Women who were most powerful individuals in the world? - Historum

**Alcibiades** · August 9th, 2011, 05:21 PM

OP says it all.Do you think there were women,in any period,who,in their own time,were the most powerful single individuals in the world?And if yes,who were they?

I think it's pretty undeniable that Victoria I was just such a woman.The only other figure I think fits the criteria is the Isabella I of Castille.Do you think she was most powerful in the last decade of 15th century in the whole world?
Alcibiades

**Mohammed the Persian** · August 9th, 2011, 05:23 PM

Queen Elizabeth the 1st was arguably the most powerful woman at her time. (A cliche choice, I know

)

**Labienus** · August 9th, 2011, 05:27 PM

The Empress Theodora, wife of Justinian the Great.

It is debatable whether the Eastern Roman Empire was more powerful than the Sassanid and Tang empires at the time but she certainly seems to fit the bill.

**Jake10** · August 9th, 2011, 05:31 PM

I think we need to look beyond the official titles here. I mean, Nancy Reagan was certainly that, even though she pulled the strings from behind the scenes.

Empress_Dowager_Cixi

would be another example.

Truth be told, throughout history women have been getting their way in the world via the efforts of men through manipulation, seduction, extortion and brain washing. Still, males have dominated, but it will be interesting to see what gender equality does for us in the next couple of decades.

Kiki19 · August 9th, 2011, 05:32 PM

It's hard to place someone has being the most powerful in the world...perhaps in their individual part of the world is easily to narrow down what women truely had control.

Isabel of Castila, most certainly. She brought about Spain's Golden Age and started the age of Exploration.

Hatshepsut

, could also being chalked up to being in this category.

Other women like Elizaveta Petrovna and Catherine the Great were quite powerful, but mainly within their own kingdoms and border lands as opposed to far reaching stretches of the world.

There are/were many powerful women in history, but not many could be considered having worldwide power.

**mingming** · August 9th, 2011, 05:33 PM

Wu Zetian of course. The only female emperor in Chinese history.

Of course there were many Empress Dowagers and Grand Empress Dowagers who held considerable power. Empress Dou of the Han Dynasty is a good example. She maintained influence over her husband, her son, and later he grandson.

The Alani Dragon Rising · August 9th, 2011, 05:37 PM

This is a list I've just read about in order as they go down the page from number ten down to number one.

Eleanor of Aquitaine
Hatshepsut
Maria Theresa of Austria
Empress Theodora
Empress Wu Zetian
Isabella I of Castile
Elizabeth I of England
Empress Dowager Cixi
Catherine II of Russia
Queen Victoria

10 most powerful women in history

**mingming** · August 9th, 2011, 05:41 PM

They really need Dou Wen on that list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Dou_(Wen)

Colby4780 · August 9th, 2011, 05:46 PM

What about Cleopatra VII?

**Kirialax** · August 9th, 2011, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labienus

The Empress Theodora, wife of Justinian the Great.

It is debatable whether the Eastern Roman Empire was more powerful than the Sassanid and Tang empires at the time but she certainly seems to fit the bill.

I disagree, but would nominate Empress Eirene who actually ruled in her own right. Theodora seems to have done what was expected of a great lady and played along with most of her husband's policies. The scandal of her exceptional power over Justinian is a rather clever literary reversal of gender roles in Prokopios' Anekdota.