Sarraounia (late 1800s - early 1900s) The Sorceress Queen of the Azna The "panther queen" of the Azna defeated some of the greatest villains of French colonial history through wits, cunning -- and possibly magic.
Eréndira (early 16th century) How to Train Your Horse When horse-riding Spaniards invaded, she defied her tribe to befriend one of the abandoned horses, using her new bond to fight off the Spanish.
Tamar of Georgia (1160-1213) Holy Righteous King of Georgia Saint, sovereign, and fiercely independent woman, she quashed two rebellions from her ex-husband, expanded her nation's borders, and ushered in a golden age.
Tsuruhime Ohori (1526-1543) The Savior of Omishima Island When invaders threatened her island home, she declared herself a living god, raised an army, and fought them tooth, nail, and occasional grenade.
Naziq al-Abid (1898-1959) The Sword of Damascus She traded a life of privilege for one spent fighting for justice on both literal and political battlefields so tirelessly that even exiling her five times couldn't keep her down.
Tomyris (6th century BCE) Head-defiling Warrior Queen When the most powerful man in the world made plans on her country, she: turned down his marriage proposal, destroyed his armies, and defiled his head so famously that she became legend for centuries thereafter.
Shajar al-Durr (1220s?-1257) King-ransoming Sultan Muslim sultan who took the throne, defeated Louis IX in battle, ransomed him back to France for 30% of their GDP --- and did it all in secret.
Osh-Tisch (1854-1929) Princess of Two Spirits The last Crow nation baté (Two Spirit mystic) in history, she earned her name -- which means "Finds Them and Kills Them" -- by tirelessly fighting to preserve her way of life.
Mai Bhago (late 1600s - mid 1700s) Savior of the Sikhs This Sikh warrior saint led 40 deserters back into battle and in so doing, possibly saved her entire religion from extinction.
Mariya Oktyabrskaya (1905-1944) The Tank-Driving Widow When her husband was killed in WW2, she sold all their belongings, bought a tank, named it Fighting Girlfriend, and started killing Nazis.