They say absolute power corrupts absolutely – and in the case of these ten women, that corruption left a trail of blood, betrayal, and broken bodies in its wake. While many queens throughout history ruled with grace and wisdom, others seized the reins of power and never looked back, burning bridges – and sometimes entire villages – along the way.
Whether they bathed in cruelty or justified it in the name of religion, empire, or revenge, these women were no strangers to ruthlessness. Let’s dive into ten of the most brutal females who ruled like tyrants, shocking even their contemporaries with their actions.
1. Olga of Kiev – The Queen of Fiery Revenge
Don’t let her sainthood fool you – Princess Olga of Kiev earned her reputation as one of history’s most merciless rulers long before the Church handed her a halo. After her husband Igor was killed by a local tribe, she launched a scorched-earth campaign that makes Game of Thrones look tame. First, she boiled the men responsible alive. Then she burned down entire villages, buried tribal leaders alive, and lured others into a “retreat” only to trap them in a bathhouse and set it ablaze. Her retribution wasn’t just strategic – it was sadistic. And yet, after all the carnage, she converted to Christianity and became a saint. Talk about a redemption arc with a body count.
2. Elizabeth Bathory – The Blood Countess of Transylvania
Born into nobility and darkness, Countess Elizabeth Bathory’s appetite for violence was as legendary as her lineage. Known for torturing and murdering hundreds of young women – most of them servants and peasants – she didn’t just kill for power. She killed for pleasure. Her own husband gifted her a torture chamber, a gesture that says a lot about their household dynamic. Bathory was rumored to nibble on the flesh of her victims while they were still alive, and allegedly forced at least one to cook and eat part of their own body. She was eventually convicted on 80 counts and sealed in her castle to die. It was perhaps the most mercy she ever received.
3. Empress Wu Zetian – China’s Iron-Fisted Matriarch
Wu Zetian stands as the only woman to rule China as emperor in her own right – and she didn’t get there by playing nice. Her reign was riddled with purges, political murders, and even the elimination of her own family members to secure her power. She reportedly had her own mother killed, and later ordered her grandchildren to take their own lives for criticizing her. Wu was ruthless, cunning, and utterly focused on dominance. Though undeniably a capable ruler, her legacy is stained with blood and betrayal at every turn.
4. Irene of Athens – The Byzantine Queen Who Blinded Her Son
Irene of Athens began her political career as a regent for her young son Constantine VI – but don’t mistake maternal instincts for mercy. She clung to power for nearly two decades, even after her son reached adulthood. When he eventually exiled her, Irene bided her time, launched a coup, and recaptured control. Her revenge? She had her own son’s eyes gouged out in the very room he was born. He didn’t survive the ordeal. Irene then ruled the empire alone until she herself was exiled. History might call her ambitious, but her actions scream cold-blooded.
5. Mary I of England – The Original Bloody Mary
Mary Tudor didn’t earn the nickname “Bloody Mary” for fun. When she ascended to the English throne in 1553, she brought with her a fervent Catholic zeal and a deep loathing for Protestant reformers. Over the course of her five-year reign, she ordered the execution of hundreds of Protestants, burning more than 300 at the stake. Her reign left a scorched imprint on England’s religious landscape and turned her into a figure of terror. While she sought to restore Catholicism, she instead became an enduring symbol of state-sponsored brutality.
6. Catherine the Great – Coup Leader Turned Empress
Catherine began as a minor German princess but quickly set her sights on ruling Russia. Married to the ineffective and unpopular Tsar Peter III, she joined forces with her lover, Count Grigory Orlov, and staged a military coup. Catherine didn’t just whisper from the shadows – she led an army of 14,000 men herself and seized power, eventually declaring herself Empress of Russia. After Peter’s “mysterious” death shortly after the coup, Catherine’s grip on power was sealed. Her rise wasn’t just calculated; it was ruthless and hands-on.
7. Agrippina the Younger – Empress, Mother, and Master Manipulator
Agrippina clawed her way into Roman power through manipulation, murder, and family ties that would make any modern therapist raise an eyebrow. She married her uncle, Emperor Claudius, after getting him to change Roman law to allow their union. Then he died suddenly – almost certainly by her hand. She co-ruled with her son Nero, until he grew tired of her control and exiled her. When she plotted to take back control, Nero retaliated by having her assassinated. Her ambition was relentless, but even the mother of a future emperor couldn’t escape the deadly consequences of Roman palace intrigue.
8. Queen Isabella of Spain – Architect of the Inquisition
Isabella’s reign alongside Ferdinand II saw the birth of one of history’s most infamous religious crackdowns: the Spanish Inquisition. Under her rule, Jews and Muslims were given a brutal ultimatum – convert to Catholicism or be exiled, tortured, or executed. She personally oversaw the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492, the same year she backed Columbus’s voyage to the New World. While history often remembers her as a pious monarch and a sponsor of exploration, her reign was also one of religious tyranny and forced conversions at swordpoint.
9. Queen Elizabeth I – A Different Queen, Same Brutality
Elizabeth I is often remembered as one of England’s most successful monarchs, but her reign wasn’t without its own dark chapters. After succeeding her half-sister Mary I, Elizabeth turned the tables on religious persecution by targeting Catholics. She abolished the Catholic Church in England and outlawed support for it. Property seizures, imprisonments, and executions became the norm for those who resisted. Her methods might have been cloaked in legality, but the reality was ruthless suppression, just with a different theological target.
10. Fredegund of Soissons – Queen of Poison and Plots
Fredegund’s path to power was littered with bloodshed. As queen consort of Soissons, she orchestrated the death of her husband’s previous wife and then ordered the assassination of her sister-in-law’s husband during a royal power struggle. This queen knew how to play dirty. Her rivalry with Queen Brunhilda led to years of royal vendettas and murders that rocked the Frankish kingdoms. Fredegund wielded poison, plots, and palace intrigue like a seasoned killer, turning family feuds into full-blown bloodbaths.
Deadly Rulers
These women weren’t figureheads or ceremonial monarchs – they were queens of consequence, queens of cruelty, and queens who knew exactly what they wanted. They schemed, ruled, and destroyed with precision, sometimes in the name of power, sometimes out of vengeance, and occasionally just because they could. History often softens the sharp edges of powerful women, but make no mistake – these rulers weren’t just strong. They were deadly.
Gary’s love for adventure and preparedness stems from his background as a former Army medic. Having served in remote locations around the world, he knows the importance of being ready for any situation, whether in the wilderness or urban environments. Gary’s practical medical expertise blends with his passion for outdoor survival, making him an expert in both emergency medical care and rugged, off-the-grid living. He writes to equip readers with the skills needed to stay safe and resilient in any scenario.