We Can’t Believe How Much Power These Renaissance-Era Women Were Able To Wield
Louise Of Savoy Ruled As Regent Of France For Her Son, Francois I
The 15th century was a particularly unsettled time in France, particularly since King Francis I was very often at war with the various other powers of Europe (most notably the Holy Roman Emperor). Fortunately for him, he had been raised by a very powerful and determined woman, Louise of Savoy. Throughout her son’s reign, she proved just as skilled as he was in the treacherous and dangerous world of politics.
During her lifetime, Louise was widely lauded by many for her perspicacity; no less a person than Charles Brandon, best friend of England’s Henry VIII, had many good things to say about her. For his part, Francois repeatedly demonstrated his faith in his mother’s abilities, leaving the realm in her hands on several notable occasions, including when he was captured and held prisoner. While regent, Louise not only managed to negotiate his release but also ably defended the entire realm and her own position, demonstrating his wisdom in leaving the realm in her capable hands.
Margaret Tudor Showed A Rebellious Spirit Against Both Her Brother, Henry VIII, And The Scottish Lords
Like the other members of her family–she was the sister of Henry VIII and the daughter of Henry VII, both of whom led very eventful lives–Margaret Tudor was someone who didn’t want to obey the rules. When her husband, James IV, died, she moved quickly to take up the regency of the Kingdom of Scotland. This came to an end when she married Archibald Douglas, the Earl of Angus, but Margaret wasn't deterred from trying to exercise power in her own right.
For the rest of her life, Margaret was determined to live life on her own terms. She managed to secure a divorce from her second husband and married yet again. Her third husband was Henry Stewart, the 1st Lord of Methven.
Margaret also worked tirelessly to forge stronger bonds between her native England and her adopted Scotland, despite the long-standing animosity between the two nations. These efforts, and her desire to wield power, often put her at odds with both her brother and with the lords of Scotland.
Amina, Queen Of Zazzau Expanded The Borders Of Her Kingdom
Though some historians question her existence, it seems likely Anima, the Queen of the Kingdom of Zazzau (located in modern-day Nigeria) ruled during the 16th century. Like her European counterparts–such as, most notably, Isabella of Castile, Amina was a formidable warrior. In the records which have come down to the present, she is presented as a powerful woman determined to extend the boundaries of her kingdom.
She is particularly noted for her cavalry skills. As a result of her efforts, she not only expanded her domains but also came to dominate several notable trade routes. To this day, she is regarded as a historical hero and several statues of her still exist.
Christina Of Denmark Became A Duchess Twice - And Made A Snarky Remark To Henry VIII
Christina of Denmark was born into a nexus of important family relations, being both the niece of the Holy Roman Emperor and the daughter of the King of Denmark (though the latter was overthrown shortly after her birth, and she would never return to her homeland). Given her exalted status, she played a key role in her marriages. She first became a duchess when she was married to Francesco II Sforza, Duke of Milan. After his death, and several aborted alliances, she remarried, this time to Francis, Duke of Bar. After the latter’s death, she served for some time as the regent of Lorraine.
Christina would also earn a place in the history books for a remark she made regarding Henry VIII. By the late 1530s, the English king’s marital troubles were the talk of Europe (Anne Boleyn had been executed in 1536). When a marriage between Henry and Catherine was proposed–her portrait was even painted by the noted portraitist Hans Holbein–Christina is supposed to have said: “If I had two heads, one should be at the King of England’s disposal.”
Catherine Of Aragon Led English Forces To Battle Against The Scots - And Won
Raised by the redoubtable Isabella of Castile, Catherine of Aragon was raised with a strong sense of her own importance and royal dignity. She was also primed for an illustrious marriage, which took place when she was wed to Arthur, the heir to Henry VII of England and, after his premature death, to his younger brother, the future Henry VIII. From the beginning, Catherine showed she was her mother’s daughter, with a shrewd political mind and a natural charisma that endeared her to the English people.
Catherine also proved her mettle when it came to defending England from the depredations of the Scots. When Henry departed for war in France, Catherine was left in charge of England as regent. When the Scottish king decided to invade, the queen took matters into her own hands, actively working for the defense of her adopted realm.
Though she probably didn’t lead her troops into battle–despite some popular culture representations–she nevertheless showed how much she was her mother’s daughter. Thanks in part to Catherine’s efforts, the English were overwhelmingly victorious at the Battle of Flodden.
Margaret Of Austria Served As A Capable Regent In The Netherlands And Was A Canny Negotiator
During the 15th century, Margaret of Austria was one of the century’s most eligible and desirable brides. Her regency of the Netherlands, however, would earn her fame among her contemporaries. After spending time in France as a potential bride for the dauphin, Margaret married Juan, Prince of Asturias and the heir to the Spanish throne. After his death, she married Philibert II, Duke of Savoy.
The death of Philibert II prompted Margaret's father, Maximilian, the Holy Roman Emperor, to give her control of the Low Countries on behalf of her young nephew. In the position, she not only managed to raise her young nieces and nephews but also skilfully negotiated with other European powers, particularly England. She arguably achieved her greatest fame with the Treaty of Cambrai which, because it was hammered out with Louise of Savoy, became known as the Ladies’ Peace.
Queen Anna Nzinga Became A Noted Diplomat In Her Brother's Court And Later Became Ruler In Her Own Right
The African queen Anna Nzinga was one of the most formidable women of Renaissance Africa. Born in the later 16th century in the Kingdom of Ndongo (in modern-day Angola), she would become a key part of her brother the king’s court. In fact, he appointed her to a mission to the Portuguese, who were making incursions into the kingdom.
After her brother’s death–possibly by suicide, though Anna might have had a role in it–she ascended to the position of queen in her own right. She would continue to fight against European incursions into her territory, with only limited success. After being forced to flee her own kingdom, she would later assume control of the neighboring realm of Mataba. To the end of her life–she would live to be in her 80s–she never stopped fighting against those who would conquer her people.
Nurbana Sultan Hid Her Husband's Body In A Chest Until Her Son Could Return To Take The Throne
Though the women of Renaissance Europe tend to take up much of the space in the history books, there were also a number of other women in other regions who were able to wield significant influence. In the Ottoman Empire, for example, the various wives of the sultan had long managed to exert their power behind the scenes, as they attempted to get their sons ahead in the line of succession. Of particular note in this regard was Nurbana Sultan, a Venetian woman who became the consort of Sultan Selim.
She bore her husband several children, including his heir, Murad. When her husband died, she hid his body in an ice chest, giving her son time to return to the Empire and claim the throne. She would leverage her position in his court, becoming one of his chief counselors. She would even go on to correspond with some of the other formidable women of the age, including Catherine de Medici of France.
Catherine De Medici Probably Approved The Assassination Of One Of Her Most Notable Enemies
When she first came to the French court, few would have suspected Catherine de Medici would become one of the savviest political strategists of her generation. When her husband, King Henry II of France, died she quickly showed her true mettle. She wielded significant influence over her young sons as they each came to the throne.
Most notably, she is widely believed to have been responsible–or at least complicit–in the attempted assassination of Gaspard de Coligny, one of the leading Protestants in France. When this effort failed, Catherine, along with other Catholic nobles, decided the threat from the angered Protestants (known as Huguenots) was too great to ignore and thus ordered the death of Coligny and many of his supporters. This event would thereafter be known as the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.
Isabella d'Este Was A Canny Ruler And Also Established Her Own Art Space
Born into the ducal family of Ferrara, Isabella d’Este was no stranger to wealth and power and privilege. In fact, her home city was renowned for its sophistication, boasting one of the most respected universities in Europe. However, like many women of the age, she was also fated to be a pawn on the marriage market. She was ultimately married to Francesco II Gonzaga, Marchese of Mantua. Very soon, demonstrated her political acumen, becoming one of husband’s key advisers.
Just as importantly, however, she also proved to be a true “Renaissance woman.” She was interested in numerous spheres of knowledge, and she maintained an extensive correspondence with numerous other leaders. What’s more, she also managed to accumulate an impressive art collection, and she is believed to be the first European woman to have her own personal gallery space.
Marguerite De Navarre Was A Patron Of The Arts, And Even Composed Her Own Works, Including 'The Heptameron'
Marguerite de Navarre, like many of the women of her era, led a very eventful life. Born to Louise of Savoy and Charles de Valois, she was the sister of Francois, who would go on to become King of France. She would play a key part in the politics of the age, marrying firstly Charles IV of Alençon and then, after his death, Henry II of Navarre. She also became one of her brother’s advisers, and he was known to follow her advice on several key issues.
Gradually, however, Marguerite would become known as one of the most educated women of the age. She surrounded herself with the most learned writers and thinkers of the age, and she repeatedly showed herself willing to engage with the task of reforming the Catholic Church. Not content to simply read voraciously, she also embarked on a remarkable writing career. These included her most famous works, the religious poem Mirror of the Sinful Soul and The Heptameron, a collection of short stories, which remained unfinished at her death.
Mary, Queen Of Scots Escaped From Captivity And Raised Her Own Army
Few Renaissance figures led quite as tragic a life as Mary, Queen of Scots. After being forced to flee her native Scotland at a young age, she spent many years at the French court as the wife of the dauphin, Francois. After his premature death, Mary returned to Scotland, where she took up her reign. However, she fell afoul of her lords who, at one point, even managed to have her imprisoned on the island castle of Loch Leven.
Ever resourceful, Mary managed to cozen her gaolers into helping her escape, after which she managed to raise an army. While they were ultimately defeated–forcing Mary to flee to England, where she would spend the rest of her life as a prisoner of her cousin, Elizabeth I. Mary had an indomitable spirit and a willingness to fight for her crown to the very end.
Isabella Of Castile Unified Spain - But Was Ruthless To Jews And Muslims
Isabella of Castile has gone down in history as one of the most formidable women of the Renaissance. Along with her husband, Ferdinand of Aragon, she managed to forge Spain into a unified country. Most notably, she was key to the conquering of the peninsula in the process which would become known by historians as the Reconquista. What’s more, Isabella was also one of the key sponsors of Christopher Columbus and his voyages to the Americas.
However, there was a darker side to Isabella’s reign. During her time on the throne, the Inquisition became a formidable presence in Spanish, and Muslims and Jews in particular suffered, as did those who had recently converted to Catholicism. Particularly notable in this regard was the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492, a decision that would come to have significant political ramifications for the country in the future.
The list also included Elizabeth and Mary Tudor, but those are pretty well known so I didn't copy them over.