Historic Women of Political Influence

Other than women of the present, who have made their mark on the world stage I was thinking of those in the past who used their wit and beauty for political advantage. Aspasia the mistress and then the wife of Pericles played a leading part in Athenian politics. Cleopatra during her career had Julius Caesar then Mark Antony for lovers and so consolidated her position in Egypt. Madame de Pompadour was more powerful at the court of Louis XV of France than any minister.

Originally posted by Aelfgifu Eleanora of Aquitaine perhaps?

Good choice! Eleanor of Aquitaine was indeed fascinating. She became Queen consort of both France and England; mother of King Richard I and King John among other important children. She is well known for her involvement in the Second Crusade. Attended by three hundred of her ladies she went to tend the wounded. in Antioch. Women then became banned from going into battle by the Church. She spent the rest of her long life traveling and encouraging the arts and working for the growth of knowledge. She was a queen, lover and ruler but above all a woman for all time

Mercy Aelfgifu! I'm not about to write her life history for it was too convoluted, even for Shakespeare! She was imprisoned for fifteen years but was released so she didn't die in the tower. She then went on to rule England while son Richard went off on a Crusade. The damn fool got captured so she went to Germany to negotiate his release.

In later life she was travelling through France to settle yet another marriage dispute and got involved in the usual plots and murders of the time. It was too much for her health, for she was old now and retired to Fontevrault Abbey where she took the veil as a nun. She died there.and was entombed next to her husband Henry and near son Richard.

I have to go with the Byzantine Empresses Irene and Theodora who were instrumental in the preservation of the orthodox Christian faith. Their lives, as well as that of Euphrosyne, are outlines in Women in Purple: Rulers of Medieval Byzantium, by Judith Herrin (I have only glanced at it, so I cannot vouch for its validity; it looks good though). The first two, and by connection the third, restored the veneration of icons; indeed the Church was better served by these three women than by most of the Emperors of the era.

Edited by Akolouthos - 07-Aug-2007 at 23:42

I believe the most influential women in politics of all times were the following, Correct me if I am wrong or add to the list.

Edited by pinguin - 08-Aug-2007 at 00:04

Originally posted by elenos Originally posted by Penelope Eva Per�n, better known as "Evita" of Argentina. She remains one of the most important symbols in all history. Especially since she is considered to be the most Powerful and most Influentual woman in South America's history. She died at the young age of 33.  I also started a thread about her awhile back, it should be around here somewhere. Ah, Eva Peron! Proud, passionate, vain and flamboyant as doing the tango! She did it with her country, she did it with the world, she went through her time on earth living with the intensity of a Latino opera-ballet. Not only did she break the conventions of her time she rose above them to make new ones. The dancer-actress-singer went on to found the first female political party in the nation and boldly carved her name in history.

I would put Margaret Thatcher and Catherine the Great as enlightened stateswomen. Catherine did have a fondness for lovers, but she was a true leader of Russia. All the other great names mentioned here were truly  inspired leaders of their nations.

The Suffragettes, as a group, made women realize they did have more of a part to play in the running of their country. The leader, Emily Pankhurst, was the wife of a barrister who was a founding member of the hard left.

(From Wikipedia)
�Richard Marsden Pankhurst (1834 � 1898). He graduated BA from the University of London.. He was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn and joined the Northern Assizes circuit. He was also a member of the Bar of the County Palatine of Lancaster Court.

He was a founder member of the Manchester Liberal Association, although he was subsequently to fall out with the Liberals. He campaigned for multiple causes, including free speech, universal free secular education, republicanism, home rule for the Irish, independence for India, nationalisation of land, the disestablishment of the Church of England and the abolition of the House of Lords. He established a National Society for Women's Suffrage, drafted the Women's Disabilities Removal Bill (the first women's suffrage bill in England) and was author of the bill which became the Married Women's Property Act (1882) which gave wives absolute control over their property and earnings.

He married Emmeline Goulden, better known as Emmeline Pankhurst, who was some 20 years younger than him, in 1879. With her, he was instrumental in establishing the Independent Labour Party. Together they formed the Women's Franchise League in 1889. They were part of a political circle which included Keir Hardie, Annie Besant, William Morris and George Bernard Shaw. They were present at the Bloody Sunday riot in Trafalgar Square.

Known as the "Red Doctor," he ran for Parliament in 1883 as candidate for Manchester and in 1885 for Rotherhithe, Kent, both times unsuccessfully. His controversial views did not win him many clients, but did afford him a place of great respect in the Independent Labour Party, even long after his sudden death, from stomach ulcers, at the age of 64.�

Ouch, Catherine de Medici is a tad beyond redemption so far as her reputation goes. She was plain, had a vile temper and known for using poisons to rid herself of her rivals. There were the human rights atrocities. Thousands of Huguenots (French Protestants) were massacred in Paris forcing the remainder to flee. England welcomed them with open arms and so gained a whole generation of culture they would not have had otherwise.

Well I don't know if she made her mark on a world stage and if she did it definitely wasn't because of her wit and beauty but I would say Countess Markievicz. She was the first woman elected to D�il �ireann(Irish Parliament)
and the first woman in Europe to hold a cabinet position when she was appointed Minister for Labour in 1919.

She also took part in the 1916 Rising where was second in command to Commandant Michael Maillin at the St. Stephen's Green garrison. After the Rising she was sentenced to death but had her sentence commuted to life because of her gender.