This article is about women who reigned as monarchs by right of inheritance. For female regents, see
List of regents. For a list of Queens (including Pharaohs and Empresses) organised by geographical area, see
List of queens regnant.
This is a list of female hereditary monarchs who reigned over a political jurisdiction in their own right or by right of inheritance. The list does not include female regents (see
List of regents), usually the mother of the monarch, male or female, for although they exercised political power during the period of regency on behalf of their child or children, they were not hereditary monarch, and thus cannot be included in the list of female hereditary monarchs.
Each entry contains the name (with years of birth–death) and span of reign in years (where available). Where necessary, the source of inheritance right is indicated, that is, whether they succeeded from their fathers, mothers, siblings or other relatives. Cases where succession was obtained by other means (usurpation or marriage, for example) are also indicated accordingly.
Agnes of Baudemont (1130–1210), Lady of Baudemont, La Fere-en-Tardenois and Longueville, Lady of Nesle, Lady of Pontarcy, Lady of Quincy, Countess of Braine[citation needed]
Alheidis of Sayn (d. c. 1303), Heiress of Hulchrath and Saffenberg (Daughter of Henry I of Sayn (d. 1259) and Agnes of Cleves (d. 1267), Heiress of Cleves and Heinsberg; married Dietrich VI of Cleves (d. 1275)[6]
Anne of Lorraine, also known as Anne of Vaudemont, Countess of Maulevier, Duchess of Aumale, 1631–38
Anne of Montmorency (1385–1466), also known as Anne of Laval, Anne of Montmorency-Laval, Lady of Laval, Vitre, Acquigny, Aubigne, Tinteniac, Becherel and Romille, 1414–29[16]
Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier (1627–1693), also known as Anne Marie Louise of Bourbon-Montpensier, la Grande Mademoiselle, Countess of Eu, 1627–81, Countess of Mortain, 1660–93, Princess of Dombes & La-Roche-sur-Yon, 1627–81, Princess of Joinville, 1627–89, Duchess of Saint-Fergau, 1627–81, Duchess of Montpensier, 1627–93[17]
Catherine of Appiano (1398–1451), also known as Caterina Appiani, Lady of Piombino, Scarlino, Populonia, Suvereto, Buriano, Abbadia al Fango and of the Isles of Elba, Montecristo and Pianosa, 1445–51[27]
Claude of France, Lady of Houdan and Neaufles, 1514–24, Countess of Aast, Blois, Coucy, Étampes and Montfort-L’Aumary, and Duchess of Brittany, 1514–24
Douce I of Gévaudan (1090–1129), also known as Douce of Rouergue, also known as Douce of Arles, Viscountess of Millau and Gévaudan, 1111–29 and Countess of Provence, 1115–30
Françoise de Lorraine (1592–1669), Countess of Penthièvre, 1602–08, Duchess of Penthièvre, 1608–69, Duchess of Mercœur, 1602–49 (Resigned), Princess of Martigues
Françoise of Penthièvre (1440–1481), Lady of Avesnes & Viscountess of Limoges & Lomagne, 1455–81, Countess of Périgord
Jakoba of Bavaria (1401–36), Countess of Holland, Hainaut and Zeeland, 1417–32
Lady Jane Grey (1536/1537 – 12 February 1554), also known as Lady Jane Dudley[3] or The Nine Days' Queen,[4] was an English noblewoman and de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553.
Jelena Gruba, (1345–1399), Queen of Bosnia (1391 to 1398), first as queen consort until 1395 and then as queen regnant, she was the only female head of state in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Joan I of Naples (1326–1381), Lady of Forcalquier, 1373–81, Countess of Provence, 1373–81, Princess of Achaea, 1373–81, Duchess of Calabria, 1373–81, Queen of Naples
Joan II of Navarre, Queen of Navarre, 1328–49, Countess of Mortain, 1328–49
Joan III of Navarre (1528–1572), Queen of Navarre; Her full titles: Queen of Navarre, Countess of Foix, Bigorre & Périgord; Viscountess of Béarn & Limoges (inherited from her father); Duchess of Alençon & Berry, Countess of Rodez, Armagnac, Perche, Fezensac, L’Isle-Jourdain, Porhoet, Pardiac, Viscountess of Lomagne, Fezenzaguet, Brulhois, Cressey, Auvillars, Baroness of Castelnau, Caussade, Montmiral, Lady of La Fleche and Bauge (inherited from her mother)
Joan of Kent (1328–1385), also known as the Fair Maid of Kent, Lady Joan Plantagenet, 5th Baroness Wake of Liddell & Countess of Kent, 1352–85[citation needed]
Louise of Aumont (1759–1826), Duchess of la Meilleraye, Mayenne & Rethel, 1781–89
Louise de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier (1483–1561), also known as Louise de Bourbon, Countess of Mortain, 1530–61, Countess of Montpensier, 1538–39, Duchess of Montpensier, 1522–61, Dauphine of Auvergne, 1538–61, Duchess of Auvergne, 1538–61
Louise of Savoy (1476–1531), Countess of Beaumont-en-Anjou, 1515–16, Countess of Maine, 1515–31, Countess of Beaufort, Countess of Gien, Duchess of Beaufort, 1515–18, Duchess of Angoulême, 1515–31; Duchess of Anjou, 1515–31, Duchess of Nemours, 1524–31, Duchess of Bourbon, 1527–31
Mahaut II of Dampierre (1234–1262), Lady of Broigny, Donzy, Montjoy, Perche-Goet, Saint Aignan & Torigny, 1254–62, Lady of Bourbon, 1257–62, Countess of Auxerre, Nevers & Tonnerre, 1257–62[7]
Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy (1480–1530), Countess of Charolais, 1493–1530, Countess Palatine of Burgundy, 1493–1530, Countess of Artois, 1493–1530
Marguerite of Amboise (d. 1475), Princess of Talmond, Viscountess of Thouars, Lady of Mauleon, Lady of Montrichard
Marguerite of Angoulême, Duchess of Alençon & Berry, Countess of Rodez, Armagnac, Perche, Fezensac, L’Isle-Jourdain, Porhoet, Pardiac, Viscountess of Lomagne, Fezenzaguet, Brulhois, Cressey, Auvillars, Baroness of Castelnau, Caussade, Montmiral, Lady of La Fleche and Bauge
Maria dalle Carceri (d. 1323), Heiress of 1/6 of Euboea as the daughter of Gaetano dalle Carceri; Marquise (1/2) of Bodonitsa, 1311–58, as the widow of
Albert Pallavicini. She shared Bodonitsa with their daughter,
Guglielma.[70]
Maria Beatrice Ricciarda (1750–1829), Sovereign Duchess of Massa, Sovereign Princess of Carrara, 1790–97, 1814–29, 7th Duchess of Ajello, Baroness of Paduli and Lady of Lago, Laghitello, Serra e Terrati, Princess of Modena and Reggio
Maria Eleonora I Boncompagni (1686–1745), also known as Maria Eleoonora I Boncompagni-Ludovisi, Marchioness of Populonia, Countess of Conza, Princess of Piombino, 1707–45[52]
Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina, Duchess of Massa, Sovereign Duchess of Massa, Sovereign Princess of Carrara, 6th Duchess of Ajello, Baroness of Paduli, Sovereign Lady of Moneta and Avenza, Lady of Lago, Laghitello, Serra and Terrati
Marie of Bourbon, also known as
Marie of Bourbon-Vendôme, (1539–1601), Countess of Gace, Hambye and Briquebec, Countess of Saint-Pol, 1546–1601, Duchess of Estouteville
Marie of Bourbon (1315–1387), Princess of Achaea and Morea, 1364–70 (Abd)
Marie, Countess of Harcourt (1398–1476), Lady of Arschot, Brionne, Elbeuf, Forcalquier, L'Islebonne, & La Saussaye & Countess of Aumale, Harcourt & Mortain, 1452–76[74]
Marie of Luxemburg (1472–1547), also known as Marie de Luxemburg, Viscountess of Meaux & Countess of Ligny, Marle & Soissons, 1482–1547, 24th or 25th Countess of Saint-Pol, 1482–1547
Marie of Luxemburg (1562–1623), Duchess of Étampes & Penthièvre, 1569–1623
Marie of Montmirail (d. 1272), Heiress of Montmirail, Oisy, Crèvecœur, Conde-en-Brie, the Viscounty of Meaux & Chatelainie of Cambrai, Lady of Conde-Brie[citation needed]
Marie of Orléans-Longueville (1625–1707), also known as Marie de Longueville, Duchess of Estouteville, Sovereign Princess of Neuchâtel & Countess of Valangin, 1699–1707[76]
Marie of Ponthieu (1186–1251), Countess of Montreuil & Pontannhieu, 1221–51
Mary, Countess of Blois (1200–1241), also known as Marie of Avesnes, Lady of Romorantin and Millancay & Countess of Dunois & Blois, 1230–41 and Lady of Chateaurenault and Countess of Chartres, 1236–41[69]
Mary of Béarn (1145–1186), Viscountess of Bruilhois & Béarn, 1170–73
Mary of Burgundy, also known as Mary the Rich, (1457–1482), Countess of Charolais & Zeeland, Countess Palatine of Burgundy, Duchess of Burgundy & Limburg, 1477–82
Maria of Sicily, Duchess of Athens, 1377–88, Queen of Sicily, 1377–88
Mechtild of Brunswick-Lunenburg (1230–1298), Regent Countess of Anhalt-Aschersleben, 1266–70, for her sons Otto I and Heinrich III of Anhalt-Aschersleben.
Paolina Belmonte: Princess (Reichsfürstin) Donna Francesca di Paola Pignatelli y Aymerich Squarciafico Pinelli Ravaschieri Fieschi (1824–1911), 10th
Princess of Belmonte, 5th Princess of the Holy Roman Empire, 3rd Princess of Muro Leccese, Grandee of Spain 1st Class, 9th
Duchess of Acerenza, 3rd Duchess of Corigliano d'Otranto, 21st
Countess of Copertino, 21st
Marchioness of Galatone, 7th Marchioness of Argensola, 6th Marchioness of San Vicente, 11th Baroness of Badolato, Signora di Veglie, Leverano, San Cosimo &c.
Yolande of Anjou, Duchess of Lorraine, 1473–83, Duchess of Bar, 1480–83
Yolande of Brittany (1218–1272), also known as Yolande of Dreux, Countess of Penthièvre, 1237–72 (as her dowry); Countess of Porhoet (by grant of her brother); Countess Regent of Angoulême and La Marche, 1250–56, for her son
Hugh XII of Lusignan[citation needed]
This article is about women who reigned as monarchs by right of inheritance. For female regents, see
List of regents. For a list of Queens (including Pharaohs and Empresses) organised by geographical area, see
List of queens regnant.
This is a list of female hereditary monarchs who reigned over a political jurisdiction in their own right or by right of inheritance. The list does not include female regents (see
List of regents), usually the mother of the monarch, male or female, for although they exercised political power during the period of regency on behalf of their child or children, they were not hereditary monarch, and thus cannot be included in the list of female hereditary monarchs.
Each entry contains the name (with years of birth–death) and span of reign in years (where available). Where necessary, the source of inheritance right is indicated, that is, whether they succeeded from their fathers, mothers, siblings or other relatives. Cases where succession was obtained by other means (usurpation or marriage, for example) are also indicated accordingly.
Agnes of Baudemont (1130–1210), Lady of Baudemont, La Fere-en-Tardenois and Longueville, Lady of Nesle, Lady of Pontarcy, Lady of Quincy, Countess of Braine[citation needed]
Alheidis of Sayn (d. c. 1303), Heiress of Hulchrath and Saffenberg (Daughter of Henry I of Sayn (d. 1259) and Agnes of Cleves (d. 1267), Heiress of Cleves and Heinsberg; married Dietrich VI of Cleves (d. 1275)[6]
Anne of Lorraine, also known as Anne of Vaudemont, Countess of Maulevier, Duchess of Aumale, 1631–38
Anne of Montmorency (1385–1466), also known as Anne of Laval, Anne of Montmorency-Laval, Lady of Laval, Vitre, Acquigny, Aubigne, Tinteniac, Becherel and Romille, 1414–29[16]
Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier (1627–1693), also known as Anne Marie Louise of Bourbon-Montpensier, la Grande Mademoiselle, Countess of Eu, 1627–81, Countess of Mortain, 1660–93, Princess of Dombes & La-Roche-sur-Yon, 1627–81, Princess of Joinville, 1627–89, Duchess of Saint-Fergau, 1627–81, Duchess of Montpensier, 1627–93[17]
Catherine of Appiano (1398–1451), also known as Caterina Appiani, Lady of Piombino, Scarlino, Populonia, Suvereto, Buriano, Abbadia al Fango and of the Isles of Elba, Montecristo and Pianosa, 1445–51[27]
Claude of France, Lady of Houdan and Neaufles, 1514–24, Countess of Aast, Blois, Coucy, Étampes and Montfort-L’Aumary, and Duchess of Brittany, 1514–24
Douce I of Gévaudan (1090–1129), also known as Douce of Rouergue, also known as Douce of Arles, Viscountess of Millau and Gévaudan, 1111–29 and Countess of Provence, 1115–30
Françoise de Lorraine (1592–1669), Countess of Penthièvre, 1602–08, Duchess of Penthièvre, 1608–69, Duchess of Mercœur, 1602–49 (Resigned), Princess of Martigues
Françoise of Penthièvre (1440–1481), Lady of Avesnes & Viscountess of Limoges & Lomagne, 1455–81, Countess of Périgord
Jakoba of Bavaria (1401–36), Countess of Holland, Hainaut and Zeeland, 1417–32
Lady Jane Grey (1536/1537 – 12 February 1554), also known as Lady Jane Dudley[3] or The Nine Days' Queen,[4] was an English noblewoman and de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553.
Jelena Gruba, (1345–1399), Queen of Bosnia (1391 to 1398), first as queen consort until 1395 and then as queen regnant, she was the only female head of state in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Joan I of Naples (1326–1381), Lady of Forcalquier, 1373–81, Countess of Provence, 1373–81, Princess of Achaea, 1373–81, Duchess of Calabria, 1373–81, Queen of Naples
Joan II of Navarre, Queen of Navarre, 1328–49, Countess of Mortain, 1328–49
Joan III of Navarre (1528–1572), Queen of Navarre; Her full titles: Queen of Navarre, Countess of Foix, Bigorre & Périgord; Viscountess of Béarn & Limoges (inherited from her father); Duchess of Alençon & Berry, Countess of Rodez, Armagnac, Perche, Fezensac, L’Isle-Jourdain, Porhoet, Pardiac, Viscountess of Lomagne, Fezenzaguet, Brulhois, Cressey, Auvillars, Baroness of Castelnau, Caussade, Montmiral, Lady of La Fleche and Bauge (inherited from her mother)
Joan of Kent (1328–1385), also known as the Fair Maid of Kent, Lady Joan Plantagenet, 5th Baroness Wake of Liddell & Countess of Kent, 1352–85[citation needed]
Louise of Aumont (1759–1826), Duchess of la Meilleraye, Mayenne & Rethel, 1781–89
Louise de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier (1483–1561), also known as Louise de Bourbon, Countess of Mortain, 1530–61, Countess of Montpensier, 1538–39, Duchess of Montpensier, 1522–61, Dauphine of Auvergne, 1538–61, Duchess of Auvergne, 1538–61
Louise of Savoy (1476–1531), Countess of Beaumont-en-Anjou, 1515–16, Countess of Maine, 1515–31, Countess of Beaufort, Countess of Gien, Duchess of Beaufort, 1515–18, Duchess of Angoulême, 1515–31; Duchess of Anjou, 1515–31, Duchess of Nemours, 1524–31, Duchess of Bourbon, 1527–31
Mahaut II of Dampierre (1234–1262), Lady of Broigny, Donzy, Montjoy, Perche-Goet, Saint Aignan & Torigny, 1254–62, Lady of Bourbon, 1257–62, Countess of Auxerre, Nevers & Tonnerre, 1257–62[7]
Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy (1480–1530), Countess of Charolais, 1493–1530, Countess Palatine of Burgundy, 1493–1530, Countess of Artois, 1493–1530
Marguerite of Amboise (d. 1475), Princess of Talmond, Viscountess of Thouars, Lady of Mauleon, Lady of Montrichard
Marguerite of Angoulême, Duchess of Alençon & Berry, Countess of Rodez, Armagnac, Perche, Fezensac, L’Isle-Jourdain, Porhoet, Pardiac, Viscountess of Lomagne, Fezenzaguet, Brulhois, Cressey, Auvillars, Baroness of Castelnau, Caussade, Montmiral, Lady of La Fleche and Bauge
Maria dalle Carceri (d. 1323), Heiress of 1/6 of Euboea as the daughter of Gaetano dalle Carceri; Marquise (1/2) of Bodonitsa, 1311–58, as the widow of
Albert Pallavicini. She shared Bodonitsa with their daughter,
Guglielma.[70]
Maria Beatrice Ricciarda (1750–1829), Sovereign Duchess of Massa, Sovereign Princess of Carrara, 1790–97, 1814–29, 7th Duchess of Ajello, Baroness of Paduli and Lady of Lago, Laghitello, Serra e Terrati, Princess of Modena and Reggio
Maria Eleonora I Boncompagni (1686–1745), also known as Maria Eleoonora I Boncompagni-Ludovisi, Marchioness of Populonia, Countess of Conza, Princess of Piombino, 1707–45[52]
Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina, Duchess of Massa, Sovereign Duchess of Massa, Sovereign Princess of Carrara, 6th Duchess of Ajello, Baroness of Paduli, Sovereign Lady of Moneta and Avenza, Lady of Lago, Laghitello, Serra and Terrati
Marie of Bourbon, also known as
Marie of Bourbon-Vendôme, (1539–1601), Countess of Gace, Hambye and Briquebec, Countess of Saint-Pol, 1546–1601, Duchess of Estouteville
Marie of Bourbon (1315–1387), Princess of Achaea and Morea, 1364–70 (Abd)
Marie, Countess of Harcourt (1398–1476), Lady of Arschot, Brionne, Elbeuf, Forcalquier, L'Islebonne, & La Saussaye & Countess of Aumale, Harcourt & Mortain, 1452–76[74]
Marie of Luxemburg (1472–1547), also known as Marie de Luxemburg, Viscountess of Meaux & Countess of Ligny, Marle & Soissons, 1482–1547, 24th or 25th Countess of Saint-Pol, 1482–1547
Marie of Luxemburg (1562–1623), Duchess of Étampes & Penthièvre, 1569–1623
Marie of Montmirail (d. 1272), Heiress of Montmirail, Oisy, Crèvecœur, Conde-en-Brie, the Viscounty of Meaux & Chatelainie of Cambrai, Lady of Conde-Brie[citation needed]
Marie of Orléans-Longueville (1625–1707), also known as Marie de Longueville, Duchess of Estouteville, Sovereign Princess of Neuchâtel & Countess of Valangin, 1699–1707[76]
Marie of Ponthieu (1186–1251), Countess of Montreuil & Pontannhieu, 1221–51
Mary, Countess of Blois (1200–1241), also known as Marie of Avesnes, Lady of Romorantin and Millancay & Countess of Dunois & Blois, 1230–41 and Lady of Chateaurenault and Countess of Chartres, 1236–41[69]
Mary of Béarn (1145–1186), Viscountess of Bruilhois & Béarn, 1170–73
Mary of Burgundy, also known as Mary the Rich, (1457–1482), Countess of Charolais & Zeeland, Countess Palatine of Burgundy, Duchess of Burgundy & Limburg, 1477–82
Maria of Sicily, Duchess of Athens, 1377–88, Queen of Sicily, 1377–88
Mechtild of Brunswick-Lunenburg (1230–1298), Regent Countess of Anhalt-Aschersleben, 1266–70, for her sons Otto I and Heinrich III of Anhalt-Aschersleben.
Paolina Belmonte: Princess (Reichsfürstin) Donna Francesca di Paola Pignatelli y Aymerich Squarciafico Pinelli Ravaschieri Fieschi (1824–1911), 10th
Princess of Belmonte, 5th Princess of the Holy Roman Empire, 3rd Princess of Muro Leccese, Grandee of Spain 1st Class, 9th
Duchess of Acerenza, 3rd Duchess of Corigliano d'Otranto, 21st
Countess of Copertino, 21st
Marchioness of Galatone, 7th Marchioness of Argensola, 6th Marchioness of San Vicente, 11th Baroness of Badolato, Signora di Veglie, Leverano, San Cosimo &c.
Yolande of Anjou, Duchess of Lorraine, 1473–83, Duchess of Bar, 1480–83
Yolande of Brittany (1218–1272), also known as Yolande of Dreux, Countess of Penthièvre, 1237–72 (as her dowry); Countess of Porhoet (by grant of her brother); Countess Regent of Angoulême and La Marche, 1250–56, for her son
Hugh XII of Lusignan[citation needed]