1. Nwanyeruwa – The Woman Who Took on British Colonial Rule
In 1929, Nwanyeruwa, a Nigerian Igbo woman, ignited what became known as the Women’s War, a massive, organized rebellion against British colonial taxation. She was a market woman, but when a British officer tried to impose unfair taxes, she stood her ground, rallying thousands of women to protest. These women used traditional methods of resistance, such as “sitting on” corrupt officials—gathering outside their homes, chanting, and refusing to leave. The protests shook the British administration, leading to violent crackdowns but ultimately forcing colonial officials to abandon the tax shares History Today.
Despite its impact, Nwanyeruwa’s role was deliberately erased, with history books minimizing the Women’s War as a minor disturbance. The truth is, she and her fellow protesters paved the way for future anti-colonial movements. Her story highlights the power of collective action, especially among women who were seen as powerless. Today, her legacy remains largely unrecognized outside of Nigeria, but her bravery still inspires activists fighting oppression worldwide adds Teachable.
2. Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhi – The Sisters Who Fought the Han Dynasty
In the first century CE, Vietnam was under the control of China’s Han Dynasty, and two sisters, Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị, decided they had had enough. After Trưng Trắc’s husband was executed for resisting Chinese rule, the sisters gathered an army of 80,000 warriors, many of them women. They fought with extraordinary skill and intelligence, reclaiming nearly 65 cities from the Chinese. For three years, they ruled as queens, bringing a sense of Vietnamese independence that terrified the Han rulers shares the History Channel.
But the Han weren’t about to let that stand. In 43 CE, they launched a massive counterattack, forcing the sisters to retreat. Rather than be captured, they are said to have drowned themselves in a river, choosing death over submission. While Vietnamese people honor them as national heroes, their legacy was largely buried outside their homeland. Their defiance remains a symbol of resistance, especially for women who refuse to be silenced explains the New World Encyclopedia.
3. Sayyida al-Hurra – The Pirate Queen of the Mediterranean
Sayyida al-Hurra ruled as a pirate queen in the early 1500s, striking fear into Spanish and Portuguese fleets. A powerful Moroccan leader, she took to the seas after her homeland was overrun by Christian forces, vowing revenge. She allied with the infamous Ottoman pirate Barbarossa, ensuring that European ships were never safe. For 20 years, she commanded fleets that raided enemy ships and coastal towns, securing her people’s survival and making her one of the most powerful figures in the Mediterranean.
But history didn’t treat her kindly. When she was eventually overthrown in a coup, her name was deliberately erased from Moroccan records. While male rulers who engaged in piracy were glorified, she was treated as an anomaly, her story pushed into obscurity. Yet, she remains a powerful reminder that women have always played a role in shaping world history—sometimes by sword and sea.
4. Catalina de Erauso – The Cross-Dressing Conquistador
Catalina de Erauso ran away from a convent in Spain, disguised herself as a man, and carved out a brutal career as a soldier in the Spanish colonies. She fought in wars, dueled men, and lived a life so wild that her identity was only discovered after she was arrested. Even then, her military achievements earned her a royal pension, and she continued dressing and living as a man for the rest of her life.
Yet, her story was buried because she defied traditional gender roles. Historians either ignored her or reduced her to a curiosity rather than acknowledging her as a skilled warrior. Had she been a man, her conquests would have been widely celebrated, but because she was a woman who refused to conform, she was mostly erased. Today, her life stands as an example of courage, defiance, and the complexity of identity in history.
5. Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba – The Diplomatic Warrior Queen
Nzinga was a 17th-century queen in what is now Angola, and she was a master of politics, warfare, and survival. When Portuguese forces tried to seize her lands, she outmaneuvered them through alliances, diplomacy, and war. She famously sat on the back of a servant rather than accept an inferior seat in a meeting with the Portuguese, signaling that she refused to be beneath anyone. For decades, she led her people in fierce resistance, even forming alliances with escaped slaves and mercenaries.
Despite her brilliance, European historians downplayed her leadership, portraying her as either savage or overly ruthless. In reality, she was a strategist who fought for her people’s survival in an impossible situation. She ruled until her 80s, something unheard of for most leaders of her time. Though her story was nearly erased, she remains a symbol of resilience and determination.
6. Khutulun – The Mongol Warrior Who Challenged Every Suitor
Khutulun, the niece of Kublai Khan, was a warrior princess who vowed never to marry unless a man could defeat her in wrestling. She took on challengers from all over the Mongol Empire and never lost, amassing hundreds of horses as part of her winnings. She rode into battle alongside her father, proving herself just as fierce as any male warrior. Her skill and strength made her legendary, but they also made her a threat to traditional narratives.
After her death, historians downplayed her achievements, portraying her as merely an eccentric figure. Her story inspired the character of Turandot in European opera, but the real Khutulun was far more than a myth. She was a leader, a fighter, and a woman who refused to be confined by expectations. Her legacy is a reminder that history often overlooks women who didn’t fit the mold.
7. Juana Ramírez – The Venezuelan War Hero
During Venezuela’s fight for independence in the early 1800s, Juana Ramírez led an all-female artillery unit known as “Las Hijas de la Libertad” (Daughters of Liberty). She personally commanded troops in battle, earning the nickname “La Avanzadora” (The Advancer) because she never backed down. Her leadership was so effective that even seasoned male soldiers respected her skills.
Yet, despite her contributions, history books largely ignored her, focusing instead on male generals. Her name faded from records, only to be revived much later as Venezuelans searched for female role models in history. Today, she is honored in Venezuela, but her story remains mostly unknown outside of her homeland. Like many women in history, she fought just as hard as the men—only to be forgotten.
8. Rani Abbakka Chowta – The Queen Who Defied the Portuguese
Rani Abbakka Chowta was one of the first Indian queens to fight back against European colonizers. In the 16th century, she led her people in guerrilla warfare against the Portuguese, refusing to surrender her kingdom. She coordinated naval attacks, armed her people, and even formed alliances with Muslim rulers to strengthen her resistance. Her battles kept the Portuguese from expanding their control for decades.
Yet, despite her success, her name was pushed into obscurity, while male rulers of the time were glorified. British historians, in particular, ignored her, as they didn’t want stories of successful resistance inspiring other Indian rebels. Today, her legacy is being rediscovered, but she remains one of history’s many unsung heroines. She proved that colonial forces weren’t invincible, and she did it without the recognition she deserved.
9. Tomoe Gozen – The Samurai Who Defied Tradition
Tomoe Gozen was a fierce female samurai in 12th-century Japan, known for her skill with a bow and sword. She fought alongside her commander and possible lover, Minamoto no Yoshinaka, in the Genpei War. In battle, she was said to be unmatched, cutting down enemy warriors with ease and striking fear into even the most seasoned samurai. Unlike most women of her time, she wore armor, rode into combat, and refused to sit on the sidelines.
Yet, despite her legendary status, historians tried to erase her from the samurai narrative, arguing that she was merely a myth. Male warriors were glorified, while her achievements were treated as an anomaly. Some accounts say she was forced to marry after the war, a fate meant to diminish her warrior status. Regardless of how her life ended, she remains a symbol of female strength in a culture that rarely acknowledged women as fighters.
10. Sophie Scholl – The Student Who Stood Against the Nazis
In Nazi Germany, speaking out against Hitler was a death sentence, but Sophie Scholl did it anyway. As a university student, she co-founded the White Rose resistance group, distributing leaflets that exposed the horrors of the regime. She knew the risks but believed that silence was worse than death. In 1943, she was caught handing out anti-Nazi pamphlets and was arrested along with her brother.
At just 21 years old, she was executed by guillotine, but her last words—“What does my death matter if, through us, thousands are awakened?”—echo through history. While male resistance leaders were honored after the war, Sophie’s name was often overshadowed. Her bravery was minimized for decades, though she was just as fearless as any soldier on the battlefield. Now, her legacy is being reclaimed, reminding the world that resistance takes many forms.
11. Boudica – The Warrior Queen Who Took on Rome
Boudica was a Celtic queen in Britain who led a massive uprising against Roman rule in the first century CE. After Roman soldiers brutally attacked her daughters, she swore revenge, rallying thousands of warriors to burn Roman settlements to the ground. Her forces destroyed Londinium (modern-day London), sending shockwaves through the empire. Even the Romans, who documented her rebellion, admitted she was a formidable enemy.
Yet, after her defeat, the Romans made sure her story faded into obscurity. Unlike male warriors who resisted Rome, she was dismissed as a savage rather than a skilled leader. Her name was nearly lost to history until the Victorian era, when she was romanticized as a symbol of British nationalism. The real Boudica, however, was more than a legend—she was a woman who defied the mightiest empire of her time.
12. Noor Inayat Khan – The Spy Who Refused to Break
Noor Inayat Khan was a British-Indian spy during World War II, serving as a radio operator in Nazi-occupied France. As a descendant of Indian royalty, she could have lived a comfortable life, but she chose to fight against fascism instead. She was one of the few women sent behind enemy lines, transmitting critical intelligence back to the Allies. Even after most of her unit was arrested, she refused to leave, knowing her work was too important.
Eventually, the Gestapo captured her, and despite months of brutal torture, she never revealed any secrets. The Nazis executed her at Dachau concentration camp, but her last word—“Liberté”—proved her unbreakable spirit. After the war, her contributions were largely ignored, while male spies received more recognition. Only recently has her story resurfaced, reminding the world that courage isn’t limited to the battlefield.
13. Ching Shih – The Pirate Who Built an Empire
Ching Shih started as a prostitute in China but rose to become one of the most powerful pirates in history. After marrying a pirate captain, she took command of his fleet when he died, enforcing strict rules and creating a disciplined navy. Under her leadership, the Red Flag Fleet grew to over 1,800 ships, terrorizing the South China Sea. Even the Chinese government, British navy, and Portuguese forces couldn’t defeat her.
Unlike most pirates, she retired peacefully after negotiating a pardon that let her keep her fortune. Yet, despite her unmatched success, history books rarely mention her. Male pirates like Blackbeard and Captain Kidd are celebrated, while she remains a footnote. In reality, Ching Shih outmaneuvered empires and ruled the seas with an iron grip, proving that history’s most successful pirate was a woman.