Favourite Queen in History

[Episcopus]

This seemed the most appropriate forum to post this, but if it isn’t please move mods.

Who is your favourite Queen in history? Can be outright Queen (like Elizabeth II) or consort (wife of a king). Can be British or from another country’s monarchy.

I watched the following video on Emma of Normandy recently - twice Queen and twice Queen Mother - hard to beat that!

Who was Emma of Normandy?

Anne of Cleves, she played a blinder. Never had to have sex with repulsive old Henry V111, got herself the title of The King's Sister, pots of money and stayed in England instead of being sent home in disgrace.

Anne of Cleves did try to remarry Henry after he did for poor Katherine Howard, I think she was quite keen to be Queen and restore her status.

Mary Queen of Scots. I watched reign and loved her story.

Eleanor of Aquitaine. Also Mary Queen of Scots. She made a lot of mistakes but she also had a lot of bad luck. Especially with folk she trusted.

Matilda, Boudicca or Margaret of Anjou

What does everyone think of Elizabeth Woodville??

Made her own luck…very smart political operator. Not sure I’d have her up there as a great queen though. Feel very sorry for her daughter Elizabeth who ended up with Henry VII although I guess it worked out alright for her in the end

Queen Elizabeth the second
Queen Elizabeth the first
Queen Victoria

Ended up being genuine love between Henry VII and Elizabeth. Hard to imagine isn't it? But contemporary accounts show they were devoted to each other.

I though Henry VII and Elizabeth had a strong love? They were very much in love? He was devastated when she passed.

I always think Queen Caroline (wife of George II) was an interesting woman. Educated, intelligent and strategic.

Yes..as I say it ended well…it was a rather unpleasant beginning however…

Matilda,
Eleanor of Aquitaine, (no way you can't include her)
Isabella of France
Margaret of Anjou

Empress Matilda - would have been a phenomenal Queen I think.

Both Isabella of France & Castile.

Katherine of Aragon a strong & determined woman. I agree Her history would have been different had her son survived.

🤣

Always had a soft spot for Queen Mary, wife of George V

Elizabeth the first for stringing out the privy council for so long about marrying some forrin prince. Future faking at its finest.

Not a Queen but my favourite royal woman is Katherine Swynford. She married John Duke of Lancaster (eventually!) and her direct descendents included Edward IV, Edward V, Richard III and Henry VII, as well as Margaret Beaufort and Elizabeth of York! A fascinating life that's generally not well-known.

Matilda for me too.

Anne Boleyn - She was used by the men who should have been protecting her and then once she had the power they'd thrown her into, she used it for causes she believed in.

Anne of Cleves - She was put into a position she didn't want, but was smart about the choices she was given, and was the best done by out of all Henry VIIIs wives.

all of Henry’s 6 wives
all strong women in their own ways and how different things would have been if Katherine’s son had survived-Anne Boleyn wouldn’t have stood a chance and then the rest wouldn’t have happened
or if Anne hadn’t miscarried or Jane hadn’t died in childbirth etc

I absolutely loved Reign as well, it’s utter tosh historically but great fun to watch!

@weebarra yes! I’ve been listening while walking to the station and on the tube.

Are there any good films or novels about Eleanor of Aquitaine that people would recommend?

Isabella D’Angouleme is interesting. Betrothed to someone else, when John saw her he wanted to marry her and chucked his wife. After his death, she married the son of her former fiancé who was supposed to marry her daughter, but he preferred the mother! Would be on TV today, am sure!

I first read about Katherine in the book be Anya Seton. Alison Weir’s book is good too.

Another vote for Eleanor of Aquitaine. I read a fascinating story about her recently. When her son, Richard was on yet ANOTHER crusade, she thought it would be a good idea for him to marry and try and get an heir before he did something stupid and got himself killed. So of she went to pick this girl up from the ge arse end of nowhere (I think one of the Greek islands but i cant remember) then made the dangerous journey all the way across Europe and the Middle East with just a small armed guard. Retrieved Richard, saw them married then did the journey all over again to get the girl back to safety.
I just kept thinking that whilst she was amazing, I bet Richard's new wife was a little intimidated by her new MIL! Imagine the MN thread "Nightmare pre wedding roadtrip with new MIL" 😂