Almost all significant roles in history belong to men: warriors, monarchs, rulers of thoughts. But still, sometimes the heights of power and influence reached the fair sex. We can still feel the consequences of the actions of some of them on the development of civilization.
Hatshepsut (XVI-XV centuries BC)
The royal throne in ancient Egypt until Hellenistic times was occupied almost exclusively by men. But in the line of great pharaohs there is a woman - Hatshepsut.
She was the daughter of Pharaoh Thutmose I and his main wife. The princess was married to one of her half-brothers, who then began to rule under the name of Thutmose II.
It is possible that Hatshepsut held the reins of power during her husband's lifetime. In any case, after his death in about 1490 BC. power was in her hands.
At first, Hatshepsut was considered regent under the young Thutmose III, the son of her husband by a concubine. But after one and a half the young king was removed and sent to live at one of the temples. Hatshepsut was proclaimed pharaoh. Since the title implied belonging to the stronger sex, the queen was depicted in a man's attire and with a false beard.
Hatshepsut ruled for over 20 years, during which time Egypt flourished. There was active construction, trade developed. The queen sent a large sea expedition to the country of Punt in East Africa, which ended with great success.
Hatshepsut's rule was not marked by active conquests, but she successfully maintained peace for her country. The heir to the woman-pharaoh was Thutmose III, once removed by her.
Alienora of Aquitaine (1124-1204)
Alienora was the heiress of the Dukes of Aquitaine and Gascony, Counts of Poitiers, who ruled over much of France. In fact, they were richer and more powerful than the king himself.
But Louis VI acted wisely, deciding to marry his son to the girl. They died soon after, and Alienora became the French queen. Her husband Louis VII did not just enrich himself in this marriage: he sincerely fell in love with his unusually beautiful, intelligent and highly educated wife.
And when Louis went on the crusade, he took his wife with him. Alienora, according to some reports, accepted the cross as a real knight. The spouses did not succeed in achieving success in the military field. But the queen found love in the person of the ruler of Antioch, Raymund de Poitiers.
After the royal couple returned to their homeland, Louis decided to divorce.
He stayed with two daughters, and Alienora - with all her ancestral lands, titles and unfading beauty. And she was free to give all this to the next lucky man.
Such was the young Heinrich Plantagenet, Count of Anjou and one of the contenders for the English throne. With Alienora they were connected not only by calculation, but by mutual passion. A few years later, the couple became king and queen of England, retaining power over a large French territory.
Alienora gave birth to her husband nine children, among them - the future kings of England Richard the Lionheart and John the Landless. Unfortunately for her, Henry's love faded over time. But not his sanity: Henry was afraid to divorce his influential wife - despite her intrigues against him.
After the death of Heinrich, Alienor actually ruled England during the absence of his beloved son Richard. After the death of the latter, she left Britain, concentrating her forces on the administration of Aquitaine. The Queen and Duchess retired at an advanced age and died in a monastery.
Isabella I of Castile (1451-1504)
After the death of her father, King Juan II of Castile, young Isabella had to fight for power. In this she was supported by a significant part of the local nobility and a young husband - Prince Ferdinand from neighboring Aragon.
As a result, in 1474 Isabella became queen of Castile and Leon. After Ferdinand ascended the throne of Aragon, the couple united their states in a dynastic union. This is how the history of a united Spain began.
Isabella and her husband did a lot to strengthen the country. The Emirate of Granada, the last Arab state on the Iberian Peninsula, was conquered. Western Europe became completely Christian, and the kingdom of Aragon and Castile became one of the most powerful powers in Europe.
Isabella patronized Christopher Columbus, and thus contributed to the discovery of America. The founding of colonies in the New World began. Isabella also strengthened the authority of the royal power within the country many times over. At the same time, the Inquisition flourished, and a brutal campaign was launched against Jews and other non-Christians.
Catherine II the Great (1729-1796)
The 18th century is rich in strong women in politics, but, perhaps, the Russian Empress Catherine II surpassed all in terms of influence.
Princess of a seedy German principality, she was chosen as the wife for the heir to the Russian throne, Peter Alekseevich. The couple did not find love and understanding. But over time, Catherine found her own supporters.
Peter began to rule at the end of 1761. But with his ill-considered and in some places Russophobic policy, he alienated the army and a significant part of the nobility. Already in June of the following year, a conspiracy arose, and Catherine was elevated to the throne.
Of course, Catherine relied on the help of her adherents, but she ruled on her own. Under her, a number of major reforms were carried out that strengthened the internal structure of a huge empire. Science and education, culture and art developed.
Under Catherine II, the borders of Russia expanded. The country gained access to the Black Sea, annexed the Crimea. Large land accretions also took place in the west, and colonization of Alaska began in the east. The role of Russia in European affairs has increased.
At the same time, the common people suffered from local tyranny, serfdom and lawlessness. The Pugachev uprising that broke out in response to this was brutally suppressed.
Dying, Catherine left Russia among the great European powers, whose opinion could no longer be reckoned with in Paris, London and Vienna.
Queen Victoria of England (1819-1901)
Victoria ruled the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland at a time when the de facto power in this state had already passed to parliament and government. But it was during her reign that the British Empire, which includes huge colonies, reached the pinnacle of its power.
Victoria came to the throne in 1838 and ruled for over 63 years. She was happily married to her cousin Prince Albert, from whom she had nine children. Her husband died early, leaving Victoria an inconsolable widow for the rest of her days.
At first, the queen still tried to interfere in political life, but over time she refused direct influence. Moreover, it was under her that the British monarchy began to play, rather, a symbolic role - and became a model for all modern Western monarchies.
But Victoria managed to become an important figure in the eyes of all the people, an example of high morality and English values. They reckoned with the authority of the royal family, they began to be proud of it.
Numerous offspring allowed Victoria to enter into a close relationship with all the major royal houses of Europe. This helped to strengthen London's influence in foreign capitals. To some extent, these monarchical ties held back the growing contradictions between various powers. After Victoria's death in 1901, family ties were forgotten - and the world rolled into a world war.
