Queen Hatshepsut, Queen Ahmose Nefatari, Queen Amineranis, Queen Tye, Queen Nzinga and Queen Makeda are some of the most important and famous African Queens and Empresses in History.
These women were powerful rulers who made a lasting impact on their kingdoms and on the stage of world History.
Queen Hatshepsut
Our first famous African Queen and Empress is Queen Hatshepsut who was the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt.
Queen Hatshepsut is known for being the first woman to rule Egypt as a Pharaoh in her own right.
Hatshepsut came to power in 1478 BCE, after the death of her husband, Thutmose II. She initially served as regent for her young stepson, Thutmose III, but eventually declared herself pharaoh and ruled for over 20 years.
This renowned African Queen is known for her many building projects, including the construction of a mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri and the expansion of the Temple of Amun at Karnak. She also commissioned several trading expeditions, including one to the land of Punt (now Somalia) that brought back exotic goods such as incense and myrrh.
Despite her successes, Queen Hatshepsut’s rule was not without controversy however.
After her death, many of her inscriptions and statues were defaced or destroyed by later pharaohs, possibly in an attempt to erase her from the official historical record. However, Queen Hatshepsut’s legacy has since been rediscovered, and she is now recognized as one of the most successful and influential Queens in Ancient Egyptian history.
Ahmose Nefatari
Queen Ahmose Nefertari is another African Empress from Ancient Egypt who lived during the New Kingdom period, around the 16th century BCE.
Queen Ahmose Nefertari was the wife of Pharaoh Ahmose I, the founder of the Eighteenth Dynasty, and played a key role in the unification of Egypt following the period of foreign rule known as the Second Intermediate Period.
Ahmose Nefertari was the first Queen to be depicted on temple walls alongside her husband, and she played a major role in the construction and expansion of the Temple of Amun at Karnak.
Ahmose Nefertari also commissioned several other temple building projects, including the construction of a mortuary temple at Thebes.
Ahmose Nefertari was a powerful and influential African Queen and Empress during her reign, and her contributions to the worship of Amun were particularly important in the early years of the New Kingdom. She is remembered today as a strong and capable queen who played a significant role in the history of Ancient Egypt.
Queen Amanirenas
Queen Amanirenas was a famous Nubian African Queen and Empress from the Kingdom of Kush, a civilization located in what is now Sudan in Northeastern Africa.
She ruled around the 1st century BCE, during a time of conflict with the Roman Empire.
Queen Amanirenas is best known for leading the Kushite army in a series of successful campaigns against the Romans in what is known as the Roman-Kushite War. She is credited with re-establishing Kushite control over the region of Lower Nubia, which had been conquered by the Romans. Queen Amanirenas is also remembered for negotiating a peace treaty with the Roman Empire, which allowed the Kushites to retain control over much of Lower Nubia.
Queen Amanirenas was a powerful and influential figure in Kushite history, and she is remembered as a courageous and capable leader who helped to defend her kingdom against foreign invasion.
This powerful African Queen’s victory over the Roman Empire effectively stopped further attempts by the Roman Empire to infiltrate the African interior which effectively limited Roman influence to North Africa.
Queen Tye
Queen Tye (also known as Tiye or Tiy) was an African Queen and Empress who also reigned in Ancient Egypt and lived during the New Kingdom period, around the 14th century BCE.
She was the wife of Pharaoh Amenhotep III and the mother of Pharaoh Amenhotep IV, who later changed his name to Akhenaten and is known for his religious reforms.
Queen Tye is remembered as a strong and influential figure in Ancient Egyptian society. She played a significant role in the politics and diplomacy of the time, and is known for her involvement in several major building projects.
Queen Tye is also remembered for her beauty and for the many fine works of art that were produced during her lifetime, including statues and reliefs depicting her and her husband.
Queen Tye is an important figure in the history of Ancient Egypt, and her legacy has been studied and remembered for thousands of years.
Queen Nzinga
Queen Nzinga was an African Queen of the Kingdom of Ndongo and Matamba, located in what is now Angola in southern Africa.
Queen Nzinga ruled in the 17th century and is remembered as a strong and capable leader who fought against the Portuguese colonization of her kingdom.
She is known for her diplomatic skills and her ability to form alliances with other African states in order to resist Portuguese expansion. She also led her army in several successful military campaigns against the Portuguese and their allies.
Queen Nzinga is remembered as a symbol of resistance and as an important figure in the history of Angola.
She is celebrated for her leadership and her efforts to defend her kingdom against foreign colonization.
Queen Makeda (also known as the Queen of Sheba)
Last but not least on our list of famous and important African Queens and Empresses in Queen Makeda who is also known as the Queen of Sheba.
Queen Makeda was a legendary Queen who is said to have ruled a kingdom in ancient Africa, possibly located in what is now modern-day Ethiopia or Yemen.
According to tradition, Queen Makeda visited King Solomon in Jerusalem, where she was impressed by his wisdom and wealth. She is also said to have had a son with Solomon, who later became the ruler of her kingdom.
The story of Queen Makeda appears in both the Bible and Islamic tradition, and she has become a popular figure in many cultures around the world.
However, there is little historical evidence to support the existence of Queen Makeda as a historical figure. The accounts of her life and deeds are largely in Ancient Ethiopian legends, most notably the Kebra Nagast, (“Glory of the Kings”), a 14th Century Ancient Ethiopian Historical and Mythical Text whose central theme is the visit of the Queen of Sheba (Makeda) to Solomon and the birth of a son, Menelik.
The legend of Queen Makeda is alive today as a testament to the legacy of this powerful and famous African Queen and Empress.
Conclusion
Queen Hatshepsut, Queen Ahmose Nefatari, Queen Amineranis, Queen Tye, Queen Nzinga and Queen Makeda are amongst the most important and famous African Queens and Empresses in History
These African Queens and Empresses were leaders in their own right, helping to shape the course of African and world history.
Today, we remember these famous African Queens and Empresses for their strength, courage, and determination.
