The Queens That Changed the World

The princess of a small German duchy, Charlotte was catapulted into the spotlight when she married King George III. Through a 57-year reign, she was a strong and stabilizing presence, especially during the King’s periods of turmoil.

When Maria Theresa inherited the Habsburg territories, she became the empire’s first ever female ruler, immediately having to fight off invasions. Through military grit and sweeping reforms, she secured her family’s legacy, and modernized the empire.

Marie Antoinette has been described as history’s most misunderstood queen. Long famed for excess, extravagant fashion, and her indifference to the poor, recent historians have claimed there’s more to Marie Antoinette’s story than meets the eye.

Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi, ruled an Indian kingdom and took on the might of the British empire. Defending her son’s kingdom from the encroachments of the East India Company, the fierce fighter became a legend on the battlefield.

Mary Stuart became Queen of Scotland at six days old and later ruled a divided nation. After disastrous marriages and political turmoil, she fled to England, where Elizabeth I imprisoned her for 19 years before she was executed.

Agrippina the Younger was determined to win power for her son. She possessed one of the most powerful bloodlines in Roman history, descending from both Augustus and Julius Caesar. She attained her ultimate goals, only to be violently betrayed.