List of female monarchs


This is a list of current and former female monarchs regardless of title, including queens regnant, empresses regnant, pharaohs and monarchs by other titles. Consorts, such queens consort are not included, see list of current consorts of sovereigns. Female regents are not included, see list of regents.
The following is an incomplete list of women monarchs who are well known from popular writings, although many ancient and poorly documented ruling monarchs are omitted. Section 1 lists monarchs who ruled in their own right, such as queens regnant. Section 2 lists legendary monarchs. Section 3 lists monarchs who ruled in their own right, but had no official legal recognition while in power. Section 4 lists various female rulers who were referred to with the title "Chieftainess." Regents, such as queens regent, are not monarchs and are not included in this page. Page does include claimants and anti-rulers whose recognition among their subjects and legitimacy as monarchs are disputed.

Monarchs

Africa

North Africa

Algeria
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are Spanish territories of North Africa.
Peraza family
MonarchPortraitTitleStateReign datesLength
Inés Peraza–QueenLordship of the Canary Islands1452–147725 years

Kingdom of the Canary Islands
The title of "King/Queen of the Canary Islands" was included in the list of titles and honours of the Spanish Crown.
MonarchPortraitStart of reignEnd of reignLength
Isabella I of Castile4 September 147926 November 1504
Joanna of Castile26 November 150412 April 1555
Isabella II of Spain29 September 183330 November 1833
Egypt
The first verified female monarch of Egypt is Sobekneferu of the Twelfth dynasty. However, queens from earlier periods such as Neithhotep, Merneith and Khentkaus I held powerful positions and may have ruled Egypt in their own right, but the archaeological evidence is ambiguous. Many of the Ptolemaic kings co-ruled with their queens. However, Arsinoe II, Berenice II, Arsinoe III and Cleopatra I are considered monarchs by Sally-Ann Ashton, but not by Tara Sewell-Lasater.
MonarchPortraitTitleStateStart of reignEnd of reignLengthRef.
SobekneferuPharaohMiddle Kingdom of Egyptc. 1777 BCc. 1773 BC3 years, 10 months and 24 days
HatshepsutPharaohNew Kingdom of Egyptc. 1479 BCc. 1458 BC 21 years
NeferneferuatenPharaohNew Kingdom of Egyptc. 1334 BCc. 1332 BC 2 years
TwosretPharaohNew Kingdom of Egyptc. 1191 BCc. 1189 BC2 years
Arsinoe IIPharaoh
Ptolemaic Kingdom273 or 272 BC270 or 268 BC2 to 5 years
Berenice IIPharaoh
Ptolemaic Kingdom246 BC221 BC25 years
Arsinoe IIIPharaoh
Ptolemaic Kingdom220 BC204 BC16 years
Cleopatra IPharaoh
Ptolemaic Kingdom193 BC176 BC17 years
Cleopatra IIPharaohPtolemaic Kingdom170 BC164 BC51 years
Cleopatra IIPharaohPtolemaic Kingdom163 BC127 BC51 years
Cleopatra IIPharaohPtolemaic Kingdom124 BC115 BC51 years
Cleopatra IIIPharaohPtolemaic Kingdomc. 139 BC130 BCc. 35 years
Cleopatra IIIPharaohPtolemaic Kingdom127 BC101 BCc. 35 years
Berenice IIIPharaohPtolemaic Kingdom101 BC88 BC14 years
Berenice IIIPharaohPtolemaic Kingdom81 BC80 BC14 years
Cleopatra VPharaohPtolemaic Kingdom79 BC69 BC11 years
Cleopatra VIPharaohPtolemaic Kingdom58 BC57 BC11 years
Berenice IV–PharaohPtolemaic Kingdom58 BC55 BC3 years
Cleopatra VIIPharaohPtolemaic Kingdom51 BC12 August 30 BC21 years
Arsinoe IVPharaoh
Ptolemaic KingdomDecember 48 BCJanuary 47 BC1 or 2 months
ZenobiaQueen
AegyptusOctober 270June 2721 year and 9 months
Shajar al-DurrSultanMamluk Sultanate2 May 125030 July 12503 months
Libya
Sudan

West Africa

Benin
The Gambia
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
Orango
Canhabaque
  • Idiana Ibop, also known as Juliana
    Côte d'Ivoire
Baoule
  • Pokou – Queen and founder of the Baoule tribe.
  • Akwa Boni – Pokou's niece who succeeded her to the throne.
    Liberia
  • Famata Bendu, queen of the Vai people
    Mali
Mali Empire
Akure Kingdom
  • Èyé Àró
  • Èyémọ̀ị́n
  • Amọ́robíòjò
Daura
The title "Kabara" was used by female monarchs who ruled over the Hausa people in the Middle Ages. A line of matriarchal monarchs is recorded in the Kano Chronicle that ends with the reign of Daurama in the 9th century. These queens reigned from to.
  • Kufuru
  • Ginu
  • Yakumo
  • Yakunya
  • Wanzamu
  • Yanbamu
  • Gizir-gizir
  • Inna-Gari
  • Daurama
  • Ga-Wata
  • Shata
  • Fatatuma
  • Sai-Da-Mata
  • Ja-Mata
  • Ha-Mata
  • Zama
  • Sha-Wata
  • Daurama II
Federation of Nigeria
Ifẹ
Igala Kingdom
  • Ebulejonu, also known as Ebule
Igodomigodo
  • Emose
  • Orrorro
Kumbwada
Kumbwada has been ruled by women for at least six successive generations.
  • Magajiya Maimuna
  • Hajiya Maimuna – grandmother of Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed
  • Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed
  • Idris – daughter of Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed
Ondo Kingdom
  • Pupupu, founder and ruler of the Ondo Kingdom.
Oyo Empire
Zazzau
's leadership activities were carried out at the highest tier, as a co-monarch.

Dominion of Sierra Leone
Koya Temne
  • Fatima
Kpa Mende
Angola
Mbunda Kingdom
  • Vamwene Naama
  • Vamwene Yamvu
  • Vamwene Mbaao ya Chinguli
  • Vamwene Kaamba ka Mbaao
  • Vamwene Mukenge wa Lweembe, Livindamo
Kingdom of Kongo
There were two female monarchs during Kongo Civil War.
Luvale
or Nyakatolo is the hereditary queen of Luvale.
  • Nyakatolo Kuvango
  • Nyakatolo Ngambo
  • Nyakatolo Kutemba
  • Nyakatolo Chissengo
  • Cameroon
  • Wou-Ten, founder of the Tikar dynasty
  • Ngon-Nso, founder of the Nso dynasty
  • Soukda, founder of the Mandara Kingdom
  • Ngoungoure, queen of Bamum – her reign lasted 30 minutes
    Chad
Kanem–Bornu Empire
Lunda Kingdom

  • East Africa

Comoros
Other female sultans also ruled on the Comoros, but their reign dates are unknown:
MonarchTitleStateReign datesRef.
Nyau wa FaumeSultanBambaoUnknown
Ja MhabaSultanBajinic. 1880s
Hadija bint AhmedSultanBajinic. 1880s
Ethiopia
Kenya