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Worldwide
Guide to Women in Leadership
WOMAN MUSLIM
LEADERS
throughout the times
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624
Opposition Leader Hind al-Hunnud, Arab World
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A member of the Quaish Tribe in the Kingdom of Kindah, she was one of
the leaders of the opposition to Muhammed. She led a battle against him
in 624, where her father and brother were killed and she then led a
battle of vengeance against Muhammed. In the end she submitted to him
and became a Muslim convert.
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631-56
Politically Influential 'A'ishah Bint Abi Bakr, Arab World
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A powerful force in the political turmoil that followed the
death of her husband, the Prophet Muhammed. She became an authority on
Muslim tradition, and very important for her role in the civil war. She
was defeated and captured in a battle in 656 and only released on
promising to abandon political life. Her religious teachings became
important for the Shiite branch of the Muslim faith. She lived (613-78).
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681
Khanum Pisutu of Uighuristan (Central Asia)
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The Uighur Khans governed
portions of Central Asia in the centuries immediately following the Muslim
expansion, and then fade from view. It is not entirely clear that the Turkic
people called Uighurs who now dwell mostly in Western China are the same
folk; the name is the same, but it could have been adopted by later-arriving
tribes. The country was invaded by the Got Turks in 681.
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Ca 690-701
Queen Dahlia al-Chain
of the Moors (Berbian
tribe in Tunisia)
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Her name means the
"priestess" or the "prophetess", and she assumed personal command of the
Barbarian forces, and under her leadership, the Arabs were briefly
forced to retreat, but since the Arabs were relentless, she ordered a
scorched earth policy. After her defeat, Dahia al-Kahina took her own
life, and sent her sons to the Arab camp with instructions that they
adopt Islam and make common cause with the Arabs. Ultimately,
these men participated in invading Europe and the subjugation of Spain
and Portugal.
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720-..
De facto Joint Ruler Hababa of Bagdad (Iraq)
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She was slave singer of the 9th Ummayyad Caliph, Yarzid II Ibn 'Abd al-Malik
who was hostage to her carm. She choked on a pomegranate seed and he died of
grief a few weeks later. Later historians stigmatized him and held him in
contempt for letting himself be infatuated by a slave. |
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734-41
Khatun and Regent Mo-ki-lien of Mong (Mongolia)
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Is known as Khatun Mo-ki-lien, which was the name of her husband. He
was poisoned by his minister, and she acted as regent for their son, Yu-jan,
who was again succeeded by her minor brother, Tängri Khagan, who died in 741. |
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Ca. 774
Governor Cara Zon of Carcasson (Spain)
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A Marurian-Arab Princess. She defended the city-state against Charles
the Great.
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775-809
Politically Influential
Caliph-Consort Al-Haizuran of Bagdad (Iraq)
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Also known as Khayzuran
(literally, Bamboo) she was a slave, born most likely in Yemen, and
gained substantial influence during the reigns of her husband, al-Mahdi
(775-785), who allowed her to make many important royal decisions. After
his death, it was Khayzuran who kept the peace by paying off the
Caliph's army in order to maintain order. She arranged for the accession
of her son, al-Hadi, even when he was away from the capitol. When al-Hadi
proved less tolerant of Khayzuran's political maneuverings than had al-Mahdi,
it was speculated that it was Khayzuran who arranged his murder in favour
of her second, more tolerant son, Harun. Whatever the truth, Khayzuran
is more fondly remembered than many of the caliphs themselves.
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908-32
Politically Influential Shaghab of Baghdad (Iraq) |
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Succeeded
in maneuvering the religious and military elite into recognizing her only
13 year old son, Muqtadir, as caliph. She had origially been a slave. |
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926
Regent Dowager Empress Shulü Hatun of Qidan (China and of
Mongolia)
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Also known
as Khatun Shu-lü Shih of Purtmish, she was regent after the death of her
husband Abaoji until her son Yaoku was elected as his successor as ruler
of The Qidan nationality, which originally dwelt in the upper reaches of
the mountains. It was nomadic and its main activities were fishing and
hunting.
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Around
950
Queen Yehudit of the Falasha Agaw (Ethiopia)
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Also known as Yodit, Esato or Judith, she attacked the Christian
southern provinces of Ethopia as far as the mountains of Tigre around
975. The Ethiopians saw her invasion as a punishment for having failed
to be obedient to their Coptic patriarch. While the Agaw held power, the
Amhara and Tegre culture entered a "dark age" about which little is
known, and a large part of the Ethiopian civilization was lost or
destroyed during this time.
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Until
970
Princess Alan-Goa of the Hori-Tumat Dynasty in Mongolia
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Succeeded by Bodonchar
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Around 976 Politically Influential Dowager
Queen of Persia (Iran) |
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Together with vizier Abu'l-Husain 'Abd-Allah ibn Ahmad 'Utbi,
she assisted her son,
Nuh II ibn Mansur, of the Samanid Dynasty (d. 997) who ascended to the throne as
a youth. |
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981
Regent Hint bint Ishaq of Thima (Arabia)
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997-1028/29
Regent for the Caliph-Governor Sayuda Sirin Hatyn of Gabal of Persia
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Reigned in the name of both her son and grandson, both of the Bayide Dynasty
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Around 1000 Leader Badit bint Maja of the Politically Organized
Islamic Society (Ethiopia)
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Either leader of a tribe
or substate-entity.
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1020-24 Regent
Naib us Sultanat Sitt al-Moluk of Egypt
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Also known as the Lady of Cairo, her name means "Lady of Power", and
assumed power after having arranged the "disappearance" of her brother
Imam Hakim bin Amr Allah. She had
his son al-Zahir proclaimed Imam and Caliph and she became regent. She
appointed competent ministers, managed to setting the economy in order
and brought peace to the country. (d. 1024)
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1046-62 Regent The Caliph-Mother of Egypt
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For the Fathamide-Caliph. She was a Sudanese ex
-slave.
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1061-1107 Joint
Ruler al-qa'ima bi mulkini Zainab al-Nafzawiyya of the Berber Empire
(Northern Africa)
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Contemporary sources name her "the one in charge of her husband's
realm", and she was joint ruler with her husband, Yusuf Ibn Tashfin of
an Empire covering most of Northern Africa.
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1084-1137 Regent
Dowager Sultana Saiyida Hurra Arwa bint Ahmad as-Sulayhi of Tihama
(Arabia)
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Ruled in the name of Saba, who died
in 1197/99 and then reigned alone, though together with other
co-regents. From sometime in the 1130s she was the sole ruler. She was
succeeded by Sultan al-Mansur bin al Mugaddal.
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1086-94
Regent Dowager Queen Khanum of the Tanguts
(Dangxiang) (China and
Mongolia)
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Regent for son Li Qianshum (1086-1139), who ruled in Jingbian/Ningxian.
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Until 1087 Co-Ruler
al-Sayyida al-Hurra
Malika Asma Bint Shibab al-Sulayhiyya of Yemen
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Her title means "The Most Noble Lady who is independent, the woman
sovereign who bows to no superior authority, Queen". She was married to
Sultan Ali al-Sulahi, who entrusted much of the management of the realm
to her. She also enjoyed the privilege of the Khutba - having the
Friday's prayer preached in her name - the ultimate proof of
sovereignty. In 1067 her husband was taken prisoner on a pilgrimage to
Mecca and she was taken prisoner by the Bane Najah family, when she was
released she continued to direct her son's rule along with her
daughter-in-law 'Arwa, until her death in 1087.
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1091-1138
Co-Ruler
al-Sayyida al-Hurra
Malika
'Arwa bint Ahmad al-Salayhiyya of Yemen
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The wife of al-Mukarram Ahmad (1067-84), she was joint ruler with her
mother-in-law Queen Asma. After her husband's death she became ruler in
her own name, having the Friday's Prayers said in her name. She lived
(1047-1137).
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1092-94
Regent Dowager Princess Turhan Hatun of Seljuk Persia
(Iran)
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The Seljuqs were a Turkish people whose history begins around the year
1000, by which time they were the dominant presence in Transoxiana and
Turkestan. They overran the western part of the Ghaznavid Emirate in 1040, and
shortly thereafter took over all of Persia and Mesopotamia from the Buwayhids.
The death of Sanjar in 1118 signaled the decline of the Great Seljuq Empire,
which broke up into several smaller states. |
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1107-24 Regent
Dowager Sultana of the Seljuk-Principality of Malatya in Anatolia
(Turkey)
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Widow of Sultan Kilj Arslan, and married to three Turkish chiefs in
succession who acted as guardians of her son, Sultan Tughril Arslan. In
1124 the principality was concord by the Danishmendide-Turks.
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Ca. 1120-30 Ruler Al-Hurra Alam al-Malika of Zubayd (Yemen)
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A singer or slave of the king Mansur ibn-Najah (Ca. 1111-23),
who was so impressed by her political astuteness that he placed her in charge
of the realm's management and "made no decisions without consulting her". In
1123 he was poisoned by his vizier Mann Allah, but Alam continued to govern but
she never had the Khutba proclaimed in her name at the Friday night prayer.
Zybayd was a principality in western Yemen near San'a, with whom it was in a
perpetual state of war. The title of al-hurra was bestowed on women who were
active in politics, but did not denote Queenship. |
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1142 Regent Dowager Khanum Ta-pu-yen of Qara Khitai (Turkestan)
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After the death of her
husband, Ta-pu-yen, she was regent for her son Ye-lü Yi-lie.
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1151-77
Khanum Regnant Tabuyan T’a-Pu-Yen Gantian Huanghou of Qara Khitai (Turkestan
now Kyrgyzstan)
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Leader of the Central Asian Khanate – in what today is partly
Kyrgyzstan and partly Chinese Turkestan the region Sinkiang Uighur
Autonomous Region/Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu. The state was
founded by the Khitan ruler Yeh-lü Ta-shih when he conquered the Kharakhanid
Turks in 1137. In 1141 Yeh-lü consolidated his conquest by defeating the
Great Seljuk sultan Sanjar near Samarkand. The khanate was weakened in
about 1200 by attacks from the Khwarizm
shahdom and in 1218 it collapsed precipitately when the Mongols invaded.
The governmental institutions of Qara Khitai were taken over by the
Mongols to form the foundations of their own imperial administration.
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1163-77/78 Dowager Khanum Regnant Yelü Pusuwan Chengtian Taihou of Qara
Khitai (Turkestan)
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In the 1120s China's Liao
Dynasty was ousted by the Liaos, or Khitans, and were driven west into
Central Asia, where, after defeating the Seljuq Turks of Persia under
the Sultan Sanjar in 1141, they founded the Qara-Khitai Empire with
Samarkand as its capital covering present day's Mongolia,
Northern-China, Kyrgyzstan and other central Asian territories.
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1170/72
Regent Dowager Sultan Turhan of Hwarizim Sahi of Uiguristan (China
and Kazakstan)
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Reigned for Sultan Sah Abd’l Quasim Mahmud 1170/72, who was deposed as
ruler of the kingdom.
The origin of Uigur ethnic group can be
traced back to the nomadic people living around Lake Baikal and the area
between the Irtish River and Lake Balkhash in the third century B.C.
During the long history, these people amalgamated the north and south
Xinjiang (China), Mongolian, Han and Tibetan clans. And the present
Uigur ethnic group came into being. The Uigur has its own language and
alphabet, which belongs to the Turki Austronesian, Altai Phylum. In
their language, "Uigur" means "solidification and union". The Uigurs
rely heavily on agriculture as their main source of survival. They plant
cotton, wheat, corn and paddy. The largest grape base of China is also
located in the Turpan Basin.
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1172-74 Politically Influential Terken Khatun
(I) of the
Khwarezmian
Empire (Iran)
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After the death of her husband, Shah Il-Arslan,
his sons began fighting over who would succeed him. Sultan Shah was
the younger son, but he was considered the formal heir and she placed him on the throne. The elder son,
Tekish, fled to the Qara Khitai and was given a large army, and he
soon set off for Khwarazm. She and her son decided to flee, and Tekish installed himself in Khwarazm
unopposed in December 1172, but she gained the
support of Mu'ayyad al-Din Ai-Aba, a former Seljuk Amir
who had set himself up in Nishapur since the collapse of Seljuk power there, he led an
army into Khwarazm, but was defeated, captured and executed. Her son eventually found refuge with the
Ghurids, but she was hunted down and killed by Tekish's forces. |
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1200-20 De-facto Co-Ruler
Terken Khatun
(II) of
Khwarezmian Empire (Iran) |
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After the death of her partner,
'Ala' al-Din Tekish
(1172-1200), she so dominated the court of their son, 'Ala' al-Din Muhammad II
(1200-20) and quarreled so bitterly with his heir by another
wife, Jalal al-Din, that she may have contributed to the impotence of the
Khwarazmshahi kingdom in the face of the Mongol onslaught. She had a separate
Divan and separate palace and the orders of the sultan were not considered to be effective without
her signature. The Shah ruled the heterogeneou peoples
without mercy. In face of Mongol attacks, Khwarazm empire, with a combined
army of 400.000, simply collapsed. Harezmshah
Muhammed had retreated to Samarkand towards the end of his domination and he
had to leave the capital city of Gurgenç to her. |
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1208-20
Queen Ahmadilidyn of the Urmiya Dynasty of Persia
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Succeeded her father as head of the Ahmadilit-dynasty.
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121?-18
Ruler Salbak Turhan of Uiguristan (Kazakstan) |
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The Qara-Khitai Empire with Samarkand as its capital covering
present day's Mongolia, Northern-China, Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian
Territories. In 1210 the Qara-Khitai Empire lost Transoxiana to the
Khwarazim Shahdom, previously a vassal. The empire ended in 1218, when it
was annexed by the Mongol Empire of Chingiz Khan.
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1218
Regent the Dowager Sultana
of the Selsjuks in Aleppo (Syria) |
| Widow of Al-Zahir for son al-Aziz. Her troops was involved in the
fight against the crusaders. |
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1236-40
Sultan Galalat ad-Din Begum Radiya
bint Shamas al-Din Iltutmish
of the Delhi Sultanate (Most of Northern India) |
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Also known Razia Begum or Radiyya Altamish, she was The daughter of the
first Mameluk king of Delhi, Sultan Ilutmish, she came to the throne after
deposing her brother and having him killed. She used the title al-dunya
wa al din, which can be translated into "the blessed of the earthly
world and of the faith". She was a very able leader and military
commander, but was deposed and executed in 1246/47. |
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1236-42
Regent Dowager Princess
Dayfa Khatun bint al-Adil Muhammadn
of Yamkhad
(Syria) |
| Dayfat Hatun
was the widow of ad az-Zahir Ghazi Ghiyath ud-Din I,
who ruled (1186-1216) and after the death of her
son, al-'Aziz Muhammad Ghiyath ud-Din II (1216-1236) she became regent for
her grandson al-Nasr II Yusuf Salah ad-Din (1236-1260).
The capital of the Kingdom was Aleppo, an ancient city in
northwestern Syria, about 130 km east of Antiochia.
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From 1237
Regent the Dowager Sultana
of the Selsjuks in Aleppo (Syria) |
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for Sultan al-Nazir, fighting with the Latin kings and counts in the area. |
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1241-...
Joint Ruler Empress Kassi of Mali |
| According to
custom, the emperor and the principal wife ruled jointly. She was married
to her paternal cousin, Suleyman (1241-60), and was extremely popular with
the royal court. After her husband divorced her in order to marry the
commoner Bendjou, she rallied support of the noble ladies, who refused to
pay homage to the new Empress. Kassi was then forced to seek refuge in a
mosque, where she initiated a revolt, which ended in the defeat of her
Faction. |
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1241-48
Grand Khanum
Regnant
Törägänä of the Qagans of China |
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Also known as Töregene Khâtûn, she was head of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty,
which ruled most of China and Chinese Turkestan.
Her son, Guyuk, was Khan 1246-48.
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1242-46 Regent Dowager Khanum Ebüskün of Qara Khitai (Turkestan)
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For Qara Hülägü. The dynasty used to rule over a vast empire, but had been
forced back to present day's Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
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1248-51
Empress Khanum Hatun Ogul Gamys of The Yuan Dynasty in China |
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Also known as Oghul Qamish or Ghaimish. After the death of her husband,
Greath Khan Güyük, she became regent for her three young sons Qucha,
Naqu and Qughu and thereby became ruler over parts of China, Mongolia,
Tibet, Kazakstan and Turkestan. In 1250 she received three envoys of Louis
IX of France. She accepted their presents as a tribute and demanded that
the king of France made more explicit submission to her. In 1251 fighting
broke out between rival Factions of the ruling family, she was convicted
of sorcery, sewn up in a sack and drowned in 1252.
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1249-50
Regent Shajarat al-Dur of Egypt and Syria
1250
Sultan Regnant (Queen of the Muslims)
1250-57 Co-ruler |
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In 1249, the French army under Louis IX of France attacked Egypt. Shagrat who
was regent for her husband Salih, who was in Damascus, organized the defence of
the realm. After her husband's death his son Turan became ruler, but she
retained control, and defeated the Crusaders at Damietta. The leaders of
the army plotted against Turan and have him murdered. On May 2, 1250, they put
Shagrat al-Durr on the throne, thus beginning the Mamluk dynasty. As sultan she
has coins struck in name, and she is mentioned in weekly prayers in mosques.
These two acts only can be done for the person who carries the title of sultan,
but the Caliphate at Baghdad did not approve of Shagrat, who stepped down after
for only two months. But she married her successor Aibak, a Mamluk soldier.
Reports tell of their great love for one another, and for seven years she
continued to rule. An historian who lived at the time comments: "She dominated
him, and he had nothing to say." Shagrat continued to sign the sultan's decrees,
has coins struck in both their names, and dared to be addressed as
Sultana. She was killed 1257 apparently after having murdered her husband.
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1252-61
Regent Dowager Khanum Organa Hatum of the Khanate of the Eastern
Turkiut (Xinjiang) and of Qara Khitai (China, Mongolia, Tibet, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan) and of Khurasan (Iran) |
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Head of the Ghafa Sid Horde (or Qara Khitai/ Chagataiid Horde) and
ruled over a vast territory after the death of Qara Hulegu as successor of
Qara Hulegu, who reigned 1247-52 and 1252. She was succeeded by Khan
Alughu. Her name also spelled as Orqina Khatum.
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1255-57
Regent Dowager Khanum Boraqcin of Hwarizim Sahi (or the Khanate of
Kipchak) (Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan) |
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Widow of Batu, who was khan (1227-55). When he died in 1255
his son and heir, Sartaq, had gone to pay court to Grand Khan Mongka, his
father's friend. But he died before he could return home to the Khanate of
Kipchak. Mongka nominated the young prince Ulagci, who was either the
brother or son of Sartaq, and made Boraqchin regent of the Mongol tribe
(The Golden Horde) in West Turkestan, roughly covering present day
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
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1257-82
Regent Dowager Sultan Turhan Hatun 'Ismat ad-Duyan Wa’l-Din of
Qutlug Khan (Iran) |
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Also known as Qutlug or Kutlugh, she ruled as regent for son Sultan Haggag
(Hağğağ) until 1267, and afterwards alone. She had the khutba (prayer for
the sovereign) proclaimed in the mosques, the ultimate sign of legitimate
reign. She was deposed by Ahmad Teguder and replaced by her stepson as
ruler of Qutluq Khan or Kirman. Her daughter, Padisha, later reigned the
Kingdom of Kirman.
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1260-62
Regent Dowager Princess Turhan Hatun of Banu-Salgar (Iran)
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The Mongol Empire after 1260 laid fragmented as the four Mongol states
- the Golden Horde in the west, Il-Khans in Persia, Chagatai empire in
Mongolia, and Kublai Khan in China - and the Mongols in Persia were
further divided into a number of smaller states in addition to the
Il-Khans. One of them was Banu-Salgar. |
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1261-63
Regent Dowager Princess
Terken
Khatun of Fars (Iran) |
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After the death of her husband, Atabeg Sa'd II bin Abi Bakr bin Sa'd
bin Zangi, she was duly confirmed by ruler of Fars by the Ilkhan Hülegü. She then married a kinsman, presumably as part of some now
forgotten dynastic pact, but he killed her in a drunken frenzy and
subsequently rebelled against the Ilkhan. After his defeat and death in
1263/64, Hülegü nominated her infant daughter, Abish Khatun to
be the ruler of Fars. |
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1263-75 Atabeg Regnant Abisha Hadud Khatun of Fars (Iran)
1283-87 Governor of Fars |
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Also known as Abish Khatun or
Aubee Khatton,
she was nominated as ruler by the Ilkhan of the Khwarazham Empire in
Persi, after her mother, Terken Khatun, was killed. Her
name was read in the khutha and struck on
the coinage.
In 1274, when she was about fifteen, she was taken to the Ilkhan's ordu
(Court), and married to Tash-Möngke (Mengü Temür), a younger son of
Hülegü This was a marriage, forbidden in
Islamic law, between a Muslim woman and a shamanist, but presumably the will
of the Ilkhan transcended all other considerations. She became his chief
wife and had two daughters by him, Kürdüjin and Alghanchi. When her husband
was sent as governor to Fars, she was retained in the ordu, but 1283, the new Ilkhan, Ahmad Tegüder (1282-84), recalled him from
Shiraz and appointed her in his place. Her financial
recklessness, coinciding with a drought throughout Fars, meant that she
defaulted on her revenue payments, so that Ahmad Tegüder's successor, Arghun
(1284-91), ordered her to appear at the ordu. Perhaps relying
on the good offices of Öljei Khatun, Hülegü's widow, to protect her from the
Ilkhan's wrath, she declined to go and behaved outrageously toward the
officials sent to supersede her. She was eventually forced to capitulate and
submitted to the Ilkhan (Öljei Khatun did indeed intercede for her), dying at
the ordu in 1287, after having lived (ca. 1269-87). |
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1285-87 Maat Layla Sultan of Harrar (Ethiopian Sup state) |
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Succeeded her brother as head of the Semitic speaking Islamic
Ethiopian Boarder State. |
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1291-95
Safwad al dunya wa ad-Din Padshah Hatun of Qutlugh Khan (Iran) |
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Padshah became ruler and took the title Safwad al dunya wa ad-Din
(Purity of the earthly world and of the faith) after Djalal da-Din
Abu'l-Muzzafar was deposed as head of the Mongol tribe, which reigned in
the southeastern Iran. She had her stepbrother Suyurghatamish arrested and
eventually killed. She was daughter of Kitlugh Turkan or Turkan Khatun,
Queen of Qutlugh Khan or Kirman (1257-82). In 1295 her husband's successor
Great Khan Baydo of the Ilkhan dynasty, had her put to death on the advise
of the leader of Suyurghatamish's clan, his widow, Khurdudjin.
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1307
Dowager Empress Khanum Bulugan of the Yuan Dynasty in China |
| She was widow of
Temur Oljetu (Cheng Tsung) who ruled (1294-1307) as successor to
Khubilaikhan (Shizu) and acted as regent for her step-grandson Wu Tsung,
also known as Khaishan or Hai San. She was born as Princess Bulukhan of
the Baya'ud.
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1316-17
Regent and Principal Minister Qutlug Sah Hatun of Persia and Iraq
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After the death of her husband, Ghiyath al-Din Muhammed Uljaytu
(1282-1304-16) the 8th Il Khan she was regent for their son, 'Ala al-Dunaya
wa 'l-din Abu Said (1304-1317-1335). The dynasty had reigned Persia and
Iraq China since Kubilai Khan of Mongolia and China appointed his
brother, Halagu (1256-1265) as tributary sub-ruler. With the death of Abu
Sa'id the Il-lkhanid dynasty in Iran virtually came to an end. |
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1316
Ruler Dawlat Khatun of Luristan (Persia)
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Succeeded her husband, Izz al-Din Muhammad, the 13th sovereign of the
Mongol Bani Kurshid dynasty, which ruled Luristan in southwestern Persia.
She proved to be a poor administrator, and therefore she abdicated after a
short period in favour of her brother-in-law, Izz al-Din Hassan. |
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1325-36 Politically Influential Baghdad Khatun of
the Ilkhanate in
Persia
(Iran)
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First married to Shaykh Hasan Buzurg, founder of the Jalayirid dynasty, whom she married in 1323.
Two years later, they divorced on the orders of her uncle, Abu Said, the Ilkhan,
and they married in 1327, and now enjoyed a period of
unprecedented power as the harem favorite, even acquiring the
honorific title of Khudawandigar [sovereign]. 1331-32, she
briefly fell from grace because of accusations that she had plotted the
assassination of Abu Said with her former husband, but in the following year
she was restored to favour. Another blow to her authority came in 734/1333-34, when
Abu Sa'id married her niece, Dilshad Khatun, and elevated the latter to the
rank of principal wife. She displayed her resentment at her
diminished status and when, according to Ibn Battuta, Abu Sa'id died in
1335, she was accused of poisoning him and was beaten to death in her
bathhouse either by order of his amirs or his successor, Arpa. |
|
1332-33
Regent Dowager Empress Khanum Ptashali of the Yuan Dynasty
of China |
|
Leader of the Qagans
Mongolian Dynasty which ruled most of China and surrounding territories,
during the reigns of Irinjibal (1332) and Toghon Temur (1333-70). In 1368
the Yuans were replaced by the Ming Dynasty after a period of internal
revolt. |
 |
1338-39
Acting Caliph Governor and Principal Minister Sati Beg
Hatun of the Mongols Il Khans Empires in Persia (Iran)
|
|
Used the title Al-sultana al-radila Sati Bek Khan Khallad
Allah mulkaha - The just sultana Sati Bek, may Allah perpetuate her
reign, and was daughter and sister of some of the earlier rulers. After
Mohammad was overthrown, she took power and married Suleiman, who became
titular co-ruler. The Mongols Il Khans controlled Persia as a sort
of local Mongol authority under the Great Horde.
|
 |
Ca.1344-ca.52
Sultan Regnant Mo'at Laila of Ifat (East Shoa,
Ethiopian Substate) |
| The Muslim
sultanate situated in the northeastern Shewan foothills was one of the
boarder-states threatening the Ethiopian state but it was about one
hundred years later. |
|
1348-79
Sultan and Maha Radun
Malikat Rahandi Kambadi-Kilagi
of the Maldive Islands, Sultan of Land and Sea and Lord of the
twelve-thousand islands |
| One of
three daughters of Sultan Salah ad-Din Salih Albendjaly, who was succeeded
by her brother. The vizier 'Abdallah al-Muhammad al-Hazrami married the
sultan's mother, and had him put to death. Meanwhile, Khadija had married
Jamal-ud-din, who managed to take over the reigns of power for his wife.
As vizier he issued orders in her name. Succeeded by sister, Myriam.
|
|
1366-71
Regent Khanum Beng Shi of Yuan China |
|
For the pretender Ming Sheng. |
|
1370-73
Khanum Regnant Tulun Beg of the Golden Horde in Russia and Serbia |
| Member
of the Akurdu Dynasty. |
|
1379-81
Sultan Myriam Raadafati Kambadi Kilege of the Maldive Islands |
|
Also known as
Queen Siri Suvama Abaarana.
Her sister, Sultan Khadija, reigned
three times beginning in 1337.
Myriam was the last of the Lunar Dynasty and was deposed by a Moslem
cleric by the name of Fagi Mohamed son of Kaeumani Kaulhannaa Kilege of
Maakuratu, who was succeeded by his daughter Daainu Kambaa
in 1383. |
|
1383-88
Sultan Malikat
Daainu
Kambaa
Radafati Kambadi-Kilagi of the Maldive Islands |
| Also known as
Fatima, she was daughter of Sultana Myriam, who was deposed by
Fagi Mohamed in 1381. Daainu was deposed by her husband who ascended the
throne as Sultan Abdulla II and reigned a month and a half before being
assassinated by Osman of Fehendu. |
 |
14….
Tribal
Leader
Lalla Aziza
in Morocco |
|
Very
influential during her lift-time in her Berban tribe, she is now
considered a saint who protects chasseurs and the
aèdes berbères.
|
|
|
14....
Malika Tindu of the Jallarid Dynasty (Iraq) |
| Ruled
sometime during the 15th century, and had the khubta - Friday's prayers -
preached in her name. |
 |
1411-19
Governor and Sultan Tandu of Baghdad (Iraq) |
| Also known as
Tindu, she belonged to the Jalarid Dynasty, a branch of the Ilkhan Mongol
rulers, and daughter of king Awis. She was first married to al-Zahir
Barquq, the last Mamluk king of Egypt. She did not like life in Cairo and
her husband let her go back to Baghdad, where she married her cousin Shah
Walad bin Ali, the Governor for the Caliph, and after his death she
acceded to the throne, had coins stuck in her name and the khutba
(sovereign's prayer) proclaimed in her name in the mosques. She was one of
the last Mongol rulers in the area. |
|
1432
Regent Dowager
Sultana Aisha Sia of Ternate (Indonesia) |
| After the death
of her husband Paduka Sri Sultan Bessi Muhammad Hasan, Kaicili
Komalo Pulu, Sultan of Ternate (1377-1432), who established himself as
paramount ruler of the Moluccas, taking the title of Kolano ma-Lukku
in 1380, for grandson Kaicili Ngolo-ma-Kaya, who succeeded as
Paduka Sri Sultan Gapi Baguna II. She was daughter of another sultan of
the state. |
 |
Around 1450 Chieftainess Sharifa Fatima of the Zaydi (Yemen) |
| The daughter of
the religious leader, Imam al-Zayel al-Nasir Li Din Allah, she and her
tribe took San'a by force of arms in the mid 15th century. |
|
1461-70
Regent Dowager Sultana Mhduma Gahan of
Bahmani Sahi (India) |
|
For Nizanu Shah (d. 1463) and Sams ad-Din Muhamed Shah II (1463-82). |
 |
1467
Princess Regnant Bigum Hatun of Qara Quyünlü (Iraq) |
|
Ruler of a Turkish Tribe in Mesopotamia |
|
1470-ca. 92
Regent Khatun Mandughai of Mongolia |
| Also known as
Mandugaya Setsen Khantun, she was widow of Grand Khan Mandaghol, the 27th
successor of Jengis Khan, who was succeeded by his nephew, Bolkho, in
1467. When he was assassinated three years later, the mother of his
five-year-old son, Dayan Qagani, had deserted the child, and Mandughai
took him under her protection, proclaimed him khan, and became his regent.
She assumed command of the Mongol troops and defeated their enemy, the
Oirat. In 1481 she married Dayan, and 1491-92 she again lead the army to
fend off the Orat.
|
|
1470-90 We
Ban-ri Gau Daeng Marawa Makalappi Bisu-ri La Langpili Patta-ri La We
Larang , Arumpone of Bone
(Indonesia) |
| Styled Arung
Majang before her accession on the death of her father. Her
ceremonial name was Malajangi-ri China, and she was mother of two sons. |
|
1470-... Sultana Narisa Malik uz-Zahir of Samudra Pasai
Kesepulih (Indonesia) |
|
Daughter of Sultan Kadir al
Malik uz-Zahir ibnu al-Marhum of Pasai and married to Sultan Muhammad of
Aceh, who reigned (1465-77) |
|
 |
1481-92 Amina Gul-Bahar Khanum Valide
Sultan of The Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
|
|
The Valide Sultan was the
mother of the sultan, and had an important place in the imperial family.
In some aspects she was considered as a joint-ruler with theoretical
jurisdiction over the women in the empire. She was married to
Mohammed II and mother of Bajazet (1481-1512), and lived (1434-94)
|
|

|
1482-92
Regent 'A'isha al-Hurra of Cordova (Spain)
|
|
Gained support from the nobles and military leaders to depose her
husband, 'Ali abu al-Hasan (reigned 1461-82), who was being infatuated
by his Christian concubine, Isabella, who had converted to Islam and
taken the name of Soraya. Her son, Muhammad Abu 'Abdallah was proclaimed
as caliph. She played a prominent role in the last years of the Muslim
reign in the south of Spain, which was conquered by their Catholic
majesties, Isabel I of Castilla and Fernando of Aragon.
|
|
1482-1530
President of the Regency Council The Makhduma-e-Jahan of The Bahmani
Deccan (Oudh) (India) |
| As Dowager
Queen, she was Regent for son Mahmud Shah Bahmani, who ascended the throne
at the age of 12 years, when some usurpers had been overthrown. |
 |
15..
Princesss Regnant Nur Begum of Hunza (Afganistan) |
|
The daughter of Girkis Han, she ruled for 12 years of the mountainous
region on the boarder to China. Succeeded by nephew Ayaso I. |
 |
1510-52
Governor Sayyida al-Hurra of Tetouán (Morocco) |
|
First confirmed as prefect and then appointed governor of the city state
of
Tetouán ("Hakima Tatwan"). She was the undisputed leader of the pirates in
the western Mediterranean. She was married to Sultan Al-Mandri and after
his death she married Ahmad al-Wattasi, who reigned (1524-49). After her
first husband's death, she gained the title al-hurra
(Sovereign Lady).
She was member of the Andalusian noble family, Banu Rashid, who immigrated
to Morocco after the Christian conquest of Muslim Spain. She was deposed
in 1552. |
|
|
1520-34 Gulbehar Hatun Mahidevran
Valide Sultan of The Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
|
|
Also known as Aisha Hafsa
Khanum, she was mother of Suleiman II, the son of Selim I. In some
aspects the Valide Sultan was considered as a joint-ruler with
theoretical jurisdiction over the women in the empire.
|
|
1521-32
Regent The Dowager Queen
Njai Tjili of Ternate
(Indonesia) |
| Regent
for sons Deijalo and Bohejat. In 1532 Prince Kaitjil became sultan. |
 |
1523-58
De-facto Ruler Kadin Roxelana of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) |
| Very
influential during the reign of her husband Sultan Süleiman II (1520-66).
She had originally been bought as a slave by Süleiman's friend Ibrahim
Pascha. The Pascha later gave her to the Sulatan as a gift. she is
believed to have been born in Russia and lived (ca. 1507-58)
|
 |
1529-30
Regent Dowager Sultan Dudu of
Janupur
(India) |
|
After the death of her
husband, Muhammed, she was regent for Galal Han, who was deposed in
1533. Under her family's reign, the state became the home of Muhammadan
culture and refuge for men of letters. She was killed in 1530.
|
 |
1543-52
Regent Dowager Sultana Bat'ial
Dël
Wanbara of Harar
(Ethiopia) |
|
In charge of the territory after her husband, Imam Ahmad had been
killed. She reigned jointly with 'Ali Jarad. She had accompanied her
husband on his expeditions of conquest in the Christian highlands. At
times she had to be carried on their shoulders up and down steep and rocky
mountain slopes, twice in a state of pregnancy. She gave birth to Muhammad
in 1531 and Ahmad two years later.
After the defeat and death of her husband and the capture of her young son
Muhammad, she fled to the north-west of Lake Tana, and eventually
succeeded in returning to Harar, then at the center of Adal power. Her
first task was to make arrangements for the exchange of her eldest son
Muhammad for Emperor Galawdewo's brother, Minas. Del Wanbara was
determined to
revenge her husband's
death and, nine years later, agreed to marry the Emir of Harar, Nur Ibn
Mujahid, son of her first husband's sister, seeing in him the best
prospect of achieving her aim. Emir Nur began by rebuilding Harar, which
had been sacked, and enclosed the town with a wall which can be seen to
this day. Having reorganized his forces, he undertook a new conquest of
the Christian highlands and, in 1559, killed Emperor Galawdewos in battle.
She was daughter
of Imam Mehefuz, governor of Zayla
and de facto ruler
of the state of Adal. She married Imam Ahmad and, ignoring the protests of
his soldiers,
|
 |
1544-?
Politically influential Mihrumâh Sultana
of the
Ottoman Empire |
| Only daughter of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent by Hürrem Sultan.
Her father
ored his
her,
and complained with her every wish. She married Rüstem Paşa,
Governor-General of Diyarbakır, who was shortly afterwards appointed grand
vizier. According to Ottoman historians, Hürrem, Mihrumâh and Rüstem Paşa
conspired to bring about the death of Şehzade Mustafa, who stood in the
way of Mihrumâh Sultan’s influence over her father.
The fact that Mihrumâh encouraged her father to launch the campaign
against Malta, promising to build 400 galleys at her own expense; that
like her mother she wrote letters to the King of Poland; and that on her
father’s death she lent 50.000 gold sovereigns to Sultan Selim to meet his
immediate needs, illustrate the political power which she wielded.
Her husband
was
grand vizier in the periods 1544-1553 and 1555-1561,
and she and her mother
formed an inner circle in the government which evidently influenced the
sultan's decisions particularly in issues concerning the succession and
the future of the sultanate.
They were
accused of putting pressure on
her father
to execute his eldest surviving son, Mustafa. At that critical point when
Sultan
Süleyman
was faced with open protest from the army and negative public opinion
following the murder of Mustafa, Süleyman
was forced to replace his son-in-law in the position of grand vizirate
with Kara Ahmed Pasha, a war hero and favourite of the army. But within two
years under pressure from the inner circle under Hürrem,
Kara Ahmed was eliminated and Rustem resumed the grand vizirate, keeping
the office until his death in 1561. |
|
|
Ca. 1545-ca.1570/80 Sultan Hudah bint Sarmah al-Fasi of Fazzan
(Libya) |
|
Grandchild of Muhamad al-Fasi Fezzan. The
state mainly consisted of oases in the Sahara Desert, and the population
is largely Arab, with Berber and black African influence. Located on
caravan routes connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Sudan, Fazzan
was long important in the trans-Saharan trade. From the early 16th to the
early 19th century it was the center of the Bani Muhammad dynasty,
which originated in Morocco. |
 |
1549-51
Regent Dowager Princess
Syun Beka of Kazan (Russia)
|
|
Regent for son. Today Kazan is the capital of the Russian Republic of
Tatarstan. |
|
|
1556-64 Regent for the Governor
Mah Cucak Bigum of Kabul, Afganistan |
|
Reigned for Governor Miza Muhammad Hakim (1556-85) hereditary
representative of the Grand Mogul of India. She was murdered in 1565 |
 |
1560-62
De-facto regent Maham Anga of the Mughal Empire (India) |
|
The chief nurse of
Emperor Akbar, she gained influence after she convinced Akbar to
dismiss his minister, Bairam. Her power began to wane in 1561, when
Akbar appointed Atkah Khan as chief minister. Five months later her
son, Adham Khan, Akbar's foster-brother, attempted to assassinate
Atkah Khan, but was executed, and she died shortly after, and the
emperor, who was now 19 ruled alone from then on. |
|

|
1574-83 Politically Influential
Nurbanu Sultan Valide Sultan of The Ottoman Empire
(Turkey)
|
|
Nur Banu took an active part
in the governance of the empire as the chief advisor of her son, Murad
III. Of Italian origin, she was married to Selim III, and lived
(1530-83). (or
to 1595)
|
 |
1576-1610
Queen Amina Sarauniya of Zazzua, Zaria and Abuja
1580-82 Queen of Kano (Nigeria) |
|
Probably the granddaughter of Sarkin (king) Zazzau Nohir. Zazzua
was one of a number of Hausa city-states which dominated the trans-Saharan
trade after the collapse of the Songhai empire to the west. At the age of
sixteen, Amina became the heir apparent (Magajiya) to her mother, Bakwa of
Turunku, the ruling Queen of Zazzua. With the title came the
responsibility for a ward in the city and daily councils with other
officials. Although her mother's reign was known for peace and prosperity,
Amina also chose to learn military skills from the warriors. Queen Bakwa
died around 1566 and the reign of Zazzua passed to her younger brother
Karama. At this time Amina emerged as the leading warrior of Zazzua
cavalry. Her military achievements brought her great wealth and power.
When Karama died after a ten-year rule, Amina became Queen of Zazzua. She
set off on her first military expedition three months after coming to
power and continued fighting until her death. In her thirty-four year
reign, she expanded the domain of Zazzua to its largest size ever. Lived
(ca. 1533-ca- 1610) |
 |
1577-80
Regent Dowager Queen Mahid-I Uliyah of Persia |
Regent for Esmâil II (1576-78) and Shah Mohammed Khodâbanda
(1578-87) of the Safavid
Dynasty, which was of Turkmen origin and established themselves first at
Tabriz, which had been the capital of the Mongol Il Khans, in Turkish
speaking Azerbaijanistan. They also brought the Shi'ite branch of Islam to
Persia.
|
 |
1580-90
Regent Dowager Sultana Cand Bibi of
Bijapur (India)
1596-99 Regent of
Ahmadnagar |
| After her
husband, 'Ali 'Adil Shah II, was killed in 1580, she was regent for her
nephew, Ibrahim 'Adil Shah II, and ruled with great prudence and
intelligence till the young king came of age. When order was restored in
Bijapur kingdom, Chand Bibi went back to her motherland Ahmadnagar, where
the ruler, Murtada Shah, died at a moment when the foreign relations of
the state were strained to breaking-point and was imminent, she returned
to Bijapur, and mustered some reliable troops in consideration of the
defence of Ahmadnagar fort against the mighty army of the Mughals led by
their able general. After this great defence, Chand Bibi came to be known
as Chand Sultana. Later the Mughals succeeded to turn the troops of Chand
Bibi and had a siege over Ahmadnagar in 1008/1599. This time, emperor
Akbar himself rushed to Deccan and pitched his tents outside the city.
Chand Bibi became desperate and resisted the Mughal attacks with such
courage that the invaders were repelled at many places. At length, Hamid
Khan, the traitor allowed the Mughal force to enter Ahmadnagar, and
entered the palace of Chand Bibi to kill her. At that moment of disaster,
Chand Bibi came out of her apartments and fought bravely and was killed,
and thus, Ahmadnagar was captured by the Mughals in 1600. She was daughter
of Hussain NIzam shah of Ahamadnagar, and lived (1550-99). |
|
1584-1616
Raja Ijau I of Patani (Thailand) |
| Also known as
Ratu Hijau "The Green Queen",
she succeeded brother as ruler of the Malayan kingdom-sultanate, and was
succeeded by sister in 1616. Her aunt, Raja A'isyah had sometime been
regent for Sultan Bahdur after Sultan Manzur Syah who ruled (1564-73). She
was succeded by sister. |
|
 |
1595-1603 Politically Influential
Safiye Vailde Sultan of The Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
|
|
Took an active part in
the governance of the empire as the chief advisor of her sons Murad III and Mehmed III. She lived (1550-1605)
|
 |
1603-05
De-facto Ruler Handam Valide Sultan of the
Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
|
|
Her full title was Daulatlu Ismatlu Hansam Validi Sultan
'Ahiyat us-Shan Hazratlari, and she was very powerful during
the reign of Ahmed Khan I (1613-17), and lived (1576-1605).
|
|
1607-09 Sultan Kuda Kala Kamanafa’anu, Sultana of Land and Sea,
Lady of the Thousand Islands and Sultans of the Maldive Islands
|
| In spite
of the fact that the island was Islamic, the rulers continued to
use ancient Sanskrit titles alongside their Islamic styles until
the middle of the twentieth century. The sultanate was attacked by
the Portuguese in the fifteenth century but regained its
independence in 1573. They also fell prey to the marauding raids
of the Ali Rajas of Cannanore, who frequently kidnapped princes
and influential nobles and carried them off to the Laccadives.
Although close trading relations were established with the Dutch
in Sri Lanka, the Maldives remained aloof from the Western powers
for another two centuries. She was never secure as ruler due to a
long civil war. She died at sea or on Mahibadu Island, Ari Atol,
while on pilgrimage to give alms. |
|
1607-27
Panembahan Putri Bunku of
Sukudana
(Indonesia) |
|
Succeeded husband. |
|
|
After 1609-before 1630 Sri Paduka
Ratu Sepudak of Sambas (Indonesia)
|
|
A descendant of the Majapahit
Kings and the last Hindu ruler of the kingdom. Her youngest daughter,
Putri Mas Ayu Bungsu's husband, Radin Sulaiman, became Sultan of Sambas.
He was son of the Sultan of Brunei.
|
 |
1611-28
De-facto Ruler Empress Nur Jahan of India
|
| Married to the
Mughul Emperor Jahangir, she was an excellent conversationalist, a
fine judge of Persian poetry and a poet herself. Her accomplishments made
her an irresistible companion for the emperor. Nur Jahan was a patron of
painting and architecture whose interests also extended to the decoration
of rooms as well as the designing of ornaments, brocades, rugs and
dresses. After his death in 1627 she resided in Lahore until her own
death. Born as Mehr un-Nissa in Persia. (d. 1645) |
|
1616-24
Raja Ratu Biru of Patani (Thailand)
|
| In 1584,
Patani entered its golden age with the rule of four successive
Queens, Ratu Hijau ("The Green Queen"), Ratu Biru ("The Blue
Queen"), Ratu Ungu ("The Violet Queen") and Ratu Kuning ("The
Yellow Queen"). Biru was the second of three sisters on the
throne.
|
|
|
1617-18 and 1622 Naib-i-Sultanat (Regent)
Valide Sultana II of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) |
| After
the death of her husband, Sultan Ahmed Khan I (1603-17), she was
regent for son. Mustapha Khan I (1717-23). She was born in Europe,
and lived (1576-1623).
|
|
|
1618-20 Kahadija Mahfiruz Valide
Sultan of The Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
|
|
Also known as Daulatlu
Mahfiruz, her full title as mother sultan Osman II, was Daulatlu
Ismatlu Mahfiruz Validi Sultan 'Ahiyat us-Shan Hazratlari. In
some aspects the Valide Sultan was considered as a joint-ruler with
theoretical jurisdiction over the women in the empire. She lived
(1590-1620)
|
|
|
1623-32 Naib-i-Sultanat (Regent) Kösem Mahpeyker Valide
Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
1632-51 De-facto regent |
|
Her full name and title was Daulatlu Ismatlu Kulsum
Mahpeyker Validi Sultan 'Ahiyat us-Shan Hazratlari.Kösem
was regent for son Murad, (1623-40) who succeeded at the age of
11, for Ibrahim (1640-48) who was mentally disturbed and for
grandson Mehmed IV, who succeeded at the age of 7 in 1648. In 1651
she plotted against her daughter-in-law, but was killed instead.
Of Greek origin, she lived (1589-1651) |
|
1624-35
Raja Ratu Ungu of Patani (Thailand)
|
|
During the reign of the of three sisters the Malayan
Kingdom-Sultanate was
expanded its
borders to include Kelantan and Trengganu and became the most
powerful Malay state after Johor. It was during this time that
Patani became renowned for manufacturing cannon, producing three
of the largest bombards ever cast in the region - 'Mahalela',
'Seri Negara' and 'Seri Petani'. With each measuring over six
metres in length. Also known as "The Violet Queen", she was
succeeded by daughter.
|
 |
From 1626 Regent Aayat Bahs Bigum of
Golkonda
(India) |
After the death of her husband, she became regent for Sultan Abd
Allah (1613-26-72). The Golkonda state broke from Gulbarga in 1518
and remained independent under eight sultans until 1687 when it
was conquered by the Great Mughal Aurangzeb.
|
|
|
1632/33
Sultan Alimah I of Nzwani, Comoro Islands |
|