In the Middle Ages, men ruled -- except when women did. Here are a few of the medieval women who ruled -- in their own right in a few cases, as regents for male relatives in other cases, and sometimes by wielding power and influence through their husbands, sons, brothers, and grandsons.
Mary of Guise (Mary of Lorraine)
(November 22, 1515 - June 11, 1560; France, Scotland)Mary of Guise was part of the powerful Guise family of France. As wife of James V of Scotland, and mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, she worked to suppress Protestantism in Scotland and triggered a civil war.
Mary Tudor
Henry VIII's younger sister, Mary Tudor, was married at 18 to the 52-year-old King of France, Louis XII. When Louis died, Mary secretly married Henry VIII's friend, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. She was the grandmother of Lady Jane Grey.Empress Matilda (Matilda or Maud, Lady of the English)
Widow of the Holy Roman Emperor, she was named by her father, Henry I of England, as his successor. She fought a long war of succession with her cousin, Stephen, who seized the throne before Matilda could be crowned.Anna Nzinga
(1581 - December 17, 1663; Angola)Anna Nzinga was a warrior queen of the Ndongo and queen of Matamba. She led a resistance campaign against the Portuguese and against slave trading.
Olga of Russia
(about 890 (?) - July 11, 969 (?); Kiev, Russia)A cruel and revengeful ruler as regent for her son, Olga was the first Russian saint in the Orthodox Church, for her efforts in converting the nation to Christianity.
Empress Suiko
(554 - 628)Although the legendary rulers of Japan, before written history, were said to be empresses, Suiko is the first empress in recorded history to rule Japan. During her reign, Buddhism was promoted official0y, Chinese and Korean influence increased, and, according to tradition, a 17-article constitution was adopted.
Theodora
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(about 497-510 - June 28, 548; Byzantium)
Theodora was probably the most influential woman in Byzantine history.
Theodora was probably the most influential woman in Byzantine history.
Theophano
(943? - after 969; Byzantium)Wife of two Byzantine emperors, she served as regent for her sons and married her daughters to important 10th century rulers - the Western emperor Otto II and Vladimir I of Russia.
Theophano
(956? - June 15, 991; Byzantium)Daughter of Theophano, Byzantine Empress, she married the western Emperor Otto II and served, with her mother-in-law Adelaide, as regent for her son, Otto III.
