Legendary African Female Warriors

1-Queen Amanirenas / BC. 40 – 10

Queen Amanirenas was born in the Nubian region of present-day Sudan, BC. from 40 BC. She ruled the Kush Kingdom until 10 BC. Roman Empire, BC. When he invaded neighboring Egypt in 30 BC, Amanirenas launched a surprise attack against the Romans. Leading an army of about 30,000 men, the queen successfully captured the three cities ruled by Rome. But it wasn't long before Rome retaliated, occupying Kush and enslaving thousands of people. In years of fierce fighting, both sides had suffered significant losses. B.C. Peace negotiations, which began in the year 24, culminated in a peace treaty five years after the start of the war. Unlike other monarchs in Africa, Queen Amanirenas never paid Rome a tax. Today, a symbol of resistance and courage, Amanirenas is remembered as one of Sudan's legendary leaders.

2-Queen Nzinga Mbande / 1583 – 1663

Queen Nzinga Mbande, a veteran politician and skilled military strategist, was the ruler of the Mbundu people of present-day Angola. Portugal had established a colony near the territory of Mbundu to expand human trafficking as the demand for slave labor increased. Therefore, the king before Nzinga Mbande formed a strategic alliance with Portugal. According to this alliance, the Portuguese would protect the Mbundu people from other enemies and stop the raids. However, after a while, Portugal broke this agreement. The Queen, on the other hand, refused to surrender without fighting the Portuguese. Queen Nzinga Mbande then formed a temporary alliance with the Netherlands, the enemy of the Portuguese. He then gathered a large army to fight against Portugal. In this way Nzinga was able to successfully repel Portuguese forces for decades. Even in his 60s, he participated in every war on the front lines. Thanks to his efforts, Portugal was never able to capture Mbundu. The Queen passed away in her 80s, after a long life of protecting her people from the colonialists.

3. Queen Nanny / 1685 – 1750

Queen Nanny was the leader of the Jamaican Maroons, made up of formerly enslaved Africans, who fought the British for their freedom. Nanny was abducted from Ghana at a very young age and enslaved in Jamaica. But Nanny managed to escape at the opportune time, along with other previously enslaved people. In 1720, she became head of the Maroon settlement, thanks to her outstanding leadership and military skills. That year she began educating her people in guerrilla warfare. The Queen led the Maroons into dozens of successful wars, freeing more than 800 enslaved people. By the 1740s, the British had to sign a peace treaty that guaranteed the freedom of the Maroons. In 1975, the Jamaican government declared Queen Nanny a National Hero. Today, the 500 Jamaican dollar bill features the Queen's image.

4. Dahomey Amazons

When it comes to African female warriors, perhaps the first group that comes to mind is the Amazons of Dahomey. The Dahomey Amazons, named after the female warriors in Greek mythology, are one of the few armies of women in history. This army, which began to assemble in the mid-1600s, was known for their indifference to pain and violence in war, and for having great socio-political influence over their own kingdoms. The Kingdom of Dahomey ruled over what is now the Republic of Benin. The Dahomey Amazons numbered about 6,000 individuals in the mid-1800s. When the French occupied Dahomey in 1892, the Amazons put up a fierce resistance. For this reason, the French soldiers lost their courage during the war. Fierce wars between the Amazons and Europeans continued for many years. After a while, however, the numbers of African female warriors began to dwindle. A few years later they were largely destroyed.

5. Queen Yaa Asantewaa / 1840 – 1921

Yaa Asantewaa was the queen of the Ashanti Empire, also called Asante in present-day Ghana. As queen, she was the official guardian of the Golden Stool, the most sacred object of the empire. This stool was made of solid gold and was thought to contain the spirit of the nation. When British troops invaded Ashanti in 1886 and demanded possession of the sacred object, Asantewaa refused. Soon after, he formed a large army and began attacking the British forces. Asantewaa's troops were almost on the verge of dispersing the British forces. But soldiers and new weapons were sent to the battlefield. Thereupon, Asantewaa's army could not stand it any longer and Ashanti had to surrender. Her great resistance despite impossibilities has made her one of the most famous warrior queens in history to date.