1. Queen Victoria of England
Queen Victoria, hailed as one of the most powerful women in history, at its peak covered a vast 14.2 million square kilometers and spanned six continents, making the British Empire the largest colonial empire in history in the 19th century. Under her rule, some 400 to 45.8 billion people lived in her empire, and her influence was far-reaching and widespread. Queen Victoria is not only known for her strong ruling ability, but also because of her unique ruling style and background of the times, which inspired the world trend of the "Victorian era". This era witnessed the vigorous development of the Industrial Revolution, the rapid progress of science and technology, and the prosperity of culture and art, which has become an indelible mark on the history of the world.
2. Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history, was also an outstanding politician in the feudal era. In the nearly 300-year history of the Li Tang Dynasty, she has directed the political stage alone for nearly half a century. Her life is full of legends, merits and demerits, and is still commented on by people for thousands of years. Her intelligence, courage and determination made her an outstanding female ruler who left a mark on Chinese history.
3. Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi, as the de facto ruler of the late Qing Dynasty, may be considered one of the most powerful women in Chinese history, even surpassing Wu Zetian in some ways. She was an ambitious and conservative leader, and her ruling strategy and quest for power allowed her to hold herself firmly in the turbulent situation of the last years of the Qing Dynasty. Although her ruling strategy was controversial, her influence and status were impossible to ignore in the late Qing Dynasty.
4. Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, was one of the most powerful women in the ancient world. With her extraordinary intellect and exceptional leadership skills, she left a deep mark on the history of ancient Egypt. Many Egyptologists and historians agree that Hatshepsut was one of the most successful monarchs of ancient Egypt and that her reign brought prosperity and stability to ancient Egypt.
5. Eleanor
In Europe and on the world stage during the High Middle Ages, Eleanor was an extremely wealthy female ruler. She relied on herself
With his own power and wisdom, he became an independent ruler and received the honorific titles of Duchess of Aquitaine and Count of Poitiers. Her wealth and power made her one of the richest and most powerful women in Europe at the time, and her stories and legends are still told today.
6. Catherine II
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great, was one of the greatest female rulers in Russian history. She ruled the Russian Empire, the largest country in the world at the time, and her reign lasted for 34 years. Under her leadership, the Russian Empire experienced unprecedented prosperity and expansion, becoming a vast empire that spanned the Eurasian continent. Catherine the Great's ruling strategy and talents made her one of the most prominent female rulers in Russian history.
7. Theodora, Queen of Byzantium
Theodora, the Byzantine queen, was one of the most influential and powerful women in history. Her intelligence and talent made her a central figure in the Byzantine Empire, and she had a profound impact on the empire's politics, culture, and religion. Although her ending was not perfect, her life was still full of legend and influence.
8. Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom
Queen Elizabeth is one of the greatest queens in British history and the first truly successful absolute ruler. She never married, so she was often referred to as the "Queen of the Virgins". Under her leadership, England experienced a boom in the Renaissance and became one of the most powerful countries in Europe. Queen Elizabeth has been praised for her cultural policies and diplomatic skills, and her life is full of legend and influence.
9. Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa of Austria was the daughter and heir of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. She was not only an outstanding female ruler, but also an active participant in the Enlightenment. She promoted the political ideals of education and freedom, and established the Royal Academy of Scientific Literature and Literature in Brussels, while supporting medical research at the University of Vienna for a more efficient healthcare system. Her leadership and contributions made Austria one of the cultural centers of Europe in the 18th century.
10. Queen Isabella of Spain
Isabella was one of the most powerful empresses in Spanish history, and her reign brought unprecedented prosperity and expansion to Spain. She sponsored Columbus' voyage to the Western Hemisphere, inaugurating the history of Spanish colonization of the New World. At the same time, she also promoted the establishment of the Spanish Inquisition and succeeded in unifying the divided Kingdom of Spain into an independent state. Her leadership and wisdom made Spain one of the most powerful countries in Europe in the 16th century.