Freydís Eiríksdóttir (c. 1000 CE) Sword-Wielding Pregnant Viking When attacked by Native Americans, this pregnant viking bared her chest, brandished a sword, and took them on by herself. And she won.
Rebecca Lukens (1794-1854) Iron-Willed 1820s CEO First her father died. Then her sons. Then her husband. Pregnant, saddled with debt, a failing company, and an overbearing mother, Rebecca Lukens rolled up her sleeves and showed the world what she was made of: iron.
Constance Markievicz (1868-1927) The Countess Who Rebelled Socialite turned sniper turned socialist politician - Ireland's first woman elected to office had quite a life.
Pingyang (c.600-623) The Princess Who Toppled a Dynasty This unlikely heroine created her own Woman's Army of 70,000 soldiers through good manners and political savvy - and then used it to overthrow one of China's greatest douchebags.
Nana Miriam The Shaman Who Hurled Hippos When a firebreathing shapeshifting hippo menaced her people, this shaman faced it down in a magic battle - and then hurled it into space.
Mekatilili wa Menza (c.1860-c.1925) The widow who beat the British through ecstatic dance When colonial powers went too far, she rebelled in the most stylish way possible: dancing from town to town. It was surprisingly effective.
Princess Pyeonggang (6th century) The Weeping Princess This princess held her father to his word in the most unexpected way: by demanding to marry the stupidest man in Korea.
Ida Laura Pfeiffer (1797-1857) The Travelogue Queen Starting her travels at 45 years old, this globetrotter became a worldwide sensation for going boldly where no woman had gone before.
Sonya Golden Hand (1846ish - 1902ish CE) Russia's Princess of Crime Russia's greatest female thief was so slippery that even once she was re-captured after escaping from a Siberian prison, nobody was totally sure it was her.
Zelia Nuttall (1857-1933) The Queen of Mexican Archaeology This single mom developed the field of Mexican archaeology, while fiercely protecting it from the sleazy and opportunistic.