The Toughest Women In History
What The History Books Don’t Tell You
Though they may not be as known as the men they ruled or fought alongside, history is full of strong, tough women whose brilliance, courage, and cunning left an indelible mark, forever changing the world.
Olga of Kiev
This is just one anecdote from her fascinating life—and it seems like something straight out of Game of Thrones. Though she achieved sainthood by (forcefully) converting scores to Christianity, there’s also a legend that she once burned down an entire town by luring pigeons, attaching sulfur to their wings, setting them on fire, and sending them back to the buildings where they roosted.
Hannie Schaft
During WWII, Resistance fighter Hannie Schaft was arrested by the Germans and sentenced to a horrible death, but she faced the firing squad without fear—and when the soldiers failed to kill her in the chaos of the first round, her response was truly chilling. She allegedly told her executioners, “I shoot better”!
Boudicca
Boudicca was a Queen of the ancient British Iceni tribe and also a fierce warrior. When the Roman Empire attempted to conquer her people, she bravely led an uprising against them. Though it was ultimately defeated, she took down some 70,000 Romans with her.
Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut was one of only a few female pharaohs in thousands of years of ancient Egyptian history. She led several military expeditions and led a campaign against Nubia.
