Comics 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.
Comics Jeanne de Clisson (1300-1359) The Lioness of Brittany When her husband was unjustly executed, this French noblewoman-turned-pirate became the terror of France.
La Llorona The Weeping Ghost of Latin America's Past Mexico's infamous "weeping ghost" has many incarnations: a jilted widow, a slave princess, a milk addict, a coffee bag, and a pair of panties.
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.
Charlotte Badger (1778-?) Convict, Pirate, Adopted Maori, Mom The first European woman to end up in New Zealand, Charlotte Badger was part pirate, part adopted Maori, and part mom. Which part is which is somewhat lost to history.
Masako Hojo (1157-1225) The Nun Shogun When her shogun husband cheated on her, she raised an army and destroyed the other woman's house. Later she deposed her incompetent son to become the first nun to rule Japan.
Ranavalona I (1778-1861) The Female Caligula This brutal sovereign's reign saw her outlaw clapping, pioneer death by feet-kissing, and design giant weaponized scissors - but are we only getting one side of the story...?
Boudica (20s?-60 CE) The Headhunter Queen This legendary warrior queen killed 70,000 Romans, burnt London to the ground, and became the most famous headhunter of all time - and to this day, Britain loves her for it.
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.