Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
WOMEN IN POWER 
1500-2006
Leaders and women in other positions of political authority
of independent states and
self-governing understate entities
 

1500-ca. 10 Regent Dowager Grand Princess Agrippina Vasilyevna Babicheva of Ryazan (Riazan) (Russia)
After the death of her husband, Ivan of Riazanj (1467-83-1500) she took over the government in the name of their son Ivan VI (1496-1500-16-34), the last prince of the principality which was finally annexed to Moscow after many years of resitance. Previously it had included parts of what are now the governments of Kaluga and Moscow. Owing to the fertility of the soil, its Russian, population rapidly increased, while the Finnish tribes which formerly inhabited it migrated farther East, or became merged among the Slays. The Mongol invasion of 1239-42 stopped all development.

Ca. 1500-20 Queen Ravadyfohy of Imerina and Alasora (Madagascar)
Also known as Rafohy, she succeeded her father Ratsimisytoazy, and was succeeded by Queen Rangita. The Merina or Hova Dynasty later became rulers of the United Kingdom of Madagascar.

Around 1500 Queen Sukda of Mandara (Cameroon)
She was the first ruler of The Mandara (or Wandala) tribe, which is located just south of Lake Chad in both northern Cameroon and Nigeria in savanna in which mounds of rocks can be seen high above the plains. The tribe also occupy a mountainous area where the Gotel and Mandara Mountains meet. This hot, tropical region has only 30 inches of rainfall each year, and the Mandara are among other tribes of Sudanic herdsmen who migrate seasonally with their animals, searching for fresh grazing lands. 

1500/24-40 Sovereign Countess Maria d'Albert of Rethel (Belgium)
She succeeded her mother, Charlotte de Bourgogne, as Countess of Rethel - possibly not until after her father Jean d'Albret's death in 1524. She was married to Charles of Clèves, Count de Nevers (d. 1521) and succeeded by son, François de Nevers et Rethel, Duke of de Nevers (d. 1561) who was succeeded by his daughters Henriette de Clève as Duchess of Nevers-Rethel, Catherine de Nevers (1548-1633) as Countess d'Eu and Marie de Nevers (1553- -1574) as Comtesse de Beaufort. Maria lived (1491-1549).

From 1500 Sovereign Countess Anne de Chabannes of Dammartin (France)
Daughter of Jean VII de Chabannes, Count of Dammartin. 

Ca. 1500 Sovereign Countess Lucretia Loredani of Ios (Greece)
She governed over the island in the Cyclades located south of Naxos and north of Thera.

1500-15 Governatrice Dowager Lady Francesca Grimaldi of the Fiefs of Dolceacqua, Isolabona, Apricale and Perinaldo (Italy)
After the death of her husband, Luca Doria she became regent in his lands. She was daughter of Lamberto Grimbaldo, Councllor of Antibes and Cagnes, Sovereign Lord of Monaco and Roccabruna and Patrician of Genova.

1500-23 Hereditary Countess Elisabeth von Hessen-Marburg of Katzenelnbogen and ¼ of the County of Diez (Germany)
After her mother, Anna von Katzenelnbogen died in 1494 the County was in dispute among her and her sister, Duchess Mathilda of Jülich-Berg (d. 1505), and a compromise was not reached until 1520. Elisabeth was married to Johann V Count of Nassau, Vianden, Katzenelnbogen and Diez, Baron of Breda, Stadtholder of Gelre and Zutphen 1504-1505. She lived (1466-1523).

1500-01 Administrator of the Fief Dowager Burggravine Johanetta von Salm of Rheineck (Germany)
According to tradition she administered the fief for the remainder of the year following the death of her husband, Burgrave Jakob von Rheineck. Her son Jakob II, reached the age of majority in 1508 and Archbispho Hermann of Köln granted him the fief of Rheineck. As he died without male heirs in 1539, Köln withdrew the fief, but his niece, Mezza claimed the inheritance, it was not until 1571 after a court process, that her sons Johann and Wilhelm von Warsberg were declared as rightful heirs. Concequently Archbishop Salentin von Isenburg of Köln granted the Burgravate as a hereditary fief. Johnanette married Philipp Beissel von Gymnich in 1501, she was daughter of Wild- und Rheingrafen Johann V. and Johanna von Salm, and lived (ca. 1465-after 1516).

1500-? Princess-Abbess Agnes II von Paulsdorff of Obermünster in Regensburg (Germany)
The Fürstäbtissin of the territory became a member of the Geistlischen Fürstenbank (Lords Spiritual) of the Bayrischer Kreis (Bavarian Circle) when it was formed in 1495 by Emperor Maximilian I. The function of each Circle was primarily the administration of Imperial law and the maintenance of order, but the assemblies also served to assess local opinion and to direct regional efforts as circumstances dictated. She also had a the right to a seat and vote in the College of Swabian Prelates in the Imperial Diet (Reichstag), which met in Regensburg.

15.. Princesss Regnant Nur Begum of Hunza (Pakistan)
The daughter of Girkis Han, she ruled for 12 years of the mountainous region the Northern Areas of Pakistan adjoining the Sinkiang Autonomous Region of China. Her family ruled the area of Hunz for more than 900 years and the Hunzakuts are believed to be the descendents of five wandering soldiers of Alexander the Great. They speak Brushuski, an aboriginal language. She was succeeded by her nephew Ayaso I as ruler.

15.. Queen Putri Pinang Masak of Djambi (Indonesia)
She was succeeded by husband, Paduka Berhale, as ruler of the East Sumatran kingdom. 

15.. Queen of Angoche (Moçambique)
The Queen succeeded her brother and was succeeded by husband, Molidi. Today Angoche is a port-town in the Northern part of the country. 

15.... 17th Alii Aimoku Kaikilani of Hawai'i (USA)
Succeeded Queen Kaikilani, who reigned sometime in the 15th century, and  she first married her cousin Kanaloakua'ana, 16th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii and secondly to Lonoikamakahiki, joint Alii Aimoku of Hawaii, younger son of Keawe-nui Aumi, 16th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii, and succeeded by son, Keakealanikane, 18th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii.

15...Princess Latutama, Tu'i Tonga Fefine, Tonga
Daughter of Momo, Tu'i Tonga and Nua, Ma'itaki, former wife of Ngongokilitoto, of Malapo, and daughter of Lo'au, by a woman from Ha'amea. As Tu'i Tonga Fefine she held higher rank than her father, her mother or her brothers. She was forbidden from marrying any Tongan mortal, and her eldest daughter was styled Tamaha, the highest dignity on earth, to whom both her mother and grandfather, paid homage.

15..Princess Fatafehi, Tu'i Tonga Fefine, Tonga
Daughter of Tu'itatu'i, Tu'i Tonga. She probably held office towards the end of the century.

1501-24 Sovereign Countess Anne de la Tour of Auvergne (France)
Succeeded father, Jean III. She was unmarried, was succeeded by sister Madeleine, and lived (ca. 1495-1524).

1501-20 Sovereign Countess Jeanne d'Orléans of Bar-sur-Seine (France)
Daughter of Antoniette de Polignac and the king of France. She was legitimized by her marriage to Jean Aubin, Seigneur de Malicorne. She secondly married Jean de Longwy, Baron de Pagny.  

1501-05 Princesse-Abbesse Jeanne II d'Anglure de Germainvilliers of Remiremont, Dame of Saint Pierre and Metz (France)
In the beginning of the sixteenth century discipline was lax and the nuns, without the pope's consent, declared themselves canonesses. They did not take the vows and admitted only novices who could give proof of noble descent. She was Dame de Germainvilliers, and lived (1474-1505).

1502-06 Politically Active Queen Anna de Foix-Candale of Hungary and Bohemia
Active during the reign of her husband Władysław II Jagiellończyk, and after his death, she fought to secure the Hungarian and Bohemian crown for her son Ludwik. She lived (1484-1506).  

1503-30 Queen Putri Kalunggu of Banja (Indonesia) 
She succeeded Pangeran Gangga who reigned for 45 years (1460-1505). The head of the government was however Patih Mangkubumi Lambung Mangkurat. The Hindu kingdom was situated in today's South Kalimantan.

Until 1503 Queen Regnant Anacaona of the Maguana (Taino Tribe) in Hispaniola (Haiti/Dominican Republic)
The sister of the tribal chief Boechio Anacauchoa, king of Xaragua or Jaragua, she was married to King Caonabo, king . When her husband was taken prisoner, sent to Spain and died in a sea voyage, she inherited the tribe of the Maguana. She displayed confidence to maintain unity in the kingdom, fought to maintain peace and depose belligerence relating to the Christians. It's doubtful that the obedient tribes, under the authority of the Queen, would make an effort to please her, but the Spaniards didn't want to comprehend the Taino message of living together in peace. They took their abnegation, their nobility and tolerance as a weakness and gratified their cruelty with unusual conniving, destroying their traditions, and they masacered her soldiers. The survivors fled from the tragic inferno. The small Taino prince, Guarocuya, was saved by the tribal leader Tamayo and was delivered by el "Padre de las Casas"( a priest ) to the Franciscans (catholic monks) of the Verapaz. Higuemota, (Ana de Guevara) daughter of Anacaona, Mencia, Anacaona's grandaghter tribal leader Hatuey and tribal leader Guarocuya escaped from the tragedy. Queen Anacaona was accused of being a traitor. In September of 1503, she was hanged in the province of Xaragua.

1503-04 Hereditary Duchess Elisabeth of Bayern-Landshut (Lower Bavaria in Germany) 
She was daughter of Georg der Reiche of Bavaria-Landshut. She and her two sons with Pfalzgraf Ruprecht were heirs, but it was opposed by Duke Albrecht of Bavaria-München and it resulted in a succession war. Both she and her husband died in 1504 and the result was the reunion of the territory with Upper Bavaria. But her two sons became Princes of Pfalz-Neuburg. Elisabeth lived (1430-1504).

1503-05 and 1529-43 Sovereign Countess Jeanne de Hochberg of Neuchatel, Marquise de Rothelin (Rötteln (Switzerland)
Succeeded father, Philippe von Baden-Hachberg-Sausenberg, Margrave of Badenweiler, Neuenburg and Rotelin, and was married to Louis d'Orleans-Longueville (d. 1516). She was deposed by the French but was later reinstated. She introduced reformism in her lands in the 1530s. Their lands were inherited by their sons. She lived  (1480-1543). 

1503-22 Sovereign Duchess Suzane de Bourbon of Bourbon, Bourbonnais, Auvergne and La Dombes (France)
Daughter of Pierre III de Bourbon de Beajeau and the former regent of France, Anne de France, Viscomtesse de Thouars who was initially regent in Bourbon. Suzane was married to Charles III de Bourbon-Montpensier, Duke of Bourbonnais, who claimed the inheritance after her death. This was desputed by her first cousin, Louise de Savoie, mother of king François I. Charles entered the service of Emperor Karl V and was declared guilty of leze-majesty, his feudal possessions forfeited to the crown and his personal estate confiscated, but throught the intervention of the emperor he was later given his possessions back. She lived (1491-1522).

1503–ca. 21 De-Facto Ruler Costanza d'Avalos of the Island Ischia, Duchess of Francavilla and Lady di Pomanico, (Italy)  
In 1483 her husband, the governor of the island, Prince Federich del Balzo of Taranto, died. She had her brother, Inìgo d'Avalos named governor and governed jointly with him. After her brother's death in 1503, she defended the island against the French, restoring it to the Aragonian owerlordship. She continued to rule together with her nephew, Francesco Ferrante, who married the famous poet Vittoria Colonna, in 1509 and later also together with Alfonso d'Avalos and Costanza junior, and during her reign the Island became a famous cultural center. She was (b. 1460).

1504-55 Queen Juana I  of Castilla, Des Asturias and Galicia
1516-55 Queen of Castilla, Leon, Granada, Toledo, Galicia, Sevilla, Cordova, Murcia, Jaen, the Algarves, Algenciras, Gibraltar, the Canary Islands, the Indias, the Islands and Mainland of the Ocean Sea (Spain)
Her full title was By the Grace of God, Queen of Castilla, Aragon, Leon, Sicily, Grenada Toledo, Valencia, Galicia, Majorca, Seville, Sardinia, Cordova, Corsica, Murcia, Jaen, the Algarve, Algeciras, Gibraltar, the Canary Islands, Countess of Barcelona, Roussillon and Cerdagne, Lady of Biscay and Molina, Duchess of Athens and Neopatria, Margravine of Oristano and Gocian. She succeeded her mother, Isabel I in 1505 and father Fernando in 1516. Her father had nominated her as heir of all his possession with her son as regent, because of her mental instability, which is why she is known as Juana la Loca. Her husband Felipe I was king and regent 1504-06 and her son, Carlos I (and V of the Holy Roman Empire) became king in 1516. Juana lived (1479-1555).

1504-31 Sovereign Princess Hedwig of Münsterberg, Duchess of Sagan (Żagań-Ziębice) (Poland)
She was daughter of Duke Karl of Münsterberg and married to Margrave Georg the Pious of Brandenburg-Ansbach in 1525. He then became joint ruler. He had inherited some lands from his first wife, Beatrix Frankopani (see 1504) and inherited Oppeln and Ratibor from a relative and later bought Jägerdorf - all duchies in Schlesia which is now a part of Poland. Hedwig was mother of two daughters, and lived (1477-1531). 

1504-10 Sovereign Lady Beatrix Frankopani of Gyula and Hunyad etc. (Hungary), Wraschin Krapina, Medved, Rokonok, Lukavec, Urbovec, Seni, Novigrad etc. (Croatia) and possessions in Austria and Slovonia
The heiress of Vast lands in Croatia she also inherited the lands of her first husband, Duke Johannes Corvinicus, the son of King Matthias of Hungary. In 1509 she married Margrave Georg the Pious of Brandenburg-Ansbach with the stipulation that she was to remain in charge of her own lands and did not have to move to Germany. She probably died in childbed, and her husband inherited some of her lands. She lived (1480-1510).

1504-26 Regent Dowager Margravine Margherita di Foix of Saluzzo, and the County of Carmagnola (Italy)
Took over the reins after the death of her husband, Ludovico II di Saluzzo, Count of Carmagnola from 1475 and Margrave of Saluzzo 1475-87) and (1490-1504), pretender of the Monferrato Margravate (through his mother Isabella del Montferrato (1427-75) and Viceroy of Napoli 1503, she was regent for son Michele Antonio I (1495-1504-28). He was succeeded by his brother Gian Ludovico I, Abbot in Casanova del Villar San Costanzo, who was deposed the following year and was succeeded another brother Francesco Ludovico I, who was murdered in 1537 and succeeded by the fourth brother, Gian Gabriele I, Bishop of Aire, who renounced his ecclesiastic career and was deposed in 1548. Originally named Marguerite de Foix, she was daughter of Jean de Foix, Count de Benauges, who was created Earl of Kendal for services to England, but relinquished the title on opting for French nationality, and Margaret Kerdeston, Duchess of Suffolk. (d. 1536).

1504-12 Politically Influential Mette Iversdatter Dyre in Sweden 
1515-ca. 27 County Sheriff of Hørby Len (Denmark)
Known as Mätta Ivarsdotter in Sweden, she was very influential during the regency of her third husband was Svante Nilsson Sture, who was Regent of Sweden for King Hans of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. She was Svante's assistant and advisor, and an influential power in the national counsel. In important questions the great men rather went to her than to her husband. In 1507 she defended Stockholm Castle and in 1510 she was his representative in Finland. After her husband's death in 1512 she was in dispute with her step-son, Sten Sture the Younger, about some of her dowry. In 1515 King Christian 2. appointed Sheriff (Lensmand) of the Bishoply Fief of Hørby near Holbæk and as Chancellor of the Convent of Saint Agnete in Roskilde. Her first two husbands were the Norwegian Councillors of the Realm, Anders van Bergen (d. 1491) and Knut Alvsson (d. 1502). She lived (ca. 1460-ca.1527).

1504-32 Princess-Abbess Elisabeth von Reuss zu Weida of Gernrode (Germany)
In 1519 she send her preacher, Stephan Molitor to Worms, where he heard Martin Luther, in 1521 she introduced the Evangelican service and in 1523 she participated in the Reichstag von Worm, which laid the foundation of Protestant movement and she became the first Abbess of a Chapter of the Realm to join protestant faith. 1525 the inhabitatns of the Stift revolted against her plans to raise taxes and revenues, but she prevailed. She was daughter of Heinrich XX zu Reuss von Weida and Agnes Schenkin von Landaberg. (d. 1532).

1504-20 Princess-Abbess Verena vom Feld of Baindt (Germany)
Many members of her family held high ecclesiastical office throughout the years.

1504-51 Princess-Abbess Gertrud von Regenstein of Gandersheim (Germany)
Her election was confirmed by the Pope with the provision that she had to pay a yearly pension to the "contra-abbess" Katharina von Hohenstein, but she did not fulfil this part of her obligation. The ducal castle was expanded in 1528 and neighbouring hoses torn down to get a free shot at the chapter.

1504-36 "Contra-Abbess" Katharina von Hohnstein of Gandersheim (Germany)
She fought for the position with the officially elected and confirmed holder of the office and in 1518 Duke Heinrich zu Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel forced a compromise between the two competitors for the office.

1505-18 Regent Dowager Lady Mechteld van den Bergh of Bronckhorst (The Netherlands)
After the death of her husband, Frederik van van Bronckhorst en Borculo, she is regent for their son, Count Joost van Bronckhorst-Borculo, who married Maria van Hoya, but dies without issue in 1553 leaving the possessions to his niece Ermgard van Wisch.

1505-37 Princess-Abbess Marguerite de Mérode of Munsterbilzen, Dame of Wellen, Haccourt, Hallembaye and Kleine-Spouwen (Belgium)
Member of the Mérode-Falckenberg family who used the two names interchangeably. 

1505-07 Princess-Abbess Agnes II de Dommartin of Remiremont (France)
At the time discipline in the chapter was lax and the nuns, without the pope's consent, declared themselves canonesses. They did not take the vows and admitted only novices who could give proof of noble descent.

1505-16 Reigning Abbess Walburga Buck of Gutenzell (Germany)
The Chapter was founded 1230 as a free wordly chapter for noble ladies.

1507-15 and 1518-30 General-Stadtholder Margareta von Habsburg of the Netherlands 
Her nephew, Emperor Karl V, appointed her regent of the Netherlands. She was daughter of Emperor Maximilian and Duchess Marie of Bourgogne. Divorced from her first husband King Charles VIII of France, her second husband, Juan, the Crown Prince of Aragón and Castilla, died shortly after their marriage in 1497. In 1501 she married Duke Philiberto II of Savoie, who died three years later. She was also Countess of Artois, Bourgogne (Franche-Comté), Mâcon, Auxerre and Charolais, and Dame de Salins from 1493 as Marguerite III. She had no children, and lived (1480-1530).

1507-16 Regent Dowager Empress Eleni of Ethiopia
Born as Jan-zela, she was one of the widows of Emperor Baeda Maryam I (1468-78), and was politically influential during the reign of her son, Naod I (1494-1507), and then became regent for grandson Lebna Dengel (also known as Wanag Sagad or Dawit II). (1994-1507-16). She She was author of two works on theology and remained politically influential to her death in 1522.

1507-16 Junior Regent Dowager Empress Noad Mogassa of Ethiopia
After the death of her husband, Naod I, she was junior regent for son Lebna Dengel jointly with mother-in-law. She was the sister of Dori, the Bahr Negus - Ruler of Eritrea. (D. after 1527).

1507-? Iyoba Idia of Uselu in Benin (Nigeria)
She was appointed to the position of Queen Mother by her son Oba Ensigie (1504-50), after she helped pressing the attacking Igala back across the Niger River. Since then the Queen Mother was one of Benin's most powerful women. As a senior town chief she was has a voice in palace affairs and rules her own court. Though she is forbidden to see her son once he is crowned king, the Queen Mother is expected to support him spiritually. She lived in her own palace outside the capital. She did not appear in public and did not have an official role in the political system, but she was always "consulted" by important political decisions, and her vote was necessary in the political decision process. As widow of the former king and mother of the present, she was given semi-male status. She had a "wife" with the title of Amoda, she was surrounded by Amada, naked boys and has a whole court of officeholders. 

1507-53 Sovereign Duchess Luisa Borgia of Valentinos, Countess of Diois, Dame of La Mothe-Feuilly, Vaires and Neves (France)
1514-53 Dame de Chalus
1535-53 Duchess of Borgia (Navarra)
Also known as Louise, she was daughter of Cecare Borgia and in 1517 married to Louis II de La Trémoille, vicomte de Thouars, (1476-1525) who fell in battle. Five years later she married Philippe de Bourbon-Busset, seigneur de Chabannes and Busset (1499-1557), with whom she had 6 children. She lived (1500-53)

1507-14 (†) Guardian Dowager Duchess Charlotte d'Albret of Valentinos (France)
After the death of her husband, Cecare Borgia, she was regent for her only child, Luisa Borgia. Charlotte was daughter of Alain d'Albret, Count de Gavre, de Perigord et de Castres and Françoise de Blois dit de Bretagne, Countess de Perigord. Her brother Jean, married Catherine de Foix, Queen of Navarra and was king there (1483-1516). She was Dame de Chalus in her own right, and lived (1500-53).

1507-18 and 1523-35 County Sheriff Anne Meinstrup of Højstrup Len, Denmark
Also known as Anne Holgers, she was first married to Holger Eriksen Rosenkrantz and secondly to Jørgen Ahlefeldt, who was killed in battle in 1500. After this period she took care of herself and her own possessions, inherited from her parents. In 1507 she took over the fief of Højstrup as security (becoming Lensmand or County Sheriff) for a major lone she had given to King Hans. Around 1516 she was appointed Hofmesterinde (Mistress of the Court) of Queen Elisabeth von Habsburg. From the following year until 1522 she stayed in Northern Germany because she had criticized the relationship of King Christian 2 to Dyveke. After Christian fled the country, she returned and was re-appointed both Hofmesterinde and Lensmand. During the civil war, Grevens Fejde (War of the Count), she supported Count Christoffer, while her son, Holger Holgersen Rosenkrantz, supported the later Christian 3., but was killed in battle in 1534. Some months later Count Christoffer had called for a meeting at the "Assembly in Ringsted", and here she was killed by peasant-soldiers. She lived (ca. 1475-1535). 

1508-37 Sovereign Princess Adriana Crispo of Therasia, Nio and  Ios (Greek Island-State)
She succeeded her parents, Marco II and III of Ios and Santhorini and Licretia Loredani, and co-ruled with her husband, Alessandro Pisani of Anaphi and Antiparos.

Until ca. 1508 Arumpone We Tenri Gau Daeng Marowa Aru Majang (Makalappi) of Bone (Indonesia)
Succeeded her father, La Saliwu Karampeluwe Pasodowakkae, and was succeeded by son La Tenri Sukki Mapajunge who ruled ca. 1508-1535).

1508-10 and 1516-25 Regent Margravine Isabella d'Este of Mantova (Italy)  
Before 1508 she reigned when her husband, Federico I Gonzaga, was away from the state, she was regent during his captivity, afterwards during his illness and finally for son, Federico II Gonzaga, who was away from the state. She was very well educated. She was was able to speak Greek and Latin as well as play the lute, sing, dance and debate. As regent she founded a school for young women where they had to observe a strict code of morals. She was a patron of the Arts and she also set artistic fashions and standards. Isabella collected many paintings and statues. She also wrote over two thousand letters and in these she commented on everything from politics to war. That was the closest that any woman at that time ever got to writing history.

1508-10 Regent Dowager Duchess Kunigunde von Habsburg of Bavaria-Munich (Germany)
She married Albrecht IV of Bayern-München (1467-1508) against the will of her own father, Emperor Friedrich III, and joint regent for son Wilhelm IV (1493-1508-50). She later joined the Convent of Pütrich which she favoured. In spite of the resignation from the court she tried to influence the politics of the state as she acted in favour of the rights of her younger sons. She was in close contact with her brother, Emperor Maximilian I von Habsburg, and with other rulers and relatives in Europe. She was a political player in her own right and not only a "instrument" of her family. She lived (1465-1520).

1508-34 Princess-Abbess Anna IV von Falkenstein of Säckingen (Germany)
Duing the Peasent's War, the inhabitants of the towns of Säckingen and Laufenburg occupied the Chapter in 1525.

1508-09 and 1514-18 Regent Dowager Landgravine Anna von Mecklenburg-Schwerin of Hessen (Germany)
1510-25 Reigning Dowager Lady of Geissen, Grünberg, Borken, Felsberg, Wildeck and Rotenburg (from 1511)
Took over the regency for her Wilhelm II, who was unable to govern because of syphilis, but after his death she was removed, as regent by the Estates in spite of his will, which named her guardian and regent. The Estates named their own regents, on the pretext that she was below the age of 25, but the real reason was the fight for power among the different groups in the society. She continued her fight to become regent for Philipp (1504-25). She spoke her case before the Estates; in 1510 she claimed her right to a seat and vote at the Diet of the Realm as the rightful guardian. The emperor sympathised with her, but did not back her, but she also presented her case here. Later that year she withdrew to her dowry, but because of internal disputes in the regency college, she managed to be named regent. She called and chaired a Local Diet (Landtag) and an agreement was made. She named her own regency government and promised to report to the Estates once a year, but reigned independently. In 1518 she had emperor Maximilian I declare her 13 year old son of age, but the nobility continued the fight for power until it was finally defeated in 1523. She was daughter of Magnus II von Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Sophie von Pommern, also mother of a daughter, and lived (1485-1525).

1509-15 Princess-Abbess Anna III Kobold of Heggbach (Germany)
Perhaps also known as Kobodin, she was born as daughter of a citizen of Ulm.

1509 Princess-Abbess Marguerite III de Neufchatel of Remiremont (France)
Her election was never confirmed. Her sister, Bonne succeeded their brother, Thibaut XI, as Dame de Neufchatel in 1500/04 and lived until 1515. Her younger sister, Elizabeth de Neufchatel was Dame de Chatel-sur-Moselle, etc, They were children of Claude, Lord de Neufchatel, etc, Vicomte de Baume, Governor of Luxembourg and Burgundy, Marshall of Burgundy, etc. and Bonne van Bolchen Marguerite lived (Ca. 1480-1549).

1509-20 Princesse-Abbesse Aleidis de Choiseul of Remiremont (France)
She resigned.

1510-52 Governor Sayyida al-Hurra of Tetouán (Morocco)
Also known as Sayida Al Horra Bent Ali Ar Rachid, she was 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, and in 1520 captured the Governors wife and caused great damage to the Porugese colonial shipping. 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. 

1511 (†) Regent Dowager Princess Elena Salviati of Elba and Piombino (Italy)
Widow of Iacopo IV, who had regained control of the territory after it had been occupied by Cecare Borgia, she acted as regent for her son Iacopo V, but died shortly after taking office. The position of regent was taken over by another relative.

1511-39 Sovereign Duchess Maria of Jülich-Berg-Ravensberg-Heinsberg  (Germany)
Succeeded her father, Wilhelm IV. She married Johann III von Marck-Kleve and their duchies were united. She was a very devout catholic and was sceptic towards the liberal reforms of both her father and husband. One of her daughters, Anne of Kleve, married Henry the VIII of England. Maria lived (1491-1543).

1511-15 Princess-Abbess Magdalena von Anhalt of Quedlinburg (Germany)
Daughter of Fürst Albrecht IV and Countess Elisabeth von Mansfeld. She probably resigned and died later the same year.

1511-13 Reigning Abbess Emerita Lutschern of Königsfelden (Switzerland)
The Chapter acquired many possessions in Argau, Swabia and Alsace, but did apparently not have the dignity of Princess of the Empire (Reichsfürstin).

1512-16 Sovereign Duchess Germaine de Foix of Nemours, Countess of Foix-Béarn (France)
1526-37 Vice-reine and Lieutenant General of Valencia (Spain)
Known in Spain as Germana, she was the daughter of Count Jean de Foix, d'Etampes and Vicomte de Narbonne and Marie d'Orleans, she succeeded her brother, Gaston. She was married to Fernando II the Catholic of Aragón as his second wife after the death of Queen Isabel I. They engaged in a power struggle over her lands until his death in 1516. Three years later she married Johan von Brandenburg-Ansbach (d. 1525) one year after his death she married Fernando d'Aragon, Duca di Calabria (d. 1550) and they were appointed Virreina and Virrey of Valencia. She did not have any children, and lived (1490-1537).

1512-15 Sovereign Duchess Françoise of Longueville, Countess of Montgomery and Tancarville (France) 
Natural daughter of Daughter of king François II of France, and married to the Viscount de Melun, who died 1512. 

1513-14 Regent Dowager Queen Margaret Tudor of Scotland (United Kingdom of Great Britain)
After her husband, James IV of Scotland, was killed, she became regent for her infant son, James V, but her marriage in 1514 to Archibald Douglas, 6th earl of Angus, led to the loss of the regency to John Stuart, duke of Albany, who soon obtained custody of the king, and Margaret fled to England. She returned in 1517, during Albany’s absence, and shortly thereafter she became estranged from Angus. James was proclaimed king in 1524 but was for several years virtually a prisoner of Angus. In 1527, Margaret obtained a divorce from Angus and soon married Henry Stuart, later Lord Methven. The following year James escaped from Angus and joined his mother and Methven, and they were for a time his chief advisers. A plan of Margaret’s for a meeting between her brother Henry VIII of England and her son led James to accuse her of betrayal in 1534. They were further estranged by James’s refusal to allow her to divorce Methven. She lived (1489–1541).

1513 Governor of the Realm and Captain General of the King's Forces Queen Catherine of Aragón of England, Wales and Ireland (United Kingdom)
Following the death of her first husband, Prince Arthur of England, she married his brother Henry VIII. When he went to France on warfare she was appointed regent and led the English troops against the invading Scots at the Battle of Flodden (in Northumberland) and, afterwards, sent over to her husband, in Flanders, a grim reminder of her achievements there: the blood-stained tunic of dead James IV of Scots. In 1520, however, the she went to France alongside Henry and was present at the great meeting of the 'Field of the Cloth of Gold'. Of her four children only the later Queen Mary I survived. In 1533 Henry divorced her and broke with the Catholic church, she was deprived of her titles as Queen of England and was forced to revert to 'Princess Dowager of Wales'. She was kept in confinement but never remained long in one place, for she enjoyed great popularity throughout a Country and there were fears of an uprising in her favour. She was daughter of Queen Isabel I of Castilla and Ferdinand of Aragón and initially heir to her father, but her sister, Juana La Loca, inherited both Countries. Catherine lived (1485-1536).

1513-29 Joint Ruler Queen Burecca of The Maldive Islands
Also known as Buraki Rani, she was educated in the martial arts and out-shone her younger brother and sister. She had expected to succeed her grandfather to the throne. However several years after Siri Bavana Sooja died, it was her brother who came to the throne as King Siri Ananda Sultan Ali V (1512 -13) after several other reigns in between. She quarreled with her brother, fled the Maldives, and traveled east to the Kingdom of Aceh (known to the Maldivians as Asey Cara) on the island of Sumatra. There she completed her education and perfected her martial arts before returning home to depose her brother. Her fleet entered Malé harbour in the dead of night. She fought a duel with her brother on the square inside the royal palace complex, several hours before dawn that morning. She slew her brother and ascended the throne to rule jointly with her husband King Siri Dhammaru Bavana (Sultan Mohamed the Black). It was his third accession to the throne. In spite of her ambitions, and unlike several other women who occupied the throne, she did not take the title of Rehendi or Sultana. Instead she took the title of Ranin or Queen Consort. 

Until 1513 Sovereign Countess Claudine de Brosse of Penthièvre (France)
Also known as Claude, she succeeded Jean II de Brosse, Seigneur de Boussac, de Sainte-Severe, Count of Penthièvre by the right of his wife, Nicole de Chatillon de Blois, Comtesse de Penthievre, Vicomtesse de Limoges (d. after 1479) and married Philippe I,  Duke of Savoie 1496-1497, Comte de Bresse. (d. 1513-).

1513-50 County Sheriff Else Pederdatter Tot of Sundsherred Len, Denmark
1521-47 County Sheriff of Nørvangsherred and Hønberg Len
She was first married to Claus Krummedige and secondly to Thomas Nilsson (Lange). Today the family spells the name Thott.

Until 1513 Princess-Abbess Elisabeth zu Dhaun-Kyburg of Elten (Germany)
Daughter of Johann IV, Wild- und Rheingraf zu Dhaun und Kyrburg and Elisabeth von Hanau.

1514-15 (or 1515-20)  Acting Governor Maria Alvarez de Toledo of Hispaniola/Las Isla Espanola (Dominican Republic and Haïti), Acting Vicereine of of las Indias Occidentales (West Indies)
Her husband, Diogo Colóm, was Vice-roy 1509-14 and 1520-23, and she also held the title of Vicereine of the West Indies. She was stand-in for her husband when he was in Spain 1515-20, and remained in close contact with the Queen of Spain, Isabel de Portugal, and her husband Emperor Charles V (1516-56). She was member of an ancient noble family in Spain and mother of 5 children. Her youngest, Isabel Colóm was married to don Jorge de Portugal, Count de Gelves y Mayor de los alcázares de Sevilla.

1514-20 Regent Dowager Despina Helena of Serbia
Her first husband was Jovan Brankovic, despot of Sebia in 1493–1502. After his dead she was married to Croatian nobleman Ivanis Berislavic who then became the Serbian despot. After his death, she conducted the affairs of state in place of her minor son, Stjepan Berislavic (1514 – 35).

1514-24 Sovereign Duchess Claude de France of Bretagne, Countess d'Étampes 
1514-17 Sovereign Duchess of Berry (France)
The eldest daughter of King Louis XII of France, she succeeded her mother Anne, as Duchess of Brittany. The same year she married her cousin, who because of the French salic law succeeded her father as king François I. In 1532 the personal union of France with Brittany was made definitive. Their oldest son became duke and was succeeded by his brother, François in 1536. Her life was spent in an endless round of annual pregnancies. Her husband had many mistresses but was usually relatively discreet. She imposed a strict moral code on her household, which only a few like her lady-in-waiting Mary Boleyn chose to flout. Another lady-in-waiting was Anne Boleyn, who later married Henry VIII of England. Claude was short in stature and afflicted with scoliosis that gave her a small hunched back. She was mother of 7 children, among other King Henri III, Duchess Marguerite de Valois de Berry, and Queen Madeleine of Scotland, and lived (1499-1524).

1515-75 Sovereign Duchess Renée de France of Chartres, Countess of Gisoirs et de Montargis (France)
Also known as Renata di Francia. Her mother, Duchess Anne of Bretagne, who had always fought fiercely to keep the state independent of the French crown, tried to will the duchy to Renée, but her father King Louis XII ignored this and instead granted Brittany to his successor, the husband of her sister, Francis I, King of France. In return for renouncing her claims to the duchy of Brittany, she was granted the duchy of Chartres. She was married in 1528 to Ercole II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara who ruled 1534-59. After his death she returned to France because she was on bad terms with her son Alfonso II and  settled in Montargis. She was mother of 4 children, and  lived (1510-74).

1515-50 Sovereign Princess Isabelle-Louise de Bourbon of Carency (France)
Her brother, Betrand died in 1515 as the last male of the line. The following year she married François de Perusse d'Escars, seigneur de La Vauguyon. Their son Jean de Perusse d'Escars (d. 1595), knight of the Saint-Esprit in 1578, made comte de La Vauguyon in 1586, continued the use the title Prince de Carency.

1515-24  Sovereign Duchess Philiberta di Savoia of Nemours (France)
She and her husband, Giuliano de Medici, had been created joint holders of the duchy. In 1524 Queen Louise de Savoie was created Duchess. She lived (1498-1524).

1515-19 De Facto Governor Alfonsina Orsini of The Republic of Firenze (Italy)
As mother of the de facto ruler of Florence, Lorenzo II de' Medici, she was able to govern during his absence. She was involved in the strategic planning of Florence's war with the French and the plans for making a treaty as well as her oversight of Pope Leo's entry into Florence in November 1515. Her governorship was indicative of the increasingly signora nature of the Medici regime and that she had far more power, influence and authority than the previous generation of Medici women. She was the daughter of Roberto Orsini, Conte Tagliacozzo and Catherine San Severino and married to Piero "il Unfortunato" de' Medici, who lived 1503. Apart from Lorenzo, she was mother of  Clarissa de' Medici, and lived (1472-1520).

1515-26 Princess-Abbess Barbara I Ellenbog of Heggbach (Germany)
In 1525 Heggbach was raided by the peasent's war (Bauernkrieg) which covered parts of Germany at the time. A daughter of a citizen of Augsburg, she entered the chapter in 1487 and some of her brothers were also clerics.

1515-74 Princess-Abbess Anna II von Stolberg-Weiningsrode of Quedlinburg (Germany)
Anna, who had been elected to the office when she was scarcely thirteen years old, introduced Lutheranism in all the houses under her jurisdiction. The choir service in the abbey church was abandoned, and the Catholic religion wholly abrogated. The monastic offices were reduced to four, but the ancient official titles retained. Thereafter the institution continued as a Lutheran sisterhood till the secularization of the abbey in 1803. Anna II was daughter of Botho III von Stolberg and Countess Anna von Eppenstein, and lived (1504-74).

1516-20 Sovereign Duchess Jeanne d'Orléans of Valois (France)
Granddaughter of Louis d'Orléans (1392-1407) the son of King Charles V of France. She succeeded her relative, king François of France, and married to Charles de Coëtivy, Count de Tailleburg, and lived (1462-1520). 

1516-49 Sovereign Duchess Marguerite d'Orléans-Angoulême of Berry 
1525-49 Duchess of Alençon and Rodez, Comtesse d'Armagnac, du Perche, Pezenac, de L'Isle-Jourdain, Porhoët, Pardiac, Viscomtesse Fezenzaguet, Brulhois, d'Auvillars, Baroness de Castelnau, Caussade, Montmiral and Dame de La Flêche and Baugé (France)
She was sister of Francis I of France, and first married the Duke of Alençon (d.1525) and in 1527, Henry d'Albret (titular king of Navarra). With a strong interest in Renaissance learning, she was much influenced by Erasmus and the religious reformers of the Meaux circle, who looked to her for patronage and  protection. She encouraged agriculture, learning, and the arts, and her court was the most intellectual in Europe. The  patron of men of letters, including the heretical poet Clément Marot, she was a prolific writer of long devotional poems, dramas, secular poems, and the celebrated Heptaméron, a collection of stories on the theme of love. She lived (1492-1549).

1516-22 Regent Dowager Duchess Margaretha von Münsterberg of Anhalt-Dessau (Germany)
Widow of Ernst and regent for Johannes II (1504-16-51). She was a respected ruler, and corresponded with Martin Luther, but remained a devout Catholic and refused to accept the reformation, but after her death, her sons jointed the Protestant movement. She lived (1473-1530).

1516 Rani Regnant of Quilon (India)
Quilon or Kollam in Kerala is an old sea port town on the Arabian coast. The state had a sustained commercial reputation from the days of the Phoenicians and the Romans. The port of was frequented by the Chinese, Arabs and the Nestorian Christians, from Alexandria, it was regarded by the Arab author, Ibn Batuta, as one of the major five ports, which he had seen in the course of his travels during a period of twenty four years, in the 14th century. The rulers of Kollam (Desinganadu) and China, exchange embassies and there was flourishing Chinese settlement at Kollam.

1516-67 Ruler Puteri di Dalam Petung of Pasir (Indonesia)
She was the oldest daughter of a mythical woman, who married a Prince of Grisee - a priest-principality on Java. Puteri di Dalam married Abu Mansyur Indra Jaya, who introduced islam in Pasir. She was succeeded by her son Aji Mas Pati Indra as ruler of the principality in East-Borneo/Kalimantan

1516-28 Reigning-Abbess Katherina von Waldburg of Königsfelden (Switzerland)
The last reigning Abbess of the Ecclesiastical Territories of Königsfelden, which had vast possessions in Aargau, Swabia and Alsace. As a result of the reformation the Chapter was secularized and its possessions in Aargau were annexed to Bern and the possessions in Swabia and Alsace were sold in  1528.

1516-26 Princess-Abbess Walburga Buck of Gutenzell (Germany)
Since 1521, the Ladies of the Sift charged the Hofmeister with the task of taking part in the Schwäbian Circle of the Imperial Diet in their name. At the time, the Stift ruled over eight settlements with 1.189 inhabitants.

1517 Sovereign Lady Dorothea Papinga of Jever (Germany)
Daughter of the Frisian chief, Edo Wiemken of West-Friesland, she and her two sisters succeeded their brother, Junker Christoph. Count Enno II of Friesland tried to incorporate Jever into his domain, he occupied the territory, and held the three sisters imprisoned in the castle, where Dorothea died shortly after.

1517-36 Sovereign Lady Anna Papinga of Jever (Germany)
Joint heiress of Jever with her two sisters. In 1531 the Lord Boring von Oldersum sided with the two sisters and secured the land for them. 

1517-75 Sovereign Lady Maria of Jever, Rüstringen, Östringen and Wangerland (Germany)
After the death of her two sisters, and the removal of the West-Frisians, she became sole ruler of the area, with the title of Erbherrin. Also known as Fräulein or Miss Maria, she concentrated on the consolidation and expansion of the Jever-territory and with support from the Emperor she maintained her demands in the Ostfrisean lands and the Frisian village developed into a modern territorial state. She never married and after her death the territory was inherited by her mother's family; the counts of Oldenburg. She lived (1500-75).

1518-56 Politically influential Queen Bona Sforza of Poland and Lithuania
1524-57 Sovereign Princess of Bari, Rossano, Crottaglie, Ostuni and Monteserico (Italy)
Her mother, Isabella de Aragon, had provided Bona with an excellent education. She read classic masterpieces and studied law and history and was fluent in Spanish and Latin. Bona married the 51-year old recently widowed King Sigmund I of Poland. It did not take long before she got involved in politics and economics, and she spent a lot of energy on recovering royal properties that had been in the hands of creditors. She increased the revenues and raised taxes, and remained familiar with the current affairs of Bari and Rosano that legally remained in her hands. Emperor Felipe II was putting a great deal of pressure on Bona to pass her properties in Apulia and Calabria to Spain. In 1556 she returned to lItaly and was warmly welcomed by her people, but one of her favourite advisors, Gian Baptista Pappacoda, was a Spanish spy. In November 1557 she turned very ill and she could not return to Poland as planned. Pappacoda tricked the Queen to change her will in favour of Felipe II. When her health improved, she tried to change the will, but she was poisoned by Pappacode, and everything she had owned was stolen and no will could be imposed. She lived (1494-1557).

1518-30 Regent Dowager Margravine Anne d'Alençon of Monferrato
1533-36 Possible Regent of Monferrato (Italy)
After the death of her husband, Guglielmo IX Secondo Lazzaro (1494-1818), she was ruled in the name of her son, Bonifacio IV (1512-18-30), who was succeeded by uncle, the former Bishop Giangiorgio Sebastiano, (1488-1530-33). After her oldest daughter, Maria, had been divorced from Federico II Gonzaga, Anne arranged the marriage between Federico and her second daughter Margherita, who transmitted the claims of the Margravte to her husband, who was appointed Marchese of Monferrato in 1536. Anne might have acted as regent in the remaining period. She was also Dame de La Guerche and lived (1492-1562).

1518-23 De-facto In charge of the Customs Sigbrit Villoms in Denmark
1519-23 "Second in Command" in Denmark
1522-23 De-facto Leader of the Treasury
Generally known as Mor Sigbrit, she was a Dutch tradeswoman who moved Norway and managed a trading company in Bergen of a substantial size. Her daughter, Dyveke, became mistress of the later Christian 2 of Denmark around 1509. When became king in 1513 they moved with him to Copenhagen and Sigbrit's influence grew. Dyveke died suddenly in 1517 - rumoured to have been poisoned. Queen Elisabeth von Habsburg appointed her as her Chief of Court and she also acted as midwife of the king's children. Her brother was a pharmacist and she was knowledgeable about medicine. She was also left in charge of the government when Christian was abroad. 1522 she was given a so-called "General receipt" (generalkvittering), that made her de-facto a kind of Minister of Finance. When the king was deposed in 1523 for his dictatorial rule, she went with the family to the Netherlands where they tried to gain support for the king's return. One of the conditions was that Christian had to part with her. From then on, nothing is heard of her, though the story of an old woman in prison accused of heresy or witchcraft sounds like it could have been her. Sigbrit Willoms also wrote her surname as Villumsdatter and she (d. ca. 1532).

1518-20 Pretender Fiorenza Sommaripa of Paros (Greece)
1520 Princess Regnant
The island was under Venezia rule during various periods. The modern name of the island is Paros.

1519-56 Sovereign Margravine Riccairda Malaspina of Massa e Carrara, Lady of Massa dei Malpasina, Sovereign Lady of Carrara, Avenza e Moneta, (Italy)
Inherited the possessions of her father, Alberico II Malapasina. After the death of her sister, Eleonora, she got papal dispensation to marry her close relative, Count Scipione Fieschi. After his death in 1520 she married Lorenzo Cybo - the nephew of Pope Leon X. 1525 Emperor Karl V formally invested her with the fief of Massa e Carrara and the Malaspinan territories in 1529. She preferred to reside in Rome and Firenze, and in her abcence Cardinale Innocenzo Cybo was in charge of the government. Succeeded by son Giulio Cybo-Malaspina, and lived (1497-1556).

Ca. 1520-40 Queen Rangita of Hova (Madagascar)
Succeeded mother, Queen Ravadyfohy, and was succeeded by king Andriamponga.

1520-? Sovereign Countess Magdalena of Montfort-Tettnang (Germany)
She was daughter of Count Ulrich VII and Magalena von Oettingen, who married secondly to Johann I von Montfort-Rothenfels-Wasserburg. Magdalena was the only reigning Countess in the history of Tettnang. In 1521 Emperor Karl V gave her Blutbann as a fief, in 1525 she was faced with a peasant-uprising and in 1541 the county was hit by plague. 

1520 Rebellion Leader Kristina Gyllenstierna in Sweden
The daughter of Nils Eriksson Gyllenstierna (member of the Swedish national counsel) she married Sten Sture in 1511 and Sten Sture was elected regent the following year. From the age of 21 she took part in the national counsel and showed a remarkable knowledge and maturity . In 1520 her husband died of the damages he had got at the battle of Bogesund, and in may the same year she manned the Stockholm and defended the city, with success, against the Danish troops under command of Christian II. In September she had to capitulate and surrendered Stockholm to the Danish king. This was the beginning of the infamous 'Stockholm's bloodbath'. She was imprisoned at Stockholm Castle where she stayed until November 1521 when she was brought to Denmark. 1524 she could return to Sweden, country which now where ruled by the Swedish king Gustav Vasa, the son of her half sister Cecilia of Eka. She once again tried to get involved in politics, but in 1525 she reached a settlement with her nephew, and married Johan Turesson Tre Rosor (a member of the national counsel) in 1527. He died in 1566. She had a son with Svante and one with Johan, and lived (1494-1559).

1520-65 Princess-Abbess Anna II von Limburg-Stirum of Herford and Gerresheim (Germany)
She had been Koadjutorin 1515-20, and was the first to be appointed Princess of the Empire of the territory in 1523 and 7 years later she introduced the reformation in her principality, whereafter Herford became a secular protestant Stift. She was daughter of Count Adolf von Limburg and Elisabeth von Reichenstein One sister, Agnes, was Abbess of Freckenhorst and Metelen, (d.1570) and another, Katharina, was Abbess of Borghorst (d.1572). Anna resigned and lived another 20 years before her death in 1585.

1520-29 Princess-Abbess Anna VII Schlaibegg of Baindt (Germany)
The Chapter and City of Baindt were closely connected during the centuries, but the Peasent's Uprising (Bauernkrieg) of 1525 the abbey was burned down.

1520-22 Princess-Abbess Marguerite III d'Esne of Nivelles, Dame Temporaire and Spirituelle of Nivelles (Belgium)
The issue of an ancient North-French family.

1520-69 Princess-Abbess Barbara II von Aham of Niedermünster in Regensburg (Germany)
She was influential in Regensburg, the frequent meeting place of the imperial diet from 1532, and from 1663 to 1806 it was the permanent seat of the Imperial Diet - where she was member of the Bench of Bavarian Prelates. Barbara was member of an old Bavarian noble family.

1520-34 Gülbehar Hatun Mahidevran Valide Sultan of The Ottoman Empire (Covering Turkey, Greece, The Balcans, parts of the Middle East and Northern Africa)
Hafsa Hatin or Aisha Hafsa Khanum, acted as Queen Mother of her son, Süleyman the Magnificent after the death of her husband Selim I. She may have been daughter of Mengli Giray Khan of the Crimean Tatars, and lived (1494-1534).

1521-22 Regent Queen Anna Jagiellonka of Austria
1539 Regent of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia
The daughter of king Wladislaw II Jagiello of Hungary and Bohemia and Anne de Foix-Candale. Since 1521 a wife of Ferdinand von Habsburg, Archduke of Austria, since 1526 Anna and Ferdinand were king and Queen of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia. She lived (1503-47).

1521-50 Reigning Dowager Duchess Anna von Pommeren of Lüben (Lubin) (Poland)
After the death of her husband, Georg I von Brieg (Jerzy of Brzeg) (1495-1521), she held the Slesian Principality as her dowry. She lived (142-1550).

1521-47 Reigning Lady Anna von Brandenburg of the Cities and Administrative Offices of Crivitz and Lübz in Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Germany)
1547-67 Reigning Dowager Lady
The wife of Albrecht VII of Mecklenburg she was given the territories (Städte und Ämter) as her dorwy for life.  Her husband died in 1547 and she moved to the renovated castle of Eldenburg. She was a devout Catholic, but in 1559 her son, Johann Albrecht I expelled the munchs and priests from her lordship, which was the only place that had not joined the reformation.

1521-32 Regent Dowager Queen Njai Tjili of Ternate (Indonesia)
She was regent for sons Deijalo and Bohejat. In 1532 Prince Kaitjil became sultan.

1521-34 Princess-Abbess Margarethe II von Beichlingen of Essen (Germany)
During the 14th century the organisation of the Chapter and its surrounding got more characer of an acctual state. Margarethe II was member of the very ancient Countly family of von Beichlingen, which was one of the most important families of Thüringen.

1521-39 Princess-Abbess Marie von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel of Gandersheim (Germany)
She was the 9th of the 11 children of Friedrich II von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel and Hedwig von Württemberg, was succeeded by her 7 year old sister and lived (1521-39).

1522-39 Sovereign Countess Ludovica Torello of Guastalla (Italy)
After the death of her second husband, she became a cleric. The County of Guastalla, which she had inherited from her father, was claimed by another branch of the family, and the affair was carried before Pope Clement VIII and Emperor Charles V. She settled the matter by disposing of her estates to Fernando Gonzaga, thereby also increasing her resources for the religious foundations she had in mind. In 1536 she entered the Angelicals, a congregation which she had founded, taking the name of Paola Maria. Later she established or assisted in the establishment of several other religious houses in various parts of Italy. When Paul III imposed the cloister on the Angelicals, she instituted another community, also at Milano. Like the Angelicals, they were under the direction of the Barnabites. The members, known as Daughters of Mary, dedicated themselves to the care of orphans of noble family, eighteen being provided for in the endowment. She lived (1499-1569).

1522-49 Princess-Abbess Adrienne I de Saint Omer of Nivelles, Dame Temporaire and Spirituelle of Nivelles (Belgium)
Her family were lords of the city of St.-Omer in Belgium. 

1523-58 De-facto Ruler Kadin Hürrem Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (Covering Turkey, Greece, The Balcans, parts of the Middle East and Northern Africa)
Western sources refer to her variously as Roxelana, Rosa, Rosanne, Rossa, Ruziac or La Rossa. She is generally believed to have been enslaved during raids by the Crimean Turks on Ukraine and Galcia during the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim, and presented to the Ottoman palace. Of the diverse theories about her ethnic origin, it is most likely that she was Russian or Polish, and there is evidence that she considered herself to be Polish. She was given the name Hürrem, on account of her cheerful temperament. And became Süleyman the Magnificent's premier wife, the birinci kadin. To ensure that one of her own sons would succeed to the throne, she did everything in her power to turn Süleyman against his eldest son and heir Mustafa. She also conspired to bring about the execution of Grand Vezir İbrahim Paşa, who was a staunch supporter of Şehzade Mustafa. She persuaded Süleyman to appoint as grand vizier their daughter Mihrumâh's husband Rüstem Paşa, and the three schemed to bring about the death of Şehzade Mustafa. From Hürrem’s letters written to Süleyman when he was on campaign, we learn that she advised him on political matters. The letters of congratulation and gifts sent to the Polish King Zigsmund II by Hürrem and Mihrumâh, and the correspondence between Hürrem and the sister of Shah Tahmasp of Iran are cited as evidence of her influential role in politics and foreign affairs. During her later life, Hürrem Sultan became more concerned with charitable works and founded a number of institutions, becoming the first woman to endow a mosque complex in Istanbul. She lived (ca. 1507-58).

1523-40 Princess-Abbess Elisabeth von Hohengeroldseck of Buchau (Germany)
She was daughter of Gangolf von Hohengeroldseck and Kunigunde von Montfort. In 1497 she was Canoness and participated in the election of her predecessor. In 1524 the territory became a member of the Swabian League (Schwäbische Bund) and member of the Geistlischen Fürstenbank - Bench of the Lords Spiritual of the Schwäbischer Kreis (Swabian Circle) - the Regional Assembly. According to the older literature she was driven out of the Chapter for a period during a peasant revolt. She lived (before 1480-1540).

1523-26 Politically Active Queen Elisabeth von Habsburg of Denmark
Accompanied her husband, Christian 2. (1481-1513-23-59) of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, in exile, and she was active on his behalf on the European stage, working for his reinstatement. In 1524 she spoke in his favour at the Diet of the Holy Roman Empire in Nürnberg. He later tried to reclaim the throne, but was taken captive and died in imprisonment. She was daughter of Queen Juana la Loca and king Felipe de Austria of Castilla, and lived (1501-26).

1524-... Sovereign Countess Madeleine de la Tour of Auvergne (France)
Succeeded sister, Anne (1500-24), and reigned jointly with husband Lorenzo de' Medici. She was succeeded by daughter Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France, but it is not known exactly when. Madeleine lived (1500-79).

1524-31 County Sheriff Ingeborg Nilsdatter Parsberg of Gårdstange Len, Denmark (Now Sweden)
Also known as Gardsstange, it is situated in the Landscape of Skåne, which was part of Denmark until 1658 until it was conquered by Sweden.

1525-50 Sovereign Duchess Françoise d'Alençon of Beaumont-Maine, Princesse d'Alençon (France)
She succeeded brother, Charles IV, who had no children with his wife Marguerite d'Orléans-Angoulême, Duchesse de Berry. Françoise was married to François d'Orléans, Duc de Longueville and to Charles IV de Bourbon, Duc de Vendôme. Her sister Anne d'Alençon was Dame de la Guerche and married to Guillaume Paléolouge, Marquis de Monferrato, and lived (1490-1550). Françoise lived (1490/91-1550). 

1525-54 Princess-Abbess Ursula II Mundbrot von Spiegelberg of Schänis (Switzerland)
In 1525 the people of the Gasterland in the Schänis Area joined the reformed faith in, but after the victory of the Catholic areas by Kappel in 1531 they were forced back to the catholic faith. Fürstäbtissin Ursula was member of an old Frankish noble family.

1525-29 Reigning Abbess-General Leonor de Sosa de Mendoza of the Monastery of Santa Maria la Real de las Huelgas in Burgos (Spain)
The Abbess of the Chapter held her own courts, granted letters dismissorial for ordination, and issued licenses authorizing priests, within the limits of her abbatial jurisdiction, to hear confessions, to preach, and to engage in the cure of souls. She was privilege also to confirm Abbesses, to impose censures, and to convoke synods.

1526-29 Sovereign Princess Anna of Mazowsze-Bełz (Poland)
She succeeded her father, Duke Konrad III. Her mother was Princess Anna Radziwiłłówna, and she lived (1498/1500-after 1557).  

1526-33 Reigning Dowager Countess Anna von Schönberg
 of Schaumburg (Germany)
Took over the castle and territory as her dowry after the death of her husband, Anton, the last count to reside of the castle.

1526-32 Hereditary Imperial Steward and Lady Margarete zu Reuss of Weida (Germany)
Daughter of Heinrich XXIII (1480-1531) and Margarete von Mansfeld. She apparently reigned together with her father for four years. Married to Count Johann Heinrich von Schwarzburg-Leutenberg (d. 1555). Her aunt was Abbess Elisabeth von Gernrode (d. 1532). 

1526-35 Acting Governor Isabel Manrique, Isla de Margarita (Venezuela/Spanish Possession)
She and her husband, the judge of the High Court of Santo Domingo, Marcelo de Villalobos, had been installed in the island since 1512. In 1525 he obtained, by pact with the Spanish Crown, the Governorship of Margarita, but he passed away the following year, and Isabel asked for the rights of governorship to be transferred to her daughter, Aldonza. Isabel appointed a number of governor-lieutenants, but continued to take care of her daughter's interests until she married in 1535.

1526-32 Princess-Abbess Walpurgis Bitterler of Heggbach (Germany)
She was member of a Noble family from Basel in Switzerland and died of breast cancer.

1526-28 Princess-Abbess Barbara von Stottingen of Gutenzell (Germany)
In 1526 the peasants attacked the Chapter and looted the rooms and the same year the citizen of Biberach wanted to introduce the reformation but did not succeed.

1527-28 Regent Dowager Queen Maria von Habsburg of Bohemia-Hungaria
1527 Presided over the Hungarian Assembly (December)
1530 Presided over the Austrian Landtag (January)
1530-55 General-Stadtholder of the Netherlands
1530-58 Governor of Franche-Comté (France)
At 17, she married King Lajos II Jagello of Hungary, who was 15. Four years later, the Turks over-ran half his kingdom, including the capital, Budapest. Louis was killed at the battle, and Maria fled west, taking the Hungarian treasury with her, and she called the Assembly which elected her brother, Archduke Ferdinand von Österreich king of Hungary. In 1530 she Presided over the Landtag in his name. Her brother, Karl V, appointed her Governor of the Netherlands after the death of their aunt, Margaretha and she was also put in charge of Franche-Compté. Maria was grand-daughter of Duchess Marie of Burgundy, had no children, and lived (1505-58). 

1527-35 Sovereign Duchess Giulia da Varano of Camerino (Italy)
Succeeded to the title when her father died of plague, but was deposed by a male relative. She was daughter of Giovanni Maria, Lord and 12th Pontifical Vicar of Camerino and Count since 1503 Duke of Camerino, who was deposed in 1521, reappointed the following year and confirmed by papal bull with the right of succession for her in 1524, and of Caterina Cybo. Married to Guidobaldo II della Rovere, Duke di Urbino (1514-74), and lived (1523-47).

1527-ca. 75 Governor-in-absentia Aldonza de Villalobos Manrique, Isla de Margarita (Venezuela/Spanish Possession)
Normally known as Aldonza Manrique. After her father's death, her mother, Isabel Manrique, had the king transfer the governorship to her in 1527 - with the condition that while she was under age or was unmarried, the governorship was held by "a man with appropriate age", and her mother therefore appointed a number of governor-lieutenants. In 1535 Aldonza married the conqueror Pedro Ortiz de Sandoval, who came to Santo Domingo from Peru. In 1539 the Council of the Indians confirmed her rights, but she did not take over before 1542, when she and her husband ruled as lieutenant-governors. There are no documents evidencing she ever traveled to the island, and it cannot be taken for granted that her husband did it either. After her husband's death in 1546, Aldonza retained the title of Governor of Margarita, but continued to live in Santo Domingo, until her daughter, Marcela, got married aged 14 with Juan Gómez de Villandrando, who became the new lieutenant-governor on behalf of Aldonza. In 1561 the island was invaded, and Marcela's husband killed. In 1565 Aldonza traveled to Spain with her daughter and two grandsons, and requested to the Council of the Indians the island Governorship to be transferred to one of those, Juan Sarmiento de Villandrando. The petition was accepted after 10 years, after she had already died. Aldonza lived (ca. 1520-75).

1527-47 Princesse-Abbesse Magdalena de Choiseul of Remiremont, Dame of Saint Pierre and Metz etc. (France)
As sovereign of the territory she had the right to choose the mayor of Remiremont from a list proposed by the nobles of the city. The mayor's deputy, the Grand Eschevin, was chosen by the mayor from a list of 3 candidates presented by the bourgeois of the city with her advice. She resigned from the post as sovereign of the ecclesiatical state and 74 lordships in northern France. She resigned from her position.

1528, 1529-33, 1535-36 and 1538-39 Regent Queen Isabel de Portugal of Spain
In charge of the government during her husband emperor Carlos (V) of the Holy Roman Empire (1516-56)'s travels in the Empire. A strong willed woman, though delicate, she governed the country and her children with a strong hand. Though a rarity in arranged marriages it is believed Charles and Isabella shared a strong love for one another. When she died following a miscarriage, Charles was heartbroken. He collected all the paintings that were done of her and had more commissioned to keep the memory of her alive. She was granddaughter of Ferdinand and Isabel I and mother of 6 children - among others king Felipe II (Husband of Queen Mary of England). She lived (1503-39).

1528-37 Princess Regnant Adriana Crispo of Antiparos (Greek Island-State)
Succeeded grandmother. In 1537 the island was conquered by the Osman Turks.

1528-42 Princess-Abbess Magdalena von Freyberg of Gutenzell (Germany)
The Chapter was founded in 1230 and started the process towards independence as a princely territory in the Holy Roman Empire in 1417.

1528-70 Feudal Duchess Isabella Colonna of Traetto, Contess di Fondi and Ceccano, Lady of Paliano, Olevano, Serrone, Zancati, Morulo etcAcquaviva, Maranola, Carpello, Sperlonga, Monticelli, Inola, Pastena and S. Chigia, Capranica Prenestina, Genzano, Genazzano, Guliano, Montecmopatri, Sgurgola, Nettuno, Ciliano, Castel Mattia, Supino, San Lorenzo, San Vito, Ceccano, ofi, Falvaterra, Sonnino and Vallecorsa (Italy)
She was heiress of Traetto and Fondi and pretender to the other fiefs. Fist married to Lodovico II Gonzaga, 3rd Count di Sabbioneta (1500-32) and then to Philippe de Lannoy, Prince de Sulmona. She lived (1513-70).

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. 

1529.... Sovereign Baroness Renée de Bourbon-Montpensier of Mercoeur (France)
The barony was given to her and her husband, Antoine, duc de Lorraine. Her son was made a prince of Mercoeur.

1529-35 Princess-Abbess Margaretha IV Brock of Baindt (Germany)
In 1521 the Princess-Abbess was mentioned as an Imperial Prelate in an inventory of the Reichsstände - the territories of the Realm.

1529-36 Reigning Abbess-General Leonor Sarmiento of the Monastery of Santa Maria la Real de las Huelgas in Burgos (Spain)
Both temporal and secular ruler of the territory.

1529 Hereditary Countess Irmgard von Sayn of Limburg an der Lenne and Broich (Germany)
Daughter of Count Johann VIII zu Sayn (1493-1529) and Otille of Nassau-Saarbrücken, she was married to Wirich von Daun.

1529-31 County Sheriff Sofie Gyldenstierne of Hagenskov Len, Denmark
As lensmand (County Sheriff) she acted as the king's representative and was in charge of various aspects of the local administration.

1529-35 Politically Influential Queen Anne Boleyn of England (United Kingdom)
Her father, Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormonde, was a diplomat and as a childe was offered a place at the court of Margareta of Habsburg, Regent of the Netherlands. She later became a lady-of-waiting to Queen Claude of France and of Queen Catherine of Aragon when she returned to England. In 1525 Henry VIII also fell in love with her and began his pursuit, she refused until he proposed marriage to her sometime in 1527. She managed to have Cardinal Wolsey, who opposed their marriage, removed from power in 1529, and she became the most powerful person at Court where she had a great say over appointments and political matters. She clashed heads with the king’s new chief minister, Sir Thomas More, who was a bitter enemy of religious freedom and reform. When the Pope refused to accept their marriage, she suggested that he should follow the advice of religious radicals like William Tyndale who denied Papal Authority and believed that the monarch should lead the Church of his own nation. When the devoutly Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury died, Anne had her family’s chaplain – Thomas Cranmer – appointed to the vacant position. She also facilitated the rise of Thomas Cromwell, who became the king’s favorite new adviser, though she would later regret this. During this period, she also played an enormous role in England's international position, by solidifying the French alliance. She established an excellent rapport with the French ambassador, Giles de la Pommeraye. She was appointed Marchioness of Pembroke before their secret marriage in 1532. In 1533 a public wedding was coducted and Catherine was formally stripped of her title as queen in time for Anne’s coronation in May 1533 and the "break with Rome. In September her only daughter, the later Queen Elizabeth, was born. The marriage soon began breaking down and she had a misscarriage in 1534 and 1536. Henry began a relationship to Jane Seymour and in order to be able to marry her, he accused her of adultery and had her executed. She lived (ca. 1507-36).

1530-99 Rani Abbakka Devi Chowta of Ullal (India)
Sources and historical analysis confirm that there were three Abbakkas: mother and two daughters, who fought against the Portuguese Army, but the folklore treats all three Abbakkas as one great Queen and a brilliant personality; Abbakka Mahadevi or Rani Abbakka. She was married to a neighbouring local king of Bangher, but the marriage did no last long, and the husband thus nurtured revenge against her and later on joined the Portuguese to fight her. The Portuguese had made several attempts to capture Ullal, but she had repulsed each of their attack. The first attack by the Portuguese in south Kanara coast was in 1525, when they destroyed the Mangalore port. Rani Abbakka was alerted by the incident and started preparing herself to protect her kingdom. In 1555, the Portuguese sent Admiral Don Alvaro da Silvereira against the Abbakka who had refused to pay them the tribute. She fought with courage and intelligence and pushed them out. In 1558 the Portuguese Army perpetrated another wanton cruelty on Mangalore, putting to death a number of men and women, both young and old, plundering a temple, burning ships and finally setting the city itself on fire. Again, in 1567, the Portuguese army attacked. Queen Abbakka Devi Chowta (Bucadevi I) resisted it. The same year one general Joao Peixoto was sent by the Portuguese Viceroy Antony Norohna with a fleet of soldiers. He captured the city of Ullal and also entered the royal court. However the Queen escaped and took asylum in a mosque. The same night, she counter-attacked the Portuguese army, with a help of 200 of her soldiers and killed General Peixoto and 70 Portuguese soldiers. The invaders were forced to flee to their ships in disgrace. In 1569, the Portuguese Army not only regained the Mangalore Fort but also captured Kundapur (Basrur). The Portuguese won the confidence of her estranged husband, kind of Bangher and started attacking Ullal. She fought vigorously, and formed an alliance in 1570 with Bijapur Sultan Ahmed Nagar and the Zanmorine of Calicut. Kutty Pokar Markar, a general of the Zamorine fought on her behalf and destroyed the Portuguese fort at Mangalore but while returning he was killed by the Portuguese. She was finally arrested and jailed. However, she revolted in the prison and died as a soldier - fighting.

1530-33 Dowager County Sheriff Anne Jørgensdatter Rud of Roskilde Vor Frue Kloster Len, Denmark 
Married Rigsråd Henrik Krummedige, who was Councillor of the Realm in both Denmark and Norway. In 1502 she was in charge of the defence of the Norwegian boarder-castle Båhus in his absence. She was an extremely able land-owner, farmer and trader. Since 1531 she also had possession of a number of minor fiefs in Norway, administered by her son-in-law, married to her only daughter, Sofie. She left an extensive correspondence with her daughter, son-in-law and other relatives, and according to the costum of the time, she were in charge of the upbringing of her grandchildren, before her death in 1533. 

1530-46 Sovereign Duchess Marie de Luxembourg-St. Pôl of Valois (France)
She was given the title by her relative, king François of France, who was Duke of Valois (1499-1516 and 1517-30). Marie (d. 1546).

Until 1530 Queen Tlaxco Cihuapilli of Xochimilco (Mexico)
In march of 1530 Queen Cihuapilli Tzaptzinco peacefully offered her surrender to a Spanish conquistador, who  took possession of the land in the name of his Majesty Emperor Charles V. during 20 days he toured the surrounding towns and quicky received their allegiance. The Aztec Kingdom was situated in what is today the center of Mexico City.


1531-36 Pretender Caecilia of Paros (Greek Island-State)
1536-37 Princess Regnant
Daughter of Nicolo II (1520-31). Co-ruled with Bernado Sagredo (d. 1603) The state was conquered by the Osman Turks 1537. She died 1543.

1531-... Sovereign Countess Guyonne XVII of Laval (France)
Daughter of Guy XVI and Charlotte de Aragon. She was originally named Catherine Anne, but took the feminized version of Guy upon her succession. She married Claude de Rieux, and was succeeded by daughter Renée in 1547, who took the name Giyonne XVIII.

1531-78 Princess-Abbess Katharina I von Bodman of Lindau (Germany)
The Fürstäbtissin of the Eccleastical Territory had been member of the  Geistlischen Fürstenbank (Bench of Lords Spiritual) of the Schwäbischer Kreis (Swabian Circle) the Regional Assembly since 1500 with a seat in the Imperial Diet (Reichstag). Her family was Lords (Freiherren) of Bodman, Espasingen, Wahlwies, Freudental, Langenrain and Liggeringen.

1531-77 Princess-Abbess Margaretha IV van Brederode of Thorn (The Netherlands)
She obtained papal dispensation since she was only 17 at the time of her election. She was daughter of Waleram II, Lord of Brederode and Vianden, Burgrave van Utrecht and Anna von Neuenahr. The abbesses no longer used the nun's habit and in 1544 and 1549 emperor Karl V confirmed, that Thorn was a separate entity outside the Netherlands, and also declared that the Abbey belonged to the Westphalian Circle within the Diet of the Realm. Margaretha seems to have been the first to use the right of the principality to make it's own money - and she was accused of using base metal in the coins.

1532-43 Joint Guardian Dowager Duchess Elisabeth von Hessen of Pfalz-Zweibrücken-Neuburg (Germany)
1541-43 Joint Regent of the Duchy
After the death of her husband, Duke Ludwig II, she was regent for son, Wolfgang, jointly with her brother-in-law Ruprecht. In 1541 her son was granted the fief of the realm (reichslehn) and two years later he officially took over the government, and in 1557 his childless relative, Pfalzgraf Ottheinrich of Pfalz-Neuburg, abdicated in his favour. In 1541 she married Georg Count Palatine von Simmern (Pfalz-Simmern) (1518-69) and lived (1503-63).

1532-48 Princess-Abbess Anna I Reuss von Meissen of Gernrode (Germany)
The chapter was mismanaged during her reign, it was marked by internal disputes and the Archbishops of Magdeburg and Bishops of Halberstadt persued a policy of acquiring the lands of the Stift. 1544 the possessions of the once so powerful and rich community had fallen back to 5 villages and a limited amount of land. Anna was daughter of Heinrich III Reuβ, Burgrave von Meiβen, Landvogt von Niederlausitz and Barbara von Anhalt, and lived (1506-48).

1532-39 Princess-Abbess Maria zu Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel of Gandersheim (Germany)
Appointed by her father without an election and newer set foot in the chapter. The administration was taken over by Ducal civil servants.

1532-39 Princess-Abbess Margaretha I Hauptmann of Heggbach (Germany)
She initiated extensive renovations of the central buildings of the chapter. Her father, Hans Hauptmann, was Secretary of the Abbey of Salem. a broghter Priest in Griesingen and another brother citizen of Lindau.

1532 County Sheriff Sofie Podebusk of Malmøhus Len, Denmark (now Sweden)
Malmøhus is situated in the Landscape of Skåne, which was part of Denmark until 1658 until it was incorporated in Sweden. 

1533-38 (†) Regent Dowager Grand Duchess Yelena Vasilevna Glinskaya of Russia
Elena Glinskaya, assumed power in the name of her three year old son Ivan IV, later known as "the Terrible". Her brother-in-law, Yuri challenged his rights to the throne, was arrested and imprisoned in a dungeon. She deposed a member of the regency-council, Prince George III of Dimitrov, and had another brother-in-lawe killed, but a short time afterwards she suddenly died, almost surely poisoned. A week later her confidant, Prince Ivan Obolensky, was arrested and beaten to death by his jailers. She was not very interested in her son, who was left to the care of Agrafena Oblenskaya, who was imprisoned in a convent, and Ivan was neglected during the rest of his upbringing. Yelena lived (Ca. 1506-38).

1533-66 Margravine Margherita Paleologa of Monferrato 
1540-50 Regent of Mantova
1540-60 Sovereign Countess of Carmagnola (Italy) 
In 1530 her brother, Bonifacio IV (1512-18-30) had been succeeded by their uncle, the former Bishopl Giangiorgio Sebastiano, and she and her older sisters became heiresses presumptive. After her sister Maria had divorced Federico II di Mantova and entered the Convent of Casale, Margherita took over her claims to the Margravate and married Federico, who was given the title of Margrave of Mantova in 1536. After his death she became regent for son Gugliermo jointly with brother-in-law, Cardinal Ercole. She lived (1510-66).

Until 1533 Sovereign Princess Louise de Coëtivy of Mortagne-sur-Gironde, Countess  de Taillebourg, Baroness de Royan (France)
Her father, Charles de Coetivy, was  styled prince of Mortagne in 1487. She married Charles de La Trémoïlle, prince de Talmon in 1501. She lived (1481-1533).

1533-77 Reigning Dowager Lady Dowager Duchess Margarete von Brandenburg of and Administrative Unit and Town of Tribsee in Pommern (Germany/Poland)
She was the second wife of Georg I von Pommern (1493-1531) who died after one year of marriage. Mother of one daughter, Georgia (1531-74), who later married Stanislaus Latalski Count von Labischin, Stardost von Inowrazlaw und Schlochau. Margareta settled her dowry with her stepson, Phillip, and moved there in 1533.. She was daughter of Elector Joachim von Brandenburg and Elisabeth of Denmark, and lived (1511-77).

1533-36 Princess-Abbess Katharina II von Redwitz of Obermünster in Regensburg (Germany)
It is not certain who she was elected to succeed.

1534 or 1547 Regent Dowager Queen Maha Tewi of Lan Xang (Laos)
King Photisarath, who reigned (1520-1547) was devoted to Buddhism but failed to eradicate animism and witchcraft. To improve trade with Siam and Annam he moved his capital to Vientiane. After Chiangmai's line of kings was ended by assassination in 1543, Photisarath accepted the crown for his young son Sethathirat and sent a regent. Siam's King Phrajai led an army but was persuaded by Princess Maha Tewi to return home. After Photisarath died in 1547, Sethathirat had to go back to Lan Xang to prevent his brothers from partitioning the kingdom, and Phrajai invaded again. Princess Maha Tewi fought back, and the Siamese army retreated and was routed by the Laos army. Sethathirat managed to withstand Burmese invasions, first by fleeing to Ayutthaya and then by moving his capital to Vientiane in 1563. After he died in 1570, Burmese king Bayinnaung had Sethathirat's brother Oupahat put on the throne in 1575, replacing Sethathirat's father-in-law Saensurin.

1534-44 Acting Governor Ana Pimentel of the Capitania de São Vicente (Brazil)
Her husband, Martim Afonso de Sousa, arrived in Brazil and explored the country in 1531. He founded the first formal Portuguese settlement in the village of São Vicente, and in 1533 he left her in charge of the administration as he left for Portugal. The following year the captaincies system was iintroduced and she became the Acting Capitana, and besides sugar cane plantations, she also stimulated cattle breeding in the region. Her husband never returned to Brazil.

1534 Joint Sovereign Lady Rosina von Wildenstein of Breitenegg (Germany)
The daughter of Alexanders II von Wildenstein inherited half of the Lordship. Succeeded by husband, Karl von Welden.

1534-51 Princess-Abbess Sibylla von Montfort-Rotenfels of Essen (Germany)
As the territory got more character of an acctual state, three estates developed like in other German States, with the Ladies of the Chapter constituting the First Estate. The Second Estate was the Male Chanons in the Male Chapter and the Third Estate was constituted by the Office-Holders (Ministerials) of the Chapter and State, who were of low nobility. The three estates were constituted the members of the Landtag (Local Diet) Sibylla was daughter of Count Hugo von Montfort and Countess Anna von Zweibrücken, and her sister, Margarete II was abbess of Buchau (1540-56/59).

1534-43 Princess-Abbess Kunigunde II von Geroldseck und Sulz of Säckingen (Germany)
Her family had been lords of Hohengeroldseck through many years, and in 1519 the family was given Sulz as a fief but had to give it back to Würrtemberg 1532, though they continued to use the name of von Hohengeroldseck und Sulz. In 1534 the lordship became an Austrian fief. 

1534-75 Reigning Abbess Louise I de Bourbon of the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud (France)
She was a woman of sincere but gloomy piety, and during her tenure the order suffered many losses at the hands of the Protestants, who even besieged the great abbey itself, though without success; many nuns apostatized, but twelve more houses were reformed.

1534-36 Dowager County Sheriff Kristine Friis of Ørum Len, Denmark
She took over the administration of the fief after her husband's death.

1535-37 Sovereign Baroness Caecilia Sangredo of Naupila (Greece)
Reigned Jointly with Bernardo Sangredo. The island had been in the hands of Venezia 1531-35.

1535-83 Princess-Abbess Anna VIII Wittmeyer of Baindt (Germany)
In 1560 the church of the chapter got a new arch in the late gothic style, and in 1573 the General Abbott Nicholas I Bucherat demaned that the chapterand its rules were reformed.

1535-68 Royal County Sheriff Queen Sophie von Pommern of Denmark of Lolland-Falster Len (Denmark)
Lolland-Falster was given to her as a dowry (Livgeding) when her husband, King Frederik I ascended to the throne in 1523. Also held the German Castles and Administrative Units of Kiel and Plön and adjourning areas in Holsten (Schloss und Amt von Kiel und Plön) as part of her dowry. She lived (1498-1568).

1535-36 Dowager Country Sheriff Kirstine Lykke of Gislumsherred, Denmark
As Lensmand she was in charge of the local administration, had juridical authority and acted as the official representative of the Danish king. 

1535-36 Dowager County Sheriff Mette Mogensdatter Gøye of Ravnsborg Len, Denmark
She was daughter of Mogens Gøye til Krenkerup and after the death of her husband, Johan Oxe til Nielstrup, she acted as County Sheriff or Lensmand until her own death one year later. Mother of one daughter, Pernille Johansdatter Oxe (b. 1530).

1536-39 Queen Bakwa Turunku of Zaria and Abuja (Nigeria)
Succeeded grandfather king Nohir Tuknariki, succeeded first by son-in-law Karama then by two daughters, Amina and Zaria.

1537-99 Margarethe von der Marck, by the Grace of God, Countess of Arenberg
1576-99 Sovereign Princess-Countess of Arenberg (Germany)
Also known as Margraretha or Marguerite de La Marck d'Arenberg, she succeeded her brother, Robert III, as the sole heir of the Dutch Hause van der Marck. She was married to Jean de Ligne, Baron de Barbancon, who was named Reichsgraf von Arenberg in 1549 - he died in battle in 1568, and Margaretha vigorously defended her territory from invading forces. In 1571 emperor Maximillian II confirmed the "Reichsunmittelbarkeit" - or semi-independence - of the realm and in 1576 both she and her son were granted the title of Reichsfürst/in. She was given the right to mint her own money, and though she was of Dutch birth, she was very preoccupied with the governing of her German realm. Among others she fought against witch-hunts and backed industry and education. She lived (1527-99).

1536-41 Reigning Dowager Duchess Anna of Münsterberg and Sagan in Schelsia (Poland)
Also known as Anna of schlesia-Sagan she was married to Prince Karl I Albrecht of Münsterberg-Ols (1476-1536) and reigned in Münsterberg after his death. She lived (1483-1541).

1536-40 Joint Guardian Dowager Lady Magdalena von Mansfeld of Lippe (Germany)
After the death of her husband, Simon V, she became guardian for her 8 year old son, Bernhard VIII, the 15. Noble Lord to Lippe and 2. Count to Lippe (Edler Herr und Graf zur Lippe), and Count Adolf von Schaumburg, Koadjutors von Köln, Count Jobst von Hoya were regents until 1438. She lived (1509-40).

1536-42 Princess-Abbess Wandula von Schaumberg of Obermünster in Regensburg (Germany)
It is not certain who succeeded her, but Barbara II von Sandizell reigned until 1564.

1536-39 and 1543-55 Reigning Abbess-General Isabel de Navarra y Mendoza of the Monastery of Santa Maria la Real de las Huelgas in Burgos (Spain)
She was member of a side-line of the royal family of Navarra.

1537-60 Sovereign Duchess Adrienne II of Estouteville (France)
Daughter of Jean III, seigneur d'Estouteville, and married François de Bourbon-Vendome, Duc d'Estouteville and Count of Saint-Pôl, and was succeeded by daughter in 1546. She lived (1512-60).

1537-57 Reigning Dowager Lady Elisabeth zu Hessen of the Castle, City and Administrative Unit of Rochlitz, the Castle and Administrative Unit of Kriebstein with the cities of Waldheim and Hartha in Sachsen (Germany)
Also known as Elisabeth von Rochlitz she recived the lordships as dowry after the death of her husband, Johann zu Sachsen (1498-1537). She was the first territorial ruler in Germany to give her citizen freedom of confession and conscience, but her father-in-law, Duke Georg of Sachsen, "makes sure" that she is excommunicated, which meant that all citizen were declared free and she was no longer under princely protection. But she accepted the Evangelican preacher Magister Schütz aus Kassel, who was send to her lordship by her brother, Landgrave Philipp von Hessen, who had already introduced the reformation in her lands. She was a very effective administrator and developped her fief economically and culturally. She lived (1502-57).

1537-ca. 54 Lady Regnant Anna von Haracourt of Bettingen, Dollendorf, Fischbach, Falkenstein and Everlingen (Germany)
She was already old when she inherited the "Haracourt Inheritance" from the last male of the family, Count Wilhelm von Haracourt-Dollendorf-Brandenburg. Her daughter Anna von Solm, Heiress of Dollendorf (d. 1557) married as his second wife, Count Jakob von Manderscheid-Kail, and Anna von Haracourt declared that her granddaughter, Anna von Manderscheid (1630-61) should be her sole heir, but in the end the inheritance was divided among the Manderscheid-Kail and Solm families. 

1537-65 Sovereign Duchess Anne de Pisseleu of Étampes (France)
Created Duchess jointly with husband, Jean de Brosse. She was mistress of King François I.

Ca. 1538-68 Rani Regnant Abbaka Devi of Ullal (India)
She allied herself with Malabar Kings and feudal lords, challenging the Portuguese invasion into Mangalore. For three decades, she defied the Portuguese supremacy refusing to pay tribute to them. However, at the famous siege of Mangalore in 1568, the Queen and her Moorish allies suffered a crushing defeat by the Portuguese army.

1539-44 Acting Governor Inés de Bobadilla, Cuba (Spanish Colony)
She was left in charge of the government when her husband, Hernando de Soto (1496/1500-42) left for an expedition where he died in 1542. Two years later Juan de Avila was appointed governor.

1539-49 Duchess Marie d'Albret of Nemours, Countess of Rethel, Sovereign Princess of  Boisbelle-Henrichemont (France)
The daugter of Jean d'Albret, Sire d'Orval etc. (d. 1524) and Charlotte de Bourgogne, Countess de Rethel (1474-1500), she married Charles de Cleves, comte de Nevers in 1528, and lived (1491-1549).

1539-47  Princess-Abbess Klara von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel of Gandersheim (Germany)
In 1542 the Sclamalkaldic League forcibly introduced Protestantism to the area. In 1547 her father, Duke Heinrich of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, reintroduced the catholic faith, but only a few years later Lutheranism was permanently introduced by her brother, Duke Julius of Braunschweig (1528-1589). She was appointed in succession to her sister, Maria, who was Fürstäbtissin all her life (1521-39). Klara or Clara resigned in order to marry Duke Philipp II von Graunswheig-Grubenhagen (d. 1596). She lived (1532-95).

1539-53 Princess-Abbess Veronica Berenike Krel of Heggbach (Germany)
Her surname might also have been Kröhl. In August 1546 an Evanglical ordinance banns the ladies of the chapter to pray in the choire, to celebrate mass and take communion, but in December the Chapter is granted freedom of religion. She lived (1487-1559).

1539-47 Princess-Abbess Clara zu Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel of Gandersheim (Germany)
The territory was occupied by the troops of the Schmalkaldian Union in 1542 and the same year the city became protestant, but not the chapter. In 1547 her father, Heinrich von Braunschweig, declared that she had abdicated from the office of Fürstäbtissin.

1539-43 Reigning Abbess-General María de Aragón  of the Monastery of Santa Maria la Real de las Huelgas in Burgos (Spain)
Like the Lord Bishops, she held her own courts, in civil and criminal cases, granted letters dismissorial for ordination, and issued licenses authorizing priests, within the limits of her abbatial jurisdiction, to hear confessions, to preach, and to engage in the cure of souls.

1540-45 Regent Dowager Duchess Elisabeth von Brandenburg of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel and Calenberg (Germany)
1540-58 Reigning Dowager Lady of Münden
After a few years as the second wife of Duke Erich I (1470-1540), she converted to Protestantism, promoted the calvinist faith, and forced her husband to have his mistress, Anna Rumschottle, burned as a witch. She held the regency jointly with Philipp von Hessen for son Erich II, and introduced Protestantism to the state during her reign. One year after her son took over the government she married Count Poppo XII. zu Henneberg in Thüringen (1513-1574) and continued to reign in her Dowry Münden, but in 1555 she moved to Henneberg. The daughter of Kurfürst Joachim I. and Elisabeth of Denmark (1485-1555), she was mother of a son and three daughtes by her first husband and lived (1510-58).

1540-61 Regent Dowager Countess Anna von Oldenburg-Delmenhorst of Ostfriesland (Germany)
Widow of Enno II Cirksena and regent for three minor son Edzard II (1532-40-93), Christoph (1536-66) and Johann (1538-91). Anna's government was supported by the States and favoured a bi-confessional co-existance system. Personally she was in favour of the reformation, but she remained neutral because the nobility was split more or less fifty-fifty among Lutheranism and  "Zwinglianismus". She also also tolerated both Catholichs and Spiritualists, and it was only after pressure from the Emperor that she banned the Mennoits (Baptists) in 1549. She concentrated on consolidating the territory and used her diplomatic skills and will to compromise. Her most important advisor was her brother, Christoph von Oldenburg. In 1558 she desided that the territory should be governed jointly by her three sons after her regency was over, as a way to limit the influence of the House of Vasa after the marriage of Edzard to Princess Katharina of Sweden. She lived (1501-75).

1540-41 Regent Dowager Queen Isabella Jagello of Poland of Hungary
1541-51 and 1556-59 Regent of Tansylvania and Siebenbürgen (Hungary)
1551-56 Sovereign Duchess of Troppau and Opelln in Slesia (Germany-Poland)
Her huband King János I Szapolyai (or Zápolya) of Hungary (1526-40) died two weeks before the birth of their son Janos II Zigismund Zapolyta (1540-71), and she began her struggle to keep the Hungarian throne as a widow queen and the guardian of her son, who was elected electus rex in the meantime. After the reoccupation of Buda in 1541, she had to go to Transylvania on the order of the Sultan, where she reigned over the territories under her authority. However, the real governor was György Martinuzzi. In the summer of 1551 she left Transylvania, which fell into the hands of Ferdinand Habsburg in accordance with the treaty of Nyírbátor, and handed over the insignia of the Kingdom to Ferdinand in exchange for Opelln and Troppau in Slesia. By the request of the Hungarian nobles, she returned to the country together with her son and her advisor, Mihály Csáky, in autumn 1556. After this she set up her Transylvanian chancellery with the help of Mihály Csáky, and the new state started to function, and she ruled until her death. She was daughter of Sigismund I of Poland, and mother Bona Sforza, she lived (1519-59).

1540 Sovereign Princess Anne de Rohan-Caboët of Rohan, Porhoët and León (France)
Married to Pierre de Fontenay, who became Duke of Rohan after their marriage.  

Ca. 1540-69 Sovereign Countess Charlotte de Brosse of Penthièvre (France)
Her father, René de Brosse, was killed in Italy in 1525. She was married Francois II of Luxembourg. Her son, Sébastien de Luxembourg-Saint-Pôl, got the title of Duke of Penthièvre, and was succeeded by daughter Marie in 1579. 

1540-59 Politically Influential Empress Sabla Wangal of Ethiopia
The widow of emperor Lebna Dengel [or Wanag Sagad or Dawit II], she was the political advisor of her son Galawdewos [Atsnaf Sagad I]. Also known as Seble Uengel, she was the daughter of a father from northern Tigre and a mother from Simien (d. 1568). 

1540-59 Politically Influential Princess Ameta Giyorgis of Ethiopia
Influential during the reign of her brother, Gelawdenos. Daughter of Emperor Lebna Dengel.

1540-56/59 Princess-Abbess  Margarethe II von Montfort of Buchau (Germany)
At the time of her election, the economic situation of the convent was very bad, and she was preoccupied with the restoration. Her sister, Sibylle, had been Princess-Abbess of Essen since 1533.

1540-45 County Sheriff Anne Arvidsdatter Trolle of Åsum and Elleholm Len, Denmark (Now Sweden)
Widow of Axel Eriksen Urup til Ugerup, who was Lensmand or County Sheriff of Sölvesborg etc. until his death. After his death she was in charge of the two fiefs in Skåne, which was incorporated in Sweden in 1658.

1541 Governor Beatriz de la Cueva de Alvarado of Guatemala (Spanish Colony)
After the death of her husband, Pedro de Alvarado, she manoeuvred her own election and became the
only woman to govern a major American political division in Spanish times. A young and ambitious woman who styled herself the Hapless One (La Sin Ventura), she was drowned a few weeks after assuming office in the destruction of Ciudad Vieja by a sudden flood from the volcano Agua. She was succeeded by brother, Francesco de la Cueva y Villacreces, Governor 1540-41 and 1541-42.

1541-50 Regent Dowager Marchioness Jacoba de Croÿ of Bergen-op- Zoom (The Netherlands)
She ruled the margravate after the death of her husband, Antoon, who was lord from 1532 and Marquess from 1533. Her son Jan IV van Glymes took over as regent in 1550 at the age of 22. Jacoba (d. 1559).

1541-61 Reigning Dowager Lady Dowager Duchess Katharina von Mecklenburg of the the Castle and Office of Wolkenstein in Sachsen (Germany)
An early supporter of Martin Luther, she was in opposition to her brother-in-law, Duke Georg of Mecklenburg, who tried to bribe her to remain Catholic. Her husband, Heinrich von Sachsen-Freiberg, at first suppressed Lutheranism, but Freiberg became Lutheran. After Gerorg's death in 1539 they moved to Dresden and introduced the reformation here. Heinrich died in 1551, and she spend the rest of her life in her dorwy, the Castle and Office of Wolkenstein. She was mother of six children, and lived (1477-1561).

1542-51 Dowager County Sheriff Sophie Pedersdatter Lykke of Holmekloster Len, Denmark
1560-63 and 1563-70 County Sheriff of Lister Len, Norway
Married to Councillor of the Realm, Jacob Hardenberg, who died 1542. Thereafter she administered the possessions of her three young daughters together with her own lands. She was very unpopular. Her peasants protested to the king against her, and in 1557 she was convicted of illegally selling cattle. In 1560 she was given Lister Len as security for a lone, and moved to Norway. Also here the peasants complained against her, and she broke the ban against exporting timber abroad, and she lost the fief, but managed to get it back later the same year, because of her good connections. She lived (Ca. 1510-70).

1542-67 Princess-Abbess Maria von Hohenlandenberg of Gutenzell (Germany)
The convent was founded in 1230, started the process of independence in 1417 and in around 1521 the Abbess achieved the rank of Princess of the Realm.

1542-69 Influential International Banker Gracia Nasi in Europe and the Ottoman Empire
She inherited the wast Mendes fortune after the death of her brother-in-law, Diego, whom she had joined in Antwerpen after the death of her husband, Francisco whose wealthy Spanish Jewish banking family had also fled the Inquisition and settled in Portugal. She then took over the management of the international banking empire and continued using the family's contacts and resources to help Jews escape the Inquisition, and this meant that she and her remaining family were constantly in danger. Over the next 11 years, she moved across Europe with her daughter, her sister, and her daughter- and son-in-law, traveling from Antwerp through France, Italy, and Turkey. The Inquisition pursued them, local rulers relentlessly crying heresy and attempting to confiscate their fortune. With diplomacy, shrewdness, and business acumen, she managed to escape each assault and continue building the family business. She and her family finally reached Turkey in 1553, where they settled near Constantinople. Here she persuaded Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent to grant her a long-term lease on the Tiberias region of the Palestine where she spearheaded one of the earliest attempts to start an independent state for Jews in Israel. She took back her maiden name and was called Gracia Nasi once and for all. She lived (1510-1569).

1543-52 Regent Dowager Sultana Bat'ial Dël Wanbara of Harrar (Ethiopia)
Also known as Bati Del Wambara she was ruled the territory after her husband, Imam Ahmad died in battle. 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.

1543-56 Politically Active Guardian Dowager Duchess Emilie von Sachsen of Brandenburg-Ansbach (Germany)
After the death of her husband, Georg the Pious, she was guardian of their son, Georg Friedrich (1539-1603), who reigned under the regency of the Electors of Brandenburg and Sachsen and Landgrave of Hessen until 1556. She gave him a good scientific and humanistic education, and lived (1516-91).

1543-48 Princess-Abbess Magdalena von Hausen of Säckingen (Germany)
In 1548 she joined the Reformation but was not succesfull in converting the other ladies of the chapter and she resigned her post.

1544 Governor of the Realm Queen Katherine Parr of England (United Kingdom)
She was very learned and inclined towards the reformed doctrines and successfully interceded for many so-called 'heretics,' who would otherwise have suffered death. She also induced Henry VII, her third husband, to restore, to Royal rank, the Princesses Mary and Elizabeth whose legitimacy his remarkable matrimonial arrangements had left in doubt. Henry named Catherine as Regent when he designed an expedition to France in 1544. Her main functions, in the last two years of her husband’s reign, were those of his nurse as he suffered agonies of pain from an ulcer in his leg. After his death in 1547, she married Thomas Seymour, Lord Sudley, and died giving birth her first child, named Mary, the year after. She lived (1512-48).

1544-60 Governor Brites de Albuquerque of Pernambuco (Brazil)
Widow of Duarte Coelho Periera (1534-44) and succeeded by son Duarte Coelho de Albuquerque, who was governor for the Portuguese King (1560-72).

Around 1544 Datuk Lampe Ellong of Supa (Indonesia)
The granddaughter of Dom Joao, she succeeded her father, married La Cellamata and was succeeded by Princess Tosappae.

1544-87 Sovereign Lady Ermgard van Wisch of Wisch op Oud-Wisch, Wildenborch, Overhagen and Lichtenvoorde (The Netherlands)
1552-58 Regent Dowager Countess of Limburg-Stiurm
1553-87 Hereditary Countess of Bronckhorst and Borculo
She inherited the family's possessions in Wisch after the death of her brother, Joachim, but her mother, Waldburga van den Bergh was allowed to reside in the castle for life. After the death of her husband, Georg von Limburg in Stirum (1500-52), she was regent for son, Herman George, Graaf van Limburg en Bronkhorst, heer in Stirum, Wisch en Borculo (1540-74), who later married to Maria von Hoya (1534-1612). Finally she inherited the possessions of her uncle, Count Joost van Bronckhorst-Borculo. She (d. 1587).

1544-? Politically influential Mihrumâh Sultana of the Ottoman Empire
The only daughter of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan. Her father adored her, and complained with her every wish. She married Rüstem Pasha, Governor-General of Diyarbakýr, who was shortly afterwards appointed grand vizier. According to Ottoman historians, she, together with her mother and husband conspired to bring about the death of Sehzade Mustafa, who stood in the way of her influence over her father. The fact that she 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 he was faced with open protest from the army and negative public opinion following the murder of Mustafa, her father was forced to replace his her husband 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. 1545-64 Rani Regnant Durgavati of Gondwana (India)
The principality is also known as Garha-Kalanga, and it's inhabitants were a group of Dravidian tribes, aboriginal (pre-Aryan) people. She was a very brave Lady who was inspired by a sense of genuine loyalty to the interests of her country. She was the daughter of the Rajput chief of Mohaba and married to Dalpat Shah, and after his death she ruled for their minor son. In 1564, the Moghul emperor Akbar directed one of his commanders Asaf Khan to conquer the kingdom. On the advance of the huge imperial Moghul army, she was cautioned by her counselors to which she replied, "It is better to die with glory than to live with ignominy". Her son Bir Narayan was seriously wounded. But she waged the war with the great skill and bravery until she was disabled by two arrow shots. Her faithful officers wanted to carry her from the battle field to a place of safety. She rejected the proposal. In the true spirit of one having a Rajput descent, Rani Durgavati preferred death to disgrace and stabbed herself. Thus her end was as noble and devoted as her life had been useful for the kingdom during her fifteen year of regency.

1545-52 Regent Dowager Duchess Christine of Denmark of Lorraine and Bar (France)
1560-90 Titular Queen of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, The Wends, Goths and Slavs, Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein, Ditmasken, Countess of Oldenborg
1578-90 Madame de Tortona (Italy)
After her father, Christian 2 of Denmark was deposed she grew up by her mother, Elisabeth von Habsburg's aunt, Margaretha, Governor-General of the Netherlands, who took it upon her to guard the children from the Lutheran faith. After Margaretha's death, their mother's sister, Dowager Queen Maria of Hungary took over their upbringing. In 1535 her first husband, the 26 year older Duke Francesco 2. Sforza of Milano of died after 1½ year of marriage, and she returned to the Netherlands. In 1541 at the age of 20 she married François of Bar who inherited Lorraine three years later.
She was regent whenever her husband was abroad from the Duchy and acted as his political advisor, among others at the Reichstag in Speyer in 1544. In his will her husband appointed her regent jointly with her brother for her son, Charles (Karl) (1545-1608), but she tried to rule independently. In 1552 France attacked the Duchy and in exchange for a peace treaty she had to give up the regency and accept that her 10 year old son were to grow up at the French court as a future husband of Princess Claude, and she returned to her aunt in the Netherlands together with her two daughters. Six years later both her aunt and the emperor died and everybody assumed that she would be appointed Governor-General of the Netherlands as she was close to her cousin Filip II and was much loved by the Dutch people. Also, she had just contributed to the peace treaty between the French and Habsburgs in Cateau-Cambrésis, but the post of Regent was given to Felip's sister, Margaretha of Parma. She then lived in Lorraine as the political advisor of her son Charles and also acted as regent from time to time. She never gave up the thought of regaining her father's Nordic realms. In 1560 she tried to have her daughter René married to King Frederik 2 of Denmark. At the beginning of the seven-year war between Denmark and Sweden 1563-70 she attempted, through alliances with the Swedish king Erik XIV and the Danish exiled Councillor of the Realm, Peder Oxe, to plan how to regain the realms, and already signed her self as Queen: “Chretienne par la grace de dieu royne de Dennemarck, Suede, Norwegen”. For health reasons she withdrew to her Italian Dowry Tortona in 1578, but she continued to print coins and medals as Queen of Denmark. She took over the claims as successor of their father, Christian II (d. 1559), from her sister, Countess Palatine Dorothea, who had no children. Christine lived (1521-90).

1545-53  Regent Dowager Queen Yun Mun-jong of Korea
Also known as Mun-jong Wang-hu, she was widow of Chung-jong, Chung-jong (1488-1506-44) and in charge of the government in the name of Myong-jong, who succeeded his brother, Injong. Her reign saw a lull in the suppression of Buddhism and The Buddhist monk Hyujong (1520-1604) did much to promote an ecumenical movement and harmonized the value of Buddhism with philosophical Daoism and Confucianism in his 'Mirror of the Three Teachings'. She lived (1501-65).

Ca. 1545-ca.1570/80 Sultan Hudah bint Sarmah al-Fasi of Fazzan (Libya)
She was 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.

1545-47 Reigning Dowager Queen Phra Chao Chira Prapa Mahadevi of Lan Na (or Lanna, Chiang Mai) (Thailand)
Another version of her name is Phra Nang Yout Kham Thip. She was daughter of king Phaya Ket, and took over after a power struggle within the government.

1545-48 Regent Dowager Lady Elena Salviati of Piombino, Scarlino, Populonia, Suvereto, Buriano, Abbadia al Fango and of the Isles of Elba, Montecristo and Pianosa (Italy)
After the death of her husband, Jacopo V Appiani (1480-1545) she was regent for their son, Iacopo VI (1529-85). The Lordship was under attack from Toacana and in 1548 she potested against the investiture of Cosimo I d'Medici as Duke of Piombino. She lived (1506-62).

1545 Dowager County Sheriff Ide Mogensdatter Munk of Abrahamstrup Len, Denmark
A major land-owner, also known as Ida, she was married to Oluf Nielsen Rosenkrantz til Vallø, and their daughter was Birgitte Olufdatter Rosenkrantz til Øster Vallø. Ide died 1586.

1545 Military Leader Lilliard in Scotland (United Kingdom)
She led the Scots at the Battle of Ancrum in one of their last victories over the English forces. She killed the English commander but lost her own life later in the battle.

1546-48 De Facto In-Charge of the Government Queen T’ao Sri Suda Chan of Ayutthaya (Ayudhaya) (Thailand)
Also known as Sisdachan, she has become famous because she lead an army against attacking forces.  

1546-60 (†) Regent Dowager Countess Amalie von Leising of Mansfeld-Vorderort zu Bornstädt (Germany)
After the death of her husband, Philipp II (1502-46), she ruled in the name of her son, Bruno II (1545-1615). Their three other children died young. She was daughter of Hugo von Leisnig and Dorothea Schenkin von Landsberg, was Dame de Penig in her own right, and lived (1508-60).

1546-1601 Sovereign Duchess Marie de Bourbon-Saint-Pôl of Estouteville, Countess de Saint-Pôl (France)
Also known as Marie de Bourbon-Vendôme, she was daughter of François de Bourbon-Vendôme, Duc d'Estouteville and Count of Saint-Pôl and Chaumont (1491-45) and Adrienne II, Duchesse d'Estouteville (1512-60). Marie succeeded her brother, François (1536-46). She first married Jean de Bourbon-Vendôme, Count de Soissons, then François de Cleves-Nevers, Duke de Nevers, whom she divorced in 1561 and finally with Léonor d'Orléans, Duc de Longueville (d. 1573). Marie lived (1539-1601).

1546-53 In-charge of the Government Electress Agnes von Hessen of Sachsen (Germany)
1553-55 Reigning Dowager Lady of Weissenfels and Weissensee in Sachsen
She was in charge of the government as her husband, Moritz was away in various wars. 1547 he was awarded with the title of Kurfürst (Elector) and Duke of Sachsen-Wittenberg. In 1553 he was wounded in the battle of Sievershausen and died shortly after. Their only surviving child was a daughter, Anna von Sachsen (later married to and divorced from Willem of Oranje) and therefore he was succeeded by his brother August. Agnes lived (1527-55).

1547-60 Member of the Chosen Council Tsaritsa Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina of Russia
Also known as Anastasiia Zakharina, she was member of the Chosen Council with a number military leaders, priests which karried out a number of political, military, and ecclesiastical reforms during the reign of her husband, Ivan the terrible. She was periodically able to control her husband's fits of bad temper, and those periods were known as the "good part" of his reign. After her death - during the "bad part" he carried out a reign of terror against the boyars. He married six more times, and treated his wives cruelly: one was drowned, three were imprisoned, and two were sent to a nunnery. She lived (1530–60).

1547-58 Sovereign Duchess Eléonore of Austria of Touraine (France)
Married to Manoel I of Portugal and then to king François I of France (1497-1547). After his death she was given the duchy as a dowry. He was succeeded as king by his brother Henri II, since their marriage was childless. She lived (1498-1558).

1547-67 Sovereign Countess Guyonne XVIII "la Folle" of Laval (France)
The daughter of Guyonne VIII, she was origninally named  Renée de Rieux, and succeeded her uncle Count Guy XVI. 1545 she had married Louis de Sainte-Maure, marquis de Nesle et comte de Joigny. She lived a tumultary life and converted to the Calvinist faith. Her sister, Claude de Rieux, married one of the protestant leaders François d'Andelot. She was convicted for traison by the Parliament of Paris together with two other leaders of the "poursuite de Meaux" which tried to kill King Charles IX and Queen-Mother, Catherine de Médici in 1567, their possessions were confiscated, and executed. Guyonne escaped this faith because of her mental instbility. She sought refuge in Laval and diged a few months later. She was succeeded by her sister Clude, or his son Paul, who took the name of Guy XIX he died 1586.

1547-77 Princess-Abbess Magdalena von Chlum of Gandersheim (Germany)
The church service became protestant in 1568, but she remained protestant.The territory was occupied by Duke Julius von Braunschweig i 1575 and she was taken prisoner.

1548-58 Reigning Countess Anna van Egmond of Buren, Leerdam en Lingen, Dame of Ijsselstein, Borssele, Grave, Cranendonk, Sint Maartensdijk en Odijk (The Netherlands)
Daughter of Count Maximiliaan van Egmond and Francoise de Lannoy, Dame de Lannoy, de Santes et de Trochiennes. Married to Prince Willem I van Oranje and lived (ca. 1533-58).

1548-58 Princess-Abbess Anna II von Kittlitz of Gernrode (Germany)
The Lords of Kittlitz had their lands in Sachsen and Slesia.

1548-66 Sovereign Duchess Diane de Portiers of Valentinos and d'Étampes (France)
She was the mistress of King Henri II of France and first married to Louis de Breze, Count de Maulevrier. She hat tree daughters, Francoise de Breze, Countess de Maulevrier, who was married to Robert von der Marck, lord of Sedan, Duc de Bouillon, Louise de Breze, Dame d'Anet, who was married to Claude of Lorraine, Duc d'Aumale, and by Henri II, she had Diane de Valois. She lived (1499-1566).

1548-53 De facto Regent Dowager Countess Margarethe von Wied-Runckel of Manderscheid-Blankenheim (Germany)
After the death of Arnold of Manderscheid-Blankenheim, two male relatives were appointed guardians of her children, but they does not seem to have taken much part in the governing of the county, and she was in fact the regent until her oldest son, Hermann, came of age. Two of her daughters became Princess-Abbesses of Essen - Elisabeth VI and VII and another daughter, Margarethe was Abbess of Elten and Vreden. A son, Johann, was Prince-Bishop of Strassburg. Margarethe von Wied later married a Count of Bentheim, and (d. 1571).

1548-49 Dowager County Sheriff Ingeborg Gjordesdatter Drefeld of Lundenæs Len, Denmark
Widow of Peder Galt Ebbesen til Birkelse etc, Lensmand til Lundenæs. 

1548-49 Princess-Abbess Adrienne I de Morbecq of Nivelles, Dame Temporaire and Spirituelle of Nivelles (Belgium)
As ruler of the territory she was Princess of the Empire and Head of a number of Lorships around Nivelles.

1549-51 Queen Jalampa Siri Sudhamma Mahadevi of Lan Na (Thailand)
She was also known as Thao Mae Ku and alternative names of the state are Lanna or Chiang Mai, and was a conglomerate of Thai city-states that covered roughly the area of modern north Thailand between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. Mostly under the leadership of the city-state of Chiang Mai, Lan Na's influence reached far into the neighboring regions.

1549-51 Regent Dowager Princess Syun Beka of Kazan (Russia)
Regent for son. After the final downfall of Golden Horde in the third-fourth decades of the 15th century in its vast area were formed separate Tatar states. They include Kazan Khanate (1445) situated in the northern boundaries of Volga Bulgaria from the river Sura in the west to the river Belaya in the east. Kazan became the capital of Kazan Khanate. The 15th century and the first half of the 16th century was the period of prosperity of Kazan Khanate and its capital.

1549-1601 Sovereign Countess Henriette de la March-Nevers of Rethel (Belgium)
1564-1601 Sovereign Duchess of Nevers, Sovereign Princess Boisbelle-Henrichemont (Belgium and France)
In 1564 she succeeded her brother Jacques, who had succeeded their father, François de March Nevers as Duke of Nevers in 1563. Her husband Ludovico Gonzaga, Duke of Mantova was duke of Nevers-Rethel by the right of his wife. Her father and brother had left her with large debts but she managed to bring the financial situation back in order, and was one of the chief creditors of the kingdom. Her son, Charles II de Gonzauge, had been co-governor with his father of Champagne since 1589 and had become titular duke in 1595 after his father's death, but did not take part in the government until after her death in 1601. Her sisters Catherine was countess d'Eu and Marie Comtesse de Beaufort. Henriette lived (1542-1601). 

1549-61 Princess-Abbess Marguerite IV d'Estourmel of Nivelles, Dame Temporaire and Spirituelle of Nivelles (Belgium)
She was member of a French noble family.

1549-74 County Sheriff Abele Hansdatter Breide of Näsbyholm Len, Denmark (Now Sweden)
After the death of her husband, Mikkel Hals til Näsbyholm, she acting Lensmand or County Sheriff of the fief, in Skåne, which has been part of Sweden since 1658.

1550-74 Sovereign Duchess Marguerite de France of Berry (France)
Daughter of François I of France and Duchess Claude de Bretagne, she was married to Emmanuel-Philibert, duc de Savoie, and lived (1523-74). 

1550-82 Adelantada Catalina Montejo of Yucatán (Mexico)
She inherited position of Adelantado (a kind of governor/landowner) jointly with her husband, Alonso Maldonado. After his death she was in charge of the area alone.

1550-71 Princess-Abbess Agatha Hegenzer von Wasserstelz of Säckingen (Germany)
She reformed the Chapter and brought it back on its feet economically, and she restored the church. The watersupply was reneved and several treaties were made between the Chapter and the city of Säckingen.

1550-61 Acting County Sheriff Eline Gøye of Skjoldnæs Len, Denmark
She was married to Mourits Olufsen Krognos and Vincents Juel. She was daughter of one of the country's major landowners, Mogens Gøye, but he had many children, and she therefore only inherited half of the estate Clausholm together with a brother. She was in dispute with her sister-in-law Anne Rosenkrantz, and in 1561 a compromise was reached, which according to Eline favourized Anne. Later same year Anne also was appointed Lensmand (County Sheriff) Skjoldnæs, which Eline had got after the death of her first husband. She was sister of another major landowner and Lensmand, Birgitte Gøye, and lived (ca. 1510-63).

Until 1550 Lady Isabel Xipaguazin Moctezuma of Tacuba (Mexico)
Princesa Isabel was daughter of Moctezuma II (1466-1520), who was the last emperor of the Aztecs (1502-20), who ruled the grand city of Tenochtitlán. She married two conquistadors, Alonso de Grado and Pedro Gallego de Andrada. King Carlos I of Spain named her Holder for perpetunity of the Lordship of Tacuba - which largely corresponds with the historic center of the City of México. (d. 1550).

1551 Queen Thao Meh Ku of La Na (Chiang Mai) (Thailand)
In 1543 the last king of Chiang Mai, Photisarath, was assassinated 1543, and Sethathirat of Lan Xang was married to Princess Thao and became king of Chiang Mai. After his death she became ruler but was deposed by Mekut (Mekkhuti), the king of the Shan State of Muong Nai - he was succeded by Queen Wisuthatevi in 1564.

1551-64 Reigning Lady Duchess Sabina von Bayern of Nürtingen in Württemberg (Germany)
After the birth of the Crown Prince Christoph  in 1515 she fled the threaths of her husband Ulrich with both her children to her brothers, the Bavarian Dukes Wilhelm und Ludwig, and only after her son acended to the throe she was able to return to Württemberg , where she took up residence in her dorwy in Nürtingen, where she held a small court, wich became a local center of  Protestantism. She lived (1492-1564).

1551-60 Princess-Abbess Katharina II von Tecklenburg of Essen (Germany)
During her tenure in office, the protestant movement became stronger. 1555 was the year of the Augsburg Peace, where it was made clear that the subjects had to have the same faith as their sovereign. In Essen the citizens were ma