Dancer and courtesan, Margaretha Geertruida “Grietje” Zelle (1876 – 1917) , better known as Mata Hari, was executed by France for espionage during the First World War. Wedding to Rudolf MacLeod Daughter of Antje van der Meulen and Adam Zelle, a wealthy merchant, Margaretha was born on August 7, 18
Tumād̩ir bint ʿAmr, nicknamed Al-Khansā’ (before 610 – between 634 and 644), was a 7th century woman of letters and the most famous Arab poetess in Arabic literature. Elegies Al-Khansā’ was born before 610 in Nejd, in pre-Islamic Arabia, into a wealthy family from the Banū Sulaym tribe. The adjec
Empress Suiko (推古天皇, 554-628) was the first female Empress of Japan, the 33th sovereign in the traditional order of succession. Daughter and wife of an emperor Daughter of Soga no Kitashi-hime and Emperor Kimmei, Suiko was born on January 15, 554 as of Princess Nukatabe. According to Nihon shoki (
Aïcha Al-Qourtoubiya (? – around 1010) is an Andalusian poet, woman of letters and calligrapher who contributed to the influence of Cordoba. Caliphate of Cordoba Aïcha Al-Qourtoubiya lives in the golden age of Al-Andalus. She was born in the 10th century, probably within the Umayyad Caliphate of
Active in the XIIth century, Azalaïs de Porcairagues composed poetry and sang courtly love in the courts of Occitania. She is considered the first troubadouress whose name is known to us. Troubadouresses Its in Occitania, in the XIth century, that the troubadour movement was born. An emblematic fi
Slave who became queen of the Franks, Bathilde (circa 630 – 680) influences the policy of the kingdom and then exercises the regency. She strives to keep the peace and bans the sale of slaves on her land. A child slave The main source concerning the life of Bathilde is the Vita sanctæ Bathildis (L
Khutulun, also known as Aigiarne , Aiyurug, Khotol Tsagaan or Ay Yaruq (Moonlight) is a descendant of Genghis Khan and daughter of the Mongal lord Qaïdu. A renowned wrestler, she accompanies her father in his military campaigns. Descendant of Genghis Khan Daughter of the Mongol lord Qaïdu, Khutul
Italian countess, Caterina Sforza (1463 – 1509) was a woman of power and influence in 15th century Italy. She has distinguished herself as much by her determination and courage as by her intransigence and even her cruelty in certain circumstances. At the court of Milan Born in Milan in 1463, Cater
Daughter of Emperor Tang Gaozu, Princess Pingyang (平陽公主 / 598 – 623) helps her gain power by organizing and leading a ladys army herself into battle. The Sui Dynasty The second of the five children of Li Yuan, Duke of Tang, and his wife, Lady Dou, Princess Zhao of Pingyang was born in 598 in Chi
Tamar (Georgian:თამარი), Thamar or Tamara (1160 – 1213) ruled Georgia for 29 years. Called “Tamar the King” at the time, she is considered the most famous of the country’s monarchs. The influence of his aunt Rousoudan Tamar is the eldest daughter of Bourdoukhan, daughter of the King of Ossetia,
Chinese author of the Song dynasty, Li Qingzhao (李清照, 1084 – c. 1151) is considered one of the greatest Chinese poetesses and a master of the art of the sung poem ci . Daughter of a poetess Li Qingzhao was born in 1084 under the Song dynasty, in Shandong, a province in eastern China at the time
Shin Sawbu (1394–1472), also known as Binnya Thau (Old Queen) reigned in the 15th century over the kingdom of Hanthawaddy (Lower Burma) was one of the few sovereigns to have acceded to the throne in the Indochinese peninsula. Queen of the monastery Born in Pégou in 1394, Shin Sawbu is one of the
Queen Seondeok (hangul:선덕여왕) ruled the Silla Kingdom, one of the three historical kingdoms of Korea, in the 7th century. Twenty-seventh sovereign of the kingdom, she is its first queen. During her reign, she encouraged arts and culture. The Estate Princess Deokman, first or second of King Jinpyeon
Sei Shōn agon (circa 965 – after 1013) is a great Japanese writer, author of one of a masterpiece of Japanese and world literature, the Bedside Notes . Poets daughter Sei Shōnagon was born around 965 into the Kiyohara clan, a powerful family in the Tōhoku region in the northeast from the island
Töregene Khatun is a Khatun (sovereign) of the Mongol Empire. She exercised the regency from the death of her husband in 1241 until the election of her eldest son five years later. Khatoun A member of the Naimans, Turkic-speaking Mongols from the south-west of the Mongolian plateau, Töregene was
Hafsa bint al-Hajj , known as Al-Rakuniyya (1135 – 1191) is an Andalusian poet of Berber origin, recognized for her talent and her culture. Love poems Most biographers date the birth of Hafsa bint al-Hajj to 1135. Daughter of al-Hajj ar-Rukuni, a man of Berber descent, she was born in the city of
Yolande of Aragon, also known as Jolantha de Aragon (circa 1382 – 1442), Duchess of Anjou, Countess of Maine and Provence, Queen of Naples and Jerusalem, played an important political role in the West in the 15th century. Queen consort of Naples Daughter of Yolande de Bar, herself granddaughter o
Agnes of Dunbar, nicknamed “Black Agnes” for the color of her eyes and hair, was a Scottish countess known for her heroic defense of Dunbar Castle under siege by the English. Scottish War of Independence Born in the early 14th century in northern Scotland, Agnes is the daughter of Isabel Stewart a
Berber queen of the Almoravid dynasty, Zaynab Nefzaouia (1039 – 1117) is a valuable advisor to her husband who owes her his victories. It is for her that the city of Marrakech was founded, and it is she who draws the plans. Intelligent and witty Daughter of Ibrahim Nefzaouia, Zaynab Nefzaouia was
Princess of the Almoravid dynasty, Fannou (died in 1147) pretended to be a man to participate in the defense of Marrakech. Almoravid princess Daughter of Omar ben Yintan, Fannou was born in the 12th century in Marrakech. Almoravid princess, a Berber dynasty, she was raised in the palace of Marrak
Jeanne de France is the daughter of Louis XI and Charlotte of Savoy. Anxious to marry her to the Orleans, Louis XI promised her to the future Louis XII (Jeanne being disabled, he hoped that Louis XII would not have children, and thus intended to reduce the line of the Orleans). A neglected wife, des
Son of a Hungarian immigrant and a French mother, Nicolas Sarkozy was born in Paris. A graduate in private law and political science, he joined the UDR (Union of Democrats for the Republic), a Gaullist party, in 1974. He was elected mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine at the age of 28, in 1983. Entering the
Agnes of Dunbar, nicknamed “Black Agnes” for the color of her eyes and hair, was a Scottish countess known for her heroic defense of Dunbar Castle under siege by the English. Scottish War of Independence Born in the early 14th century in northern Scotland, Agnes is the daughter of Isabel Stewart a
Short biography:Émile Zola (1840-1902) was a 19th century French novelist and precursor of naturalism in literature. Zolas most famous novels are the Rougon-Macquart (1871-1893), a twenty-volume saga that depicts the natural and social history of a family under the Second Empire. A committed writer