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INFORMATION VINE * The Most Powerful Kings And Queens In History *.
Valley of the Sun Casual Club :: WORDS , FACTS , DATES , GAMES & TRIVIA & HISTORY :: INFORMATION VINE
Page 1 of 1
INFORMATION VINE * The Most Powerful Kings And Queens In History *.
by Paul Fri 08 Mar 2024, 7:47 am
The Most Powerful Kings And Queens In History
Photo Courtesy: [Shakko/Wikimedia Commons]
Throughout human history, thousands and thousands of monarchs have held power over countries and entire empires. Sweden, Thailand, Scotland, and Syria are among the many nations which have been ruled by kings or queens throughout their history.
Of all of these kings and queens, who held the most power and exerted the greatest influence? From King Solomon of Israel to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, here are the most powerful kings and queens in history.
Boudica was a queen of the Iceni, a Brittonic tribe who lived in eastern Great Britain during the Roman era. Around 60 A.D., Boudica led a rebellion against the Roman Empire, which had been occupying the southern half of the island since 43. The queen amassed thousands of rebels and targeted multiple settlements, one of which was a relatively new town called Londinium. Though Londinium was destroyed by Boudica's forces, the modern city of London was later built on its site.
Photo Courtesy: [Paul Walter/Wikimedia Commons]
While Boudica's uprising ultimately failed, the queen became a British cultural symbol and folk hero. The Romans claimed that the queen died soon afterward from either her wounds or taking poison, but there is no evidence to support this, leaving her fate as something of a mystery.
Charlemagne became King of the Franks upon his father's death in 768 A.D. In just 22 years, Charlemagne also became King of the Lombards and Emperor of the Romans. As king, he helped unite much of central and western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He also ruled parts of Europe that had never been ruled by the Franks or the Romans.
Photo Courtesy: [Myrabella/Wikimedia Commons]
Because of this, Charlemagne has been called the "Father of Europe". The empire that Charlemagne established is known as the Carolingian Empire. It was founded on December 25, 800.
Vajiravudh was the King of Siam from 1910 to 1925 and was the sixth monarch under the Chakri dynasty. During his 15 years on the throne, Siam played a minor role in World War I and fought alongside the Allied Powers. The king viewed the war as an opportunity to foster Siamese nationalism and changed the design of the flag to what it still is today, even though Siam is now called Thailand.
Photo Courtesy: [ร้านถ่ายรูปหลวงฉายานรสิงห์/Wikimedia Commons]
Vajiravudh's role in promoting Siamese nationalism and helping reform and democratize the country are among the most important aspects of his reign. He was also a skilled writer and journalist, producing many novels, poems, and newspaper articles throughout his life.
Edward I fought in the Ninth Crusade as a young man and became known as Edward Longshanks because of his imposing height. He was also known for having a fairly volatile temper. As King of England, Edward made Parliament a permanent institution and in doing so created a system through which laws could be passed and taxes could be raised.
Photo Courtesy: [Wikimedia Commons]
Edward also passed the Edict of Expulsion, which forced all Jews out of England, and conquered Wales and Scotland. His multiple attacks on Scotland earned him the name "Hammer of the Scots". Over three centuries after his death, Oliver Cromwell allowed Jews to return to England and openly practice their faith.
Cetshwayo was the king of the Zulu Kingdom in southern Africa from 1873 until 1879 when he led his nation in the fight against the British during the Anglo-Zulu War. In the Battle of Isandlwana, which was the first major conflict in the war, the British found themselves overwhelmed by Zulu forces despite their considerably more advanced military technology.
Photo Courtesy: [Alex. Bassano/Wikimedia Commons]
Cetshwayo led his forces to victory that day, costing the British their greatest defeat by an indigenous people with inferior weapons. Though Cetshwayo was subsequently defeated and exiled, he is famed for his triumph over the British at the Battle of Isandlwana.
Born James Charles Stuart in 1566, this king ruled Scotland as James VI beginning in 1567 and England and Ireland as James I beginning in 1625. Under his rule, the English colonization of the Americas commenced, as did the colonization of Ulster in what is now part of Northern Ireland.
Photo Courtesy: [Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien/Wikimedia Commons]
His rule of Scotland lasted 57 years and was the longest reign of any Scottish king or queen. The flourishing of English drama and literature that began under his predecessor Elizabeth I continued under James, with writers like William Shakespeare and Sir Francis Bacon producing some of their best works. James was also a prolific writer and sponsored the translation of the Bible into English, resulting in the Authorized King James Version that bears his name.
One of the only English kings to be called "the Great", Alfred ascended to the throne after three of his brothers had already reigned the kingdom of Wessex. Alfred fought against the invading Vikings on multiple occasions and soundly defeated them at the Battle of Edington. Through his ongoing successes at repelling the Vikings, Alfred established himself as the dominant ruler in England.
Photo Courtesy: [Samuel Woodforde/Wikimedia Commons]
Known for his merciful attitude and intelligent nature, Alfred suggested that educators teach their students in Old English rather than Latin, and had books translated into English so that all could read them. Alfred was himself a learned man and could speak several languages. He also took great steps to strengthen the defense systems in his kingdom to protect his people from invaders.
Though Anne Boleyn is best known for her marriage to Henry VIII and subsequent execution, she left her mark on English history not just as the king's wife, but as a queen. Rather than agreeing to be the king's mistress, as her sister Mary Boleyn had been, Anne insisted on becoming his wife and queen. Her only child with Henry, Elizabeth I, would go on to be one of the nation's most influential monarchs.
Photo Courtesy: [Wikimedia Commons]
As queen, Anne played a key role in the passing of the Poor Law, by which local officials were tasked with finding work for the unemployed. This important anti-poverty legislation solidifies Anne's status as a humanitarian and contrasts with the much more negative picture that her contemporaries often painted of her. Unfortunately, just two months later, Anne was executed on trumped-up charges of treason so that Henry could marry Jane Seymour.
Nebuchadnezzar II was the longest-ruling monarch of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, also known as the Second Babylonian Empire. His rule lasted 43 years, during which time he conquered Palestine and Syria. He also began the Babylonian Captivity of the Jews, which is described extensively in the Old Testament, and had the Temple of Jerusalem turned to rubble.
Photo Courtesy: [Georg Pencz/Wikimedia Commons]
Under his rule, Babylon prospered greatly and developed into a lavish city. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are said to have been built by Nebuchadnezzar II for his queen Amytis, though some scholars have disputed their historicity.
Ewuare ruled the Kingdom of Benin in West Africa from 1440 to 1473. He succeeded his brother Uwaifiokun, who had allowed his people to become impoverished while he enjoyed a much more comfortable lifestyle. Once he was king, Ewuare rebuilt much of Benin City and enacted political reforms across the entire kingdom.
Photo Courtesy: [sailko/Wikimedia Commons]
Under his rule, the Kingdom of Benin prospered and expanded across Africa. The arts also flourished greatly under Ewuare, leaving behind a notable legacy for him and his rule. Today, Ewuare is considered to be the first King of the Benin Empire.
Gustavus Adolphus is one of the most famous kings of Sweden and oversaw the rise of his nation as a major European power. Under his rule, Sweden's military became one of the foremost in Europe amidst the Thirty Years' War, no doubt due to his skills as a commander.
Photo Courtesy: [Jacob Hoefnagel/Wikimedia Commons]
He was also a major supporter of the Protestants, who have since honored him with the names of many of their churches and establishments. Known as the "Lion of the North", Gustavus Adolphus is also the only Swedish king to be referred to as "the Great". He also carried out significant economic reforms and is now an icon among the Swedish people.
Catherine de' Medici was an Italian noblewoman who became the queen consort of France through her marriage to King Henry II. Three kings: Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III, were her sons. Because of her great influence over them, the reigns of her three sons are collectively referred to as the "age of Catherine de' Medici". Though her husband prevented her from having almost any political power, she later ruled as regent for her sons.
Photo Courtesy: [François Clouet/Wikimedia Commons]
It is believed that without Catherine's influence, none of her sons would have remained in power. Her most controversial acts, including her retaliation against the French Protestants, have garnered her a reputation as a powerful and at times, ruthless queen. However, much of this can be attributed to her desperation to keep the monarchy in power. Whatever her reasons may have been, Catherine is now regarded as one of the most powerful women of the 16th century.
Edward IV is often remembered for his role in the Wars of the Roses, which were a series of conflicts between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. Though his war overshadowed his entire reign, Edward established himself as a strong leader and warrior, and at 6 feet and 4.5 inches, is still the tallest of England's many kings. He was also the first English monarch to keep his own permanent library, of which over 40 works survive today.
Photo Courtesy: [Wikimedia Commons]
Edward's library was just one of the many luxuries he lavished money on, with fine clothes, jewelry, and furniture also being the source of much spending. His abrupt death in 1483 is something of a mystery, with a variety of illnesses or even poison having been suggested as potential causes.
Tomyris was the queen of an Eastern Iranian people called the Massagetae. In battle, she successfully led her people to victory against Cyrus II of Persia, who was attempting to take over her country. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, Tomyris eventually defeated Cyrus and had him beheaded and then crucified.
Photo Courtesy: [Andrea del Castagno/Wikimedia Commons]
Reportedly, Tomyris filled Cyrus's head with human blood and declared that by doing so, she had quenched his "thirst for blood". While Cyrus had conquered several empires and founded the first Persian Empire, he clearly underestimated the power of Tomyris and her people.
Known as the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I became Queen of England and Ireland in 1558. Under her rule, the arts and culture in England flourished. Previously a divided nation, England enjoyed relative peace during her reign and achieved a great victory against the Spanish Armada in 1588.
Photo Courtesy: [Woburn Abbey/Wikimedia Commons]
While Elizabeth believed that one's faith as a strictly personal matter, she played a key role in establishing the Church of England, which still exists today. By the end of her life, Elizabeth had helped forge and strengthen England's national identity and left a lasting legacy.
Hypsicratea lived in the 1st century B.C. and was married to King Mithridates VI. Because of her intense devotion to her husband, she learned to fight as a warrior and dress as a man and was even given a masculine name by him. As Queen of Pontus, she presided over a confederacy of states located in present-day Turkey.
Photo Courtesy: [snappygoat.com]
Her husband was eventually defeated by Pompey, a Roman general, and Pontus was annexed by the Roman Empire. Even when Mithridates was forced into exile, Hypsicratea stayed with him. No record exists of her life after his death, but it has been suggested that due to her ability to pass as a male, she may have lived out her days as a man.
Louis XIV reigned for over 72 years, making him the longest-reigning monarch in European history. He was a firm believer in an absolute monarchy and the divine right of Kings and was also a major supporter of the arts. One of the most famous structures built during his reign was the Palace of Versailles. He also had at least 20 sculptures made of himself.
Photo Courtesy: [Museum of the History of France/Wikimedia Commons]
Louis XIV also revoked the Edict of Nantes, which had ensured the rights of French Protestants. In response, many of these French Protestants moved to other countries, such as Switzerland or Prussia. Some also moved to the growing British colonies in North America.
Nefertiti, whose name means "a beautiful woman has come", was Queen of Egypt during the reign of her husband, Akhenaten. Along with her husband, she played a key role in changing the traditional religion of Egypt from polytheism to monotheism.
Photo Courtesy: [Philip Pikart/Wikimedia Commons]
This monotheism took hold in the form of the cult of Aten, the sun god. Nefertiti also supported a radical change in the artistic style of Egypt, which contrasted greatly with what had come before. The changes she and her husband made may have been short-lived, but they certainly left their mark on Egyptian history.
Arsinoe II was a queen who co-ruled the Ptolemaic Kingdom which ruled ancient Egypt for nearly 300 years. She was also the queen of Anatolia, Macedonia, and Thrace, making her the first ruler of both Upper and Lower Egypt.
Photo Courtesy: [Sailko/Wikimedia Commons]
Following her death, Ptolemy II established a cult solely dedicated to the powerful queen. While many men would later preside over Upper and Lower Egypt, it is important to remember that the first of these rulers was a woman.
The youngest of Theodoric the Great's daughters, Amalasuintha ruled a Germanic people known as the Ostrogoths while her son Athalaric was still a minor. When Athalaric predeceased her, she became the sole ruler and queen of the Ostrogothic Kingdom, which encompassed all of Italy and much of the surrounding territory.
Photo Courtesy: [Sailko/Wikimedia Commons]
Unfortunately, her choice to make her cousin Theodahad co-ruler proved to be a fatal one. He usurped the throne and had Amalasuintha imprisoned in central Italy, where she was eventually murdered. Despite her tragic end, Amalasuintha was once the most powerful person in the Ostrogothic Kingdom.
As King of Spain, Philip II ushered in a Golden Age of culture and the arts for his country. Through his marriage to Mary Tudor, he also became King of England and Ireland for a little over four years.
Photo Courtesy: [Sofonisba Anguissola/Wikimedia Commons]
The Spanish Empire grew exceedingly during his rule. One of Spain's acquisitions from this time, the Philippines, still bears his name today. The Spanish military also flourished during this time, with an average of 9,000 soldiers being recruited each year.
Isabella I is best remembered for her marriage to King Ferdinand of Aragon, through which Spain was united into one country. She is also famous for her association with the explorer Christopher Columbus, whose expedition she financed and supported.
Photo Courtesy: [Royal Collection/Wikimedia Commons]
Isabella and Ferdinand also defeated the Moors and ordered that Muslims and Jews living in Spain convert to Christianity. Those who refused to convert were forced to leave the country.
At the time of his rule, George III was the longest-reigning English monarch, as well as the first King of Hanover to speak English as his primary language. During his reign, Great Britain became the leading colonial power in North America and India.
Photo Courtesy: [Johann Zoffany/Wikimedia Commons]
Though George is often remembered for his mental illness and presiding over the independence of the American colonies, he also oversaw the defeat of France in the Seven Years' War and Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo. Despite the loss of the American colonies, the British presence in North America continued to prosper.
Cnut the Great ruled from 1016 to 1035. As a prince of Danish origin, Cnut's ascension to the throne of Denmark and subsequently England brought the two kingdoms together. In 1028, he also claimed the throne of Norway. The resulting union of the kingdoms of Denmark, England, and Norway established what is now referred to as the North Sea Empire.
Photo Courtesy: [Matthew Paris/Wikimedia Commons]
Sigtuna, a city in Sweden, is also believed to have been controlled by Cnut. In his own words, Cnut was "King of all England and Denmark and the Norwegians and of some of the Swedes".
One of the most infamous queens in the Old Testament, Jezebel exercised considerable influence over the nation of Israel and her husband, King Ahab. The daughter of a Phoenician king, she established the worship of the gods Asherah and Baal on a national level.
Photo Courtesy: [Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton/Wikimedia Commons]
Under Jezebel, the prophets of Yahweh were slain in an attempt to stifle the traditional beliefs of the kingdom. She outlived Ahab, who was killed in combat. However, Jezebel was eventually put to death by her own servants, who cast her out of a window.
As Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India, Victoria became one of the most powerful and iconic rulers in history. She was greatly respected and adored by many of her people and oversaw the expansion of the British Empire to a level never before seen. Several new countries, including Canada and Australia, were formed under her rule.
Photo Courtesy: [Franz Xaver Winterhalter/Wikimedia Commons]
Because her children married into other royal families throughout Europe, Victoria became known as the "grandmother of Europe". A number of places around the world bear her name, including the state of Victoria in Australia and the city of Victoria, British Columbia.
Also known as Saint Bertha, Bertha was the queen of the medieval Kingdom of Kent. Her greatest influence was her role in spreading Christianity throughout Anglo-Saxon England. In 596, Pope Gregory the Great sent a group led by Augustine of Canterbury to England to restore the Christian religion there.
Photo Courtesy: [Gordon Griffiths/Wikimedia Commons]
Augustine and those accompanying him were warmly received by Bertha and her husband, King Æthelberht. Because of their kindness, cathedrals and monastic settlements were built throughout England, and Augustine became known as the founder of the English church.
Cleopatra was the last queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty and its only ruler to learn the Egyptian language. Through her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, she gradually came to play an important role in Roman politics.
Photo Courtesy: [Frederick Arthur Bridgman/Wikimedia Commons]
As a ruler, she developed trade relations with various Arab countries, which helped strengthen Egypt's economy. Because of the prosperity, she brought to Egypt, as well as her adoption of its culture, she was greatly admired among her people.
Henry II was the first king of the royal House of Plantagenet, which originated from the ancient province of Anjou, France. He strengthened the legal system by requiring that someone accused of a major crime had to be tried by a judge and jury.
Photo Courtesy: [National Portrait Gallery/Wikimedia Commons]
Many of Henry's reforms served as a basis for English Common Law. Henry also expanded the borders of his kingdom and strengthened the monarchy's ties to the Catholic Church.
Zenobia was a queen of the Palmyrene Empire, a splinter state of the Roman Empire that existed in the 3rd century A.D. She was married to Odaenathus, who had established the empire as a major power in the Near East. When her husband was assassinated, Zenobia took his place as ruler of the empire while her son Vaballathus was still too young to reign.
Photo Courtesy: [Herbert Gustave Schmalz/Wikimedia Commons]
Known as a woman of culture, Zenobia's royal court was a popular environment for academics for philosophers. Her empire was one of many cultures and ethnicities, and as queen, she ruled with stability. Zenobia also ensured that her subjects, including religious minorities, were protected from persecution.
After the revolt that overthrew the previous king of Siam, now known as Thailand, Rama I was able to reunite the divided country and became its new ruler. Rama I established the Rattanakosin Kingdom and was the first king of the Chakri dynasty.
Photo Courtesy: [Heinrich Damm/Wikimedia Commons]
He also designated Rattanakosin, which is now known as Bangkok, as the capital of the new kingdom. As king, Rama I successfully repelled the last major Burmese invasion of Siam in the Burmese-Siamese War, which lasted from 1785 to 1786.
Mary II and her husband, William of Orange, came to power through the Glorious Revolution from 1688-1689. While William was in England, he held most of the authority while Mary took on a lesser rule.
Photo Courtesy: [Jan Verkolje/Wikimedia Commons]
Whenever William was away from England, Mary ruled alone and proved to be a skilled and independent leader when given the opportunity. After William and Mary passed away, Mary's sister became Queen of England.
Also known as the Leper King, Baldwin IV became King of Jerusalem in 1174 at the age of 13. The Kingdom of Jerusalem was established in the Southern Levant after the First Crusade and lasted for almost two centuries. Baldwin suffered from leprosy and neurological impairment but proved to be an effective ruler and military commander.
Photo Courtesy: [British Library/PICRYL]
Because of illness, it was expected that his rule would be a brief one. Despite his poor health, Baldwin ruled the Kingdom of Jerusalem for nearly 11 years until his death in 1185.
As King of Scots, Robert the Bruce led his nation through the First War of Scottish Independence. Through this war, Scotland reasserted itself as a free nation after years of English rule.
Photo Courtesy: [Wknight94/Wikimedia Commons]
Although King Edward II refused to give up Scotland, Robert and his forces persisted. Peace was eventually forged with England through the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton in 1328. Over the years, Robert became known as "Good King Robert" and is remembered today as one of the greatest heroes in the history of Scotland.
Eleanor of Aquitane was Queen of England and France as well as Duchess of Aquitaine. During the Middle Ages, she was among the most affluent and powerful women in Europe and was the patron of several renowned writers.
Photo Courtesy: [Frederick Sandys/Wikimedia Commons]
After the death of her second husband Henry II, her son Richard I became king. However, when Richard was away fighting in the Third Crusade, Eleanor ruled the kingdom in his place.
Though Henry V only ruled England for nine years, he proved himself to be a strong military leader in the Hundred Years' War. The Hundred Years' War between England and France lasted from 1337 to 1453 and Henry's rule was from 1413 until his death in 1422.
Photo Courtesy: [National Portrait Gallery/Wikimedia Commons]
Henry's repeated victories over France helped establish England as a formidable military power in Europe. After Henry's death, he became the subject of one of William Shakespeare's famous plays, simply titled Henry V.
From 1816 to 1812, Shaka was King of the Zulu Kingdom and became one of its most important rulers. Though he was rejected as a child because of his status as an illegitimate son of a Zulu chief, he was able to gradually expand his influence and became a formidable warrior and ruler.
Photo Courtesy: [James King/Wikimedia Commons]
One of his most notable achievements was his reforming and reorganization of the Zulu military, which resulted in them becoming a powerful fighting force. He also created alliances with smaller, neighboring territories. Unfortunately, Shaka's rule was brought to an abrupt end when he was killed by two of his half-brothers.
Believed to have been the first King of Norway, Harald Fairhair reigned from around 872 to 930 A.D. When he first became king, Norway was divided into multiple small kingdoms, some of which were under his rule. Harald proceeded to conquer these other small kingdoms and unified them into what now constitutes Norway.
Photo Courtesy: [Wikimedia Commons]
Though the unity of Norway did not continue after his death, Harald was a pivotal figure in Norwegian history. For several centuries after his death, kings of Norway would commonly claim to be descended from Harald.
Elizabeth II is the current Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth of Nations, which includes former British colonies like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. She ascended to the throne after the death of her father George VI and has become the longest-ruling female head of state in history, as well as the longest-ruling British monarch.
Photo Courtesy: [NASA/Bill Ingalls/Wikimedia Commons]
The decolonization of Africa, the complete sovereignty of Canada, and Brexit are just a few of the major historical events which Elizabeth has presided over. She continues to be immensely popular and beloved by the British people.
Henry VIII is best remembered for his six marriages and his efforts to dispose of his wives one by one. However, he also made some key changes as King of England. Because the Catholic Church would not grant him a divorce, he completely separated from Catholicism and had Parliament instate him as the head of the Church of England.
Photo Courtesy: [Hans Holbein/Wikimedia Commons]
This change meant that England was no longer a Catholic nation, but a Protestant one. After centuries of Catholic influence in the monarchy, the foundation had been laid for the modern Church of England. Henry also fathered Elizabeth I, one of the most notable queens in England's long history.
Henry VII established the House of Tudor and was the last English monarch to win his kingship in combat. Following the Wars of the Roses, Henry helped create stability and established diplomatic and economic reforms.
Photo Courtesy: [National Portrait Gallery/Wikimedia Commons]
Henry was also not an extravagant spender and instead focused on improving the government's finances. His reign lasted 24 years and ended upon his death in 1509.
William the Conqueror was the first Norman King of England and reigned from 1066 to 1087. His most significant act was leading the Norman conquest of England, by which he became known as "the Conqueror".
Photo Courtesy: [Wikimedia Commons]
The Norman conquest of England severed the nation's ties with Norway and Denmark and established new ones with the rest of Europe, permanently changing the course of its history. He also deposed the Saxon nobles living in England.
Chulalongkorn was King of Siam from 1868 to 1910 and was the fifth ruler of the Chakri dynasty. He enacted various reforms throughout the Siamese government and society and helped the country modernize.
Photo Courtesy: [Bain News Service/Wikimedia Commons]
The king's primary goal was to ensure the survival of his kingdom amidst the rapid colonization by Western powers. Though Siam was never actually colonized, Chulalongkorn did end up making some territorial concessions to the French and the British. He is remembered by the people of Thailand as the "Great Beloved King".
Attila was King of the Huns from 434 to 453 A.D, during which time he became known as the "scourge of God". He gained a fearsome reputation due to his repeated attacks on Roman cities, which were instrumental in the downfall of the Roman Empire.
Photo Courtesy: [Hartmann Schedel/Wikimedia Commons]
While Attila was successful in raiding the northern provinces of Italy, he and his forces were not able to take over Rome. Before he could conduct further raids, Attila died. The Hunnic Empire collapsed soon afterward.
Richard I is often remembered as Richard the Lionheart because of his reputation as a commander and warrior. At 16 years of age, he was already leading his own army. He also led the Third Crusade after Philip II of France withdrew.
Photo Courtesy: [Merry-Joseph Blondel/Wikimedia Commons]
After multiple victories against Saladin, the leader of the Muslim military forces, the two agreed to a truce known as the Treaty of Jaffa. Because of his frequent military campaigns, Richard was rarely in England and spent considerable time in France.
Maria Theresa ruled the Habsburg Empire for 40 years and was its only female monarch. As such, she held the titles of Queen of the Germans, Queen of Bohemia, and Queen of Hungary, among others. Maria Theresa enacted major reforms and developments in multiple fields including education, finance, and agriculture.
Photo Courtesy: [Martin van Meytens/Wikimedia Commons]
She also helped improve Austria's military, which improved the country's position on an international scale. Though she was notoriously intolerant of other religious groups, particularly the Protestants and the Jews, she used her great power to make many positive changes.
Alexander the Great was King of Macedon, an ancient Greek kingdom, and is best remembered for establishing a massive empire that spanned Europe, Asia, and Africa. He was also known as Pharaoh of Egypt and King of Persia for a time.
Photo Courtesy: [Wikimedia Commons]
Despite Alexander's great ambition, his soldiers became homesick and he eventually agreed to turn back. Unfortunately, Alexander fell ill and died in the city of Babylon, which he had intended to become the capital of his growing empire. Despite only living to the age of 32, Alexander had created an empire that stretched from Greece to northwestern India.
Hammurabi became king after the abdication of his father and ruled during the First Babylonian dynasty. He is best known today for the Code of Hammurabi, which is a very well-preserved code of law that he enacted as ruler. Though not the oldest code of law in the world, it is still one of the oldest decrypted writings of considerable length.
Photo Courtesy: [Louvre Museum/Wikimedia Commons]
Hammurabi's code of law played a key role in unifying his kingdom. By providing a system of legal principles for his subjects to follow, Hammurabi introduced a form of stability that had not existed before.
Solomon is one of the most important figures in the Old Testament and a famous King of Israel known for his great wisdom and equally great wealth. He ruled the United Kingdom of Israel, which was later divided into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
Photo Courtesy: [Peter Paul Rubens/Wikimedia Commons]
Solomon achieved a level of power that neither of his predecessors had, including his father David. He is also the subject of many myths and legends and is regarded as a prophet in both Islam and Judaism.
Known to her subjects as "the Lady King", Queen Margaret I was one of the first great queens of European history. Following the death of her husband and son, Margaret became the sole ruler of Norway, Denmark, and eventually Sweden as well.
Photo Courtesy: [Hans Peter Hansen/Wikimedia Commons]
She proved to be a skilled and intelligent leader and is believed to have been highly regarded in her lifetime. The union between Denmark and Norway that began with her rule lasted for over 400 years. The present Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, chose to go by that name in honor of Margaret I. Though Norway and Denmark are now separate entities, the influence of one of the most powerful queens in history still lives on.
Photo Courtesy: [Shakko/Wikimedia Commons]
Throughout human history, thousands and thousands of monarchs have held power over countries and entire empires. Sweden, Thailand, Scotland, and Syria are among the many nations which have been ruled by kings or queens throughout their history.
Of all of these kings and queens, who held the most power and exerted the greatest influence? From King Solomon of Israel to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, here are the most powerful kings and queens in history.
Boudica
Boudica was a queen of the Iceni, a Brittonic tribe who lived in eastern Great Britain during the Roman era. Around 60 A.D., Boudica led a rebellion against the Roman Empire, which had been occupying the southern half of the island since 43. The queen amassed thousands of rebels and targeted multiple settlements, one of which was a relatively new town called Londinium. Though Londinium was destroyed by Boudica's forces, the modern city of London was later built on its site.
Photo Courtesy: [Paul Walter/Wikimedia Commons]
While Boudica's uprising ultimately failed, the queen became a British cultural symbol and folk hero. The Romans claimed that the queen died soon afterward from either her wounds or taking poison, but there is no evidence to support this, leaving her fate as something of a mystery.
Charlemagne
Charlemagne became King of the Franks upon his father's death in 768 A.D. In just 22 years, Charlemagne also became King of the Lombards and Emperor of the Romans. As king, he helped unite much of central and western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He also ruled parts of Europe that had never been ruled by the Franks or the Romans.
Photo Courtesy: [Myrabella/Wikimedia Commons]
Because of this, Charlemagne has been called the "Father of Europe". The empire that Charlemagne established is known as the Carolingian Empire. It was founded on December 25, 800.
Vajiravudh
Vajiravudh was the King of Siam from 1910 to 1925 and was the sixth monarch under the Chakri dynasty. During his 15 years on the throne, Siam played a minor role in World War I and fought alongside the Allied Powers. The king viewed the war as an opportunity to foster Siamese nationalism and changed the design of the flag to what it still is today, even though Siam is now called Thailand.
Photo Courtesy: [ร้านถ่ายรูปหลวงฉายานรสิงห์/Wikimedia Commons]
Vajiravudh's role in promoting Siamese nationalism and helping reform and democratize the country are among the most important aspects of his reign. He was also a skilled writer and journalist, producing many novels, poems, and newspaper articles throughout his life.
Edward I of England
Edward I fought in the Ninth Crusade as a young man and became known as Edward Longshanks because of his imposing height. He was also known for having a fairly volatile temper. As King of England, Edward made Parliament a permanent institution and in doing so created a system through which laws could be passed and taxes could be raised.
Photo Courtesy: [Wikimedia Commons]
Edward also passed the Edict of Expulsion, which forced all Jews out of England, and conquered Wales and Scotland. His multiple attacks on Scotland earned him the name "Hammer of the Scots". Over three centuries after his death, Oliver Cromwell allowed Jews to return to England and openly practice their faith.
Cetshwayo kaMpande
Cetshwayo was the king of the Zulu Kingdom in southern Africa from 1873 until 1879 when he led his nation in the fight against the British during the Anglo-Zulu War. In the Battle of Isandlwana, which was the first major conflict in the war, the British found themselves overwhelmed by Zulu forces despite their considerably more advanced military technology.
Photo Courtesy: [Alex. Bassano/Wikimedia Commons]
Cetshwayo led his forces to victory that day, costing the British their greatest defeat by an indigenous people with inferior weapons. Though Cetshwayo was subsequently defeated and exiled, he is famed for his triumph over the British at the Battle of Isandlwana.
James VI and I
Born James Charles Stuart in 1566, this king ruled Scotland as James VI beginning in 1567 and England and Ireland as James I beginning in 1625. Under his rule, the English colonization of the Americas commenced, as did the colonization of Ulster in what is now part of Northern Ireland.
Photo Courtesy: [Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien/Wikimedia Commons]
His rule of Scotland lasted 57 years and was the longest reign of any Scottish king or queen. The flourishing of English drama and literature that began under his predecessor Elizabeth I continued under James, with writers like William Shakespeare and Sir Francis Bacon producing some of their best works. James was also a prolific writer and sponsored the translation of the Bible into English, resulting in the Authorized King James Version that bears his name.
Alfred the Great
One of the only English kings to be called "the Great", Alfred ascended to the throne after three of his brothers had already reigned the kingdom of Wessex. Alfred fought against the invading Vikings on multiple occasions and soundly defeated them at the Battle of Edington. Through his ongoing successes at repelling the Vikings, Alfred established himself as the dominant ruler in England.
Photo Courtesy: [Samuel Woodforde/Wikimedia Commons]
Known for his merciful attitude and intelligent nature, Alfred suggested that educators teach their students in Old English rather than Latin, and had books translated into English so that all could read them. Alfred was himself a learned man and could speak several languages. He also took great steps to strengthen the defense systems in his kingdom to protect his people from invaders.
Anne Boleyn
Though Anne Boleyn is best known for her marriage to Henry VIII and subsequent execution, she left her mark on English history not just as the king's wife, but as a queen. Rather than agreeing to be the king's mistress, as her sister Mary Boleyn had been, Anne insisted on becoming his wife and queen. Her only child with Henry, Elizabeth I, would go on to be one of the nation's most influential monarchs.
Photo Courtesy: [Wikimedia Commons]
As queen, Anne played a key role in the passing of the Poor Law, by which local officials were tasked with finding work for the unemployed. This important anti-poverty legislation solidifies Anne's status as a humanitarian and contrasts with the much more negative picture that her contemporaries often painted of her. Unfortunately, just two months later, Anne was executed on trumped-up charges of treason so that Henry could marry Jane Seymour.
Nebuchadnezzar II
Nebuchadnezzar II was the longest-ruling monarch of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, also known as the Second Babylonian Empire. His rule lasted 43 years, during which time he conquered Palestine and Syria. He also began the Babylonian Captivity of the Jews, which is described extensively in the Old Testament, and had the Temple of Jerusalem turned to rubble.
Photo Courtesy: [Georg Pencz/Wikimedia Commons]
Under his rule, Babylon prospered greatly and developed into a lavish city. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are said to have been built by Nebuchadnezzar II for his queen Amytis, though some scholars have disputed their historicity.
Ewuare
Ewuare ruled the Kingdom of Benin in West Africa from 1440 to 1473. He succeeded his brother Uwaifiokun, who had allowed his people to become impoverished while he enjoyed a much more comfortable lifestyle. Once he was king, Ewuare rebuilt much of Benin City and enacted political reforms across the entire kingdom.
Photo Courtesy: [sailko/Wikimedia Commons]
Under his rule, the Kingdom of Benin prospered and expanded across Africa. The arts also flourished greatly under Ewuare, leaving behind a notable legacy for him and his rule. Today, Ewuare is considered to be the first King of the Benin Empire.
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustavus Adolphus is one of the most famous kings of Sweden and oversaw the rise of his nation as a major European power. Under his rule, Sweden's military became one of the foremost in Europe amidst the Thirty Years' War, no doubt due to his skills as a commander.
Photo Courtesy: [Jacob Hoefnagel/Wikimedia Commons]
He was also a major supporter of the Protestants, who have since honored him with the names of many of their churches and establishments. Known as the "Lion of the North", Gustavus Adolphus is also the only Swedish king to be referred to as "the Great". He also carried out significant economic reforms and is now an icon among the Swedish people.
Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici was an Italian noblewoman who became the queen consort of France through her marriage to King Henry II. Three kings: Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III, were her sons. Because of her great influence over them, the reigns of her three sons are collectively referred to as the "age of Catherine de' Medici". Though her husband prevented her from having almost any political power, she later ruled as regent for her sons.
Photo Courtesy: [François Clouet/Wikimedia Commons]
It is believed that without Catherine's influence, none of her sons would have remained in power. Her most controversial acts, including her retaliation against the French Protestants, have garnered her a reputation as a powerful and at times, ruthless queen. However, much of this can be attributed to her desperation to keep the monarchy in power. Whatever her reasons may have been, Catherine is now regarded as one of the most powerful women of the 16th century.
Edward IV of England
Edward IV is often remembered for his role in the Wars of the Roses, which were a series of conflicts between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. Though his war overshadowed his entire reign, Edward established himself as a strong leader and warrior, and at 6 feet and 4.5 inches, is still the tallest of England's many kings. He was also the first English monarch to keep his own permanent library, of which over 40 works survive today.
Photo Courtesy: [Wikimedia Commons]
Edward's library was just one of the many luxuries he lavished money on, with fine clothes, jewelry, and furniture also being the source of much spending. His abrupt death in 1483 is something of a mystery, with a variety of illnesses or even poison having been suggested as potential causes.
Tomyris
Tomyris was the queen of an Eastern Iranian people called the Massagetae. In battle, she successfully led her people to victory against Cyrus II of Persia, who was attempting to take over her country. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, Tomyris eventually defeated Cyrus and had him beheaded and then crucified.
Photo Courtesy: [Andrea del Castagno/Wikimedia Commons]
Reportedly, Tomyris filled Cyrus's head with human blood and declared that by doing so, she had quenched his "thirst for blood". While Cyrus had conquered several empires and founded the first Persian Empire, he clearly underestimated the power of Tomyris and her people.
Elizabeth I
Known as the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I became Queen of England and Ireland in 1558. Under her rule, the arts and culture in England flourished. Previously a divided nation, England enjoyed relative peace during her reign and achieved a great victory against the Spanish Armada in 1588.
Photo Courtesy: [Woburn Abbey/Wikimedia Commons]
While Elizabeth believed that one's faith as a strictly personal matter, she played a key role in establishing the Church of England, which still exists today. By the end of her life, Elizabeth had helped forge and strengthen England's national identity and left a lasting legacy.
Hypsicratea
Hypsicratea lived in the 1st century B.C. and was married to King Mithridates VI. Because of her intense devotion to her husband, she learned to fight as a warrior and dress as a man and was even given a masculine name by him. As Queen of Pontus, she presided over a confederacy of states located in present-day Turkey.
Photo Courtesy: [snappygoat.com]
Her husband was eventually defeated by Pompey, a Roman general, and Pontus was annexed by the Roman Empire. Even when Mithridates was forced into exile, Hypsicratea stayed with him. No record exists of her life after his death, but it has been suggested that due to her ability to pass as a male, she may have lived out her days as a man.
Louis XIV
Louis XIV reigned for over 72 years, making him the longest-reigning monarch in European history. He was a firm believer in an absolute monarchy and the divine right of Kings and was also a major supporter of the arts. One of the most famous structures built during his reign was the Palace of Versailles. He also had at least 20 sculptures made of himself.
Photo Courtesy: [Museum of the History of France/Wikimedia Commons]
Louis XIV also revoked the Edict of Nantes, which had ensured the rights of French Protestants. In response, many of these French Protestants moved to other countries, such as Switzerland or Prussia. Some also moved to the growing British colonies in North America.
Nefertiti
Nefertiti, whose name means "a beautiful woman has come", was Queen of Egypt during the reign of her husband, Akhenaten. Along with her husband, she played a key role in changing the traditional religion of Egypt from polytheism to monotheism.
Photo Courtesy: [Philip Pikart/Wikimedia Commons]
This monotheism took hold in the form of the cult of Aten, the sun god. Nefertiti also supported a radical change in the artistic style of Egypt, which contrasted greatly with what had come before. The changes she and her husband made may have been short-lived, but they certainly left their mark on Egyptian history.
Arsinoe II
Arsinoe II was a queen who co-ruled the Ptolemaic Kingdom which ruled ancient Egypt for nearly 300 years. She was also the queen of Anatolia, Macedonia, and Thrace, making her the first ruler of both Upper and Lower Egypt.
Photo Courtesy: [Sailko/Wikimedia Commons]
Following her death, Ptolemy II established a cult solely dedicated to the powerful queen. While many men would later preside over Upper and Lower Egypt, it is important to remember that the first of these rulers was a woman.
Amalasuintha
The youngest of Theodoric the Great's daughters, Amalasuintha ruled a Germanic people known as the Ostrogoths while her son Athalaric was still a minor. When Athalaric predeceased her, she became the sole ruler and queen of the Ostrogothic Kingdom, which encompassed all of Italy and much of the surrounding territory.
Photo Courtesy: [Sailko/Wikimedia Commons]
Unfortunately, her choice to make her cousin Theodahad co-ruler proved to be a fatal one. He usurped the throne and had Amalasuintha imprisoned in central Italy, where she was eventually murdered. Despite her tragic end, Amalasuintha was once the most powerful person in the Ostrogothic Kingdom.
Philip II of Spain
As King of Spain, Philip II ushered in a Golden Age of culture and the arts for his country. Through his marriage to Mary Tudor, he also became King of England and Ireland for a little over four years.
Photo Courtesy: [Sofonisba Anguissola/Wikimedia Commons]
The Spanish Empire grew exceedingly during his rule. One of Spain's acquisitions from this time, the Philippines, still bears his name today. The Spanish military also flourished during this time, with an average of 9,000 soldiers being recruited each year.
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I is best remembered for her marriage to King Ferdinand of Aragon, through which Spain was united into one country. She is also famous for her association with the explorer Christopher Columbus, whose expedition she financed and supported.
Photo Courtesy: [Royal Collection/Wikimedia Commons]
Isabella and Ferdinand also defeated the Moors and ordered that Muslims and Jews living in Spain convert to Christianity. Those who refused to convert were forced to leave the country.
George III
At the time of his rule, George III was the longest-reigning English monarch, as well as the first King of Hanover to speak English as his primary language. During his reign, Great Britain became the leading colonial power in North America and India.
Photo Courtesy: [Johann Zoffany/Wikimedia Commons]
Though George is often remembered for his mental illness and presiding over the independence of the American colonies, he also oversaw the defeat of France in the Seven Years' War and Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo. Despite the loss of the American colonies, the British presence in North America continued to prosper.
Cnut the Great
Cnut the Great ruled from 1016 to 1035. As a prince of Danish origin, Cnut's ascension to the throne of Denmark and subsequently England brought the two kingdoms together. In 1028, he also claimed the throne of Norway. The resulting union of the kingdoms of Denmark, England, and Norway established what is now referred to as the North Sea Empire.
Photo Courtesy: [Matthew Paris/Wikimedia Commons]
Sigtuna, a city in Sweden, is also believed to have been controlled by Cnut. In his own words, Cnut was "King of all England and Denmark and the Norwegians and of some of the Swedes".
Jezebel
One of the most infamous queens in the Old Testament, Jezebel exercised considerable influence over the nation of Israel and her husband, King Ahab. The daughter of a Phoenician king, she established the worship of the gods Asherah and Baal on a national level.
Photo Courtesy: [Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton/Wikimedia Commons]
Under Jezebel, the prophets of Yahweh were slain in an attempt to stifle the traditional beliefs of the kingdom. She outlived Ahab, who was killed in combat. However, Jezebel was eventually put to death by her own servants, who cast her out of a window.
Queen Victoria
As Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India, Victoria became one of the most powerful and iconic rulers in history. She was greatly respected and adored by many of her people and oversaw the expansion of the British Empire to a level never before seen. Several new countries, including Canada and Australia, were formed under her rule.
Photo Courtesy: [Franz Xaver Winterhalter/Wikimedia Commons]
Because her children married into other royal families throughout Europe, Victoria became known as the "grandmother of Europe". A number of places around the world bear her name, including the state of Victoria in Australia and the city of Victoria, British Columbia.
Bertha of Kent
Also known as Saint Bertha, Bertha was the queen of the medieval Kingdom of Kent. Her greatest influence was her role in spreading Christianity throughout Anglo-Saxon England. In 596, Pope Gregory the Great sent a group led by Augustine of Canterbury to England to restore the Christian religion there.
Photo Courtesy: [Gordon Griffiths/Wikimedia Commons]
Augustine and those accompanying him were warmly received by Bertha and her husband, King Æthelberht. Because of their kindness, cathedrals and monastic settlements were built throughout England, and Augustine became known as the founder of the English church.
Cleopatra
Cleopatra was the last queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty and its only ruler to learn the Egyptian language. Through her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, she gradually came to play an important role in Roman politics.
Photo Courtesy: [Frederick Arthur Bridgman/Wikimedia Commons]
As a ruler, she developed trade relations with various Arab countries, which helped strengthen Egypt's economy. Because of the prosperity, she brought to Egypt, as well as her adoption of its culture, she was greatly admired among her people.
Henry II of England
Henry II was the first king of the royal House of Plantagenet, which originated from the ancient province of Anjou, France. He strengthened the legal system by requiring that someone accused of a major crime had to be tried by a judge and jury.
Photo Courtesy: [National Portrait Gallery/Wikimedia Commons]
Many of Henry's reforms served as a basis for English Common Law. Henry also expanded the borders of his kingdom and strengthened the monarchy's ties to the Catholic Church.
Zenobia
Zenobia was a queen of the Palmyrene Empire, a splinter state of the Roman Empire that existed in the 3rd century A.D. She was married to Odaenathus, who had established the empire as a major power in the Near East. When her husband was assassinated, Zenobia took his place as ruler of the empire while her son Vaballathus was still too young to reign.
Photo Courtesy: [Herbert Gustave Schmalz/Wikimedia Commons]
Known as a woman of culture, Zenobia's royal court was a popular environment for academics for philosophers. Her empire was one of many cultures and ethnicities, and as queen, she ruled with stability. Zenobia also ensured that her subjects, including religious minorities, were protected from persecution.
Rama I
After the revolt that overthrew the previous king of Siam, now known as Thailand, Rama I was able to reunite the divided country and became its new ruler. Rama I established the Rattanakosin Kingdom and was the first king of the Chakri dynasty.
Photo Courtesy: [Heinrich Damm/Wikimedia Commons]
He also designated Rattanakosin, which is now known as Bangkok, as the capital of the new kingdom. As king, Rama I successfully repelled the last major Burmese invasion of Siam in the Burmese-Siamese War, which lasted from 1785 to 1786.
Mary II of England
Mary II and her husband, William of Orange, came to power through the Glorious Revolution from 1688-1689. While William was in England, he held most of the authority while Mary took on a lesser rule.
Photo Courtesy: [Jan Verkolje/Wikimedia Commons]
Whenever William was away from England, Mary ruled alone and proved to be a skilled and independent leader when given the opportunity. After William and Mary passed away, Mary's sister became Queen of England.
Baldwin IV of Jerusalem
Also known as the Leper King, Baldwin IV became King of Jerusalem in 1174 at the age of 13. The Kingdom of Jerusalem was established in the Southern Levant after the First Crusade and lasted for almost two centuries. Baldwin suffered from leprosy and neurological impairment but proved to be an effective ruler and military commander.
Photo Courtesy: [British Library/PICRYL]
Because of illness, it was expected that his rule would be a brief one. Despite his poor health, Baldwin ruled the Kingdom of Jerusalem for nearly 11 years until his death in 1185.
Robert the Bruce
As King of Scots, Robert the Bruce led his nation through the First War of Scottish Independence. Through this war, Scotland reasserted itself as a free nation after years of English rule.
Photo Courtesy: [Wknight94/Wikimedia Commons]
Although King Edward II refused to give up Scotland, Robert and his forces persisted. Peace was eventually forged with England through the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton in 1328. Over the years, Robert became known as "Good King Robert" and is remembered today as one of the greatest heroes in the history of Scotland.
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitane was Queen of England and France as well as Duchess of Aquitaine. During the Middle Ages, she was among the most affluent and powerful women in Europe and was the patron of several renowned writers.
Photo Courtesy: [Frederick Sandys/Wikimedia Commons]
After the death of her second husband Henry II, her son Richard I became king. However, when Richard was away fighting in the Third Crusade, Eleanor ruled the kingdom in his place.
Henry V of England
Though Henry V only ruled England for nine years, he proved himself to be a strong military leader in the Hundred Years' War. The Hundred Years' War between England and France lasted from 1337 to 1453 and Henry's rule was from 1413 until his death in 1422.
Photo Courtesy: [National Portrait Gallery/Wikimedia Commons]
Henry's repeated victories over France helped establish England as a formidable military power in Europe. After Henry's death, he became the subject of one of William Shakespeare's famous plays, simply titled Henry V.
Shaka
From 1816 to 1812, Shaka was King of the Zulu Kingdom and became one of its most important rulers. Though he was rejected as a child because of his status as an illegitimate son of a Zulu chief, he was able to gradually expand his influence and became a formidable warrior and ruler.
Photo Courtesy: [James King/Wikimedia Commons]
One of his most notable achievements was his reforming and reorganization of the Zulu military, which resulted in them becoming a powerful fighting force. He also created alliances with smaller, neighboring territories. Unfortunately, Shaka's rule was brought to an abrupt end when he was killed by two of his half-brothers.
Harald Fairhair
Believed to have been the first King of Norway, Harald Fairhair reigned from around 872 to 930 A.D. When he first became king, Norway was divided into multiple small kingdoms, some of which were under his rule. Harald proceeded to conquer these other small kingdoms and unified them into what now constitutes Norway.
Photo Courtesy: [Wikimedia Commons]
Though the unity of Norway did not continue after his death, Harald was a pivotal figure in Norwegian history. For several centuries after his death, kings of Norway would commonly claim to be descended from Harald.
Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II is the current Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth of Nations, which includes former British colonies like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. She ascended to the throne after the death of her father George VI and has become the longest-ruling female head of state in history, as well as the longest-ruling British monarch.
Photo Courtesy: [NASA/Bill Ingalls/Wikimedia Commons]
The decolonization of Africa, the complete sovereignty of Canada, and Brexit are just a few of the major historical events which Elizabeth has presided over. She continues to be immensely popular and beloved by the British people.
Henry VIII
Henry VIII is best remembered for his six marriages and his efforts to dispose of his wives one by one. However, he also made some key changes as King of England. Because the Catholic Church would not grant him a divorce, he completely separated from Catholicism and had Parliament instate him as the head of the Church of England.
Photo Courtesy: [Hans Holbein/Wikimedia Commons]
This change meant that England was no longer a Catholic nation, but a Protestant one. After centuries of Catholic influence in the monarchy, the foundation had been laid for the modern Church of England. Henry also fathered Elizabeth I, one of the most notable queens in England's long history.
Henry VII of England
Henry VII established the House of Tudor and was the last English monarch to win his kingship in combat. Following the Wars of the Roses, Henry helped create stability and established diplomatic and economic reforms.
Photo Courtesy: [National Portrait Gallery/Wikimedia Commons]
Henry was also not an extravagant spender and instead focused on improving the government's finances. His reign lasted 24 years and ended upon his death in 1509.
William the Conqueror
William the Conqueror was the first Norman King of England and reigned from 1066 to 1087. His most significant act was leading the Norman conquest of England, by which he became known as "the Conqueror".
Photo Courtesy: [Wikimedia Commons]
The Norman conquest of England severed the nation's ties with Norway and Denmark and established new ones with the rest of Europe, permanently changing the course of its history. He also deposed the Saxon nobles living in England.
Chulalongkorn
Chulalongkorn was King of Siam from 1868 to 1910 and was the fifth ruler of the Chakri dynasty. He enacted various reforms throughout the Siamese government and society and helped the country modernize.
Photo Courtesy: [Bain News Service/Wikimedia Commons]
The king's primary goal was to ensure the survival of his kingdom amidst the rapid colonization by Western powers. Though Siam was never actually colonized, Chulalongkorn did end up making some territorial concessions to the French and the British. He is remembered by the people of Thailand as the "Great Beloved King".
Attila
Attila was King of the Huns from 434 to 453 A.D, during which time he became known as the "scourge of God". He gained a fearsome reputation due to his repeated attacks on Roman cities, which were instrumental in the downfall of the Roman Empire.
Photo Courtesy: [Hartmann Schedel/Wikimedia Commons]
While Attila was successful in raiding the northern provinces of Italy, he and his forces were not able to take over Rome. Before he could conduct further raids, Attila died. The Hunnic Empire collapsed soon afterward.
Richard I of England
Richard I is often remembered as Richard the Lionheart because of his reputation as a commander and warrior. At 16 years of age, he was already leading his own army. He also led the Third Crusade after Philip II of France withdrew.
Photo Courtesy: [Merry-Joseph Blondel/Wikimedia Commons]
After multiple victories against Saladin, the leader of the Muslim military forces, the two agreed to a truce known as the Treaty of Jaffa. Because of his frequent military campaigns, Richard was rarely in England and spent considerable time in France.
Maria Theresa
Maria Theresa ruled the Habsburg Empire for 40 years and was its only female monarch. As such, she held the titles of Queen of the Germans, Queen of Bohemia, and Queen of Hungary, among others. Maria Theresa enacted major reforms and developments in multiple fields including education, finance, and agriculture.
Photo Courtesy: [Martin van Meytens/Wikimedia Commons]
She also helped improve Austria's military, which improved the country's position on an international scale. Though she was notoriously intolerant of other religious groups, particularly the Protestants and the Jews, she used her great power to make many positive changes.
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great was King of Macedon, an ancient Greek kingdom, and is best remembered for establishing a massive empire that spanned Europe, Asia, and Africa. He was also known as Pharaoh of Egypt and King of Persia for a time.
Photo Courtesy: [Wikimedia Commons]
Despite Alexander's great ambition, his soldiers became homesick and he eventually agreed to turn back. Unfortunately, Alexander fell ill and died in the city of Babylon, which he had intended to become the capital of his growing empire. Despite only living to the age of 32, Alexander had created an empire that stretched from Greece to northwestern India.
Hammurabi
Hammurabi became king after the abdication of his father and ruled during the First Babylonian dynasty. He is best known today for the Code of Hammurabi, which is a very well-preserved code of law that he enacted as ruler. Though not the oldest code of law in the world, it is still one of the oldest decrypted writings of considerable length.
Photo Courtesy: [Louvre Museum/Wikimedia Commons]
Hammurabi's code of law played a key role in unifying his kingdom. By providing a system of legal principles for his subjects to follow, Hammurabi introduced a form of stability that had not existed before.
Solomon
Solomon is one of the most important figures in the Old Testament and a famous King of Israel known for his great wisdom and equally great wealth. He ruled the United Kingdom of Israel, which was later divided into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
Photo Courtesy: [Peter Paul Rubens/Wikimedia Commons]
Solomon achieved a level of power that neither of his predecessors had, including his father David. He is also the subject of many myths and legends and is regarded as a prophet in both Islam and Judaism.
Margaret I of Denmark
Known to her subjects as "the Lady King", Queen Margaret I was one of the first great queens of European history. Following the death of her husband and son, Margaret became the sole ruler of Norway, Denmark, and eventually Sweden as well.
Photo Courtesy: [Hans Peter Hansen/Wikimedia Commons]
She proved to be a skilled and intelligent leader and is believed to have been highly regarded in her lifetime. The union between Denmark and Norway that began with her rule lasted for over 400 years. The present Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, chose to go by that name in honor of Margaret I. Though Norway and Denmark are now separate entities, the influence of one of the most powerful queens in history still lives on.
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