Great Women in History OR Name my cat.

[pentapus]

Hey, so, previous ex-stray cats in my house have been: Sir Laurence Olivier (R.I.P.) and Genghis Khan. (They were pretty pitiful when they joined the family, so they needed big names.)

(Ok, there were also a pair of young cats with us for a very brief time known as the "Fat Boys" and a lady cat, recently MIA (;_;), called Girlie, but she was the only lady in a long line of boys, so 'Girlie' felt almost like a rank and title. She carried it with dignity anyway, or maybe she was just snooty. In short, I can't quite pretend that all our cats have fancy real people names, but I like to.)



There's a young lady cat joining up on Wednesday, and she needs a name of dignity. So, my question is: could you name some badass RL ladies?

So far on the table:
Dame Judy Dench a.k.a. "M"
Boudica, necessarily called "Bo".

Comments

A selection of warrior-quuens

[wordwitch]

Following selected from the site http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/rulers.html

Sammuramat
Assyrian Queen, 9th Century B.C.

Sammuramat is the subject of many myths about her reign as both the wife and mother of kings. She apparently accompanied her husband into battle, greatly expanded Babylonia's control over far-flung territories, irrigated the flatlands between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and restored the fading beauty of her capital, Babylon.

Amina
Nigerian Queen, 1560-1610

Queen Amina headed the northern Nigerian Hausa city-state of Zaria. It is thought that perhaps the Hausa were matrilineal people at that time since having a woman as queen was not all that rare. A great military leader, Amina brought most of the other Hausaland city-states into her orbit, and is credited with encouraging them to surround themselves with huge defensive mud walls. She also opened up trade routes to the south, enriching Zaria's economy with gold, slaves and cola nuts.

The following taken from the site: http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/heroine7.html

Queen Sondok (or Sonduk)
Silla Dynasty

Sondok's reign was a violent one; rebellions and fighting in the neighboring kingdom of Paekche filled her days. Yet, in her fourteen years as queen of Korea, her wit was to her advantage. She kept the kingdom together and extended its ties to China, sending scholars to learn from that august kingdom. Like China's Empress Wu Zetian, she was drawn to Buddhism and presided over the completion of Buddhist temples. She built the "Tower of the Moon and Stars," considered the first observatory in the Far East. The tower still stands in the old Silla capital city of Kyongju, South Korea.

The following selected from: http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/rulers-more.html

Queen Tomyris of the Massagetae Battle (530 B.C.)

"After her husband's death the Massagetae (the eastern most Scythian people) were ruled by a woman, Queen Tomyris. When the Persian king Cyrus decided to invade Massagetae territory the Queen sent him a message ...."stop & rule your own people and put up with the sight of me ruling mine "... Cyrus was not going to let a mere woman stand in his way, even against the better advice of Croesus of Lydia, his advisor (and king he conquered). When Cyrus engaged the Massagetae he captured the Queen's son Spargapises. When Spargapsisis asked to be freed his request was granted and then he was immediately killed.

Queen Tomyris then herself mustered all her forces and engaged Cyrus in battle. They fought at close quarters and eventually the Massagatae gained the upper hand. Most of the Persian army was wiped out, Cyrus himself died. Queen Tomyris filled a wineskin with human blood and searched the battlefied for Cyrus's corpse and when she found his body she said "...I warned you that I would quench your thirst for blood, and so I shall". Herodotus Book One (205)-(214)" - Kya

Zenobia

"Queen Zenobia challenged the Roman empire and ruled the city-state of Palmyra in the third century A.D. Palmyra was an important stopping point for caravans carry trade goods along the Old Silk Road. She declared Palmyra independent of Roman rule after her husband's murder. In their first attempts the Roman generals failed badly. Zenobia was an extremely able general....but was finally captured and taken captive back to Rome and walked in golden chains in Aurelian's triumphal parade." - Joseph A.

Queen Didda

The women of Kashmir from early times down to the 12th century C.E. played prominent roles in the political life of the region. "The widowed Queen Didda ruled Kashmir from 980/1 - 1003, first as a regent for her son Abhimanyu, and thereafter as sole ruler in her own right after killing her three grandsons. Her influence behind the throne spans 50 years, covering the reign of her husband, King Kshemagupta, the time of her regency, and later as sovereign ruler. She eventually handed over the throne to her maternal family from Lohara in undisputed, peaceful succession. Didda was very beautiful but was apparently lame. She was able to transform herself from a comparatively unsure and politically naive persona into a ruthless, decisive and ambitious one. Her alternate bribe-and-placation policy helped in quelling rebellions..."- Devika - India.

Candace, the Ethiopian Empress

Candace was the Greek name given to all the impressive Nubian/Kushite warrior queens. One "was such a great military leader that Alexander the Great simply chickened out from matching his army against hers. (in 332 BC)." Instead he turned to wage a more successful war in Egypt. - R. de R., Nicaragua

Grainne O'Malley - 16th Century - Ireland [[Grainne is pronounced GRAWN-ya, an appropriate-sounding name for a feline]]

“A pirate queen of Galway, Ireland who gave Elizabeth Rex a run for her money. ‘Twice widowed, twice imprisoned, fighting her enemies both Irish and English for her rights, condemned for piracy, and finally pardoned in London by Queen Elizabeth herself, Gráinne was one of the few sea-raiders to retire from the sea and die in her own bed, though where she's buried remains a mystery.’ See site; www.legends.dm.net/pirates/grainne.html” - Kathleen O’B.

Zabibi and Samsi - 700s B.C.E.

“Zabibi and her successor Samsi reigned as Arabian warrior queens from approximately 740 to 720 BC. Both commanded armies containing large numbers of women.” - Kathleen O’B.
( They fought against the Assyrians.)

Re: A selection of warrior-quuens

[pentapus]

Ooh, that's for the list. The responses here and on lj have really dug up some neat women I'd never heard of, from warriors queens to really badass lighthouse keepers.

[toft]

I suppose Cleopatra is a bit cliche'd for a cat, but there she is, and Cleo is nice. Also Livia (wife of the emperor Augustus), Eleanor (of Aquitaine), Hypatia (fourth century awesome philosopher), Xena, Scully.

[pentapus]

Definitely considering Eleanor. Already named the wireless network Scully ... it would be jealous...?