List of women monarchs

This is a list of current and former female monarchs regardless of title, including queens regnant, empresses regnant, pharaohs and monarchs by other titles (grand duchess, princess etc.). Queens consort (i.e. wives to male monarchs) are not included, see List of current consorts of sovereigns. Queens regent or female regents are not included, see List of regents.

Queen Margrethe II, the only current-reigning queen regnant, as of 2023.
Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022), the longest-reigning queen regnant in history, reigned for 70 years over 32 independent countries, with her realms being in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Americas.

The following is an incomplete list of women monarchs who are well known from popular writings, although many ancient and poorly documented ruling monarchs (such as those from Africa and Oceania) are omitted. Section 1 lists Queens regnant: monarchs who ruled in their own right. Section 2 lists Legendary queens. Section 3 lists Constituent queens: Queens who ruled in their own right, but had no constitutional standing or regal powers while in power. Section 4 lists various female leaders who were referred to as "Chieftainess." Queens regent are not monarchs and are not included in this page. Pretenders to thrones are also not included in this page.

Monarchs

Algeria
Canary Islands

Peraza family

  • Inés Peraza, Queen of the Canary Islands (ruled 1452–1477)
Egypt

Indigenous dynasties

Cleopatra VII

Ptolemaic dynasties

Ptolemy II instituted a new practice of brother-sister marriage when he married his full sister, Arsinoe II. They became, in effect, co-rulers, and both took the epithet Philadelphus ("Brother-Loving" and "Sister-Loving"). Because of this custom many of the kings ruled jointly with their spouses, who were also of the royal house. The only Ptolemaic Queens who ruled alone were Cleopatra II, Berenice III and Berenice IV. Cleopatra VI did co-rule, but it was with another female, Berenice IV. Cleopatra VII officially co-ruled with Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, Ptolemy XIV, and Ptolemy XV, but effectively, she ruled Egypt alone.

Roman Egypt

Bahri Mamluk dynasty

Libya

Cyrene

  • Berenice II - Berenice, queen of Cyrene, married Ptolemy III, pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty. This brought Cyrene back into the Ptolemaic realm and she became co-regent queen of the Ptolemaic Dynasty.
  • Cleopatra Selene II (ruled 34–30 BC) – also known as Cleopatra VIII. In 75 BC, Cyrene became part of a Roman province, but it was restored to the Ptolemies by Mark Antony in 37 BC. In 34 BC Cleopatra VII and Antony's daughter, Cleopatra Selene II, was made Queen of Cyrene, but the city returned to Rome following Augustus' conquest of Egypt in 30 BC
Sudan

Egyptian Empire (c. 1500–1070 BCE)

Kingdom of Kush (c. 1070 BCE–350 CE)

Kandake was a title for queens, queen mothers, and queens consort in Nubia, but ruling Kandakes included:

Dotawo (Lower Nubia)

  • Gaua (c. 1520–1525) – last known ruler of the Christian kingdom of Dotawo.[2]
Benin

Hogbonu

  • Hude (ruled 1746–1752)
Gambia
Ghana

Akan state of Denkyira

  • Amoako Atta Yiadom (ruled 1770–1793), Denkyirahene

Akan state of Dwaben

  • Ama Serwah (ruled 1838–1846), Dwabenhene
  • Unknown Dwabenhene (ruled 1846-18??)
  • Nana Juaben Serwah II (ruled 1959–19??), Dwabenhene
Guinea-Bissau

Orango

  • Okinka Aurelia Correia (ruled r. 1830–1874/1879)[3]
  • Okinka Pampa Kanyimpa (ruled c. 1910–1930) – Succeeded her father Bankajapa.

Roxa

  • Okinka Juliana (ruled early 1900s)[3]
  • Okinka Idiana Ibop (ruled until 1920s)[3]
Côte d'Ivoire

Baoule

  • Pokou (ruled c. 1750–c. 1760)[4] – Queen and founder of the Baoule tribe.
  • Akwa Boni (ruled c. 1760–c. 1790)[4] – Pokou's niece who succeeded her to the throne.
Mali

Mali Empire

Nigeria

Bornu Empire

Daura

The title "Kabara" was used by female monarchs who ruled over the Hausa people in medieval times. A line of matriarchal monarchs is recorded in the Kano Chronicle that ends with the reign of Daurama in the 9th century.[5] These queens reigned from c. 700 to c. 1000.[6]

  • Kufuru
  • Ginu
  • Yakumo
  • Yakunya
  • Wanzamu
  • Yanbamu
  • Gizir-gizir
  • Inna-Gari
  • Daurama
  • Ga-Wata
  • Shata
  • Fatatuma
  • Sai-Da-Mata
  • Ja-Mata
  • Ha-Mata
  • Zama
  • Sha-Wata
  • Daurama II

Igodomigodo

  • Emose (584–600)
  • Orrorro (600–618)

Ondo Kingdom

Zazzau

  • Amina – There is controversy among scholars as to the date of her reign, one school placing her in the mid-15th century, and a second placing her reign in the mid to late 16th century.

Yoruba people

Oyo Empire

Senegal

Lingeer's leadership activities were carried out at the highest tier, as a co-monarch.

Sierra Leone
  • Elizabeth II (1961–1971)

Koya

  • Fatima Brima Kama, Alikali (ruled 1826–1840), Bai

Mende people

Angola

Jaga

Matamba

Nzinga, warrior queen of Ndongo and Matamba

Mbunda Kingdom

  • Vamwene Naama
  • Vamwene Yamvu
  • Vamwene Mbaao ya Chinguli (ruled 1500s–early 1600s)
  • Vamwene Kaamba ka Mbaao
  • Vamwene Mukenge wa Lweembe, Livindamo

Ndongo

Kingdom of Jinga

Kingdom of kongo

There were two female monarchs during Kongo Civil War.

Cameroon
  • Soukda, founder of Mandara Kingdom (ruled c. 1500)
  • Ngoungoure, queen of Bamum (ruled 1865) – her rule lasted 30 minutes
Comoros

Ndzuwani (Anjouan)

  • Alimah I (ruled during the 16th century – unknown start date, reigned ended in c. 1590)
  • Alimah II (ruled c. 1632–c. 1676)
  • Alimah III (ruled c. 1676–c. 1711)
  • Alimah IV (ruled 1788–1792) – she was the de facto ruler of Anjouan with sultan Abdallah I during his reigns in 1782–1788 and 1792–1796.

Bamboa

  • Nyau wa Faume

Itsandra

  • Fey Beja waWabeja, Mfalme

Bajini

  • Ja Mhaba, Mfalme
  • Hadija bint Ahmed, Mfalme

Mwali

  • Raketaka Jombe Sudy (ruled 1842–1865 and 1874–1878) – she also ruled as regent twice, 1865–1868 and 1871–1874. After 1851 she took the name of Jumbe Fatima bint Abderremane
  • Salima Machamba bint Saidi Hamadi Makadara (ruled 1888–1909)
Zewditu I, Empress of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
  • Zewditu (ruled 1916–1930) – Daughter of Menelik II. She ascended to the throne after her nephew Iyasu V was deposed.
Kenya
  • Elizabeth II (1963–1964)

Names taken from Female Rule in the Indian Ocean World (1300–1900).[7]

  • Mwana Masuru
  • Maryamu
  • Mwana Mkisi
  • Mwana Inali
  • Mwana Darini binti Bwana Mkuu bin Abubakar
  • Asha binti Muhammad
  • Mwanai Mimi
  • Mwana Khadija binti Omari
Madagascar

The female monarchs of Madagascar traditional states were:[8]

Ambohidratrimo

  • Ramananandrianjaka Rambolamasoandro
  • Rabehety

Boina Kingdom

  • Andrianaginarivo (ruled 1777–1778)
  • Tombola (ruled 1778)
  • Ravahiny (ruled 1778–1808)
  • Oantitsy (ruled 1832–1836)
  • Tsiomeko (ruled 1836–1840)

Menabe

  • Bibiasa

Bemihisatra

  • Safy Mozongo (ruled 1869–1881) – she was the mother of Binao.
  • Binao

Bemazava

  • Irana Andriamamelonarivo
  • Tsiresy I Andriamanomponarivo
  • Tsiresy II Nenimoana

Antankarana

  • Ambary of Antankarana
  • Soanaomby

Imarovatana

  • Ramanandrianjaka II Ravorombato

Betsimisaraka

Mauritius
  • Elizabeth II (1968–1992)
Somaliland

Sultanate of Ifat

South Sudan

Shilluk Kingdom

  • Abudok (fr:Abudok), the eighth ruler (and only queen) of the Shilluk.[9]
Tanzania
  • Elizabeth II (1961–1962)
  • Therese Ntare VI of Heru[10]

Names taken from Female Rule in the Indian Ocean World (1300–1900).[7]

  • Mwana Aziz
  • Mwana Miveni
  • Mwana Aisha
  • Mwana Fatuma binti Darhash
  • Mwana Hadiya
  • Mwana Mize binti Muaba
  • Mwana Mwema, queen of Unguja[11] (ruled ?–1653)[12]
  • Fatuma binti Yussuf, queen of Unguja (ruled ?–1698 and 1709–1715)
  • Mwana wa Mwana
  • Mwanzuani
  • Mwana Khazija binti Ngwali
  • Fatuma binti Ali
  • Sabini binti Ngumi
Uganda
  • Elizabeth II (1962–1963)

Bunyoro

  • Masamba of Bunyoro (early 17th century; 5 Years)
  • Akech (queen) (1760–1787)
Malawi
  • Elizabeth II (1964–1966)
Namibia

Gciriku

  • Nandundu (ruled 1830–1832)

Kwangali

Oukwanyama kingdom

  • Martha Mwadinomho Nelumbu
South Africa
  • Elizabeth II (1952–1961)

Lobedu people

The Modjadji or Rain Queen is the hereditary queen of Lobedu, the people of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The succession to the position of Rain Queen is matrilineal, meaning that the Queen's eldest daughter is the heir, and that males are not entitled to inherit the throne at all. The Rain Queen is believed to have special powers, including the ability to control the clouds and rainfall.

Zambia
Zimbabwe
Canada
  • Victoria (ruled 1837–1901)
  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1952–2022)
Mexico

Cobá

Ecatepec

Palenque

Tepetlaoztoc

  • Azcasuch (ruled late 15th-early 16th century)

Toltec Empire

Tzacoalco

Antigua and Barbuda
  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1981–2022)
Bahamas
  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1973–2022)
Barbados
  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1966–2021)
Belize
  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1981–2022)
Grenada
  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1974–2022)
Guatemala

El Perú

Naranjo

Tikal

Jamaica
  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1962–2022)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1983–2022)
Saint Lucia
  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1979–2022)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1979–2022)
Brazil
Maria I of Portugal
Maria I
  • Maria I (ruled as Queen of Brazil 1815–1816) – she was also Queen of Portugal in 1777–1816
Ecuador
Guyana
  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1966–1970)
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1962–1976)
China
  • Wu Zetian (Chinese: 武則天) – Empress regnant of China, ruling from 690 to 705. She was the only orthodox reigning empress in the history of China.

Although Wu Zetian is the only undisputed empress regnant recognized in orthodox Chinese historiography, there are two other documented cases of a woman holding the title of "Empress regnant" in Chinese history:

Sumpa

In Tibet, there was "Kingdom of Women (Chinese: 女國) (zh:東女國)" related to Sumpa. Several queens regnant of there were recorded in Chinese history books.

Japan
Korea

Silla

India

Alupa dynasty

  • Ballamahadevi (ruled 1275–1292) – she ruled with her son Nagadevarasa

Arakkal dynasty

  • Ali Raja Bibi Harrabichi Kadavube (ruled 1728–1732)
  • Ali Raja Bibi Junumabe I (ruled 1732–1745)
  • Ali Raja Bibi Junumabe II (ruled 1777–1819)

Bhauma-Kara dynasty

Bhopal State

  • Qudsia Begum (ruled 1819–1837) – in 1819, 18-year-old Qudsia Begum (also known as Gohar Begum) took over the reins after the assassination of her husband, Nawab Muiz Muhammad Khan Bahadur. She was the first female ruler of Bhopal. She declared that her 2-year-old daughter Sikander would follow her as the ruler; none of the male family members dared to challenge her decision. She ruled till 1837, when she died having adequately prepared her daughter for ruling the state.
  • Begum Sultan Shah Jehan (ruled 1844–1860 and 1868–1901) – Shahjahan was the only surviving child of Sikandar Begum, sometime Nawab of Bhopal by correct title, and her husband Jahangir Mohammed Khan. She was recognised as ruler of Bhopal in 1844 at the age of six; her mother wielded power as regent during her minority. However, in 1860, her mother Sikandar Begum was recognised by the British as ruler of Bhopal in her own right, and Shahjahan was set aside.
  • Begum Nawab Sikandar (ruled 1860–1868)
  • Begum Kaikhusrau Jahan (ruled 1901–1926)

British Raj

Gerusoppa

Holkar dynasty

Kakatiya dynasty

Kashmir

  • Sugandha (ruled 904–906)
  • Didda (ruled 980–1003), she ruled first as a Regent for her son Abhimanyu and thereafter as sole ruler in her own right
  • Kota Rani (ruled 1338–1339)

Keladi Nayaka dynasty

Mamluk dynasty

Oiniwar dynasty

  • Viswavasa Devi (ruled 1431–1443)[17]

Sambalpur State

  • Rani Mohan Kumari (ruled 1827–1833)[18]

Sivaganga estate

Thanjavur Maratha kingdom

Travancore Kingdom

Ullal

Maldives
  • Damahaar (ruled before 990) – Damahaar, a Ranin (Queen) of the Aadeetta (Sun) Dynasty, is mentioned by al-Idrisi as having reigned over the Maldives at some time before the semi-legendary King Koimala; there are several other mentions by foreign travelers, mainly Arabs, of queens ruling over the Maldives at various times; these are not always named and their reigns cannot be precisely dated
  • Khadijah (ruled 1347–1363, 1364–1374 and 1376–1380)
  • Raadhafathi (ruled 1380)
  • Dhaain (ruled 1385–1388)
  • Kuda Kala Kamanafa’anu (ruled 1607–1609)
  • Amina I (ruled 1753–1754)
  • Amina II (ruled 1757–1759)
Pakistan
  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1952–1956)

Gilgit

  • Dadi Jawari, also known as Malika Jawahir Khatun
  • Malika Sahibnuma, also known as Sahebnuma[19] (ruled 1825–1828)[20]
Sri Lanka
Cambodia

Funan Kingdom

Chenla

Post-Angkor period

  • Queen Tey (ruled 1687)
  • Ang Mey (ruled 1834–1840) – also known as Ngọc Vân Quận chúa (Lady Ngọc Vân – Vietnamese) or Ksat Trey, she was proclaimed on the death of her father by the Vietnamese faction at court with the title of Mỹ Lâm Quận chúa (Lady Mỹ Lâm – Vietnamese). She was famous as a Vietnamese puppet queen

First Kingdom of Cambodia

  • Queen Sisowath Kossamak (ruled 1960–1970, disputed) – After her husband King Norodom Suramarit's death, Kossamak kept her title of Queen and continued to function as the symbol and representative of the monarchy while Sihanouk assumed his position as monarch, but titled as Prince rather than King.
Indonesia

Aceh

Bali

Tanette

Kalingga

Majapahit

The statue of Tribhuwanottungadewi, queen of Majapahit, depicted as Parvati

Mataram

Mengwi

Sonbai Kecil

  • Bi Sonbai (ruled 1672–1717), in western Timor

Kalinyamat Sultanate

Sultanate of Gowa

  • Tumanurung Baine

Samudera Pasai Sultanate

Bone state

  • We Banrigau, Mallajange ri Cina
  • We Tenrituppu, MatinroE ri Bantaeng
  • We Bataritoja, Sultanah Zainab Zulkiyahtuddin (ruled 1714–1715 and 1724–1749)
  • We Imaniratu, Sultanah Rajituddin
  • We Tenriawaru, Sultanah Ummulhuda
  • We Fatimah Banri, Datu Citta

Sultanate of Buton

  • Wa kaa kaa (ruled 1332–?)
  • Bulawambona[21] (ruled 14th century)[22]
Laos

Lan Xang

  • Nang Keo Phimpha (ruled 1438) – after her nephew Lan Kham Deng died, she seized control of Lan Xang and the next four kings were under her control. She only reigned for a few months in 1438 at the age of 95; she was then deposed and killed.
Malaysia

Kelantan

Myanmar

Hanthawaddy

Sandoway

Waithali

Shan States

  • Nang Ye Hkam Leng, ruler of Möng Mao (ruled 1127–1152)
  • Wife of Sao Ne Ya, ruler of Laihka State (ruled 1680–1683)
  • Youngest Sister of Hkun Hkawt, ruler of Laihka State (ruled 1866–1868)
Philippines

Namayan and Tondo

Sulu

  • Nur ul-Azam (ruled c. 1680–1685)
Thailand

Hariphunchai

Pattani

  • Ratu Hijau, 'the Green Queen' (ruled 1584–1616)
  • Ratu Biru, 'the Blue Queen' (ruled 1616–1624)
  • Ratu Ungu, 'the Purple Queen' (ruled 1624–1635)
  • Ratu Kuning, 'the Yellow Queen' (ruled 1635–1649/88), controversy surrounds the exact date of the end of her reign
  • Ratu Emas Kelantan (ruled 1670–1698 or 1690–1704) – thought by A. Teeuw & Wyatt to be a king, but claimed by al-Fatani to be a queen, the widow of Raja Bakal and mother of the succeeding queen
  • Ratu Emas Chayam (ruled 1698–1702 or 1704–1707 and 1716–1718)

Lanna

Timor

Alas

  • Dona Maria Borromeu Duarte (ruled 1945–1952)

Ainaro

  • Dona Maria Amado de Jesus Corte-Real (ruled 1943–1960)

Venilale

  • Dona Catarina de Freitas (ruled 1808–1812)

Bobonaro

  • Two queens (widows of Dom Lac-Theu and Dom Tai Mau)

Ermera

  • Dona Vasso Bere (ruled 1849-after 1854)

Luca

  • Dona Rosa Amaral (ruled 1881–1896)

Jenilu

  • Raja Perempuan (ruled 1845)
  • Mariana Rosa da Costa (ruled 1879–1893)

Lakekun

  • Balok Lorok
  • Hoar Teti

Lidak

  • Petronella da Costa (ruled 1901–1913)

Sonba'i Kecil

  • Usi Tetu Utang (ruled 1672–1717)

Amfoan

  • Anna Elisabeth Aunoni (ruled 1881–1902)
Vietnam
  • Queen Trưng Trắc (ruled 40–43) – the Trưng sisters (Vietnamese: Hai Bà Trưng; literally: two ladies Trưng) were leaders who rebelled against Chinese rule for three years, and are regarded as national heroines of Vietnam. Her name is Trưng Trắc.
  • Trưng Nhị (vi:Trưng Nhị), co-ruler of Trưng Trắc
  • Lady Triệu (ruled 248), also known as Lệ Hải Bà Vương (chữ Hán: 麗海婆王, lit. "beautiful sea's lady king")[23]
  • Empress Lý Chiêu Hoàng (ruled 1224–1225)

Champa

Iran
  • Musa of Parthia (Parthian queen regnant of Iran, ruled 2 BC–4 AD) – she ruled with her son Phraates V
  • Pourandukht (In Persian: Pourandokht, Sassanid queen regnant and Daughter of Khosrow Parviz, ruled 630 and 631–632)
  • Azarmidokht (Sassanid queen regnant, sister of Pourandukht and daughter of Khosrow Parviz, ruled 630–631)

Elymais

  • Anzaze (ruled about 82/81 to 75 BC, following dates on the coins), she appears on coins together with king Kamnaskires III; they perhaps ruled together as on the coins she is called βασιλίσσης (the Genitive case of queen, βασίλισσα – basílissa)
  • Ulfan (ruled 2nd century) – she co-ruled with her husband Orodes III

Ahmadilis

Qutlugh-Khanids

Salghurids

Il Khanate

Khorshidi dynasty

Iraq

First Dynasty of Ur

  • Puabi (ruled c. 26th century BC) – there is a theory that she ruled on her own right

Jalayirid Sultanate

Israel

Beit Shemesh

Judah

Hasmonean dynasty

Herodian dynasty

Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem

Jordan

Gileadite

Nabatea

Lebanon

Tripoli

Saudi Arabia

Qedarite

  • Zabibe (ruled c. 750–735 BC)
  • Samsi (ruled c. 735–710 BC)
  • Yatie (ruled c. 710–695 BC)
  • Te'el-hunu (ruled c. 695–690 BC)
  • Tabua (ruled c. 678–675 BC)
Syria

Tanukhids

  • Mavia (ruled 375–425) – "The Queen of the Arabs"

Seleucid Empire

Palmyrene Empire

  • Zenobia (ruled 272) – she ruled mostly as regent for her son but reigned briefly under the regnal name Septimia Zenobia Augusta in 272.
Turkey

Antioch

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia

  • Isabella (ruled 1219–1252) – she co-ruled with her husband Hethum I from 1226

Caria

Dardania

Heraclea Pontica

Pontus

Olba Kingdom

Prusias ad Mare

Saltukid dynasty

Trebizond

Yemen

Sulayhid dynasty

  • Asma bint Shihab (ruled 1047–1087) – she was the co-ruler of Yemen in co-regency with her cousin and spouse, Ali al-Sulayhi, and later her son, Ahmad al-Mukkaram, and daughter-in-law, Arwa al-Sulayhi. Though there were many female monarchs in the Muslim world, Asma bint Shihab and Arwa al-Sulayhi were the only female monarchs in the Arab world to have had the khutba proclaimed in their name in the mosques as sovereigns.
  • Arwa al-Sulayhi (ruled 1067–1138) – she ruled Yemen firstly with her first two husbands and her mother-in-law and then as sole ruler. She was the greatest of the rulers of the Sulayhid Dynasty and was also the first woman to be accorded the prestigious title of hujja in Isma'ili branch of Shi'a Islam, signifying her as the closest living image of God's will in her lifetime.
Uzbekistan

Europe

Maria Theresa, Queen regnant of Hungary, Bohemia[24] and the Holy Roman Empress

Albania

Andorra

Armenia

Austria

  • Maria Theresa (Archduchess) (ruled 1740–1780) – she was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma. In some of the Habsburg dominions (such as Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia and Lodomeria and Galicia), she held the title of queen. By marriage, she was also Duchess of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and Holy Roman Empress (all as consort).
Marcomanni

Bosnia

Odrysian kingdom

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech lands

Denmark

  • Margaret I (ruled 1387–1412) – she was founder of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian countries for over a century. Margaret is known in Denmark as "Margrethe I" to distinguish her from the current queen. Denmark did not have a tradition of allowing women to rule, so when her son died, she was titled "All-powerful Lady and Mistress (Regent) of the Kingdom of Denmark". She only styled herself Queen of Denmark in 1375, usually referring to herself as "Margaret, by the grace of God, daughter of Valdemar King of Denmark" and "Denmark's rightful heir" when referring to her position in Denmark. Others simply referred to her as the "Lady Queen", without specifying what she was queen of, but not so Pope Boniface IX, who in his letters styled her "our beloved daughter in Christ, Margaret, most excellent queen of Denmark, Sweden and Norway"
  • Margaret II (reign 1972–present)

Georgia

Tamar, King of Kings and Queen of Queens of the Georgians

Greece

Aeacid dynasty
Byzantine Empire
  • Irene of Athens (ruled 797–802) – she normally referred to herself as basilissa (empress), although there are three instances of the title basileus (emperor) being used by her. From 792 she was a co-ruler.
  • Theodora the Armenian (ruled 842–856, disputed) - after the death of her husband she became the co-ruler of her son but in fact she ruled the empire alone; some historians regard her as an empress regnant rather than just a regent
  • Thekla (ruled 842–856, disputed), co-ruler of Theodora the Armenian
  • Zoë Porphyrogenita (ruled 1028–1041 and 1042–1050) – she ruled with her consorts Romanos III and Michael IV between 1028 and 1041; she ruled with her sister Theodora and her third husband Constantine IX from 1042 to 1050
  • Theodora Porphyrogenita (ruled 1042–1056) – she ruled from 1042 jointly with her sister Zoe and Zoe's third husband Constantine IX; she ruled from 1055 until her own death as sole monarch.
  • Eudokia Makrembolitissa (ruled 1067, disputed) - after the death of her husband she became a ruler; some historians regard her as an empress regnant rather than just a regent
Epirus
Frankokratia

Latin Empire was disestablished in 1261, but Latin states in Greece, also known as Frankokratia, continued to recognize Latin emperors in exile as their overlords until 1383.

Polis

Hungary

  • Mary (ruled 1382–1385 and 1386–1395) – she was crowned as King of Hungary to emphasize that she was a monarch in her own right; she co-ruled with her husband Sigismund of Luxembourg from 1387
  • Maria Theresa (Queen, "King") (ruled 1740–1780)
Kingdom of Ireland
Naples
Ostrogoths
  • Amalasuintha (ruled 534–535) – she ruled first as regent for her son and thereafter as queen regnant in her own right
Parma
Sardinia
Sicily

Luxembourg

Malta

  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1964–1974)

Lithuania

Monaco

Netherlands

Norway

Agder

Poland

  • Jadwiga (ruled 1384–1399) – she was crowned as King of Poland to emphasize that she was a monarch in her own right; she co-ruled with her husband Władysław II Jagiełło from 1386
  • Anna (ruled 1575–1586) – she was crowned as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania to emphasize that she was a monarch in her own right; she co-ruled with her husband Stephen Báthory

Portugal

Russia

Sabir people
  • Queen Boa,[26] also known as Boareks (ruled 520s)
Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus
  • Kamasarye Philoteknos (ruled 180–150 BC) – she co-ruled with her husband Paerisades III
  • Dynamis (ruled in 47 BC, 44–17 BC and 16–14 BC) – she co-ruled with her first husband Asander in 47 BC and from 44 BC until 17 BC; then she co-ruled with her second husband Polemon I from 16 BC until her death
  • Gepaepyris (ruled 37 or 38–39 AD)
Khanate of Qasim

Spain

Aragon
  • Petronila of Aragon (ruled 1137–1164)
  • Joanna of Castile and Aragon the Mad (ruled 1516–1555) – after her husband's death she was deemed mentally ill and was confined to a nunnery. Her father, Ferdinand II of Aragon, was regent in Castile until his death, when she inherited his kingdom as well and began her nominal co-reign with her son Charles I of Spain, but she had no actual power and her confinement lasted until her death.
Kingdoms of León and Castile
  • Urraca of León and Castile (ruled 1109–1126) – also styled as Empress of all the Spains (totius Hispaniae imperatrix). Her use of the imperial styling was limited, much more so than that of her predecessor and successor (it is possible that the imperial style had connotations too strongly masculine). Urraca did employ instead the title Queen of Spain on several occasions from the very beginning of her reign until the end
  • Berenguela of Castile the Great (ruled 1217)
  • Sancha of León (ruled de jure 1230) – she ruled jointly with her sister Dulce. After the death of Sancha's brother, Alfonso IX named his second son, Ferdinand, his heir, bestowing on him the title infante. In 1217, Ferdinand's mother, Berengaria, inherited the Kingdom of Castile, but ceded it to her son. With his heir out of the kingdom and ruling in another place, Alfonso attempted to make his eldest daughters his joint heirs. In the Treaty of Boronal concluded with Portugal in 1219, Alfonso expressly states that if he should die, Portugal should respect the agreement with his daughters.[27] Alfonso also attempted to secure his eldest daughter's rights by marrying Sancha to John of Brienne, the former King of Jerusalem, but his wife Berengaria blocked this action in order to advance her son.[28] After this fiasco, Alfonso declared Sancha and Dulce his heirs, but upon his death on 24 September 1230, the people of León, who had pledged for Ferdinand in 1206, refused to recognise his daughters, and they in turn ceded their rights to his kingdom to their half-brother
  • Dulce of León (ruled de jure 1230) – she ruled jointly with her sister Sancha
  • Isabella I of Castile the Catholic (ruled 1474–1504) – After a struggle to claim her right to the throne, she reorganised the governmental system, brought the crime rate to the lowest it had been in years, and unburdened the kingdom of the enormous debt her brother had left behind. Her marriage with Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to the kingdoms that became the basis for the political unification of Spain. Her reforms and those she made with her husband had an influence that extended well beyond the borders of their united kingdoms. Isabella and Ferdinand are known for completing the Reconquista, ordering conversion or exile of their Muslim and Jewish subjects in the Spanish Inquisition, and for supporting and financing Christopher Columbus's 1492 voyage that led to the opening of the New World.
  • Joanna of Castile and Aragon the Mad (ruled 1504–1555) – successor of the previous.
Lizarra
  • Toda Aznárez (ruled c. 958) – she was the queen consort of Pamplona through her marriage to Sancho I, who reigned from 905 to 925, and was regent of Pamplona for her son García Sánchez I from 931 to 934. Later in life, she ruled a subkingdom centered on Degio and Lizarra

Sweden

Christina of Sweden
Kingdoms of the Britons
  • Cartimandua (ruled c. 43–69), queen of the Brigantes, a Celtic people in what is now Northern England – she came to power around the time of the Roman conquest of Britain, and formed a large tribal agglomeration that became loyal to Rome; she is known exclusively from the work of a single Roman historian, Tacitus, though she appears to have been widely influential in early Roman Britain
  • Boudica (ruled c. 60–61), queen of the Brythonic Celtic Iceni, people of Norfolk, in Eastern Britain – in 61 AD, led a major uprising of the tribes against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire
Anglo-Saxon kingdoms
  • Seaxburh of Wessex (ruled c. 672–674) – she reigned jointly with her husband Cenwalh and, according to tradition, ruled Wessex as Queen for a year following Cenwalh's death in c. 672
  • Æthelflæd of Mercia (ruled 911–918) – eldest daughter of king Alfred the Great of Wessex, wife of Æthelred II, ealdorman of Mercia, and after his death, sole ruler of Mercia. While her husband was alive, she signed agreements, leading some to think that she was the real leader. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle styles her Lady of the Mercians (Myrcna hlæfdige)
  • Ælfwynn of Mercia (ruled 918) – daughter of Æthelflæd and Æthelred II, styled Lady of the Mercians. Deposed by her uncle, Edward the Elder (4 December 918), who annexed Mercia to Wessex, creating the Kingdom of England
Kingdom of England
  • Matilda (ruled 1141, disputed) – She was England's first de facto female ruler, holding the title of Lady of the English (she planned to assume the title of queen upon her coronation). She was declared heir presumptive by her father, Henry I, and acknowledged as such by the barons; however, upon the death of her father in 1135, Matilda's rival and cousin Stephen of Blois usurped the throne. The Anarchy followed, with Matilda's being a de facto ruler for a few months in 1141, but she was never crowned and failed to consolidate her rule (legally and politically)
  • Jane (ruled 1553, disputed) – her cousin Edward VI of England nominated Jane as successor to the Crown in his will and excluded his half sisters, Mary and Elizabeth. However, this was disputed following Edward's death, since parliament had not ratified his action and Jane was ‘queen’ for only nine days (10–19 July) before Edward's half-sister, Mary, was proclaimed Queen. Jane is nicknamed The Nine Days' Queen
  • Mary I (ruled 1553–1558)
  • Elizabeth I (ruled 1558–1603)
Kingdom of Scotland
  • Margaret, Maid of Norway (ruled 1286–1290) She was daughter of Eric II of Norway and Margaret of Scotland and was named "domina and right heir" of the Kingdom of Scotland by her grandfather, Alexander III. Her death, at the age of seven, while en route to Scotland sparked off the disputed succession which led to the Wars of Scottish Independence. As Margaret was never crowned or otherwise inaugurated, and never set foot on what was then Scottish soil during her lifetime, there is some doubt about whether she should be regarded as a Queen of Scots; this could ultimately be a matter of interpretation. Most lists of the monarchs of Scotland do include her, but a few do not.
  • Mary I (ruled 1542–1567) – she was executed in England in 1587
Kingdoms of England and Scotland / Kingdom of Great Britain
United Kingdom

American Samoa

Tui Manuʻa Matelita.
  • Tuimanufili, (ruled as 20th Tui Manu'a)
  • Siliave, (ruled as 23rd Tui Manu'a)
  • Seuea, (ruled as 27th Tui Manu'a)
  • Matelita, (ruled 1891–1895, as 39th Tui Manu'a)

Australia

  • Victoria (ruled 1901)
  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1952–2022)
Bora Bora
Huahine
Raiatea
Rapa Iti
  • Daughter of Parima (ruled 1886–1887).
Rimatara
Tahiti
  • Purea (ruled 18th century), queen of the Teva clan on the southern part of the island before unification
  • Pōmare IV (ruled 1827–1877)

Fiji

  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1970–1987)

Hawaii

New Zealand

  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1952–2022)
Rarotonga

Papua New Guinea

  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1975–2022)

Solomon Islands

  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1978–2022)

Tonga

Tuvalu

  • Elizabeth II (reigned 1978–2022)

Uvea (Wallis)

Legendary and mythological monarchs

Chile

China

Kuba Kingdom

  • Lobamba
  • Go Kadi
  • Gokare

Czech

Ecuador

Egypt

  • Nitocris of the Sixth Dynasty – Nitocris is mentioned within Herodotus' book Histories as being the last Pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt.
  • Charoba – A queen mentioned in a history of Egypt written by 12th century Arab writer Murtada ibn al-'Afif.[29]
  • Daluka of the Soleyman Dynasty – An Antediluvian monarch from medieval Coptic and Arabic texts who supposedly built a wall around Egypt to protect the country from invasion and also was said to have built a pyramid and a nilometer at Memphis. Sometimes claimed to be a cousin of Charoba and her immediate successor.[29]
  • Borsa of the Soleyman Dynasty – Mentioned in medieval Coptic and Arabic texts as a ruler of Egypt in the Antediluvian era.[30] Sometimes described as a "priestess".[29]

Ethiopia

The following names all come from a regnal list written in 1922, which is partially based on native traditions and older regnal lists, but also contains additional names of Coptic and Nubian origin, the latter due to its association with the word "Aethiopia" in ancient and Biblical texts. Claimed dates follow the Ethiopian calendar.[31]

  • Borsa (43214254 BC) Originated from Coptic tradition.[30]
  • Eylouka (37763731 BC) Originated from Coptic tradition.[30]
  • Nehasset Nais (24342404 BC)
  • Kasiyope (18901871 BC) Originated from Greek mythology.
  • Mumazes (16751671 BC) Daughter of king Bonu I.[32]
  • Aruas (1671 BC) Daughter of Mumazes.[31]
  • Helena (13581347 BC)
  • Makeda (1013982 BC) The Biblical queen of Sheba in Ethiopian tradition and mother of Menelik I. She succeeded to the throne after the death of her father king Kawnasya.[33]
  • Nicauta Kandake I (740730 BC)
  • Hadina (372362 BC) Most regnal lists of Ethiopia claim this monarch reigned for 9 years.[34]
  • Nikawla Kandake II (342332 BC) An alternate name for the Queen of Sheba[35]
  • Akawsis Kandake III (325315 BC)
  • Nikosis Kandake IV (242232 BC)
  • Awsena (9988 BC) Most regnal lists of Ethiopia claim this monarch reigned for 1 year.[34]
  • Nicotnis Kandake V (3525 BC)
  • Garsemot Kandake VI (4050 AD) Supposedly the Kandake from the Biblical story of the Ethiopian Eunuch.[31]
  • Wakana (230 AD) Reigned for 2 days.[31]
  • Ahywa Sofya (299332 AD) Likely based on Sofya of Axum, mother of Ezana.
  • Adhana I (369374 AD) Some regnal lists of Ethiopia claim this monarch reigned for 14 years.[36]
  • Adhana II (412418 AD) Some regnal lists claim this monarch co-ruled with king Abreha III.[36]

Kingdom of Simien

  • Gudit (ruled c. 960 – c. 1000)

Sidama people

Greece

Amazons

  • Otrera, the daughter of Eurus (the east wind)
  • Hippolyta, the Amazonian queen who possessed a magical girdle
  • Penthesilea, the daughter of Ares and Otrera and the sister of Hippolyta, Antiope and Melanippe
  • Antianara, the daughter of Ares and Otrera and the sister of Hippolyta, Antiope and Melanippe
  • Eurypyle
  • Lampedo
  • Marpesia

India

  • Yashovati, ruler of Kashmir – she was described in Rajatarangini

Indonesia

Iran

Iraq

Ireland

Japan

Korea

Libya

Malaysia

Aztec Empire

Myanmar

Norway

Pakistan

Poland

Russia

Somalia

South Africa

Sri Lanka

Sudan

Tunisia

  • Dido (ruled 814 – c. 760 BC) – also known as Alyssa. Founder of Carthage, according to tradition

Turkey

Turkmenistan

  • Zarinaea, legendary Sacae woman ruler of the Dahae, the sister of Cyraedus, and the wife of Marmares, ruler of the Parthians

United Kingdom

Vietnam

Yemen

Constituent queens

Botswana

China

Haiti

Jamaica

New Zealand

Nigeria

Panama

  • Rufina Santana, queen of Naso people (ruled 1982–1988)

United States Virgin Islands

Chieftainess

Botswana

Burundi

Cameroon

Dominican Republic

Fiji

Ghana

Haiti

Ireland

Israel

Kyrgyzstan

Malawi

Rarotonga

Nigeria

Xhosa

  • Nosizwe Tyali, Chief of Imingcangathelo
  • Nosiseko Gaika, Chief of Amambombo (Ngqika)
  • Nomasilakhe Komani, Chief of Imingqalasi

Crow tribe

Giluts'aaw

  • Victoria Young

Pamunkey

Pocasset Wampanoag

Sakonnet

Seneca tribe

Yemen

Female rulers of semi-independent feudal states

Duchy of Durazzo

Principality of Albania

Principality of Valona

Bangladesh

Romania

Female Rulers of crown land and personal union

Estonia

Part of the Kingdom of Denmark

Part of the Swedish Empire

Part of the Russian Empire

  • Catherine I (ruled 8 February 1725 – 17 May 1727)
  • Anna (ruled 13 February 1730 – 28 October 1740)
  • Elizabeth (ruled 6 December 1741 – 5 January 1762)
  • Catherine II (ruled 9 July 1762 – 6 November 1796)

Finland

Part of the Kingdom of Sweden

Iceland

Possession of Norway

Notes

  1. Kuckertz, Josefine (2021). "Meroe and Egypt". UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology: 5.
  2. Adam Simmons, 'A Short Note on Queen Gaua: A New Last Known Ruler of Dotawo (r. around 1520-6)?', Dotawo: A Journal of Nubian Studies (2023), doi:10.5070/D60060625.
  3. "Guinea Bissau Substates". guide2womenleaders.com.
  4. Basil Davidson (2014). West Africa Before the Colonial Era: A History to 1850. Routledge. p. 229. ISBN 978-1-317-88265-7.
  5. Palmer, H. R (1908). Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. 1908.
  6. Stewart, John (2006). African States and Rulers (3rd ed.). London: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 71. ISBN 9780786425624.
  7. Amirell, Stefan (2015). "Female Rule in the Indian Ocean World (1300–1900)". Journal of World History. 26 (3): 443–489. doi:10.1353/jwh.2015.0023. JSTOR 43901772. S2CID 141655723.
  8. Ben, Cahoon (ed.). "Madagascar Traditional States". World Statesmen.
  9. Evans-Pritchard, E. E. (2011). "The divine kingship of the Shilluk of the Nilotic Sudan". HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory. 1: 407–422. doi:10.14318/hau1.1.016. S2CID 162247139.
  10. Mwakikagile, Godfrey (2020-03-20). Colonial Mentality and the Destiny of Africa. African Renaissance Press. p. 144.
  11. McIntyre, Chris; McIntyre, Susan (2009). Zanzibar. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-84162-254-5.
  12. Ingrams, W. H. (2020-10-28). Zanzibar: The Island Metropolis of Eastern Africa. Routledge. p. 95. ISBN 978-1-000-14405-5.
  13. Book of Sui, vol. 83
  14. Fan, Wenlan (1994). Zhongguo tong shi. Vol. 4. ISBN 978-7-01-002029-7.
  15. Old Book of Tang, vol. 197
  16. Jyotsna Kamat (2010-05-07). "Queen of Gersoppa: Chennabhairadevi, Brave Ruler of Gersoppa (1552–1606 C.E)". Kamatpotporri. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  17. Jha, Makhan (1997). Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 157. ISBN 978-81-7533-034-4.
  18. De, Sushil Chandra (1990). Story of Freedom Struggle in Orissa. Orissa Sahitya Akademi. p. 36.
  19. Dani, Ahmad Hasan; Masson, Vadim Mikhaĭlovich; Unesco (2003-01-01). History of Civilizations of Central Asia: Development in contrast : from the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. UNESCO. p. 238. ISBN 978-92-3-103876-1.
  20. Khan, Shah Ra'is (1987). Shah Ra'is Khan ki Tarikh-i Gilgit (in Urdu).
  21. O'Connor, Sue; McWilliam, Andrew; Brockwell, Sally (2020-09-07). Forts and Fortification in Wallacea: Archaeological and Ethnohistoric Investigations. ANU Press. p. 191. ISBN 978-1-76046-389-2.
  22. Syarifuddin, Ferry; Sakti, Ali (2021-02-08). Praktik Ekonomi dan Keuangan Syariah oleh Kerajaan Islam di Indonesia – Rajawali Pers (in Indonesian). PT. RajaGrafindo Persada. p. 83.
  23. Minh Thảo Phạm (2003). Chuyện các bà hoàng trong lịch sử Việt Nam (in Vietnamese). Nhà xuất bản Văn hóa thông tin.
  24. "Sigismund (Holy Roman emperor)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Britannica.com Inc. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  25. Claus Krag. "Åsa Haraldsdatter, Dronning". Norsk biografisk leksikon.
  26. Nicholson, Oliver (19 April 2018). The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press. p. 1316. ISBN 978-0-19-256246-3.
  27. Yáñez Neira, 54.
  28. Salvador Martínez, 32–33.
  29. Colavito, Jason. "Murtada ibn al-'Afif". Jason Colavito.
  30. Morié, Louis J. (1904). Histoire de L'Éthiopie (Nubie et Abyssinie): Tome Ier – La Nubie (in French). Paris. pp. 155–161.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  31. Rey, C. F. (1927). In the Country of the Blue Nile. London: Camelot Press. pp. 263–270.
  32. Araia, Ghelawdewos (December 7, 2009). "Brief Chronology of Ethiopian History". Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  33. Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume I). London: Methuen & Co. p. 193.
  34. Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume I). London: Methuen & Co. pp. 205–207.
  35. "Nicaula". Brooklyn Museum. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  36. Budge, E. A. Wallis (1928). A History of Ethiopia: Nubia and Abyssinia (Volume I). London: Methuen & Co. pp. 259–261.
  37. "Salakanagara, Kerajaan (Sunda) Tertua di Nusantara". Nusantara Institute (in Indonesian). 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  38. 馮敏飛 (2016-01-01). 危世圖存 : 中國歷史上的15次中興 (in Chinese). 新華出版社. p. 355. ISBN 978-7-5166-2761-7.
  39. A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, Chapter III: Of the Kingdoms contained in Hispaniola

Bibliography

  • L. Pierotti Cei, Madonna Costanza, Regina di Sicilia e d'Aragona, Mondadori, Milan 1995.
  • S. Runciman, I Vespri siciliani, Rizzoli, Milan 1975.
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