Princesses

History That's More Than 2-Dimensional.

Anahit (Armenian Folktale)

The Queen Who Made the King Get a Job

This Armenian folktale princess saved her hapless beau - by making him get a job.

Soraya Tarzi (1899-1968)

The Human Rights Queen of Afghanistan

1920s Afghanistan was a progressive and rapidly-modernizing country in large part to the most powerful, empathic, and maligned queen it had ever seen.

Amanirenas (c.60 BCE - c.10 BCE)

The One-Eyed Queen Who Fought Rome Tooth and Nail

When Rome set its eyes on her country, this one-eyed queen fought them tooth and nail, until they left her alone.

Kate Leigh and Tilly Devine (1881-1964 and 1900-1970)

The Queens of the Sydney Underworld

America had Al Capone. Sydney had Kate Leigh and Tilly Devine - who *hated* each other.

Vasilisa Vasilyevna (Russian Folktale)

The Gender-Nonconforming Heroine Who Kept the Tsar Guessing

When the Tsar became hellbent on nailing down her gender, this clever gender-nonconforming heroine kept him guessing to the end.

The Goddess Who Killed With Courtesy

When an oppressive regime threatened her home, this Samoan war goddess took matters into her own hands.

Janequeo (16th century)

The Rebel Spain Never Caught

When her husband was killed by conquistadors, this native Chilean showed the Spanish what "fight like a woman" really means.

Wungala (Indigenous Australian Myth)

The Mom Who Beat the Devil with Bread

When she came face-to-face with a great monster, this mother saved her child and herself through bravery, quick thinking, and great culinary skills.

Nitocris (22nd century BCE pseudohistory)

The 6th Dynasty's Worst Banquet Host

When her brother was killed, this pharaoh took her time cooking up revenge.

Isabella of France (c.1295-1358)

The She-Wolf of France

After years of neglect and abuse from her husband, this queen raised an army and took over England for herself.