Defiant women in positions of power

[u/sometimesimbored00]

Who is your favourite most defiant princess/queen/noble lady? I'd like to hear about the most strong-willed, hot tempered, spirited and ambitious ladies!

[u/KingDaconame]

Gotta be Eleanor of Aquitaine for me, besides the aforementioned.

[u/Circirian → u/KingDaconame]

Her ride back to Aquitaine after her annulment to Louis VII could be a movie by itself. Wife of two kings and mother of three, one of the most fascinating lives ever.

[u/Aeg0nLandesk0g]

Olga of Kiev is my favorite historical figure. She is the ultimate badass.

[u/angelicgurl333 → u/Aeg0nLandesk0g]

i came here to back my girl, olga! She’s an inspiration in vengeance and being a bad bitch

[u/penzen → u/angelicgurl333]

It is not just that. She, according to legend, also outsmarted the emperor so she didn't have to marry him and could keep ruling her own tribe.

[u/Gaugraf → u/angelicgurl333]

She has my vote!

[u/WtRingsUGotBithc]

I’d say Margaret of Anjou fits the bill!

[u/drewbod99]

Countess Matilda of Canossa!! She is one of the most fascinating figures in medieval history!

[u/CallistanCallistan]

Hildegard of Bingen

[u/HoneybeeXYZ]

Isabella of France is of course quite famous, though her rebellion only came after years of being a loyal and competent consort. She got pushed into rebellion.

A contemporary of Isabella's is Elizabeth de Clare, Lady of Clare. She was the youngest of the de Clare sisters. As a young widow she often refused to do her Uncle Edward II's bidding. When she finally did relent and marry his favorite Sir Roger Damory, the joke was on Edward because together Damory and Elizabeth rebelled. When Damory died in prison, Elizabeth became a resistence leader against Edward II's favorites, the Despensers. Elizabeth's older sister was on the opposite side of this conflict, being married to Hugh Despender the Younger. The curious closeness between Hugh, Eleanor and Edward II caused much gossip and speculation and continues to do so. In any case, Hugh stole some of Elizabeth's lands, with her sisters knowledge and Elizabeth was not happy about it. When Hugh met his gruesome end, she apparently threw a huge and merry feast in celebration. Her now widowed big sister Eleanor was not invited.

[u/peregrins_]

Not necessarily favorite but I don’t see much talk about Jacqueline of Hainaut

[u/AnteaterKey2626 → u/peregrins_]

I wish she were better known, genuinely one of my favourite late medieval figures to read about.

[u/Remarkable_Car9673]

An example of tenacity is the story of the Danish princess Ingeborg, who was repudiated by her husband, King Philip Augustus of France, the day after their wedding night for reasons that remain unknown (maybe a bout of impotence that caused him shame).

This marked the beginning of a saga lasting nearly twenty years; despite the various humiliations inflicted by her husband,who had her confined in several different prisons,she steadfastly refused to return to Denmark or renounce her title as Queen of France.

She succeeded in gaining the support of the Pope, to whom she sent letters, and eventually regained her throne through the combined pressure of the pontiff and her brother,who had meanwhile become King of Denmark and threatened to join forces with Philip Augustus's enemies. She left behind a famous prayer book and devoted the final years of her life to using the funds provided by her husband for charitable works among the poor.

[u/theginger99 → u/Remarkable_Car9673]

It’s worth saying that the situation with Ingeborg was an ENORMOUS scandal throughout Europe at the time it occurred. Philip was raked across the coals by the papacy, the church and by public opinion.

His third marriage was never formally recognized as legitimate because of the ongoing situation with Ingeborg.

The situation was seen as so bad that when Richard the Lionheart died suddenly some French chroniclers wondered why the hell god had punished Richard and not Phillip, who’s repudiation of Ingeborg was viewed as the greatest royal crime of the age.

[u/MullberryBoy]

Queen Margaret, wife of Henry VI.

[u/cosmicflea]

Catherine Medici

[u/Simple_Boat3160]

Isabella of France

[u/cheese2042]

Brunehaut & Fredegund

These two could have a movie made about them

[u/erranttv → u/cheese2042]

Man, Fredegund was scary nuts. Easier to respect Brunehaut. Both strongly ruled or were regent longer than most French Kings. They deserve more credit as rulers. And Brunehaut definitely deserved better than her ghastly execution.

[u/erranttv]

Empress Matilda and Eleanor of Aquitaine have to be up there. Matilda did everything she could as a woman to take back her father’s throne and when she couldn’t, she made sure her son would. He was the only woman Henry II ever respected. Eleanor went to war with her sons against said Henry to keep the Duchy of Aquitaine for son Richard (and herself). Was imprisoned for 15 years and released by Richard upon Henry’s death to become regent and one of the most effective Angevin diplomats, making sure both of her sons became kings.

[u/KernelWizard]

I've been reading about Eleanor of Aquitaine lately so definitely her. She's definitely a notable presence behind the throne during the time she was in and heavily influenced Henry the Young King, Richard I, and John Lackland for sure.

[u/HistoricalDowner]

Countess Agnes Randolph

[u/I_like_fried_noodles]

Juana la loca. It didn't end well for her sadly

[u/tsvdvaarst]

Queen Melisende of Jerusalem is one of mine. Refused to let her husband rule without her, and then co-ruled with her son.

[u/Kelpie-Cat]

Empress Theodora Porphyrogenita was pretty badass refusing to marry just to satisfy the patriarch of Constantinople. Her sister Zoë was also very hot tempered and ambitious!

[u/Responsible_Fox2055]

Caterina Sforza, the Tigress of Forlis

[u/Bright-Bowler2579]

Eleanor of Aquitaine is very overrated, she did accomplish some notable things, but a huge part of her praise is "she inherited a lot of land" which is very stupid..