Favourite female historical figure?

I'm going down this list and wondering how many other people have been reading Rejected Princesses

Wu Zetian, no doubt about it. She had incredible influence over imperial China for a good 50 years (from around 650 to 705) and it remained visible for the following two millennia.

Beginning as one of hundreds in the Emperor Taizong's harem, she eventually climbed up the ranks to become his son Gaozong's favoured consort and, when upon her urging he killed his wife, inherited the title of Empress Consort for herself. A little while after this she killed her and Gaozong's eldest son after he gently encouraged her to step back from politics. When Gaozong died, along with his heir and another one of their children who tried to wrest the throne from her, she installed one of her easily manipulable sons as emperor and didn't even bother pretending that it was actually him doing any ruling. Not long after this she deposed him too and installed herself as Empress Regnant. She was incredibly popular with the lower classes and generally made life a lot better for those not in her path to power. She remains the only woman to have ruled under her own power in imperial China.

Wu Zetian, no doubt about it. She had incredible influence over imperial China for a good 50 years (from around 650 to 705) and it remained visible for the following two millennia.

Beginning as one of hundreds in the Emperor Taizong's harem, she eventually climbed up the ranks to become his son Gaozong's favoured consort and, when upon her urging he killed his wife, inherited the title of Empress Consort for herself. A little while after this she killed her and Gaozong's eldest son after he gently encouraged her to step back from politics. When Gaozong died, along with his heir and another one of their children who tried to wrest the throne from her, she installed one of her easily manipulable sons as emperor and didn't even bother pretending that it was actually him doing any ruling. Not long after this she deposed him too and installed herself as Empress Regnant. She was incredibly popular with the lower classes and generally made life a lot better for those not in her path to power. She remains the only woman to have ruled under her own power in imperial China.

Former Leader of the TSR Liberals, Airmed.

I am about to read Sarah Gristwood's Game of Queens: The Women who made the Sixteenth Century, which got me thinking.

Who is your favourite female historical figure? I think everyone knows mine is Anne Boleyn, but I have another favourite:

Countess Markievicz was a Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil politician, as well as a nationalist, suffragette and socialist. She took part in the Easter Rising in 1916, when Irish republicans attempted to end British rule and establish an Irish Republic. She was sentenced to death but this was reduced on the grounds of her gender. In December 1918, she was the first woman elected to the House of Commons, though she did not take her seat and, along with the other Sinn Féin TDs, formed the 1st Dáil Éireann.

Also, she looks stunning here:

A few:

Her Majesty The Queen Marie, The Queen of Scots
Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth I, The Queen of England
The Voice Whitney Houston
Her Imperial Majesty The Empress Matilda, The Queen of the Romans, The Duchess of Normandy, The Lady of the English
Her Imperial Majesty The Empress Catherine The Great, The Tsar of All Russias
Her Imperial Majesty The Empress Wu of China
The Queen of Pop Madonna
Jane Austen
Lady Diana, Princess of Wales
Her Christian Majesty The Queen Catherine de Medici
Eva "Evita" Peron
The Right Honourable The Baroness Margaret Thatcher
Her Imperial Majesty The Empress Cixi of China
Her Grace The Queen Daenerys of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, The Unburnt, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Protector of the Realm, Lady Regnant of the Seven Kingdoms, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons