Devin Jacobs
Across history, fearless queens marched into battle and led armies. Some fought for their people, others for vengeance. A few simply refused to surrender. Their stories echo through time, proving that power belongs to those bold enough to seize it. Here are ten female warriors everyone should know about.
Boudica
Would you dare to challenge the might of Rome? Boudica did. After Roman forces seized Iceni’s lands and brutalized her family, she led a fiery rebellion. Warriors burned Roman cities to the ground, striking fear into the empire. Though the uprising was crushed, defiance turned her into a legend.
Nzinga Of Ndongo
Walking into enemy territory, Nzinga refused to kneel. The Portuguese expected submission, but a servant took the throne instead. Ruling with strategy and resilience, the queen outmaneuvered colonizers through diplomacy and warfare. Armies followed every command, and alliances strengthened defenses. The fight for freedom lasted nearly 40 years.
Tomyris
Cyrus the Great believed victory was certain until the Massagetae struck back. Queen Tomyris, seeking revenge for her son’s demise, led warriors into battle, crushing the Persian army. According to legend, the fallen king’s head was placed in a vat of blood, ensuring his fate matched the destruction he caused.
Amina Of Zazzau
Amina of Zazzau didn’t just inherit a kingdom—expansion became the mission. Leading warriors into battle, the legendary ruler conquered territories and strengthened Hausa’s influence. Stories credit this fearless leader with building defensive walls and securing trade routes. Whether legend or fact, the name Amina still stands as a symbol of power and conquest.
Artemisia I
The battlefield and the sea were her domain. Artemisia I commanded Persian warships under King Xerxes, fighting Greek forces with tactical brilliance at the Battle of Salamis. Even Xerxes admitted she fought better than his male generals. In war, Artemisia I proved that strategy mattered more than gender.
Rani Lakshmibai
A sword in hand, defiance in every move. Rani Lakshmibai stood fearless in the face of British rule in India. Leading warriors in the 1857 uprising, the queen of Jhansi fought with unmatched courage. Even in defeat, the legacy of this warrior queen ignited a revolution that refused to fade.
Zenobia
An empire stood in the way, but Zenobia refused to submit. The Palmyrene forces swept through Egypt and the Levant, pushing Roman control to the brink. Victory seemed possible until Emperor Aurelian struck back. Captured in the end, the queen’s resistance still echoes through history.
Lozen
Lozen was a warrior, protector, strategist, and scout. The Apache fighter rode alongside Chief Victorio and later Geronimo, guiding warriors through enemy territory. Revered for an uncanny ability to sense danger, she fought fiercely for her people until captivity. She passed away in exile but never in spirit.
Trung Sisters
Two sisters, one mission: reclaim Vietnam’s independence. Trung Trac and Trung Nhi led a massive uprising, driving out the Han Dynasty and seizing 65 fortresses. The rebellion held strong for three years before the empire struck back. Though the dynasty fell, the sisters’ legacy still fuels Vietnam’s national pride.
Olga of Kyiv
Mess with a queen and the consequences are brutal. After Prince Igor’s murder, Olga of Kyiv sought justice with a vengeance, burning through every action. Drevlian envoys vanished. Leaders perished in a burning bathhouse, and an entire city fell to flames. She wasn’t just a ruler but was a destructive force.