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Jul 3, 2024 · Learn about 12 women who fought in battle and ruled as queens across different times and places. From Boudicca to Zenobia, these warrior queens defied male oppression and challenged powerful enemies.
- Carly Silver
Sep 14, 2024 · Boudicca was the leader of a rebellion against Roman rule in 60 or 61 ce. She was the queen of the Iceni, a tribe in East Anglia, and burned several Roman towns and military posts before being defeated by the governor Suetonius Paulinus.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Boudicca is known for being a warrior queen of the Iceni people, who lived in what is now East Anglia, England. In 60–61 CE she led the Iceni and o...
- Boudicca died shortly after losing her final battle. She is believed to have died either from taking poison or from shock or illness.
- The location of Boudicca’s grave, subject to much speculation, is unknown. Suggested locations include Birdlip in Gloucestershire, Stonehenge, Norf...
- Arachidamia, Queen of Sparta
- Zenobia, Empress of Palmyra
- Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi
- Mavia of Arabia, Queen of The Tanukh
- Nzinga, Queen of Ndongo and Matamba
- Amage, Queen of Sarmatia
- Fu Hao, Queen of Shang Dynasty China
- Tomyris, Queen of The Massagetae
- Artemisia, Queen of Caria
- Boudicca, Queen of The Iceni
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“Why are you Spartan women the only ones who can rule men?” “Because we are also the only ones who give birth to men.” Plutarch, Life of Lycurgus When Sparta was menaced by King Pyrrhus in the 3rd century BCE the main body of the Spartan army was away on campaign. The council of the city wished to send the women away to safety. Queen Arachidamia en...
When the Roman Emperor Valerian was captured in 260 CE by his Persian enemies, and forced to live out his life as a human footstool, the weakness of the Empire was too tempting for some previously loyal vassal states. Palmyra declared their leader Odaenathus a king, though one still nominally loyal to the empire. On his assassination his wife Zenob...
Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi, rose in rebellion against the British Raj in 1857. On the death of her husband the East India Company annexed Jhansi. Told she must quit her palace Lakshmibai declared “I will not surrender my Jhansi!” When the Indian Revolt broke out the Rani became a leader of the rebels. The British surrounded her fort and Lakshmi...
When Queen Zenobia rebelled against Rome the nomadic Tanukh people had come to Rome’s aid. A hundred years later, in 375 CE, when the Tanukh king died his queen Mavia took command of her people and launched a revolt against Roman rule. Mavia quit the city of Aleppo and took her forces into the desert, swelling their numbers with other tribes. Guerr...
When Queen Nzinga met with the Portuguese they sought to diminish her by making her stand throughout the audience. She commanded one of her servants to go down on hands and knees to allow her to sit as an equal. When the Portuguese attacked her lands in 1626 Nzinga was forced to flee Ndongo to create a new nation in Matamba. From her new home she w...
Amage of Sarmatia (2nd century CE) had a problem – her husband, who was weak, indecisive, and decadent. Instead of allowing her country to sink under his rule she took the reigns. She entered into an alliance with the Chersonesians who were being menaced by the Scythian king. Her demand that the Scythians respect her allies was rebuffed scornfully....
Lady Fu Hao (~1200 BCE) was the wife of King Wu Ding. While the king took 60 wives to sure up alliances with neighbouring kingdoms it is safe to say that he only had one Fu Hao. She was a high-priestess but also, uniquely for the time, a general. Her forces consisted of 13,000 soldiers and she was placed above other, male, generals. Fu Hao personal...
Cyrus the Great founded the Achaemenid Empire and turned it into the largest empire in the world. In 530 BCE he took on Tomyris, queen of the Massagetae. Looking to take her territory Cyrus offered her his hand in marriage. Seeing a hand for a nation as a poor deal, she refused. Cyrus decided to take it anyway. According to Herodotus Cyrus managed ...
Artemisia was queen of Caria, a Greek city-state in the Empire of Xerxes I, great-grandson of Cyrus the Great. When Xerxes attempted to conquer the Greek mainland Artemisia contributed and commanded five ships in his grand fleet. In the battle of Salamis a bounty of 10,000 drachmas was placed on her by the Greeks, feeling dishonoured to have a woma...
If you dig in St Albans, the Roman city of Verulamium, you may find a layer of black ash. This is the remains of Boudicca’s sacking and burning of the city. Boudicca, the queen of the Iceni, rose in rebellion against the Romans in 60 CE when, on the death of her husband, her lands were seized. Boudicca first destroyed Colchester then forced the Rom...
Learn about the courageous and influential women who led armies, rebelled against empires, and defended their lands in history. From Arachidamia of Sparta to Tomyris of the Massagetae, discover the stories of these warrior queens.
- Patti Wigington
- Boudicca. Boudicca, also known as Boadicea, was a queen of the Iceni tribe in Britain, and led open rebellions against invading Roman forces. Around 60 C.E., Boudicca's husband, Prausutagus, died.
- Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra. Zenobia, who lived in the third century C.E., was the wife of King Odaenathus of Palmyra in what is now Syria. When the king and his eldest son were assassinated, Queen Zenobia stepped in as Regent to her 10-year-old son, Vaballathus.
- Queen Tomyris of the Massagetae. Queen Tomyris of the Massagetae was the ruler of a nomadic Asian tribe, and the widow of a dead king. Cyrus the Great, King of Persia, decided he wanted to marry Tomyris by force, in order to get his hands on her land—and that worked out for him, at first.
- Mavia of Arabia. In the fourth century, Roman Emperor Valens decided he needed more troops to fight on his behalf in the east, so he demanded auxiliaries from the area that is now the Levant.
Nov 26, 2019 · Learn about the amazing feats of Fu Hao, Tomyris, Artemisia, Teuta, and other warrior queens who ruled and fought in ancient times. From China to Europe to Africa, these women defied expectations and challenged the mightiest empires of their day.
- Benito Cereno
Jun 30, 2022 · Learn about the stories of warrior queens from different regions and times, such as Tomyris, Artemisia, Zenobia, Mavia, the Trung Sisters, Seondeok, Pingyang and Mulan. Find out how they fought for their people, their values and their independence against powerful forces.
Jun 11, 2018 · BBC News. How does a ruler defeat bloodthirsty invaders, secure a kingdom and lay the foundations for England - and then almost get written out of history? Be a woman, that's how. Exactly 1,100...
