Princesses

History That's More Than 2-Dimensional.

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.

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.