1185: Arsinoë II Philadelphus Queen of Thrace, Asia Minor, & Macedonia Born: c.318-314 BCE, Most-Likely Memphis, Ptolemaic-Controlled Ancient Egypt (Present-day Mit Rahineh, Egypt) Died: c.270-268 BCE, Alexandria, Ptolemaic-Controlled Ancient Egypt (Present-day Alexandria, Egypt) Arsinoë was the daughter of Ptolemy I and Berenice I, the first Ptolemaic couple to rule over Egypt after the death of…
1157: Cartimandua Queen of the Brigantes Born: Unknown, Ancient Britannia (Present-day Britain, United Kingdom) Died: After c.69 AD, Ancient Britannia (Present-day Britain, United Kingdom) Also Known As: Cartismandua The Brigantes were the biggest territorial tribe in Britannia, encompassing modern-day Yorkshire. Most of what we know about Cartimandua comes from the Roman author Tacitus. According to…
1153: Epicharis Well, That’s One Way to Make Your Mark Died: c. 65 CE, Ancient Roman Empire Epicharis was a freedwoman (former slave) living in Ancient Rome. She is most known for being a part of the team attempting to assassinate Emperor Nero. The plot is known today as the Pisonian Conspiracy. Other conspirators included…
1144: Angelberga De-Facto Co-Ruler of the Holy Roman Empire Born: c.840 AD, Present-day Germany Died: c.890 AD, Present-day Piacenza, Italy Also Known As: Engelberga Angelberga was married to Louis II of Italy and served as Carolingian empress until her husband’s death. They had two daughters together. Angelberga would rule in her husband’s place when he…
1138: Zoë Porphyrogenita Byzantine Empress Born: c.978 AD, Constantine, Byzantine Empire (Present-day Istanbul, Turkey) Died: c.1050 AD, Constantine, Byzantine Empire (Present-day Istanbul, Turkey) Zoë was married to the heir presumptive, Romanus III Argyrus, and became the empress consort upon his ascension. However, Zoë didn’t really like her husband to say the least and became very…
1137: Theodora III Byzantine Empress Born: c.984 AD, Constantinople, Byzantine Empire (Present-day Istanbul, Turkey) Died: 1056 AD, Constantinople, Byzantine Empire (Present-day Istanbul, Turkey) Also Known As: Theodora Porphyrogenita Theodora was the daughter of Constantine VIII. Theodora spent most of her life in and out of convents and was placed there by her own sister on…
1130: Pompeia Plotina Roman Empress and Wife of Trajan Born: c.65 AD, Gallia Narbonensis, Roman Empire (Present-day Southwestern France) Died: c.123 AD, Rome, Roman Empire (Present-day Rome, Italy) Pompeia was renowned for interest in philosophy, dignity, virtue, and simplicity. She served as empress from 98 to 117 AD (though it took her a full seven…
1112: Hortensia Famed Roman Orator and One of Three Women Known to Have Spoken Publicly Before the Roman Magistrates Birth Date Unknown, Most-Likely Rome, Roman Republic (Present-day Rome, Italy) Death Date Unknown, Most-Likely Rome, Roman Empire (Present-day Rome, Italy) Hortensia reportedly spoke before the Second Triumvirate and bartered for a repeal of a tax on…
896: Amanirenas Queen of Kush Born: c.60-50 BC, Kush (Present-day Sudan) Died: c.10 BC, Probably Kush (Present-day Sudan) Full Title: Amanirenas qore li kdwe li Also Known As: Kandace Amanirenas (Kandace means Queen) Amanirenas fought back to drive the Romans from her land after they conquered Egypt. Kush was just south of the toppled empire,…
826: Teuta of Illyria Queen Regent of the Ardiaei Tribe Reigned c.231 to 227 BC, Illyria (Present-day Balkan Peninsula in Europe*) Teuta’s kingdom threatened Rome’s naval power in the Adriatic Sea; setting off what became the first of several Illyrian Wars. Teuta’s husband, King Agron, died after enjoying his victory over the Aetolian People too…