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Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
WOMEN IN
POWER
1570-1600
Female
leaders
and women in other positions of political authority
of independent states and
self-governing understate entities
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1570-1609 Ratu Loharaung of Tagulandang (Indonesia) |
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Daughter of a local minor ruler, Raja Bowntehu, she became the first
monarch of whole Tagulandang. Succeeded by the son of her daughter,
Tansekoa, Balango. |
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1570-79 Regent and Guardian Maria Jacobäa von Baden
of Baden-Baden (Germany) |
Together with her son, Duke Albrecht V von Bayern (1528-79), she was
guardian for her grandson, Margrave Philipp II von Baden-Baden
(1559-69-99) after the death of both his parents, Philibert
(1536-54-69) and Mechtild von Bayern (1532-65) (Her daughter).
Philbert, had inherited Baden-Baden from his father, Bernhard III
who was her uncle, and who had inherited his share of the state when
her father died as she was his only child. The other share was
inherited by her other uncle Ernst I, and their decendants;
Christoph, Philipp and Karl von Baden-Durlach claimed the regency,
but she had already recieved the homage by the inhabitants and
Estates ("die Erbhuldigung eingenommen") and was confirmed as regent
by the Emperor. She lived (1507-80). |
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1570-81 Reigning Dowager Duchess Katharina von Mecklenburg of
Hainau (Chojnów) (Poland) |
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In
1538 she was married to Duke Friederich III von Liegnitz and held
the Slesian Duchy as her dowry. Also known as Katarzyna
Meklemburska, she was daughter of Duke Heinrich V von Mecklenburg
and Helena von der Pfalz, mother of sons and 3 daughters, and lived
(1518-81). |
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Around 1570 Leader Nei Anginimaeao of the immigration to
Kiribati
Around 1570 Chief of Tabiang |
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According to the oral history, the immigration to the Kiribati islands
was lead by Nei Anginimaeao and her brother Na Kouteba, who
commanded a fleet of canoes which left Beru, not long after the wars
had started under Tem Mwea, when Bakarerenteiti was Uea of Beru. No
one was in danger of losing lands on Beru Island and it seems
probable that Nei Anginimaeao and her followers thought it a good
time to settle on an island not quite so crowded. Others had left
during the wars and settled on most of the islands to the north as
far as Marakei. Nei Anginimaeao clearly knew exactly where she was
going and what she was going to do, and she did it with superb
skill. Afterwards she became chief of parts of the islands. |
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Around 1570 Chief Nei Teborata of Toakira (Kiribati) |
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One
of the followers of Nei Anginimaeao, who gave her the territory to
administer on her own. Kiribati still has female chiefs.
If there are only daughters in the family, the eldest daughter would
be called Chiefess but the nearest male relative will do the work
until the son of the Chiefess will be old enough to take it on. The
succession passes to the firstborn child, and if the eldest child is
a daughter she will be called Chief but her eldest brother will do
the work until her eldest son is old enough to take it on. |
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1570-71 Joint County Sheriff Margrethe Nielsdatter Bild of
the County of Ørbæk, Denmark |
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Margrethe Bild was given the
tenantcy for life together with her husband, Henrik Friis til
Hesselager, who died in March 1571. She died two months later. They
had 13 children together. (d. 1571). |
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Until 1570 County Sheriff Karen Pederdatter Fikkesen of
the County of
Gedestorp, Denmark |
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Karen
Fikkesen was widow of Mads Torbernsen til Sandby (of the Hässelholm
family), and held the tenantcy as security for lones. |
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Until 1570 County Sheriff Karen
Krumstrup of Toreby Birk, Denmark |
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Widow of
Lave Urne, she held it as security for lones jointly with Jakob
Brockenhuus. |
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1570-77 Princess-Abbess Anne Marie von Anhalt of Gernrode and
Frose (Germany) |
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Also known as Anna Maria von Anhalt-Bernburg-Zerbst, she succeeded her
aunt as the first of four sisters to occupy the now titular dignity
as Fürstäbtissin. The territory had in reality been incorporated
into the Principality of Anhalt, with her father as "administrator"
and holder of Gernrode's vote in the Diet of the Realm (Reichstag).
She resigned in order to marry Duke Joachim Friederich
Schlesien, Duke of Liegnitz, Brieg and Wohlau (1550-1602), and
became mother of 6 children. She was daughter of Prince Joachim
Ernst von Anhalt and Eleonore von Württemberg, and lived
(1551-1605). |
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1570-81
Reigning Abbess-General
Francisca Manrique
of
the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria la Real de Las Huelgas in Burgos
(Spain)
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Member of an ancient and influential noble family in Castilla. |
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1571-1600 Princess-Abbess Anna Jakobäa von Sulzbach of
Säckingen (Germany)
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1575 she finished the new residence of the chapter (Stiftsgebäude),
which Agathe Hegenzer von Wasserstelz had begun 10 years before. |
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1571-72 Acting County Sheriff Beate Klausdatter Bille of the
County of Rødinge and the Shire of Frost (At the time part of
Denmark, now Sweden)
Until 1575
County Sheriff
of Vissenbjerg Birk |
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Beate Bille was married to Otto Tygesen Brahe, Councillor of the Realm
and Fief-holder of Helsingborg. She administered the tenantcy in
Skåne, now Sweden, jointly with Sidsel Oxe. She was among others
mother of the famous astronomer Tycho Brahe, and Margrethe, who was
County Sheriff of Lanskrona in 1612, and lived (1526-1605). |
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1571-.. County Sheriff Magdalene of the County of
Møgeltønder, Denmark |
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Widow of
Claus Rantzau. |
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1571-87 County Sheriff Karen Ottesdatter Blome of the County
of Hørbygård,
Denmark |
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Karen
Blome was widow of Mogens Godske (of the Bielke Family), who had
previsously been married to Margrethe Torbendsdatter Sparre. She was
from Holstein and her family was close to the king, who gave them
joint ownership of the tenantcy of Hørbygård from 1539 and he later
held many tenantsies and fiefs. She (d. 1587). |
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1572-73 and 1576-79 County Sheriff Dorthe Iversdatter Krabbe
of Spøtrup,
Denmark |
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Jomfru
Dorthe Krabbe was granted the tenantcy jointly with her fiancé,
Count Günther von Barby, but she died and she married Benedikt von
Ahlefeldt. who was County Sheriff 1573-76 and after his death she
married Erik Lykke. |
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1571-74 Reigning Dowager Lady Dowager Margravine Katharine
von Braunschweig of Crossen in Brandenburg-Küstrin (Germany)
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After the death of her husband, Markgraf Johann von Küstrin, she
took up residence at her dorwy. Mother of 2 daughters, and lived
(1518-74). |
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1571-1614 Hereditary Countess Elisabeth von Stolberg of
Wertheim and Bereuberg (Germany)
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The
three daughters of Count Ludwig of Stolberg, Lord of Wertheim am
Main and Königstein am Taunus were heiresses. Their husbands: Count
Dietrich VI von Manderscheid-Schleiden, Philipp von Eberstein and
Ludwig von Löwenstein alternated in the government for one year at
the time until the possessions were divided in 1581. Elisabeth's
first husband died in 1593 and the following year she married
Wilhelm von Kreichingen. She had no children. |
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1572-1604 Sovereign Duchess Catherine de Bourbon de Navarra of
Albret, Comtesse d'Armagnac and Rodez
1577 Lieutenant-général of Béarn
1582-92 Regent of Béarn (France) |
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Succeeded her mother, Juana III of Navarra in some of her fiefs, and
was also Princess of Navarra and "Madame France" through her father,
Antoine de Vendôme. She was heir presumptive to the throne of
Navarre, the County of Béarn, the Co-Principality of Andorra and the
Duchy of Donnezan. Her brother, King Henri III of Navarra, became
Henri IV of France in 1589 and two years after her death she had a
son. She was married to Henri de Lorraine, Duc de Bar, who was
succeeded by his daughter by the second marriage, Nicoläa. Catharine
had no children, and lived (1559-1604). |
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Ca.
1572-1605 Sovereign Countess Marie de Brimeu of Megen (The
Netherlands) |
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It
is not clear if she was the direct successor of Charles de Brimeu,
who died 1572, but she is recorded as regent of the Free Imperial
County jointly with her husband Charles de Croÿ-Aarschot, Duke of
Croÿ and Prince de Chimay, who died 1610, and was succeeded by a
distant relative, François Henri de Croÿ-Crecques. |
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1572-90 Guardian Dowager Countess Dorothea von
Solms-Sonnenwalde of Reuss zu Gera (Germany)
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Her
son Heinrich II Posthumous, was born two months after her husband,
Heinrich XVI Reuss zu Plauen, Gera and Krainchfeld, died in April,
she was guardian for son, Heinrich (1572-1635), who was under
regency of some male relatives. Her son was also Lord of 1/6 of
Lobstein from 1577 and 1/3 of Ober-Kranichfeld from 1596 until he
inherited all the estates of Ober-Kranichfeld and Lobenstein in
1616.
She lived
(1547-95). |
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1572-90 Countess Regnant Marguerite de Foix of Candale,
d'Astarac et de Bénauges (France) |
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After her brother, Henri, was killed at Sommiéres, she inherited her
family's possessions. She was married to Jean-Louis de Nogaret de la
Valette, Duc d'Epernon (1554-1642), but had no children. She
imprisoned her sister, Madame Françoise de Candale (d. 1649), and
forced her to become a nun, but after her death Françoise left the
convent and started a process in order to gain the family
possessions.
Marguerite lived (1567-93). |
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1572-73 and 1576-79 County Sheriff Dorthe Iversdatter Krabbe
of Spøtrup, Denmark |
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Jomfru
Dorthe Krabbe was granted the tenantcy jointly with her fiance Count
Günther von Barby, but she died and she married Benedikt von
Ahlefeldt. who was County Sheriff 1573-76 and after his death she
married Erik Lykke. |
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1573 Regent Dowager Duchess Dedis Imedi Bagration of Samtzkhe
(Georgia)
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Governed in the name of their son after the death of her husband, Duke
Kaihosro II Djakeli. After the Ottomans conquered the country, her
son Minucihr converted to Islam and took the name, Mustafa, and she
was bestowed with three villages were also to Dedis-Imedi. She was
daughter of Duke Bagrat I of Muchrani, and (d. 1580). |
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1573-1601
Regent Dowager Countess Marie de Bourbon of Neuchâtel (Neuenburg)
(Switzerland)
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First married to
Jean de Bourbon, Duke d'Enghien and secondly François II. de Clèves,
Duke Nevers and last to Léonor d'Orléans (1540-73), Duke de
Longueville, Prince de Neuchâtel.
After his death she was regent for her son, Henri II d'
Orléans-Longueville, and showed both force and talent by her
reinforcement of the princely authority and the financial reforms.
She made treaties and took over the control of the finances from the
citizen of the city. She made her own coins and used much of her
energy to incorporate the Lordship of Valangin in the Principality
of Neuchâtel, and on this occasion she made her only visit to the
city in 1576. Daughter of François de Bourbon, Comte de Saint-Pol
and Duchess Adrienne d'Estouteville, she lived (1539-1600). |
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1573-76
Princess-Abbess
Anna II von Harrach
of
Göss bei Leoben (Austria)
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Possibly daughter of Count Leonhard III von Harrach and Barbara von Gleinitz and
widow of Leonhard von Sinzendorf (1506-48). She lived (1510-76).
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1573 Acting County Sheriff Anne Corfitzdatter Hardenberg of the
County of Helsingborg (At the time part of Denmark, now Sweden) |
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Of
high nobility, Anne Hardenberg was chambermaid to Queen Dorothea
1557-71, and here she got to know king Frederik 2 (king from 1559)
who fell in love with her, and wanted to marry her, but this met
widespread opposition. In 1572 she married Councillor of the Realm,
Oluf Mouritsen Krognos, who died after only six months marriage. She
lived at her dowry Bregentved and managed to keep her husband's
family at distance with the help of the royal family.
She (d. 1589). |
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Ca.
1573-81 County Sheriff
Margrethe Christensdatter Sandbjerg of the Counties of Øland and
Vig, Denmark |
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Margrethe Sandberg was widow of Niels Kjeldsen Juel
til Astrup, Bøvling Len og Vilstedgård Len. |
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1574-84 Regent Dowager Duchess Françoise de Brézé of
Sagan (France) |
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Countess de Maulevner in her own right. She took the reins after
death of her husband Henri-Robert de La March, Duke of Sagan and
Titular Duke of Bouillon, in the name of her son Guillaume-Robert
(1562-88), who was succeeded by sister, Charlotte. Françoise was
daughter of King François and lived (...87). |
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1574-84
Princess-Abbess Elisabeth II zu Regenstein of Quedlinburg
(Germany) |
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Daughter of
Count Ulrich VI of Regenstein (Reinstein) and Countess Magdalena von
Stolberg. |
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Until 1574 Princess-Abbess Magdalena zu Wied-Runkel of Elten
(Germany) |
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She
was daughter of Count Johan III zu Wied and Elisabeth of
Nassau-Dillenburg. |
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1574 Acting County Sheriff
Kirstine Clausdatter Ulfeldt of the County of Koldinghus with the
Shires of Brusk, Jerlev, Holmans, Tørrild and ½ of Andst, Denmark |
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Kirstine Ulfeldt was widow of Morten Svendsen (Orning) til Eget, who
had been appointed Lensmand of Koldinghus in 1563 by Queen Dorothea,
who held it as her dowry. He was member of a poor noble family and
had first been married to
Maren Clausdatter (Strangesen), widow of Godske
Holck.
Kirstine had first been married to Poul Abildgaard til Vranderup,
and (d. 1589). |
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1574 Acting County Sheriff Gørvel Abrahamsdatter
Gyldenstierne of the Counties of Høgsted, Katsløse and Magleby in
Skåne (Then Denmark, now Sweden)
1574-77
County Sheriff of Bekkeskov Kloster |
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Gørvel
Gyldenstierne til Asserbo had exchanged other property to get the 3
tenantcies. She had first been married to Gert Jensen Ulfstand til
Bønnet and secondly to Laue Truedsen Ulfstand til Torup. She (d.
1577). |
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1574 Acting County Sheriff Berite Eriksdanner Banner of the
County of Vester Skerning, Denmark |
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Berite Danner exchanged the tenantcy with other lands. Her first
husband, Claus Bryske died 1565, in 1578 she married Knud Bille (d.
1592). She (d. 1591). |
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Until 1574 Marquise Marie de Clèves de l'Isle, Countess
de Beaufort (France) |
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Daughter of Francois I de Clèves, Duke of Nevers. 1574 she married
Henri I de Bourbon, Prince de Condé, Duc d'Enghien, she died during
the birth of her daughter, Catherine de Bourbon, Marquise d'Isles
(1574-95). Marie lived (1553-74). |
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1574-95 Marquise Catherine de Bourbon of de l'Isle, Countess
de Beaufort (France) |
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Succeeded mother, Marie de Clèves, who died during her birth.
Catherine lived
(1574-95). |
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1574-83 Politically Influential Nurbanu Sultan Valide Sultan
of The Ottoman Empire (Covering Turkey, Greece, The Balkans, parts
of the Middle East and Northern Africa) |
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When her husband, Selim III died, she kept his corpse in an icebox to
conceal the death until her son; Murad III (1574-95) could be
summoned from Manisa, where he was governor. He arrived 12 days
later, and Nur Banu run the government together with the Grand
Vizier Sokollu Mehmet Pasha and was the chief advisor of her son.
She also carried on a correspondence with the regent of France,
Catherine de' Medici, promoting good relations between the two
courts. She was the first of influential women in the period called
the Sultanate of Women. Probably born as Cevilia Venier-Baffo, the
illegitimate issue of two Venetian noble families, and was captured
by the Turks on the Aegean Island of Paros in 1537 and became a
slave in Topkapi Sarayi lived (1525-83). |
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1575-86 Rex Poloniae Anna Jagiellonka of Poland |
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Daughter of King Zygmunt I the Old of Poland and Bona Sforza, and was
Queen and co-regent with her husband Stefan Batory, but she was not
politically influential and only titular "king". After the death of
her husband, she introduced nephew Zygmunt Vasa of Sweden (the son
of her sister) on the throne. Anna was a follower of the
Contra-reformation, and lived (1523-96). |
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After 1575-86 Regent Dowager Margravine Cecilia Vasa of
Baden-Rodemachern (Germany) |
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Also known as Cäcilia Wasa, she was allowed to take over the regency
after many years of processes against the stipulation in the will of
her husband, Christoph II of Baden (1537-75). Her son, Eduard
Fortunatus von Baden (1565-1600) was Margrave of Baden-Baden
(1588-96). She lived a stormy life and travelled a lot. She spent a
year in London, where her oldest son was born, and became a friend
of Queen Elizabeth I. At some point she lived at her dowry Arboga in
Sweden where she started an iron-mine and was behind piracy at the
Baltic Sea. When Eduard Fortunatus died, his oldest son Wilhelm was
only 7. He did not become Margrave of Baden-Baden until 1621 and it
is not clear if either Cecilia or her daughter-in-law, Marie von
Eichen (d. 1636), played any role during his minority. Apart from
her oldest son she was mother of 5 sons who all were unmarried or
died young. The daughter of King Gustav I Vasa of Sweden and his
second wife Margareta Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud, and lived
(1540-1627). |
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1575-78 Princess-Abbess Elisabeth VI von
Manderscheid-Blankenheim-Gerolstein of Essen (Germany) |
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All
the Ladies of the Chapter had the right to participate in the
Landtag of the Ecclesiastical Territory of Essen, which met at least
once a year, but the Secretary of the Chapter or other
office-holders often represented them. The Landtag met in the Grand
Hall of the Convent. Elisabeth IV held close connections with her
brother, Count Hermann, she resigned in order to marry Count Wirich
von Daun-Falkenstein. Her sister, Margaretha, was Princess-Abbess of
Eltern and Vreden until her death in 1602. Elisabeth was daughter of
Count Arnold and Margaretha von Wied, and lived (1544-86). |
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1575-86 Princess-Abbess Felicitas I von Eberstein of Herford
(Germany) |
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At this time the
line of Hereditary Stewarts, the Lords von Helfenstein, was dying out.
The last Lord, Johann XIV, had one daughter, Wilhelmina, who married
Otto von Rolshausen, who was granted the Lordship of Mühlbach by
Felicitas Countess von Eberstein. |
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1575-83 Princess-Abbess Barbara III Blarer von Wartensee of
Schänis (Switzerland) |
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The
second of her family to be ruler of the territory. In the same
period a relative of hers, Jakob Christian Blarer von Wartensee, was
Bishop of Basel - he lived (1542-1608). Her family had owned the
Borough of Wartensee and in 1405 they got the "Landrecht" of the
Appenzell-Canton and stayed out of the Appenzeller-wars. |
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1575-1611 Reigning Abbess Eléonore III de Bourbon of the Royal
Abbey of Fontevraud (France) |
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The French Princess
had
great influence with her nephew, King Henri IV of France, and her
affection for him was so great that, towards the end of her life,
when he was assassinated, her nuns dared not tell her lest the shock
should be too great.
She was daughter of
Duc Charles IV de Vendôme and Françoise
d'Alencon, Duchesss de Beaumont. Her brother, Duc Antoine de
Vendôme, was married to Juanna III of Navarra and Titular King of
Navarre (1555-62) - the parents of Henri IV - and 3 of her sisters
were also Abbesses, Madeleine (1521-61) in Poitiers, Catherine in
Notre Dame de Soissons and Renée (1527-83) in Chelles. Eleonore
lived (1532-1611). |
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1575-76
Acting County Sheriff Karen Christoffersdatter Gyldenstierne of
the County of Bygholm with the Shires of Bjerg, Hatting, Nim and Vor
and the County of Sankt Hans Kloster, Denmark |
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Also known as Karen Gyldenstjerne til Stjernholm.
After the death of her husband, Holger Ottesen Rosenkrantz til Boller,
she administered his fief for a period. Rosenkrantz was Stadholder
in Norway, and later became military commander of the realm.
Statholder in Nothern Jutland and a few years later he became
Marshal of the Realm. They were closely connected to King Frederik
2. who was the sponsor of one of their sons. She was an able
administrator. She built several manor houses, a new church in Uth.
She collected a number of folk songs, which is one of the most
important sources for knowledge of this tradition. Around 1590 she
moved to Skt. Hans Kloster in Horsens, which she renamed, into
Stjernholm. She had bought a number of houses in the town of
Horsens, which caused much dispute with the city council, because
she claimed that as a noble she did not have to pay tax and thereby
she damaged the economic life of the city. It was not until 1598
that the case was settled. She was accused using sorcery to harm
Anne Hardenberg at the neighbouring estate, but no case was raised
and the king settled the dispute. 1599 her son, Frederik was
convicted to lose his "honour" because of his relationship to
Rigborg Brockenhuus. He was allowed to travel to Hungary to fight
the Turks, but died in Prague in 1602. She was the oldest child of
Christoffer Gyldenstierne (d. 1562) and Anne Parsberg (1515-87), who
had 9 other children after her. The mother of 4 sons, of whom 2 died
as infants, she lived (1544-1613). |
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1576-1610 Queen Amina Sarauniya of Zazzua, Zaria and Abuja
1580-82 Queen of Kano (Nigeria) |
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Probably the granddaughter of Sarkin (king) Zazzau Nohir. Zazzua was
one of a number of Hausa city-states, which dominated the
trans-Saharan trade after the collapse of the Songhai empire to the
west. At the age of sixteen, Amina became the heir apparent
(Magajiya) to her mother, Bakwa of Turunku, the ruling Queen of
Zazzua. With the title came the responsibility for a ward in the
city and daily councils with other officials. Although her mother's
reign was known for peace and prosperity, Amina also chose to learn
military skills from the warriors. Queen Bakwa died around 1566 and
the reign of Zazzua passed to her younger brother Karama. At this
time Amina emerged as the leading warrior of Zazzua cavalry. Her
military achievements brought her great wealth and power. When
Karama died after a ten-year rule, Amina became Queen of Zazzua. She
set off on her first military expedition three months after coming
to power and continued fighting until her death. In her thirty-four
year reign, she expanded the domain of Zazzua to its largest size
ever. Lived (ca. 1533-ca- 1610). |
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1576... Adelantada Juana Ortiz de Zárate of Corrientes, Santa
Fe and Buenos Aires, Adelantado of Chile (Chile) |
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Following the death of her father, Juan Ortiz de Zárate, Adelanto and
Governor, founder of the City of Santa Fe and Buenos Aires, she
inherited the estates of the family and apparently Emperor Charles V
named her Adelantado of Chile. She was married to Juan de Torres de
Vera y Aragón, who became Governor in 1578, and mother of Juan
Alonso de Vera y Zárate. Apparently her mother was the Inca
Princess, Leonor Yupanqui, daughter of Tupac-Hupalla (Originally
Auqui Huallpa Tupac) puppet-emperor in 1533. |
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1576-78 Sovereign Duchess Elizabeth d'Austrice of Berry
(France) |
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Given
the duchy after the death of her husband, King Charles IX
(1550-60-74), the son of Henri II and Catherine de' Medici. Their
only child was a daughter - Princess Marie-Elisabeth who lived
(1572-78) - and Charles therefore was succeeded by his brother Henri
III.
Elizabeth lived
(1554-78). |
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1576-1602 Princess-Abbess
Florentina von Putterer
of Göss bei Leoben (Austria) |
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The
chapter of canonisses (Kanonissen or Chorfrauenstift) and it was founded
around 1000 by Countess Palatine Adala of Bavaria. The abbot or provost
administered the estates of the clerical ladies, arranged the statues
and appointed the prioress. In 1020 her grandchild, Aribo III handed it
over to the protection of Emperor Heinrich II, who granted it immunity
and raised it to the status of an Chapter of the Realm - or Imperial
Immediacy (reichsunmittelbaren Abtei) - the only one in Austria - and
removed the Chapter from the influence of the Metropolits of Salzburg. |
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1576-51
Reigning Dowager Lady
Anna Sophie
von Preussen of the Cities and Administrative Offices of
Crivitz and Lübz
in Mecklenburg-Schwerin
(Germany) |
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Alternatively
resided at Eldenburg after the death of her husband, Johann-Albrecht
I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. She was mother of 3 sons, and lived
(1527-91). |
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1576-91 County Sheriff Anne Mandrupsdatter Holck of the
County of Hørby, Denmark |
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Anne Holck til Stadsgård was widow of Verner Tønnesen Parsberg til
Harrested og Sandbygår, Lensmand of Sölvesborg (d. 1567). She
(d. 1591). |
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1577-79 De-facto joint ruler Queen Mahid-I Uliyah of
Persia (Iran) |
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Also known as Mahd-e Olya, she initially dominated her husband,
Mohammad Shah, who succeeded his brother, Shah Esma'il II, who was a
brutal a pro-Sunni ruler who was poisoned with the participation of
their sister Pari Khan Khanom after only one year at the throne.
Mohammad proved to be a weak leader, but after her assassination in
1579 the Qezelbash took control. Meanwhile Ottomans took advantage
of Iran's political turmoil to launch a major invasion of the
country. Consequently extensive territories were lost to Ottomans,
including most of Azerbaijan, with Tabriz, and Georgia. The Safavid
Dynasty was of Turkmen origin and established themselves first at
Tabriz, which had been the capital of the Mongol Il Khans, in
Turkish speaking Azerbaijanistan. They also brought the Shi'ite
branch of Islam to Persia. |
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1577-78 Reigning Sri Rani Makayiram Thirunal of
Travancore (India) |
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The
Kulusekhara Dynasty of Travancore (or Tiruvankur) is of very ancient
lineage, tracing its origins to the Royal House of Vanad and dating
from 1100 AD. They attained considerable power during the reign of
Ravi Varma Kulasekhara, during the early years of the fourteenth
century. Marco Polo claimed to have visited his capital at Quilon, a
centre of commerce and trade with China and the Levant. Europeans
were attracted to the region during the late fifteenth century,
primarily in pursuit of the then rare commodity, pepper. The
Portuguese were the first to arrive, followed by their later rivals,
the Dutch, during the seventeenth century. |
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1577-84
Head of the Regency Government Dowager Margravine
Anna von der Pfalz-Veldenz of Baden-Durlach (Germany) |
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After the death of her husband, Karl II (1553-77) she was regent for
her sons together with Elector
Ludwig VI. von der Pfalz and Duke Ludwig von Württemberg. The 2
oldest sons were Markgraf Ernst Friedrich von Baden-Durlach and,
Markgraf Jakob von Baden-Hachberg. The third son, Georg Friedrich
inherited the whole territory in 1604. She was daughter of
Pfalzgraf Ruprecht von Veldenz and Ursula, Wild- und Rheingräfin von
Daun-Kyrburg und Salm and mother of 8 children, and
lived (1540-77) |
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1577-82 Superintendent Maria Marguerite de Mérode of Bergen op
Zoom (The Netherlands) |
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Was
given the Marchionate as a fief by the States of Brabant, but she
did not recieve the title of Marchioness. The king of Spain had
administered it after the death of her uncle, Jan IV van Glymes, who
died childless in 1567. Joint administrator with her husband, Jan
baron van Wittem from 1578. Both were deposed by the Dutch after
they sided with the Spanish, and the possession was given to the
Prince of Oranje and not until 1588 is the eldest of their three
daughters, Maria, given the Marchionate as a fief. She
lived (1560-88). |
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1577-1631 Reigning Lady Sophia Hedwig von
Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel of the Administrative Office of Darsim in
Pommern-Wolgast (Poland/Germany)
1592-1631 Reigning Dowager Lady of the City of Loitz
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Her
husband, Duke Ernst Ludwig of Pommern-Wolgast (1545-69-92), handed
over the village to her as her dowry. Her only son, Philipp Julius,
was under the guardianship of an uncle until 1603. She was daughter
of
Julius von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel and
Hedwig von Brandenburg, her younger sisters, Elisabeth was
Contra-Abbess of Gandersheim from 1678 and
Dorothea Augusta Princess-Abbess from 1611. She was
also mother of 2 daughters, and lived (1561-1631). |
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1577 Reigning Dowager Lady Dowager Queen Karin Månsdotter of
Sweden of Liuksiala Kungsgård in Finland
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Initially
the mistress of Eric XIV and later
married to him to the "left hand" in 1567 and 1568, when she was
ennobled and crowned queen under the name Katarina Magnusdotter. He was
deposed on grounds of insanity in 1569, a few years later she was placed
under house arrest in Åbo in Finland, her son, Gustav, was removed from
her but she was allowed to have her daughter, Sigrid, by her side. Her
brother-in-law, Johan III granted her the Royal Estate of Liuksiala
which she administered justly and vize.
She lived (1550-1612). |
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1577-79 Princess-Abbess Josina I von Manderscheid-Blankenheim
und Gerolstein of Thorn (The Netherlands)
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At
the elections for the successor of Margaretha von Brederode, Josina
von der Marck got the most votes, but since she was not yet 30
Josina von Manderscheid took over the position of ruler of the
territory. After a few years she fell seriously ill and nominated
Josina v.d. Marck as her successor. She was daughter of Gerhard and
Franziska von Montfort. Her sister Helena was a nun until she left
the Chapter in order to marry Count Reinhard von Brederode.
Josina lived
(1537-79). |
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1577-81 Princess-Abbess Sibylle von Anhalt of Gernrode and
Frose (Germany)
1601-14 Reigning Dowager Lady of Leonberg |
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Even though she was stilll a minor, her father, Joachim Ernst von
Anhalt, forced through her election as successor of her sister, Anne Marie as
titular sovereign of the territory. It was confirmed by Emperor Rudolf II the
same year. She only issued one decree in which she gave some land to the widow
of Stefan Molitor the first evangelican Superintendent of the chapter.
When she resigned to marry Duke Freiderich von Württemberg (1557-1616), she was
succeeded by another sister, Agnes Hedwig.
She was mother
of 14 children, and lived (1564-1614).
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1577-89 Princess-Abbess Margarethe II von Chlum of Gandersheim
(Germany) |
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Elected as successor
of her sister, Magdalene, but after the Duke of Braunchweig occupied
the territory and installed his daughter,
Elisabeth zu Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, as de-facto as ruler.
Margarethe had to flee to Neuenheerse and was only able to return
after the second contra-abbess Margarete von Warberg died in 1587. |
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1578-82 "Titular" Contra Abbess Elisabeth zu
Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel of Gandersheim (Germany) |
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After Margareta von Chlum was
elected as Princess-Abbess, her father, Duke Julius, occupied and claimed that
she was the real ruler, and Margareta had to flee. Margarete von Warberg was in
power until 1587, and only then Margareta II was able to return. Her older
sister, Sophia-Hedwig, reigned her dowries in Pommern from 1677 and their
younger sister, Dorothea Auguste was Princess-Abbess of Gandersheim from 1611.
She lived (1677-1618).
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1578-1600 Sovereign Lady Anna Walburga von Neuenahr-Bedburg of
Moers, Bedburg, Garsforf and Rosberg (Germany) |
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Also known as
Waldburga von Neuenhar, Countess von Hoorn, or Regierende Gräfin
Walburgis von Neuenahr-Moers, she
succeeded her brother Hermann Graf von Neuenahr-Moers. Moers was
occupied to by the Archbishopcy of Köln 1584-88, by Maurits van
Oranje 1588-94, Bedburg and Garsdorf was claimed by Adolf
Bentheim-Steinfurt and Roesberg was held by the Ketler family
1578-ca. 1595 until she sold the lordship to this family. She was
first married to Philipp von Montmorency-Nivelle, Count von Hoorn,
who was decapitated in 1567, and in 1570 to her relative Adolf von
Neuenahr, Lord of Neuenhar, Moers, Limburg, Bedburg, Alpen, Alterna,
Weerth, Hackenboiche, Lennep and Helfenstein (d. 1589). In 1594
named Maurits as her heir.
She lived
(1522-1600) |
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1578-88 Princess-Abbess Elisabeth VII von Sayn of Essen
(Germany) |
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During her reign "only" 14 witch-processes were conducted, only a
fraction of the processes in the neighbouring countries. Elisabeth
VII was daughter of Count Adolf of Sayn and Maria von Mansfeld. Her
brother's daughter Anna Elisabeth (1572-1608) inherited the county
from her uncle in 1606. Anna Elisabeth was married to Count Wilhelm
zu Sayn and Wittgenstein (d. 1623). |
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1578-1614 Princess-Abbess Barbara von Breiten-Landenberg of
Lindau (Germany) |
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Member of an old countly family. |
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1578-1611 Olangio to hoelialio Wulutileni Raja To Huliyalio of
the Downlying Parts of Gorontalo (Indonesia) |
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The
principality in North Sulawesi was divided between to branches of
the same dynasty, which reigned a part each. She belonged to
the Raja To Huliyalio Branch and her title means ruler of the
downlying parts. She succeeded her father, Tuliabu, and was followed
on the throne by daughter, Mboheleo.
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1578-79 Acting County Sheriff Margrethe Eriksdatter Lange of
the County of
Ålborghus with the Shires of Års, Flæskum, Gislum, Hindsted,
Hornum, Horns, Hvetbo and Kære and the County of Viskumgård
1615-16 Acting County Sheriff of the County of
Bygholm Len with the Shires of Bjerge, Hatting and Nim, Denmark |
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After the death of her first husband, Jens Nielsen Kaas, Margrethe
Lange was acting Lensmand (County Sheriff) until a successor was
appointed. Afterwards married to Knud Brahe (1555-1615) and after
his death in charge of Bygholm etc. As most fief administrators she
belonged to the ancient non-titled nobility. (d. 1622). |
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1578
Acting County Sheriff
Birgitte
Timmesdatter Rosenkrantz
of the County of Nebbegård, Denmark
1580 Acting County Sheriff
of
Rosenkrantz
of the County of Kalundborg
with the Shires of Arts Løve, Ods, Skippinge and Samsø |
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Birgitte Rosenkrantz was widow of Bjørn Kaas who was Lensmand in
Helsingborg and Malmöhus. She later had a relationship to her late
husband's cousin, Gjord Kaas. Because it was considered to be incest
at the time, she was executed on the command of King Christian 4.
Gjord went into exile, and when he returned after 17 years he too
was executed. According to the legend she is today the "White Lady"
a ghost at Stårup Castle. (d. 1603). |
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1578 County Sheriff
Bege Clausdatter Emmiksen of the County of Hundsbæk, Denmark |
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Bege Emmiksen til Damgård was widow of Peder Galskyt (d. ca. 1554).
She (d. ca. 1613). |
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1578 County Sheriff Magdalene Clausdatter Sehested of the
County of Æbelø, Denmark |
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Magalene Sehested til Spandetgård
was widow of Mourids Podebusk and lived most of her life in Ribe,
where she died after having been blind for some years. She was
daughter of
Claus Sested or
Sehested, and
lived (1538-1611). |
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