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Aishah was powerful force in the political turmoil that followed the death
of her husband, the Prophet Muhammed. She became very important for
her role in the civil war, but was defeated and captured in a battle in 656 and only released on
promising to abandon political life. Her religious teachings became
important for the the Muslim faith. She lived
(613-78). |
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632-47 Queen Regnant Sondok Yo Ju of Silla (Korea) |
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Also known as Sondok Yowang, she succeeded father and she was
generally known as a strong Queen who continued Silla's conflict with
the two other Korean kingdoms of Koguryo and Paekche. She formed an
alliance with China and chose general Kim Yusin to direct the
military. She also encouraged students to go to China to study
Buddhism and administration. Today, she is perhaps best known for the
cultural impact of her reign, she finished the Buddhist temples at
Punhwangsa and Yongmyosa, and the nine-tiered pagoda of Hwanguyongsa
was built in her reign. One of the other lasting monuments from this
era is the oldest observatory in Asia. Her tomb is part of the major
gravesites in Silla. Succeeded by her cousin, Queen Jindeok. |
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639-42 Regent Dowager Queen Nanthildis of Neustrasia and
Burgundy (France) |
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Nanthilde, Nanthechilde or Nantechildis was a
former servant and married the Merovingian king Dagobert I (604-29-35)
after he had divorced his childless consort, Gomatrud. After
Dagobert's death her son, Chlodwig II was appointed king of Neutrasia
and Burgundy and his older half-brother, Sigibert III king of
Austrasia. She received 1/3 of the royal treasure. She acted as regent
together with the Major Domus Aega. As he attacked the Burgund farons
she protected them and 642 she reformed the office of Major Domus of
Burgundy and appointed the Frankish Flaochad to the office. She lived
(circa 610-642). |
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639-40 Rani Regnant of Sindh and Baluchistan (Pakistan) |
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Successor of her husband Shasri Rai II. The name Baluchistan came into
existence with the arrival from Iran of the tribes called Baluch. |
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641
Regent Dowager Empress Martina of The Byzantine Empire
(Covering what is now Greece and Turkey) |
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After the death of her husband, Herakleios, she was first co-ruler
with stepson, Constantinos III, whom she was accused of poisoning. She
took power but was deposed together with son Heraklonas, who was still
a minor. They were both mutilated and sent into exile. |
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642-49 Member of Regency Council Dowager Empress Gregorina of
The Byzantine Empire (Covering what is now Greece and Turkey) |
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Widow of Herakleios-Constantinos and her son, Constans, was
chosen as Emperor after Martina and Heraklonas, and though the sources
does not mention the members of the Regency Council it can be assumed
that she was one of the members. She was a niece of Emperor Herakleios
II. |
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642-45 Kōgyoku Tennō of Japan (First reign)
655-61 Saimei Tennō (Second reign) |
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皇極天皇 or
斉明天皇
was granddaughter of Prince Shōtoku, who was regent in 593-621, she
first married Yomei-Tennō (586-87) and then her uncle Jōmei-Tennō
(629-41), whom she succeeded. Two ministers, who were killed on the
instigation of her brother, Kotoku, influenced her and she abdicated
the next morning in his favour. After his death 10 years later she
re-ascended to the throne, and this time she did not allow herself to
be influenced by the ministers. She subdued the Ebisu of Ezo, and in
661 she led a naval expedition to Paekche. She died on the way to
rescue the Korean kingdoms of Koma and Kudara from Chinese attack.
Born as Princess Takara her posthumous name is Ame Tokyo Takara Mige
Fi Tarsi Hime, she had three children, and Lived (593-661). |
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647-54 Queen Regnant Chindok Yo Ju of Silla (Korea) |
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Also known as Jindeok or Chindok Yowang, she succeeded her cousin Queen Sondok,
and continued her alliance with the Chinese and emphasized the dress,
organization, and literary cultures from the T'ang Dynasty. She
started the use of a Chinese calendar and put down rebellions against
her pro Chinese policy. While some criticized her closeness to the
T'ang government, later historians have seen her reign as giving Silla
a "breathing space" to grow strong against her enemies. |
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650/750 Queen Regnant of Waka (Guatemala) |
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In
2004 scientists have recovered her grave that shows all the trappings
of a Maya ruler, but does not reveal her name. The artefacts indicate
that she lived between 650 and 750. |
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Until 653 Queen Regnant of the Champa Kingdom (Vietnam)
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Her
name has been lost, but her predecessor ruled from 645.The ancient
kingdom of Champa was situated in the central coast of Viet Nam at one
time stretched from the Ngang Pass (present Quang Binh province) to
the upper basin of Dong Nai river. The Cham people are believed to be
of the same Javanese stock as many of the creators of the Dong Son
culture further to the north. As they were intrepid seafarers, and as
their land was well placed not far from the sea route from India to
China, the Chams were exposed very early to Indian culture and its
Brahman religion. Today they are one of the 55 ethnic minorities; they
are Muslims and live in the Mekong Delta. |
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After 655 Governor Princess Vijaya Bhattarika of a Province in
Chauleskyas (Chalukya) (India) |
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Appointed
to the post by King Vikramaditya I of Chalukya (655-681). |
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657-64/65 Regent Dowager Queen Bathildis of Neustrie, Bourgogne
and Austrasie (France) |
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Also known as Bathilde or Baldechildis, she was born in England, and
taken to Gaul as a slave and about 641, Erchinoald, mayor of the
palace of Neustria, bought her. She married Clovis II in 648. The
future Lothair III was born in 649, and she had two more sons,
Theoderic and Childeric, who also eventually became rulers. Balthildis'
influence during her husband's reign was considerable, since she
controlled the court and the allocation of charity money, and had
strong connections with Church leaders. After Clovis' death in 657 she
took over the regency for her son Lothair III and embarked on a policy
of unifying the Frankish territory by controlling Austrasia through
imposing her son Childeric as Prince and absorbing Burgundy. She lost
her political power when Lothair came of age and was forced to retire
to the convent of Chelles, which she had founded and endowed with much
of her personal wealth in 664. She died in 680 in Chelles, and was
later declared a saint.
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660-705 Regent Empress Consort Wu Zetian of China
690-705 Emperor of the Empire |
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Favourite concubine of Emperor Kao Tsung
as she gave birth to his
sons. Within five years of their marriage, her husband suffered a
crippling stroke, and she took over the administrative duties of the
court. She created a secret police force, and cruelly jailed or killed
anyone who stood in her way - including the co-wife of her husband,
Empress Wang. After her husband's death, she managed to outflank her
eldest sons in favour of the youngest, who abdicated in 690 after
which she was declared emperor of China. She was an able
administrator: Reduced the army's size and stopped the influence of
aristocratic military men on government by replacing them with
scholars. Everyone had to compete for government positions by taking
exams, thus setting the practice of government run by scholars. She
also was fair to peasants, lowering oppressive taxes, raising
agricultural production, and strengthening public works. In 705, she
was pressured to give up the throne in favour of her third son. Wu Zetian died peacefully the same year, after having lived (625-705).
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662
Regent Dowager Queen Himnechilde of Austrasia (France) |
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After the death of her husband, Sigebert III, she was joint regent for
her son, Childéric II together with the Major Domus (Major of the
Palace) Wulfoald. |
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664-66 Regent Dowager Queen Sexburga of Kent (United Kingdom) |
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Also known as Saint Seaxburh or Sexburga of Ely, she was the oldest daughter of King Anna of East Anglia and his second wife, Saewara. She married King Erconbert of Kent, and after he died of the
"yellow plague", she reigned on behalf off her son, Egbert I. After he
came of age, she became abbess of Minister-in-Sheppey and later of
Ely, where her sister, St. Etheldreda of Ely had been Abbess. Another
sister and both of her daughters; Ermengilda and Ercongota was Saint
and the same was the case of her grandchildren; St. Werburga of
Chester, St. Wulfade and St. Rufinus. She lived (circa 636-around 700).
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664
Presiding over the Synod of Whitby Abbess Hilda of Whitby and
Hartlepool in the United Kingdom |
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In
657 she had founded a double monastery of both monks and nuns at
Whitby. She was a patroness of the arts and was a notable teacher,
whose advice was sought by Kings and Abbots alike. At the Synod of
Whitby it was decided that the Northombian Church it should follow the
teachings of the Roman Church rather than those of Celtic Irish Iona.
Hilda herself was, of course, sympathetic to the latter party, but she
accepted the council's ruling. After her death, after a long and
painful illness lasting some six years, miracles were soon reported at
her tomb. She was venerated as a saint and her bones suitably
enshrined. St. Hilda was the daughter of Prince Hereric of Deira, and
lived (614-680). |
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Circa
669-74 Regent Empress Aelia Sofia of The Byzantine Empire
(Covering what is now Greece and Turkey) |
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Handled the affairs of state for her insane husband Justinos II (58-95
and 705-11), who was killed. |
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672-74 Queen Regnant Seaxburh of Wessex (United Kingdom) |
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Successor of her husband, Cenwealh, who was king (642-72), and was
followed by Centwine, son of former king Cynegils. |
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674-75 Queen Regnant Sima of Kaling (Keling or
Kalingga) (Indonesia) |
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She
was known as a just ruler. Chinese records from the period of the
Chi'iu T'ang-Shu and Hsin T'ang-shu dynasties speak of her control
of 28 smaller kingdoms and having a powerful army of women, but she
is not known from local sources, and the first ruler mentioned in
local sources is king Sanjaya.
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674-710 Sovereign Princess Qabaq Hatun of Bahura (Bokhara)
(Uzbekistan) |
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Also known as Qabagh Khatun, she ruled the khanate cantered around
Bokhara, an ancient city about 200 miles west of Samarkand. The
Khanate has led an unstable history, of times under vassalage to more
powerful neighbours, but an important centre of Islamic civilization
at times. The principality was under the Gök Turks from the 680's and
was under the suzerainty of the Caliphate 710-867. |
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677
Snake Lady of Palenque (Mexico)
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Arrived
to the Kingdom on the very day of one of the greatest victories for the Kan
Kingdom, when Calakmul's major rival for domination of the Maya
lowlands, Tikal, was defeated in battle. This Snake Princess is said
to have been the wife of the local ruler, K'inich Yook (ruled 667-circa
682), who in turn is said to have been the yajaw, or "vassal of,"
Yukno'm Ch'e'n II (636-686), the greatest king of Calakmul. The
position of Snake Lady was both significant and politically
influential. |
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677-circa
682 Regent Dowager Duchess
Theuderata
di Friuli of
Benevento (Italy) |
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When her husband, Romuald I died, she was first
regent for their oldst son, Grimoald and then for the second, Gisulf
I from 680 - he died in 705. |
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Circa
680-713 Queen Regnant Jaya Devi of Chenla (Cambodia) |
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Succeeded king Jayavarman II in a period during which the kingdom was
in a state of anarchy. In an inscription at Angkor Wat, Queen Jayadevi
laments the bad times. The state is normally known by its Chinese
name, Chenla - in Khmer it was called Kambuja - was a more direct
ancestor of the Khmer Empire. Its history first appears in the Chinese
Chronicles as a Funan's vassal state who gained its independence from
Funan around the year 550 A.D. Later on Chenla was divided into
northern and southern states, of which the Chinese Chronicles refers
to as "Chenla of the Land" and "Chenla of the Sea", respectively. The
centre of the northern Chenla was at the Champassak province of today
southern Laos, whereas that of the Southern Chenla occupied the former
Funan's territory along the Mekong Delta and the coast. In 715, both
Chenla states were further broken up into several smaller states. |
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After 681 Politically Influential Queen Vijaybhattarike of
Chandraditya (India) |
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A
well-known poet, she is mentioned as reigning for a time in the
absence of her husband King Chandraditya who was the brother of
Vikramaditya I (655-681). |
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681 Khanum Regnant Pisutu of Uighuristan (Central Asia) |
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The
Uighur Khans governed portions of Central Asia in the centuries
immediately following the Muslim expansion, and then fade from view.
It is not entirely clear that the Turkic people called Uighurs who now
dwell mostly in Western China are the same folk; the name is the same,
but later-arriving tribes could have adopted it. The Got Turks invaded
the country in 681. |
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After 681 Politically Influential Queen Vijaybhattarike of
Chandraditya (India) |
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A
well-known poet, she is mentioned as reigning for a time in the
absence of her husband King Chandraditya who was the brother of
Vikramaditya I (655-681). |
 |
682-741 Lady Six Sky of Uac Cab'nal (Naranjo in
Guatemala/Belize) |
|
Alternative versions of her name were Lady Wac Chanil Ahau, Lady of
Dos Pilas and Lady of Tikal. She arrived "here" in 682 as the daughter
of King B'alaj Chan K'awiil of Dos Pilas. She was never invested as a
Naranjo ruler, she assumed every other prerogative of kingship,
portraying herself on monuments and performing key calendrical
rituals. This even extended to military symbolism. It is clear that
she assumed the role of Queen regnant and effectively ruled, then
perhaps co-ruled for a substantial period. She seems to have been the
mother of king K'ak Tiliw Chan Chaak, but the sources never mention
his father. She was the central figure, even after the formal
enthronement of her son (at age five). She waged war in his name, and
remained an important force to until her death at the age of 77.
She lived
(664-741). |
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686-90 Regent Empress Jitō of Japan
690-97 Tennō Regnant
697-703 De-Facto Ruler |
| 持統天皇,
was daughter of Tenji Tennō, who was regent 661-68 and Emperor 668-71.
Her husband and uncle, Temmu Tennō, had withdrawn to temple-life and
left the throne to their son in 886 with her as regent and later
successor. She made important administrative reforms, encouraged the
development of agriculture and had the first silver coin stuck.
Abdicated in favour of her nephew (and grandson) Mommu, In 697 she
abdicated in Mommu's favour, but she continued to hold power as a
cloistered ruler, which became a persistent trend in Japanese
politics, and was the first to take the honorary title for past
emperors - Dajo-Tennō. She lived She lived (645-703). |
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687
Politically Influential Queen Lady K'atun Ajaw of Piedras
Begras (Mexico) |
|
The
sources indicate that she, as wife of King K'inich Yo'nal Akh II
yielded considerable political power during his reign. She was born as
Princess of Amana. |
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690-710 "Chief Administrator" Shangguan Wan'er in China |
|
Had been Empress Wu Zetian's trusted aide prior to her enthronement,
and for several decades the destiny of the Tang Empire was in the
hands of these two exceptional women. Historical data show that they
were instrumental in maintaining the stability, prosperity and
development of the Tang Dynasty. Her grandfather was involved in a
power struggle during Emperor Gaozong's reign and was, along with her
father, executed by Wu Zetian. Wan'er learned reading and writing from
female officials in the imperial palace, and was later given the
responsibility of drafting edicts. Eventually all memorials submitted
to Wu Zetian were first read by Wan'er for her opinion before being
approved by the empress. By the age of 19, Wan'er was the second most
powerful person in the imperial court, second only to Wu Zetian
herself. Wan'er was appointed Zhaorong and responsible for the
imperial harem. During the reign of Emperor Zhongzong, Wan'er proved
an invaluable helpmeet. In one palace coup, she coolly and efficiently
directed the guards to attack leaders of the rebellion, and so
suppressed the uprising. Wan'er was also a positive influence on the
Emperor, and encouraged him to build schools and so foster literary
talent. After Wu Zetian's resignation Shangguan Wan'er sought the new
Empress Wei's patronage. The empress enjoyed power for only a short
time and was put to death when Li Longji, Prince of Linzi, stormed the
palace. As a member of Empress Wei's clique, Shangguan Wan'er was also
killed. Shangguan Wan'er lived (664-710). |
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Ca
690-701 Queen Regnant Dahlia al-Chain of the Moors (Berbian
tribe in Tunisia) |
|
Her
name means the "priestess" or the "prophetess", and she assumed
personal command of the Barbarian forces, and under her leadership,
the Arabs were briefly forced to retreat, but since the Arabs were
relentless, she ordered a scorched earth policy. After her defeat,
Dahia al-Kahina took her own life, and sent her sons to the Arab camp
with instructions that they adopt Islam and make common cause with the
Arabs. Ultimately, these men participated in invading Europe and the
subjugation of Spain and Portugal. |
 |
692
Regent Queen Dowager Clothilde of Neustria and Bourgogne
(France) |
|
Reigned for a few months for son Childéric. She is also known as
Rothilde, Chrothéchildis or Doda (d. 694/9). |
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685-99 Regent Dowager Princess Spram of Girdyaman (Azerbaijan) |
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Reigned in the name of Varaz-Tiridat I of the Mihranid Dynasty, which
ruled (680-699). She was succeeded by Sheraye. |
 |
Circa
700 Queen Magajiya Kufuru (Kofana) (Nigeria) |
| The
first of 15 successive Queens, she was followed on the throne by Gino
(Gufano), Yakunya (Yfakaniya), Walzamu (Waizam),
Yanbam Gizirigzit (Gadar-Gadar), Imagari (Anagiri), Dura,
Gamata, Shata, Batatume, Sandamata,
Jamata, Hamata, Zama and around 1000 Shawata. |
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704-05 De Facto Ruler Dowager Grand Queen Khri ma lod of Tibet |
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After her husband, Grand King 'Dus-srong (676-704), was killed in
battle she quickly dethroned his son King Lha in favour of the infant
Rgyal Gtsug ru. Revolts and initiated the executions of her opponents
until Khri-Ide-btsug-brtan, came on the throne, and ruled Tibet
705-755. He retaliated with more raids. He married a Chinese Princess
and, needing help against Arab invasions, made peace with China in
730. |
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705
Presiding over the Synod of River Nith Abbess Elfleda of Whitby
in England |
|
Successor of Abbess Hilda, who also presided over a Synod. Before that five Abbesses were
present at the Council of Becanfield in 694, where they signed the
decrees before the presbyters. Later Abbess also took titles from
churches impropriated to her house, presented the secular vicars to
serve the parochial churches, and had all the privileges of a landlord
over the temporal estates attached to her abbey. The Abbess of
Shaftsbury held of the king by an entire barony, and by right of this
tenure had, for a period, the privilege of being summoned to
Parliament. |
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705-10 Politically Influential Princess Anle of China |
|
After the death of Empress Wu Zetian, the court of the reinstalled
emperor Zhongzong was controlled by the clan of his wife, Empress We,
her daughter Princess Anle and Wu Sansi, a relative of late Empress Wu
Zetian. In 710 Empress Wei enthroned the minor Li Chongmao
(posthumous Tang Shaodi). Only the rebellion of Li Longji could
re-establish the power of the house of Li, and the deposed emperor
Ruizong was reinstalled. Princess Taiping was the last to challenge
the ruling house, and in 712 Ruizong abdicated in favour of Li Longji. |
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707-15 Genmei Tennō of Japan |
|
元明天皇,
also known as Gemmyo, she was daughter of Tenji Tennō (622-673-686)
and succeeded her son Mommu as the 43rd imperial ruler. She proved an
unusually able ruler. She coined the first copper money and caused
scribes to write down the ancient traditions lest they be lost, and in
708 she moved the capital city of Japan from Fujiwara to Heijo-Kyo,
thus giving the Nara period of Japanese history its name. Married to
her first cousin and nephew, Kusakabe no miko, the son of Emperor
Temmu of Japan and Empress Jito of Japan, she abdicated in favour of
her daughter, Empress Gensho-Tennō. She lived (661-722). |
 |
710
Regent Dowager Empress Wei Shi of China |
|
Reigned in the name
of
Emperor Li Chan Mao of the Tang Dynasty. She tried to rule as hard as
Empress Wu and to be named Emperor in her own right. She sold offices
and Buddhist monk hoods, and she was behind other corruption at court,
and in 712 she was ousted from power and killed. |
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710
Politically Influential Princess Taiping of China of China |
|
Together with her nephew Xuanzong she conspired to put an end to
Empress Wei's attempted usurpation of power. He killed Empress Wei,
the wife of his recently dead uncle Emperor Zhongzong, in a palace
coup that placed his own father, Emperor Ruizong, on the throne.
Xuanzong himself succeeded the throne in 712. |
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Circa
710-34 Princess Regnant Libuše Vyšehrad of Bohemia |
|
According to legend, Libuse inherited rule over the Czech tribes from
her father, Krok. As ruler of the lands, she was also the highest
'court of appeal' for disputes among the people. Przemysl Ploughman (Premysl
Orac in Czech) came to Vysehrad and married Libuse and took over the
job of ruling the unruly Czechs and they founded the Przemyslid
Dynasty, which ruled over the Czech lands till the 14th century |
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714
Acting Major Domina Plectrudis von Ecternach of Neustraia,
Austria, Aquitania and Burgundy (France) |
|
Also known as Plectrud or Plectrude, she engaged in a power-struggle
with her stepson, Charles Martel after the death of her husband, Pipin
II d'Heristal. She favoured the succession of one of her grandsons to
the office of Major Domus. Her forces were finally defeated in 719.
She was daughter of Count Palatine Hugobert von Ecternach (d.
697/698) and inherited "The Lands between the Rhine, Moselle and Meuse"
after her mother Irmina, was Abbess of Oeren and was later declared a Saint. She
lived (Before 665-circa725). |
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715-24 Genshō Tennō of Japan |
|
元正天皇
succeeded her mother, Gemmei Tennō, mainly for the
purpose to hold the throne until her nephew Shōmu would be mature
enough ascend to the throne. Fujiwara no Fuhito, who had been the most
powerful courtier in her mothers court, remained so until his death in
720. After his death her cousin, Prince Nagaya, seized the power.
Under her reign, the edition of Nihonshoki, the first Japanese history
book was finished in 720. Organisation of the law system was being
continued, and the taxation system, which had been introduced by
Empress Jitō in the late 7th century, was reformed to promote
agricultural production. She also encouraged the arts, letters and
science, continuing the works of her mother. When her nephew reached
the age of 25 she abdicated. Gensho was born as Princess Hidaka and
also known as Yoro. She was unmarried and lived (679-748).
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720-... De facto Joint Ruler Hababa of Bagdad (Iraq) |
|
A slave singer of the 9th Ummayyad Caliph, Yarzid II Ibn 'Abd al-Malik
who was hostage to her charm. She choked on a pomegranate seed and he
died of grief a few weeks later. Later historians stigmatized him and
held him in contempt for letting himself be infatuated by a slave. |
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720s-31 Princess Regnant Prisbit of the Khazars (Russia) |
|
The
Khazars were a Jewish semi-nomadic steppe-people that lived in southern
Russia between the Volga and Don rivers, northwest of the Caspian Sea. |
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721
Snake Lady Ti' of Palenque (Mexico)
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|
Came to Sak Nikte' in 721 and is described as the yatan, or "wife of,"
Yuknoom Took' K'awiil, the last great ruler of Calakmul (ruled circa
702-circa 731). The date of her arrival is most interesting as it falls
26 years after a major victory by Tikal over Calakmul, in which the
power of the Snake Kingdom was overthrown and its influence in the
Petén was seriously curtailed. In addition, this arrival occurred only
a dozen years before another major clash between Tikal and Calakmul,
in which the former again appears to have successful. This
information, in combination with the iconography of the tablet,
suggests that Lady Ti's arrival served to re-establish, after a
lengthy absence, the presence of Calakmul in the Petén. In this light,
we can begin to appreciate the pairing of the Creation and War
palanquins, and the role of the Snake Queens at Sak Nikte'. |
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722
Army leader Queen Aethelburgh of the Saxons (United Kingdom) |
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According to The Anglo Saxon Chronicles her forces destroyed the City
of Taunton. |
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723 –732 Queen Tejakencana
of Sunda (Indonesia) |
|
Following the death of her father,
Crown Prince Tarusbawa, she was hailed as heiress. She
married Rakeyan Jamri, a son of King Bratasenawa of Galuh
Kingdom, who became the second king of Sunda.
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Around 725 Queen Regnant
Indrani of Sambhupura (Cambodia) |
|
The heiress to the Kingdom, she was
married to Puskarasha, son of Queen Regnant Jayadevi of
Chenla, and he afterwards became King. They had at least two
children, a son named Sambhuvarman, and a daughter,
Nrpendradevi (also known in later inscriptions as
Nrpatindradevi). |
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734-41 Khatun and Regent Mo-ki-lien of Mong (Mongolia) |
|
Known as Khatun Mo-ki-lien, which was the name of her husband. His
minister poisoned him, and she acted as regent for their son, Yu-jan,
who was again succeeded by her minor brother, Tängri Khagan, who died
in 741. |
 |
748-58 Koken Tennō of Japan (First Reign)
764-70 Shōtoku Tennō (Second Reign) |
|
孝謙天皇 or
称徳天皇
was the 46th imperial ruler of Japan. She was born as Abe-naishinno,
as daughter of Shomu-Tennō, who abdicated in her favour and joined a
convent. She was an ardent Buddhist, and assembled priests and exacted
severe penalties for the killing of any living thing. More interested
in religion than government, she was persuaded to abdicate in favour
of kinsman, Junnin. She was influenced by the Buddhist priest, Dokyo,
who took up arms against Junnin, who were banished to the island of
Awaji, where he died one year later. Dokyo tried to persuade her to
abdicate in her favour, but she refused. Shōtoku died of smallpox,
after which she was succeeded by her first cousin twice removed,
Emperor Kōnin. Her posthumous name is Takano Hime Abenno Nai Sin Wo,
and she lived (717-770). |
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748-54 Regent Dowager Princess Hiltrude of Bavaria (Germany) |
|
After the death of her husband, Odilo I of Bavaria, she assumed the
regency for their son, Tassilo. Daughter of Charles Martell, Mayor
Domus in Austrasia (719-741), Duke of Franks (737-741). She
(d. 754). |
Last update 12.06.14
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