List of queens regnant
This is a list of Queens who have ruled as Queen in many countries. Included also are Pharaohs and Empresses, as well as other titles in case of smaller states If the Queen ruled as a regent this is indicated by "" following the name. Where a queen had no powers but only the title "" is added.
Queens consort are not included.
The following is an incomplete list of queens who are well known from popular writings, although many ancient and poorly documented ruling queens are omitted. Section 1 lists Queens regnant: Queens who ruled in their own right. Section 2 lists Queens regent: Queens who have ruled on behalf of a monarch who was a minor, absent or incapacitated. Section 3 includes Legendary Queens. Section 4 lists Titular Queens: Queens who ruled in their own right, but had no constitutional standing or regal powers while in power. Section 5 lists various female leaders who were referred to as "Chieftainess."
Queens regnant
''Africa''
[Algeria]
JarawaTouggourt
Indigenous dynasties
- Sobekneferu of the Twelfth Dynasty - Sobekneferu was the first confirmed female ruler of Egypt, although Nitocris may have ruled in the Sixth Dynasty, and there are five other women who are believed to have ruled as early as the First Dynasty
- Hatshepsut of the Eighteenth Dynasty
- Neferneferuaten of the Eighteenth Dynasty
- Twosret of the Nineteenth Dynasty
- Merneith of the First Dynasty - Merneith may have ruled Egypt as Pharaoh, although her reign as sole ruler is unconfirmed. If she did rule, she would have been the first female Pharaoh in Egyptian history.
- Nitocris of the Sixth Dynasty - Nitocris is mentioned within Herodotus' book Histories as being the last Pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt; some contest her historicity.
- Khentkawes I of the Fourth Dynasty - Khentkawes' rule as Pharaoh is highly contested by modern historians, who debate on the exact meaning behind her given title.
Ptolemy II instituted a new practice of brother-sister marriage when he married his full sister, Arsinoe II. They became, in effect, co-rulers, and both took the epithet Philadelphus. Because of this custom many of the kings ruled jointly with their spouses, who were also of the royal house. The only Ptolemaic Queens to officially rule on their own were Berenice III and Berenice IV. Cleopatra VI did co-rule, but it was with another female, Berenice IV. Cleopatra VII officially co-ruled with Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, Ptolemy XIV, and Ptolemy XV, but effectively, she ruled Egypt alone
- Arsinoe II
- Arsinoe III
- Cleopatra I
- Cleopatra II
- Cleopatra III
- Cleopatra IV
- Berenice III
- Cleopatra V
- Cleopatra VI
- Berenice IV
- Cleopatra VII
- Arsinoe IV
Cyrene
- Cleopatra Selene II - also known as Cleopatra VIII. In 75 BC, Cyrene became part of a Roman province, but it was restored to the Ptolemies by Mark Antony in 37 BC. In 34 BC Cleopatra VII and Antony's daughter, Cleopatra Selene II, was made Queen of Cyrene, but the city returned to Rome following Augustus' conquest of Egypt in 30 BC
[Sudan]
- Alakhebasken
- Shanakdakhete
- Amanirenas
- Amanishakheto
- Nawidemak
- Amanitore
- Amantitere
- Amanikhatashan
- Maleqorobar
- Lakhideamani
[West Africa]
[Benin]
HogbonuAkan state of Denkyira
- Amoako Atta Yiadom, Denkyirahene
- Ama Serwah, Dwabenhene
- Unknown Dwabenhene
- Nana Juaben Serwah II, Dwabenhene
[Côte d'Ivoire]
- Pokou - Queen and founder of the Baoule tribe
- Akwa Boni, Pokou's niece who succeeded her to the throne
[Niger]
- Sarraounia
[Nigeria]
- Elizabeth II
Ondo Kingdom
Zazzau
- Amina - There is controversy among scholars as to the date of her reign, one school placing her in the mid-15th century, and a second placing her reign in the mid to late 16th century
[Senegal]
Waalo
- Lingeer Ndoye Demba - she was the founder of the Serer Joos Maternal Dynasty
[Sierra Leone]
- Elizabeth II
[Angola]
JagaMatamba
- Mwongo Matamba
- Ana I de Sousa Nzinga Mbande
- Barbara
- Verónica I Guterres Kandala Kingwanga
- Ana II
- Verónica II
- Ana III
- Vamwene Naama
- Vamwene Yamvu
- Vamwene Mbaao ya Chinguli
- Vamwene Kaamba ka Mbaao
- Vamwene Mukenge wa Lweembe, Livindamo
Bamum
- Ngoungoure, her rule lasted 30 minutes
[East Africa]
[Comoros]
Ndzuwani- Alimah III - first known ruler and female ruler of Anjouan; at least two more women had ruled Anjouan before her: Alimah I and Alimah II
- Alimah IV - she was the de facto ruler of Anjouan with sultan Abdallah I during his reigns in 1782-1788 and 1792-1796
Itsandra
- Fey Beja waWabeja, Mfalme
- Ja Mhaba, Mfalme
- Hadija bint Ahmed, Mfalme
- Raketaka Jombe Sudy - she ruled as regent twice, 1865-1868 and 1871-1874. After 1851 she took the name of Jumbe Fatima bint Abderremane
- Salima Machamba bint Saidi Hamadi Makadara
[Ethiopia]
Gibe state of Gera[Madagascar]
Boina Kingdom- Andrianaginarivo
- Tombola
- Ravahiny
- Oantitsy
- Tsiomeko
[Mauritius]
- Elizabeth II
[Tanzania]
- Elizabeth II
[Uganda]
- Elizabeth II
- Masamba of Bunyoro
South Africa">Southern Africa">South Africa
[Malawi]
- Elizabeth II
[South Africa]
- Elizabeth II
The Modjadji or Rain Queen is the hereditary queen of Balobedu, the people of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The succession to the position of Rain Queen is matrilineal, meaning that the Queen's eldest daughter is the heir, and that males are not entitled to inherit the throne at all. The Rain Queen is believed to have special powers, including the ability to control the clouds and rainfall.
Lovedu
- Majaji
- Maselekwane Modjadji
- Masalanabo Modjadji
- Khetoane Modjadji
- Makoma Modjadji
- Mokope Modjadji
- Makobo Modjadji
Makololo
- Mamochisane
''America''
[North America]
[Canada]
Ecatepec- Tlapalizquixochtzin
- Ix Yohl Ik'nal
- Sak K'uk', also known as Muwaan Mat
- Azcasuch
- Ik' Skull, also known as Lady Eveningstar
[Central America] and the [Caribbean]
[Antigua and Barbuda]
- Elizabeth II
[Bahamas]
- Elizabeth II
[Barbados]
- Elizabeth II
[Belize]
- Elizabeth II
[Grenada]
- Elizabeth II
[Guatemala]
- Wac Chanil Ahau, also known as Lady Six Sky
- Unen Bahlam
- Lady of Tikal
[Jamaica]
- Elizabeth II
[Saint Kitts and Nevis]
- Elizabeth II
[Saint Lucia]
- Elizabeth II
[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]
- Elizabeth II
[South America]
[Brazil]
- Maria I
Guyana">Guyana (1966–1970)">Guyana
- Elizabeth II
Trinidad and Tobago">Dominion of Trinidad and Tobago">Trinidad and Tobago
- Elizabeth II
''Asia''
East">East Asia">East and [Central Asia]
[China]
There have been many powerful empress consorts or empress dowagers, some of whom effectively ruled. Powerful empress consorts or empress dowagers were de facto rulers, but not de jure empress regnants. A concubine who gave birth to a crown prince also could become empress consort, although her status still was a little lower than an empress dowager who had been the former empress consort which will be known as 太后.- Wu Zetian - the sole official Chinese Empress Regnant, the empress consort of Tang Gaozong, the mother of Tang Zhongzong and Tang Ruizong, she established the Zhou Dynasty after dismissing her sons and becoming the Empress Regnant
- Daughter of Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei - during Northern Wei Dynasty, Empress Dowager Hu, after her son Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei's death, falsely declared Emperor Xiaoming's daughter to be a son and declared the daughter to be the new emperor, but almost immediately revealed that the child was in fact female, and thereafter declared Yuan Zhao, the young son of Emperor Xiaoming's cousin Yuan Baohui emperor. Emperor Xiaoming's daughter is also therefore not usually considered a true emperor.
[Japan]
- Queen Himiko, of Yamatai
- Empress Suiko, — first ruling empress
- Empress Kōgyoku, — formerly Princess Takara
- Empress Saimei, — same person as Empress Kōgyoku, second reign under a second name
- Empress Jitō,
- Empress Genmei,
- Empress Genshō, — formerly Princess Hidaka
- Empress Kōken,
- Empress Shōtoku, — same person as Empress Kōken, second reign under a second name
- Empress Meishō,
- Empress Go-Sakuramachi, — last ruling empress
[Korea]
[India]
- Razia Sultana 5th Sultana of the Delhi Sultanate
Arakkal dynasty
- Ali Raja Bibi Harrabichi Kadavube
- Ali Raja Bibi Junumabe I
- Ali Raja Bibi Junumabe II
- Victoria - Empress of India
- Ahilyabai Holkar, also known as the Philosopher Queen
Kakatiya dynasty
Kashmir
- Sugandha
- Didda, she ruled first as a Regent for her son Abhimanyu and thereafter as sole ruler in her own right
- Kota Rani
Kittur
Mamluk dynasty
Princely States
Bhopal State
- Qudsia Begum - in 1819, 18-year-old Qudsia Begum took over the reins after the assassination of her husband, Nawab Muiz Muhammad Khan Bahadur. She was the first female ruler of Bhopal. She declared that her 2-year-old daughter Sikander would follow her as the ruler; none of the male family members dared to challenge her decision. She ruled till 1837, when she died having adequately prepared her daughter for ruling the state.
- Begum Sultan Shah Jehan - Shahjahan was the only surviving child of Sikandar Begum, sometime Nawab of Bhopal by correct title, and her husband Jahangir Mohammed Khan. She was recognised as ruler of Bhopal in 1844 at the age of six; her mother wielded power as regent during her minority. However, in 1860, her mother Sikandar Begum was recognised by the British as ruler of Bhopal in her own right, and Shahjahan was set aside.
- Begum Nawab Sikandar
- Begum Kaikhusrau Jahan
- Abbakka Chowta
[Maldives]
- Damahaar - Damahaar, a Ranin of the Aadeetta Dynasty, is mentioned by al-Idrisi as having reigned over the Maldives at some time before the semi-legendary King Koimala; there are several other mentions by foreign travelers, mainly Arabs, of queens ruling over the Maldives at various times; these are not always named and their reigns cannot be precisely dated
- Khadijah - She is one of the earliest female rulers in a Muslim nation.
- Raadhafathi
- Dhaain
- Kuda Kala Kamanafa’anu
- Amina
[Pakistan]
- Elizabeth II
- Zainab Tari
[Sri Lanka]
- Kuweni of Thambapanni
- Anula of Anuradhapura
- Sivali of Anuradhapura
- Chattagahaka Jantu of Anuradhapura
- Lilavati of Polonnaruwa
- Kalyanavati of Polonnaruwa
- Elizabeth II of Ceylon
[Southeast Asia]
[Cambodia]
- Jayavedi - during her rule, She was faulted in leadership which led The Chenla kingdom to break into two individual states, but then it record the period to be female-dominated dynasty with the wide range of female successors, totally driving the entire kingdom
- Ang Mey - also known as Ngọc Vân Quận chúa or Ksat Trey, she was proclaimed on the death of her father by the Vietnamese faction at court with the title of Mỹ Lâm Quận chúa in January 1835. She was famous as a Vietnamese puppet queen
[Indonesia]
- Seri Ratu Ta'jul Alam Shah - the Sultana of Atjeh Darussalam, formerly known as Puteri Seri Alam the Daughter of The Great Sultan Iskandar Muda, and wife of Sultan Iskandar Thani
- Seri Ratu Naqiatuddin Nurul Alam
- Seri Ratu Inayat Shah
- Seri Ratu Kamalat Syah - she was deposed and replaced by her husband under pressure from the Mufti of Mecca
- Śri Wijaya Mahadewi
- Mahendradatta
- Śri Ajñadewi
- Śri Sakalendukirana Laksmidhara Wijayottunggadewi
- Arjayadengjayaketana
- Unnamed Queen
- Dewa Agung Istri Kanya
Kalingga
- Maharani Shima
Medang
Mengwi
Sonbai Kecil
Lan Xang
- Nang Keo Phimpha - after her nephew Lan Kham Deng died, she seized control of Lan Xang and the next four kings were under her control. She only reigned for a few months in 1438 at age of 95; she was deposed and killed
[Malaysia]
Hanthawaddy
Namayan and Tondo
Sulu
Hariphunchai
Pattani
- Ratu Hijau, 'the Green Queen'
- Ratu Biru, 'the Blue Queen'
- Ratu Ungu, 'the Purple Queen'
- Ratu Kuning, 'the Yellow Queen', controversy surrounds the exact date of the end of her reign
- Ratu Emas Kelantan - thought by A. Teeuw & Wyatt to be a king, but claimed by al-Fatani to be a queen, the widow of Raja Bakal and mother of the succeeding queen
- Ratu Emas Chayam
- Chiraprapha
- Wisutthi Thewi
[Vietnam]
- Queen Trưng Trắc - the Trưng sisters were leaders who rebelled against Chinese rule for three years, and are regarded as national heroines of Vietnam. Her name is Trưng Trắc.
- Empress Lý Chiêu Hoàng
[Iran]
Elymais- Anzaze, she appears on coins together with king Kamnaskires III; they perhaps ruled together as on the coins she is called βασιλίσσης
Salghurids
- Abish Khatun b. Sa'd II
- Abish Khatun w
[Iraq]
Judah
Hasmonean dynasty
- Salome Alexandra
- Salome I - she ruled as Toparch of Jabneh, Ashdod and Phasaelis
- Livia - she ruled as Toparch of Jabneh
- Melisende - she ruled with her husband Fulk of Anjou and her son Baldwin III as co-rulers
- Sibylla - she ruled with her husband Guy de Lusignan as co-ruler
- Isabella I - she ruled with her husbands Conrad of Montferrat, Henry of Champagne and Aimery of Cyprus as co-rulers
- Maria - she ruled with her husband John of Brienne as co-ruler from 1210
- Isabella II, also known as Yolande of Jerusalem - she ruled with her husband Frederick II of Hohenstaufen as co-ruler from 1225
[Jordan]
- Chuldu, she ruled jointly with her husband Aretas IV Philopatris
- Shaqilath, she ruled jointly with her husband-brother Malichus II; after his death she was regent for her son Rabbel II Soter
- Gamilath, she ruled jointly with her brother Rabbel II Soter
[Kazakhstan]
- Tomyris, Queen of the Massagetae
[Saudi Arabia]
Tanukhids
- Mavia - "The Queen of the Arabs"
- Cleopatra Thea - she ruled in association with her son Antiochus VIII Grypus
[Turkey]
Caria
Dardania
Heraclea Pontica
Pontus
Prusias ad Mare
Saltukid dynasty
Trebizond
Khanate of Kokand
Sulayhid dynasty
- Asma bint Shihab - she was the co-ruler of Yemen in co-regency with her cousin and spouse, Ali al-Sulayhi, and later her son, Ahmad al-Mukkaram, and daughter-in-law, Arwa al-Sulayhi. Though there were many female monarch in the Muslim world, Asma bint Shihab and Arwa al-Sulayhi were the only female monarchs in the Arab world to have had the khutba proclaimed in their name in the mosques as sovereigns
- Arwa al-Sulayhi - she ruled Yemen firstly with her first two husbands and her mother-in-law and then as sole ruler. She was the greatest of the rulers of the Sulayhid Dynasty and was also the first woman to be accorded the prestigious title of hujja in Isma'ili branch of Shi'a Islam, signifying her as the closest living image of God's will in her lifetime
''Europe''
[Andorra]
- Isabella
- Catherine
- Jeanne d'Albret
[Armenia]
- Erato
- Zarmandukht
[Austria]
- Maria Theresa - she was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma. In some of the Habsburg dominions, she held the title of queen. By marriage, she was also Duchess of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and Holy Roman Empress.
[Marcomanni]
- Fritigil
[Bulgaria]
[Odrysian kingdom]
- Antonia Tryphaena, co-ruling with Rhoemetalces II, son of Raskouporis II
- Pythodoris II, co-ruling with Rhoemetalces III, son of Cotys
Bosnia">Bosnia (region)">Bosnia
- Jelena Gruba
[Croatia]
- Mary
- Maria Theresa
[Cyprus]
- Charlotte
- Catherine Cornaro
- Elizabeth II
Czech lands">Czech Republic">Czech lands
- Maria Theresa
[Denmark]
- Margaret I - she was founder of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian countries for over a century. Margaret is known in Denmark as "Margrethe I" to distinguish her from the current queen. Denmark did not have a tradition of allowing women to rule, so when her son died, she was titled "All-powerful Lady and Mistress of the Kingdom of Denmark". She only styled herself Queen of Denmark in 1375, usually referring to herself as "Margaret, by the grace of God, daughter of Valdemar King of Denmark" and "Denmark's rightful heir" when referring to her position in Denmark. Others simply referred to her as the "Lady Queen", without specifying what she was queen of, but not so Pope Boniface IX, who in his letters styled her "our beloved daughter in Christ, Margaret, most excellent queen of Denmark, Sweden and Norway"
- Margaret II
[Estonia]
- Margaret Sambiria
- Christina
- Ulrica Eleanor
- Catherine I
- Anna
- Elizabeth
- Catherine II
[Finland]
- Margaret I of Denmark
- Christina of Sweden
- Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden
Georgia">Georgia (country)">Georgia
- Tamar the Great
- Rusudan
[Greece]
Antiquity
Aeacid dynasty">Aeacidae">Aeacid dynasty
- Deidamia II
[Byzantine Empire] and immediate successors
[Isaurian dynasty]
- Irene
[Macedonian Dynasty]
- Zoe - she ruled with her consorts Romanos III and Michael IV between 1028 and 1041; she ruled with her sister Theodora and her third husband Constantine IX from 1042 to 1050
- Theodora - she ruled from 1042 jointly with her sister Zoe and Zoe's third husband Constantine IX; she ruled from 1055 until her own death as sole monarch.
Epirus">Despotate of Epirus">Epirus
- Maria Angelina Doukaina Palaiologina
[Hungary]
- Mary - she was crowned as King of Hungary to emphasize that she was a monarch in her own right; she co-ruled with her husband Sigismund of Luxembourg from 1387
- Maria Theresa
[Iceland]
- Margaret I
[Ireland]
[Kingdom of Ireland]
- Jane Grey
- Mary I
- Elizabeth I
- Mary II - she co-ruled with her husband William of Orange
- Anne
[Italy]
[Naples]
- Joan I
- Joan II
- Joan III the Mad
[Parma]
- Maria Theresa
- Marie Louise
[Sardinia]
- Elena of Gallura
- Benedetta of Cagliari
- Adelasia of Torres
- Joanna of Gallura
- Eleanor of Arborea
[Sicily]
- Constance I - she co-ruled with her husband Henry of Hohenstaufen until 1197
- Constance II - she co-ruled with her husband Peter III of Aragon
- Maria - she co-ruled with her husband Martin I the Younger from 1392
- Joan the Mad
Luxembourg">Grand Dukes of Luxembourg">Luxembourg
- Marie-Adélaïde
- Charlotte
Malta">State of Malta">Malta
- Elizabeth II
Monaco">Principality of Monaco">Monaco
- Claudine
- Louise Hippolyte
[Netherlands]
- Wilhelmina
- Juliana
- Beatrix
[Norway]
- Margaret
[Agder]
- Åsa
[Poland]
- Hedwig - she was crowned as King of Poland to emphasize that she was a monarch in her own right; she co-ruled with her husband Władysław II Jagiełło from 1386
- Anna - she was crowned as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania to emphasize that she was a monarch in her own right; she co-ruled with her husband Stephen Báthory
[Portugal]
- Beatrice
- Maria I
- Maria II
[Romania]
[Princes of Transylvania]
- Catherine of Brandenburg
Principality of Transylvania">Principality of Transylvania (1711–1867)">Principality of Transylvania
- Maria Theresa
[Russia]
- Catherine I
- Anna
- Elizabeth
- Catherine II
Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus">Bosporan Kingdom">Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus
- Dynamis - she co-ruled with her first husband Asander in 47 BC and from 44 BC until 17 BC; then she co-ruled with her second husband Polemon I from 16 BC until her death
- Gepaepyris - she ruled in association with her son Mithridates III
Khanate of Qasim">Qasim Khanate">Khanate of Qasim
- Fatima Soltan
[Spain]
- Urraca of León and Castile - also styled as Empress of all the Spains. Her use of the imperial styling was limited, much more so than that of her predecessor and successor. Urraca did employ instead the title Queen of Spain on several occasions from the very beginning of her reign until the end
- Petronila of Aragon
- Berenguela of Castile the Great
- Sancha of León - she ruled jointly with her sister Dulce. After the death of Sancha's brother, Alfonso IX named his second son, Ferdinand, his heir, bestowing on him the title infante. In 1217, Ferdinand's mother, Berengaria, inherited the Kingdom of Castile, but ceded it to her son. With his heir out of the kingdom and ruling in another place, Alfonso attempted to make his eldest daughters his joint heirs. In the Treaty of Boronal concluded with Portugal in 1219, Alfonso expressly states that if he should die, Portugal should respect the agreement with his daughters. Alfonso also attempted to secure his eldest daughter's rights by marrying Sancha to John of Brienne, the former King of Jerusalem, but his wife Berengaria blocked this action in order to advance her son. After this fiasco, Alfonso declared Sancha and Dulce his heirs, but upon his death on 24 September 1230, the people of León, who had pledged for Ferdinand in 1206, refused to recognise his daughters, and they in turn ceded their rights to his kingdom to their half-brother
- Dulce of León - she ruled jointly with her sister Sancha
- Isabella I of Castile the Catholic - After a struggle to claim her right to the throne, she reorganised the governmental system, brought the crime rate to the lowest it had been in years, and unburdened the kingdom of the enormous debt her brother had left behind. Her marriage with Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to the kingdoms that became the basis for the political unification of Spain. Her reforms and those she made with her husband had an influence that extended well beyond the borders of their united kingdoms. Isabella and Ferdinand are known for completing the Reconquista, ordering conversion or exile of their Muslim and Jewish subjects in the Spanish Inquisition, and for supporting and financing Christopher Columbus's 1492 voyage that led to the opening of the New World.
- Joanna of Castile and Aragon the Mad - successor of the previous. After her husband's death she was deemed mentally ill and was confined to a nunnery for the rest of her life. Her father, Ferdinand II of Aragon, was regent until his death, when she inherited his kingdom as well.
- Isabella II of Spain
[Navarre]
- Toda Aznárez - was the queen consort of Pamplona through her marriage to Sancho I, who reigned from 905 to 925, and was regent of Pamplona for her son García Sánchez I from 931 to 934. Later in life, she ruled a subkingdom created for her
- Joan I
- Joan II
- Blanche I
- Blanche II
- Eleanor
- Catherine
- Joan III
[Sweden]
- Margaret
- Christina - she was crowned as King of Swedes, Goths and Vandals to emphasize that she was a monarch in her own right
- Ulrika Eleonora the Younger
[Ukraine]
Kingdom of Ruthenia">Ruthenia">Kingdom of Ruthenia
- Mary
- Jadwiga
Galicia and Lodomeria">Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria">Galicia and Lodomeria
- Maria Theresa
[United Kingdom]
Kingdoms of the Britons">Britons (Celtic people)">Kingdoms of the Britons
- Cartimandua, queen of the Brigantes, a Celtic people in what is now Northern England - she came to power around the time of the Roman conquest of Britain, and formed a large tribal agglomeration that became loyal to Rome; she is known exclusively from the work of a single Roman historian, Tacitus, though she appears to have been widely influential in early Roman Britain
- Boudica, queen of the Brythonic Celtic Iceni, people of Norfolk, in Eastern Britain - in 61 AD, led a major uprising of the tribes against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire
Anglo-Saxon kingdoms">List of Anglo-Saxon monarchs and kingdoms">Anglo-Saxon kingdoms
- Seaxburh of Wessex - she reigned jointly with her husband Cenwalh and, according to tradition, ruled Wessex as Queen for a year following Cenwalh's death in c. 672
- Æthelflæd of Mercia - eldest daughter of king Alfred the Great of Wessex, wife of Æthelred II, ealdorman of Mercia, and after his death, sole ruler of Mercia. While her husband was alive, she signed agreements, leading some to think that she was the real leader. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle styles her Lady of the Mercians
- Ælfwynn of Mercia - daughter of Æthelflæd and Æthelred II, styled Lady of the Mercians. Deposed by her uncle, Edward the Elder, who annexed Mercia to Wessex, creating the Kingdom of England
[Kingdom of England]
- Matilda - she was England's first de facto female ruler, holding the title of Lady of the English. She was declared heir presumptive by her father, Henry I, and acknowledged as such by the barons; however, upon the death of her father in 1135, Matilda's rival and cousin Stephen of Blois usurped the throne. The Anarchy followed, with Matilda's being a de facto ruler for a few months in 1141, but she was never crowned and failed to consolidate her rule
- Jane - her cousin Edward VI of England nominated Jane as successor to the Crown in his will and excluded his half sisters, Mary and Elizabeth. However, this was disputed following Edward's death, since parliament had not ratified his action and Jane was ‘queen’ for only nine days before Edward's half-sister, Mary, was proclaimed Queen. Jane is nicknamed The Nine Days' Queen
- Mary I
- Elizabeth I
[Kingdom of Scotland]
- Margaret, Maid of Norway She was daughter of Eric II of Norway and Margaret of Scotland and was named "domina and right heir" of the Kingdom of Scotland by her grandfather, Alexander III. Her death, at the age of seven, while en route to Scotland sparked off the disputed succession which led to the Wars of Scottish Independence. As Margaret was never crowned or otherwise inaugurated, and never set foot on what was then Scottish soil during her lifetime, there is some doubt about whether she should be regarded as a Queen of Scots; this could ultimately be a matter of interpretation. Most lists of the monarchs of Scotland do include her, but a few do not.
- Mary, Queen of Scots - she was executed in England in 1587
Kingdoms of England and Scotland / [Kingdom of Great Britain]
- Mary II
- Anne
[United Kingdom]
- Victoria - the first monarch to hold the title of Empress of India.
- Elizabeth II - head of state of 16 sovereign states, longest-reigning British monarch, longest-reigning queen regnant and female head of state in world history and, since October 2016, the longest currently reigning monarch and head of state.
''Oceania''
[American Samoa]
- Tuimanufili,
- Siliave,
- Seuea,
- Matelita,
[Australia]
- Victoria
- Elizabeth II
[French Polynesia]
[Bora Bora]
- Teriimaevarua II
- Teriimaevarua III
[Huahine]
- Teha'apapa I
- Teri'itaria II
- Teha'apapa II
- Teuhe - she reigned under a rebellion government against her mother Queen Tehaapapa II
- Teha'apapa III
[Raiatea]
- Tehauroarii
- Tuarii – she reigned under a rebellion government against the French with the support of Teraupo'o after Tamatoa VI abdicated.
[Rapa Iti]
- Daughter of Parima.
[Rimatara]
- Tamaeva IV
- Tamaeva V
[Tahiti]
- Purea, queen of the Teva clan on the southern part of the island before unification
- Pōmare IV
[Fiji]
- Elizabeth II
Hawaii">Kingdom of Hawaii">Hawaii
- Ancient
- * Kalanikauleleiaiwi, co-ruler of Hawaii Island along with her brother Keaweʻīkekahialiʻiokamoku
- * Ululani, 7th Chiefess of Hilo
- * Kapauanuakea, 3rd Chiefess of Molokai
- * Kamauliwahine, 4th Chiefess of Molokai
- * Hualani, 5th Chiefess of Molokai
- * Kanealai, Chiefess of Molokai
- * Kūkaniloko, 11th Moi of Oahu
- * Kalaimanuia, 12th Moi of Oahu
- * Kaikilani, 17th Moi of Hawaii Island
- * Keakamahana, 19th Moi of Hawaii Island
- * Keakealaniwahine, 20th Moi of Hawaii Island
- * Kamakahelei, 22nd Moi of Kauai
- Kingdom
- * Liliuokalani - was one of many queens of Hawaii; however, she was the only queen regnant of the modern Kingdom of Hawaii established by Kamehameha I in the late eighteenth century
[New Zealand]
- Elizabeth II
[Rarotonga]
- Makea Takau Ariki, Queen/Supreme High Chiefess of the Cook Islands - was the last monarch and only queen regnant of the Kingdom of Rarotonga established in 1858, she ceased to be sovereign after 1888
[Papua New Guinea]
- Elizabeth II
[Solomon Islands]
- Elizabeth II
[Tonga]
- Tupoumahe'ofo
- Salote Tupou III
[Tuvalu]
- Elizabeth II
Uvea (Wallis)">Wallis (island)">Uvea (Wallis)
- Toifale
- Falakika Seilala
- Amelia Tokagahahau Aliki
- Aloisia Brial
Female regents
Africa
[Fatimids]
- Sitt al-Mulk 1021–1023
[Kongo Kingdom]
- Isabel Maria da Gama 1962-1975
[Ashanti Empire]
- Yaa Asantewaa, queen mother of Ejisu in the Ashanti Empire
[Dahomey]
- Hangbe ruler of Dahomey 1716-1718 between the death of Akaba and the rule of Agaja
[Egypt]
- Merneith of the First Dynasty - was a consort and a regent of Ancient Egypt during the First Dynasty. She may have been a ruler of Egypt in her own right. The possibility is based on several official records. Her rule occurred the 30th century B.C., for an undetermined period
- Khentkawes I of the Fourth Dynasty - Khentkawes may have served as a regent for Thampthis, or she may have ruled Egypt as Pharaoh.
- Ahhotep I of the Seventeenth Dynasty
- Ankhesenpepi II of the Sixth Dynasty
- Ahmose-Nefertari of the Eighteenth Dynasty
- Khentkaus II of the Fifth Dynasty - While it is not confirmed that Khentkaus ruled as regent, several aspects of her tomb indicate she may have done so.
- Tetisheri of the Seventeenth Dynasty
Asia
[Iran]
- Atossa 522 BC-475 BC
[Thailand]
- Sri Bajarindra 1862–1955
- Sirikit 1950-2016
[Mongolia]
- Töregene Khatun 1243–1246
- Oghul Qaimish 1248–1251
- Mandukhai Khatun 15th century
[Chagatai Khanate]
- Orqina Khatun 1252-1260
[Golden Horde]
- Tulun Beg Khanum 1370-1373
[Kara-Khitan Khanate]
- Tabuyan 1144-1150
- Yelü Pusuwan 1164–1178
[India]
Gond">Gondi people">Gond
- Rani Durgavati ?–1564
[Maratha Empire]
- Tarabai 1700–1708
[Neo-Assyrian Empire]
- Shammuramat 810-806 BC
[Palmyrene Empire]
- Zenobia 267–271
[Vietnam]
- Queen Cù thị 113–112 BC
- Empress Dương Vân Nga 979–981
- Empress Thượng Dương 1072–1073
- Lady Ỷ Lan
- Empress Linh Chiếu 1138–1158
Europe
[England]
- Ælfthryth 978-984
- Matilda of Flanders - ruled as regent during the absences of her husband, William the Conqueror.
- Eleanor of Aquitaine 1190-1191
- Eleanor of Provence 1253
- Isabella of France 1326-1330
- Philippa of Hainault 1346
- Joan of Navarre 1399-1403 and 1415
- Catherine of Aragon six months in 1513
- Catherine Parr July-September 1544
[France]
- Anne of Kiev 1060-1066
- Adela of Champagne 1190
- Blanche of Castile 1226-1235 and 1248-1252
- Isabella of Bavaria 1417-1420
- Joan the Lame - ruled as regent while her husband, Philip VI of France, fought in the Hundred Years' War.
- Catherine de' Medici in 1552, 1560-1563 and in 1574
- Marie de' Medici 1610-1614
- Anne of Austria 1643-1651
- Marie Louise 1812 and 1814
- Eugénie de Montijo 1859, 1865 and 1870
[Franks]
- Richilde of Provence 877
- Fredegund 584-597
- Ermentrude of Orleans 823-869
[Illyrian Kingdom]
- Teuta 231–227 BC
- Etuta 169-168 BC
- Charel 522-533 BC
[Khazar]
- Parsbit 730
[Kievan Rus']
- Olga 945-962
[Lombards]
- Theodelinda 590-591
[Ostrogoths]
- Amalasuntha 526-534
[Portugal]
- Leonor Teles 1383-1384
- Eleanor of Aragon 1438-1439
- Eleanor of Viseu 1497-1499
- Catherine of Austria 1557-1562
- Luisa de Guzmán 1656-1662
- Catherine of Braganza 1701; 1704-1705
- Maria Anna of Austria 1742-1750
- Mariana Victoria of Spain 1776-1777
[Russia]
- Olga 945-962
- Sophia of Lithuania 1425-1432
- Elena Glinskaya 1533-1538
- Natalya Naryshkina 1682
- Sophia Alekseyevna 1682–1689
- Anna Leopoldovna 1740-1741
[Sweden]
- Ingeborg 1318-1319
- Hedwig Eleanor 1660-1672 & 1697
[Roman Empire] and immediate successors
- Ulpia Severina 275 - there is considerable numismatic evidence for Ulpia Severina ruling in her own right between the death of Aurelian and the election of Marcus Claudius Tacitus. Sources mention an interregnum between Aurelian and Tacitus, and some of Ulpia's coins appear to have been minted after Aurelian's death. As such she may have been the only woman to rule over the whole Roman Empire in her own power.
[Bithynia]
- Etazeta 255–254 BC
[Byzantine Empire]
- Pulcheria 414–453
- Irene - she normally referred to herself as basilissa, although there are three instances of the title basileus being used by her
- Theodora the Armenian 842-855
- Martina 613-641
[Latin Empire]
- Yolanda of Flanders 1217-1219
[Sarmatia]
- Amage 4th century BC
[Ottoman Empire]
- Mahpeyker Kösem Sultan 1623-1632 and 1648-1651
- Turhan Hatice Sultan 1651-1656
Legendary Queens
[Ahaggar]
- Tin Hinan
[Amazons]
- Otrera, the daughter of Eurus
- Hippolyta, the Amazonian queen who possessed a magical girdle
- Penthesilea, the daughter of Ares and Otrera and the sister of Hippolyta, Antiope and Melanippe
- Antianara, the daughter of Ares and Otrera and the sister of Hippolyta, Antiope and Melanippe
- Eurypyle
- Lampedo
- Marpesia
[Assyria]
- Semiramis, the legendary queen of king Ninus, succeeding him to the throne of Assyria
[Bohemia]
- Libuše
[Bornu Empire]
- Aissa Kili N'guirmamaramama
[Champa]
- Lady Po Nagar, According to Cham legend, was the founder of the Cham nation
[Carthage]
- Dido - also known as Alyssa. Founder of Carthage, according to tradition
[China]
- Nüwa
[Funan Kingdom]
- Queen Somâ - the earliest Queen and Leader in Cambodian history
Gideons Dynasty
- Gudit,
Britain">Great Britain">Britain
- Queen Gwendolen
- Queen Cordelia
- Queen Marcia
[Harran]
- Zugalum,
[Ireland]
- Macha,
[Connacht]
- Medb, Queen of Connacht
- Raziya sultan
[Italia]
- Lavinia
[Japan]
- Empress Jingū
[Kelantan]
- Che Siti Wan Kembang
[Lydia]
- Omphale, Wife of Heracles
[Mongolia]
- Alan Gua, a mythical figure from the Secret History of the Mongols
[Nubia]
- Kadimalo
- Pelekh Candace of Meroë
[Rapa Nui]
- Vakai
[Poland]
- Wanda
[Puntland]
- Ati, a queen of the fabled Land of Punt in Africa
[Sheba]
- Bilkis in Yemen, Makeda in Ethiopia and Sudan, claimed to be Queen of Sheba
Kish">Sumerian King List">Kish
- Kubaba
Titular Queens
Balete">Balete people">Balete
- Mosadi Seboko, the kgosikgolo of the Balete people in Botswana
Māori">Māori people">Māori
- Te Atairangikaahu
Mapuche">Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia">Mapuche
- Laura Teresa I
Naso">Naso people">Naso
- Rufina Santana
Chieftainess
[Crow tribe]
- Pine Leaf,
[Giluts'aaw]
- Victoria Young
[Hispaniola]
- Anacaona, Cacica of Quisqueya
- Iguanamá, also known as Isabel de Iguanamá
Israelite Tribes">Biblical judges">Israelite Tribes
- Deborah
[Pamunkey]
- Cockacoeske
- Queen Betty
- Queen Ann
[Puerto Rico]
- Doña Ines, mother of Caciques Agueybaná and Agüeybaná II
- Doña María, daughter of Cacique Bagnamanay
- Yuisa, Cacica in the region near Loíza, Puerto Rico
[Rarotonga]
- Makea Te Vaerua Ariki, High Chiefess of Te Au O Tonga
- Pa Upoko Takau Ariki, High Chiefess of Takitumu
- Tinomana Mereana Ariki, High Chiefess of Puaikura
Rewa">Rewa Province">Rewa, Burebasaga Confederacy">Burebasaga">Burebasaga Confederacy
- Ro Lady Lala Tuisawau-Mara,
- Ro Teimumu Tuisawau-Kepa,
[Sakonnet]
- Awashonks
[Seneca tribe]
- Queen Alliquippa
Xhosa">Xhosa people">Xhosa
- Nosizwe Tyali, Chief of Imingcangathelo
- Nosiseko Gaika, Chief of Amambombo
- Nomasilakhe Komani, Chief of Imingqalasi