Bettisia Gozzadini (1209 – 1261), Doctor of Laws from the University of Bologna, was probably the first woman to be appointed as a professor at a university. Law student Daughter of Adelasia de Pegolotti and Amadore Gozzadini, Bettisia Gozzadini was born in 1209 in Bologna, whose University is con
Empress of Persia of the Sasanian dynasty, Bûrândûkht (Persian:بوراندخت) reigned for three years between 630 and 632, during a very unstable period. Wise and just, she strives to restore justice and infrastructure. A politically unstable period daughter of Khosrau II Parviz, Persian emperor from 5
Lady Tomoe or Tomoe Gozen (1161?-1247?) is a female Japanese samurai whose story has become such popular legend that the truth often mixes with the myth. The Gempei War Famous for her skills in horseback riding, archery, and kenjutsu (the art of samurai swordsmanship), Tomoe Gozen accompanies her
Hōjō Masako (1156 – August 16, 1225) was an onna-bugeisha, a female warrior from medieval Japan. Minamoto no Yoritomo Born in 1156 in the province of Izu, Hōjō Masako is the daughter of Hōjō no Maki and Hōjō Tokimasa, samurai and leader of the Hōjō clan, a very influential samurai clan. She is t
Theodora (circa 500 – 548) was a woman of modest origin, dancer and courtesan, who became Empress of the Byzantine Empire and wife of Justinian. The Emperors Wife Theodoras life is best known from the works of her contemporaries Procopius of Caesarea, and John of Ephesus. An illegitimate daughte
Dyhia or Damya , known as Kahina or Kahena (in Arabic, one who practices divination or magic) is a warrior queen of the 7th century, considered by some to be one of the first warrior queens. The resistance against the Umayyads Little information about Dyhia/Kahena has come down to us, apart from
Shajar ad-Durr (date of birth unknown – 1257) was a woman born into slavery who became the wife of a sultan of Egypt and then the regent in charge of organizing the defense of the country. The sultans slave and son The origin of Chajar ad-Durr and her real name are unknown and historians assume
Wu Zetian (武則天, 624-705) is the only empress in Chinese history, founding the Zhou dynasty of which she is the sole ruler. Concubine of the Emperor Wu Zetian was born on February 17, 624 in Xian (capital of the empire) or in the district of Lizhou (Sichuan), during the Tang dynasty; possibly as Wu
Marguerite Porete (circa 1250 – 1310) was a Christian mystical writer and poet. His book The Mirror of Simple Destroyed Souls , exploring the love of God, shocked the Church of the time. Today, it is increasingly considered a major work of the Middle Ages. The freedom of beguines The story of Marg
Mandukhaï Khatun (Мандухай хатан), also known as Mandukhaï Sechen Khatun, Queen Mandukhaï the Wise (c. 1449 – 1510) was a queen of post-imperial Mongolia, best known for reuniting the Mongols with her husband. The conquest of power Daughter of Chorosbai, adviser to the Ongüt Mongols (Turkish-Mong
Arwa al-Sulayhi (in Arabic:أروى بنت أحمد بن محمد بن بن بن موسى الصليحي الإسماعية), or Arwa Bint Ahmed (around 1048 - 1138), of the Sulayhide dynasty, is the sovereign having reigned over Yemen . After the death of her husband, she ruled alone for forty years. A young queen Niece of Ali al-Sulayh
Daughter of Constance of Burgundy and Alfonso VI of León, King of León, Urraque became, in 1109, Queen of Castile, León and Galicia and claimed the title of Queen of Spain. Very young bride Born in April 1079, Urraque was the eldest surviving child of Constance of Burgundy and Alfonso VI of Leon.
Jeanne dArc is certainly the most famous woman in the history of France, and a mythical personality throughout the world. Heroine, war leader and saint of the Catholic Church, she played a very important role during the Hundred Years War. The voices of the saints and the Archangel Daughter of Jacq
Matilda of Tuscany (1046 – 1115) was an Italian princess who played a very important role during the Investiture Quarrel. She also remained famous for military feats. Education and marriage negotiations The youngest child of Béatrice de Bar and Boniface III, Marquis of Tuscany, Mathilde is, throug
Fatima al-Fihriya , nicknamed Oum al Banine (The mother of two sons ) is the founder of the el-Qaraouiyyîn mosque, the oldest university in the world still in operation. The el-Qaraouiyyîn mosque Born in the 9th century, Fatima is from Kairouan in Tunisia. Very young, she emigrated with her famil
Isabella I of Castile , known as Isabella the Catholic (1451 – 1504) is a Spanish sovereign, queen of Castile and León from 1474 to 1504 and of Aragon and Sicily from 1479 to 1504. Promise at three years old Daughter of Isabella of Portugal and John II, King of Castile and León, Isabella was born
Jeanne de Belleville , known as the Breton Tigress, (circa 1300 – 1359) was a Poitevin and Breton noblewoman who became a corsair out of revenge. Olivier de Clisson Daughter of Létice de Parthenay and Maurice IV de Montaigu, Lord of Belleville and Palluau, Jeanne de Belleville was born around 130
Jalâlat ud-Dîn Raziya, known as Razia al-Din or Sultan Razia (1205 – 1240) is the only woman to have reigned over Delhi, after her father chose her as heir to the throne at the expense of her brothers. Designated heiress in place of her brothers Of Turkish descent, Razia al-Din was born in 1205 in
Landsberg Herrade (between 1125 and 1130 – 1195) was an Alsatian abbess, poetess and encyclopaedist. She composed the Hortus deliciarum , the first encyclopedia made by a woman. Hortus deliciarum From a noble family in Alsace, Herrade de Landsberg was born between 1125 and 1130 in Hohenbourg, on t
Trotula of Salerno , or Trotula di Ruggiero (or Trota), is an Italian doctor of the Middle Ages, to whom several books on womens health are attributed. Basics of womens medicine Very little is known of the life of Trotula of Salerno, other than that she probably lived in 11th century and that it b
Descendant of slaves, Lumina Sophie, known as Surprise (1848 – 1879), rose up against segregation and persistent racism in Martinique after the abolition of slavery. A youth marked by segregation Lumina Sophie was born as Marie-Philomène Sophie on November 5, 1848, in Vauclin, Martinique. His moth
Provost of the merchants of Paris and French politician, Étienne Marcel played a considerable role in the Estates General of 1355 and 1357 Faced with the opposition of the Dauphin (future Charles V) he organized on February 22, 1358 the first revolutionary day in Paris. With his supporters, he invad
Born on December 21, 1878 into a modest family of serfs, Joseph Stalin joined an Orthodox convent in his youth to escape the misery in which he was born. But from then on, Stalin frequented socialist and Marxist circles which made him integrate the political world. He joined the Communist Party led
In 1917, an epidemic of plague spread in Ahmedabad. Not only was there an outbreak in dirty areas, people died in some posh colonies too. This led Patel to guess that people did not know how to deal with the plague. That is why he took some people with him and formed a committee which started work