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Middle Ages

The Most Powerful Female Rulers in History

powerful female rulers

Queen Margarethe of Denmark (reign 1972 – present)

Photograph of Queen Margarethe of Denmark
Queen Margarethe of Denmark, 1966.

Like Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Margarethe rules under a constitutional monarchy and serves as a public figurehead. She serves as the ceremonial head of state and diplomat. She is kept informed of State matters through her meetings with the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs ministers, but is not involved in public administration or creating law, and does not affiliate herself with a political party.

Her main power is to formally form a government after an election, and as head of Government, oversees the Council of State, and is head of the Church of Denmark. Queen Margarethe famously loves art and culture. In the 1970s, she painted scenes from Lord of the Rings and sent them to J.R. Tolkien. He had them included in the Danish editions of the book.

Where did we find this stuff?  Here Are Our Sources:

Anne (r. 1702-1714).  royal.uk/queen-anne (n.d./ n/a)

Christina of Sweden, b. 1626 – d. 1689).  Departments.kings.edu, 3 July 2000, Karen Woods.

Denmark’s Queen Margarethe II celebrates 50 years on the throne.  Theguardian.com, 12 November 2022.

Devadasis are a cursed community.  The Guardian.  21 January 2011.  Nash Colundalur.

Empress Suiko – Japan’s first reigning empress.  Historyofroyalwomen.com.  26 April 2018.  Lauralee Jacks.

Japan’s Female Emperors.  Nippon.com, 1 May 2019.

Lady Six Sky and the Definition of Ritual Space at Naranjo.  Vernderbilt Undergraduate Research Journal, 1(1) 2005, James Doyle.

Life and Times of Isabella of Castille.  Penn State digital archives, Loraine Pearce Bucklin.

The Queen who would be King.  Smithsonian magazine, 2006.  Elizabeth B. Wilson.

Queen Amina, “woman as capable as a man”.  BBC News Africa, 2018.

Razia Sultan: The first and last woman ruler of Delhi Sultanate.  Feministindia.com, 17 March 2017.

Ruling for 54 years, this little-known ‘Pepper Queen’ once defeated mighty Portugal.  Thebetterindia.com, Angarika Gogoi.

Seven most power African queens in history you need to know.  Pulse.ng.9 September 2019.  Aderemi Okejunle.

The story of Catherine the Great.  Smithsonianmag.com, 15 May 2020.  Meilan Solly.

The ten most powerful queens in history, from Catherine the Great to Queen Victoria. Nypost.com, 30 May 2020.  Paula Froelich.

Theodora: The empress from the brothel. Theguardian.com, 10 June 2010.  Stella Duffy.

The true story of Semiramis, legendary Queen of Babylon.  Nationalgeographic.com, 11 September 2017, Marcos Such Gutierrez.

The untold story of the great Nubian Queen Shanakdakhete who ruled without a king.  Theafricanhistory.com, 4 May 2021.

What is the role of our Queen?  Royal Collection Trust.

Who was Boudica?  History.com, 7 March 2019.  Sarah Pruitt.

Women Leaders in African History: Ana Nzinga, Queen of Ndongo.  Metmuseum.org, October 2003, Alexander Ives Bortolot.

Yaa Asantewaa and the fight for the Golden Stool. Bbc.com, 11 July 2018.

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