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Women are often overlooked in history, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be recognized for their contributions. In fact, there were quite a few women who were powerful leaders in ancient history. Here are some of the most powerful female rulers you should know about!
Artemisia was a queen of the city-state of Caria. She was also a naval commander in the Persian Wars, and she persuaded Xerxes to retreat from Salamis. She was a strong leader and a good strategist.
The Persians were masters at building large ships for war, but they had never fought against someone who knew how to build smaller ships that could outmaneuver them.
The Greeks used their smaller vessels as part of a flotilla that proved much more agile than their opponent’s heavier galleys, which were better suited for open seas than close combat with other ships in narrow straits like those around Salamis Island or Cape Artemisium (southwest Scotland).
She was the first woman to rule Egypt, so it's no surprise that Hatshepsut is one of history's most powerful women.
She ruled for over 20 years, from 1479 BC to 1458 BC, and she did so with an iron fist—a "iron" fist made out of gold and silver that she gave herself as a gift.
(She was impressive)
Hatshepsut was born into royalty—her father was Pharaoh Thutmose I and her mother Queen Ahmose Nefertari.
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Unfortunately, Ahmose died when Hatshepsut was young and left behind no heirs, so her husband (a half-brother) became the next pharaoh.
After he died fairly quickly, Hatshepsut took his place on the throne at age 22; this made her the youngest person ever to become pharaoh until Cleopatra came along centuries later!
She wasn't just a ruler: She also expanded trade routes into Punt—an area now known as Somalia—and built numerous temples throughout Egypt while building up its economy by encouraging trade with foreign countries (including Greece).
It's hard to find a historical figure who was as powerful and influential as Eleanor of Aquitaine.
She had her own court, which was an important center for learning during the Crusades. She was also the queen consort of King Louis VII of France, and then later became Queen Consort of England after marrying Henry II in 1152.
Eleanor's influence on political affairs extended beyond her personal life: she played a key role in negotiating the Treaty of Wallingford in 1167 that ended years-long conflict between King Stephen and his cousin Matilda over control over England. The treaty allowed Stephen’s son Eustace to inherit lands from his father while giving Matilda lands elsewhere; this meant that no one gained complete control over England at this point (though eventually Matilda’s son Henry would succeed).
Placidia was the daughter of Emperor Theodosius I, who ruled over the Roman Empire from 379 to 395 CE. In 414 CE, she married Ataulf, king of the Visigoths. She was a devout Catholic and worked to convert her husband to Catholicism. She influenced her husband's decision to convert to Catholicism on May 31st 415 CE when he met Pope Innocent I at Toulouse in France. Her influence over her husband continued after he died in 421 CE—in fact, she remained influential until her death in 450 CE at age 72 (young for an ancient ruler).
It is said that she had a great deal of power because she knew how to use it wisely—she did not abuse it or take advantage of other people just because they were less powerful than herself but instead used it responsibly as a way to help those less fortunate than herself.
Empress Wu was born in 624 as the daughter of a general. Her father, believing that women shouldn't be allowed to lead armies, forced her to marry Emperor Gaozong when she was 12 years old. In her early years as empress, Wu often used sex and manipulation to get what she wanted. She also frequently took control over her husband's decisions and ran the military herself—giving orders directly from the palace instead of letting generals do their jobs. In 655 AD, Emperor Gaozong died from complications from an illness he'd been suffering from for some time; Empress Wu then took over complete control of China for two decades before dying herself in 705 AD at age 80 (or 70 according to some sources).
In ancient Rome, there was a woman who ruled Syria as queen. And she was no frail princess; she was a warrior and a leader. Her name was Zenobia.
She gave speeches to her people about their freedom from Roman rule, led them in battle and even defeated the Roman army at one point. She ruled from 267 to 272, with her husband Odenathus of Palmyra earning the title of King by acclamation of the people after he died in battle against Aurelian (who became emperor after defeating Zenobia). When Aurelian finally defeated them both, he allowed both to live out their lives peacefully in Rome where they were well-treated until they both died several years later
Theodora was a Byzantine Empress and the wife of Justinian I. She was one of the most powerful women in ancient history, known for her knowledge of law and theology, as well as her patronage of the arts. But what makes Theodora truly remarkable are her unorthodox religious beliefs: she was an adherent to Monophysitism, a belief system that rejected Chalcedonianism (the belief that Christ had two natures) as “heresy”. Even though her faith wasn't orthodox enough for the church's tastes, it didn't stop Theodora from becoming an icon—and playing matchmaker for Emperor Justinian himself!
These women were powerful leaders in ancient history. It can be a shock to realize that some of the most powerful figures in ancient history were women. When you’re taught about important historical figures, they tend to be men—but there are also plenty of examples of powerful queens and empresses throughout history.
We hope this post has given you some insight into the lives of these powerful women. While they may not be household names, they are still important figures in history who helped shape the world we live in today.
Who Was The Most Powerful Woman In Ancient History. (2022, Dec 08). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/who-was-the-most-powerful-woman-in-ancient-history-essay
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