This is a list of current and former female monarchs regardless of title, including queens regnant, empresses regnant, pharaohs and monarchs by other titles (grand duchess, princess, etc.). Consorts, such as queens consort (i.e. spouses of male monarchs) are not included, see list of current consorts of sovereigns. Female regents are not included; see list of regents.
The following is an incomplete list of women monarchs who are well known from popular writings, although many ancient and poorly documented ruling monarchs (such as those from Africa and Oceania) are omitted. Section 1 lists monarchs who ruled in their own right, such as queens regnant. Section 2 lists legendary monarchs. Section 3 lists monarchs who ruled in their own right, but had no official legal recognition while in power. Section 4 lists various female rulers who were referred to with the title "Chieftainess". Regents, such as queens regent, are not monarchs and are not included here. The lists do include claimants and anti-rulers whose recognition among their subjects and legitimacy as monarchs are disputed.
Independent or autonomous monarchs
Africa
North Africa
Algeria Monarch PortraitOffice State Reign dates Length Cleopatra Selene IIQueenMauretania25–5 BC20 years Tin Hinan Queen Hoggar 4th century AD Unknown Dihya Queen Kingdom of the Aurès 668–703 AD 35 years
Canary Islands The Canary Islands are a Spanish territory in North Africa. Monarch Portrait Office State Start of reign End of reign Length Inés Peraza – Queen Lordship of the Canary Islands 1452 1477 25 years Isabella I of CastileQueenKingdom of the Canary Islands4 September 147926 November 1504Joanna of CastileQueen26 November 150412 April 1555Isabella II of SpainQueen29 September 183330 November 1833
Egypt The first verified female monarch of Egypt is Sobekneferu of the Twelfth dynasty. However, queens from earlier periods such as Neithhotep, Merneith and Khentkaus I held powerful positions and may have ruled Egypt in their own right, but the archaeological evidence is ambiguous. Monarch Portrait Office State Start of reign End of reign LengthRef.SobekneferuPharaohMiddle Kingdom of Egyptc. 1777 BCc. 1773 BC3 years, 10 months and 24 daysHatshepsutPharaohNew Kingdom of Egyptc. 1479 BCc. 1458 BCNeferneferuatenPharaohNew Kingdom of Egyptc. 1334 BCc. 1332 BC 2 yearsTwosretPharaohNew Kingdom of Egyptc. 1191 BCc. 1188 BC3 yearsArsinoe IIPharaoh(disputed)Ptolemaic Kingdom273 or 272 BC270 or 268 BC2–5 yearsBerenice IIPharaoh(disputed)Ptolemaic Kingdom246 BC221 BC25 yearsArsinoe IIIPharaoh(disputed)Ptolemaic Kingdom220 BC204 BC16 yearsCleopatra IPharaoh(disputed)Ptolemaic Kingdom193 BC176 BC17 yearsCleopatra IIPharaohPtolemaic Kingdom170 BC164 BC51 years (Total)Cleopatra II by Chris Bennett163 BC127 BC124 BC115 BCCleopatra IIIPharaohPtolemaic Kingdomc. 139 BC130 BCc. 35 years (Total)Cleopatra III by Chris Bennett127 BC101 BCBerenice IIIPharaohPtolemaic Kingdom101 BC88 BC14 years (Total)Berenice III by Chris Bennett81 BC80 BCCleopatra VPharaohPtolemaic Kingdom79 BC69 BC10 yearsCleopatra V by Chris BennettCleopatra VIPharaohPtolemaic Kingdom58 BC57 BC1 year.Berenice IV–PharaohPtolemaic Kingdom58 BC55 BC3 yearsCleopatra VIIPharaohPtolemaic Kingdom51 BC12 August 30 BC21 yearsArsinoe IVPharaoh(disputed)Ptolemaic KingdomDecember 48 BCJanuary 47 BC1 or 2 monthsArsinoe IV by Chris BennettZenobiaQueen(disputed)AegyptusOctober 270June 2721 year and 9 monthsShajar al-DurrSultanMamluk Sultanate2 May 125030 July 12503 months
Libya Monarch PortraitState Reign dates Length Berenice II Cyrenaica 258–246 BC 12 yearsCleopatra Selene IICyrenaica34–30 BC4 years
Sudan Monarch PortraitOfficeState Reign dates Length NahirqoKandakeKingdom of KushMid-2nd century BC–Unknown Queen–KandakeKingdom of KushEnd of 2nd–first half of 1st century BC–AmanirenasKandakeKingdom of KushEnd of 1st century BC–Beginning of 1st century AD–AmanishakhetoKandakeKingdom of KushEarly 1st century AD–Shanakdakhete–KandakeKingdom of KushFirst half of the 1st century AD–NawidemakKandakeKingdom of Kush–AmanitoreKandakeKingdom of KushMid-1st century AD–AmanikhatashanKandakeKingdom of KushMid-2nd century AD–AmanikhalikaKandakeKingdom of KushSecond half of the 2nd century AD–KandakeKingdom of KushFirst half of the 4th century AD–AmanipiladeKandakeKingdom of KushMid-4th century AD–Gaua–QueenDotawoAdam Simmons, 'A Short Note on Queen Gaua: A New Last Known Ruler of Dotawo (r. around 1520–6)?', Dotawo: A Journal of Nubian Studies (2023), .
West Africa
Benin Monarch Office State Reign dates Length HangbeQueen(disputed)Kingdom of Dahomey1716–17182 yearsHudeQueenHogbonu1746–17526 years
The Gambia Monarch Portrait Office State Reign dates Length Elizabeth IIQueenThe Gambia1965–19705 years
Ghana MonarchPortrait Office State Start of reign End of reign Length Dode Akaabi–Gã MantseGã1610163525 yearsAfrakoma–OhemmaaAkwamu1625164015 yearsAmoako Atta Yiadom–DenkyiraheneDenkyira1770179323 yearsNana Afia Dokuaa–OkyenheneAkyem Abuakwa1817183518 yearsAma Sewa–DwabenheneDwabenc. 1841c. 1845c. 4 yearsNana Juaben Serwaa II–DwabenheneDwaben195919634 yearsElizabeth IIQueenDominion of Ghana6 March 19571 July 1960
Guinea-Bissau Orango
Okinka Pampa (reigned 1910–1930)
Canhabaque
Idiana Ibop, also known as Juliana (reigned ?–1925)
Côte d'Ivoire Baoule
Pokou (reigned ) – Queen and founder of the Baoule tribe. Akwa Boni (reigned ) – Pokou's niece who succeeded her to the throne.
Liberia Famata Bendu Sandemani, queen of the Vai people (reigned ?–1892)
Mali Mali Empire
Kassi (reigned ?–1352/1353), co-ruler with Mansa Sulayman
Nigeria Akure Kingdom
Èyé Àró (reigned 1393–1419) Èyémọ̀ị́n (reigned 1705–1735) Amọ́robíòjò (reigned 1850–1851)
Arnado Debbo
Arnado Debbo has been ruled by women for about two and a half centuries (since 1770). Nyagangwu Sukbarub Nyagangwu Seuduu Nyagangwu Jubkuna Nyagangwu Shukji Nyagangwu Kuhube Nyagangwu Nyagyeb Nygangwu Nyabuu Nyagangwu Saante Nyagangwu Gan Ya Khantso Nyagangwu Nyasir Nyagangwu Wekangshi Nyagangwu Umma Toro Nyaganwu Astadukko Buba Nyagangwu Bintu Namda
Daura
The title "Kabara" was used by female monarchs who ruled over the Hausa people in the Middle Ages. A line of matriarchal monarchs is recorded in the Kano Chronicle that ends with the reign of Daurama in the 9th century. These queens reigned from to . Kufuru Ginu Yakumo Yakunya Wanzamu Yanbamu Gizir-gizir Inna-Gari Daurama Ga-Wata Shata Fatatuma Sai-Da-Mata Ja-Mata Ha-Mata Zama Sha-Wata Daurama II
Federation of Nigeria
Elizabeth II, Queen of Nigeria (reigned 1960–1963)
Ifẹ
Ooni Luwoo (reigned in the 10th century)
Igala Kingdom
Ebulejonu, also known as Ebule (reigned in the 16th century)
Igodomigodo
Emose (reigned 584–600) Orrorro (reigned 600–618)
Kumbwada
Kumbwada has been ruled by women for at least six successive generations. Magajiya Maimuna Hajiya Maimuna (reigned ?–1998) – grandmother of Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed (reigned 1998–2021) Idris (reigned 2021–present) – daughter of Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed
Ondo Kingdom
Pupupu, founder and ruler of the Ondo Kingdom .
Oyo Empire
Orompoto (reigned –1575) – Succeeded her brother Eguguojo to the throne.
Zazzau
Bakwa Turunku (reigned 1536–1539/1566) Amina (reigned 1576–1610) Zaria (reigned 1610–?) – she succeeded her sister Amina
Senegal Monarch Portrait Office State Start of reign End of reign Length Ref.Tegue Rella KhouriyayeLingeerWaaloUnknownc. 1800s—LingeerWaaloc. 1810s1820—Njembot MbodjLingeerWaalo1820184626 yearsNdaté Yalla MbodjLingeerWaalo184618559 yearsAyimpèneQueenc. 1907c. 1931c. 24 yearsSibeth (Sibet)QueenLate 1930s1976c. 37–39 years
Sierra Leone Monarch Portrait Office State Start of reign End of reign Length Ref.FatimaQueenKoya Temne1826184014 yearsMadam YokoQueenKpa Mende1878190628 yearsElizabeth IIQueenDominion of Sierra Leone1961197110 years
Central Africa
Angola Monarch Portrait Office State Start of reign End of reign LengthMussasa–QueenImbangala17th centuryUnknown–TembandumbaQueenImbangala17th centuryUnknown––QueenMatambaUnknown1631–Nzinga (Ana I)NgolaNdongo162416262 years165716636 yearsQueenMatamba1631166332 yearsBarbara–NgolaNdongo166316663 yearsQueenMatambaVerónica I–QueenMatamba1681172140 yearsAna II–QueenMatamba1742175614 yearsVerónica II–QueenMatamba175617582 yearsAna III–QueenMatamba175817679 yearsKamana–QueenJinga1767181043 years
Mbunda Kingdom
Vamwene Naama Vamwene Yamvu Vamwene Mbaao ya Chinguli (reigned in the 1500s–early 1600s) Vamwene Kaamba ka Mbaao Vamwene Mukenge wa Lweembe, Livindamo
Kingdom of Kongo
There were two female monarchs during Kongo Civil War. Ana Afonso de Leão, queen of Nkondo and matriarch of Kinlaza , queen of Luvota and matriarch of Kimpanzu
Luvale
or Nyakatolo is the hereditary queen of Luvale. Nyakatolo Kuvango (reigned in the 19th century) Nyakatolo Ngambo (reigned c. 1903 – 1914) Nyakatolo Kutemba (reigned c. 1918 – 1956) Nyakatolo Chissengo (reigned 1957 – 1992) (reigned 2004 – 2023) Anabela Ngambo Kaumba (reigned 2024 – present)
Cameroon Wou-Ten, founder of the Tikar dynasty (reigned c. 1299–?) Ngon-Nso, founder of the Nso dynasty (reigned late 14th century–c. 1421) Soukda, founder of the Mandara Kingdom (reigned ) Ngoungoure, queen of Bamum (reigned 1865) – her reign lasted 30 minutes
Chad Monarch Portrait Office State Start of reign End of reign Length Ref.Aissa Koli–MagiraKanem–Bornu Empire156315707 years
Congo-Kinshasa Monarch Portrait Office State Start of reign End of reign Length–QueenLunda Kingdomc. 1650c. 1670c. 20 yearsDiambi KabatusuilaQueenBakwa Luntu15 July 2017Incumbent
East Africa
Comoros Monarch Portrait Office State Start of reign End of reign LengthRef.Alimah I–SultanNdzuwaniUnknownc. 1590–Alimah II–SultanNdzuwanic. 1632c. 167644 yearsAlimah III–SultanNdzuwanic. 1676c. 171135 yearsWabedja–SultanItsandraUnknown1743c. 50 yearsAlimah IV–SultanNdzuwani178817924 yearsDjoumbé FatimaSultanMwali1842September 186523 years187418784 yearsSalima MachambaSultanMwali1888190921 years Other female sultans also ruled on the Comoros, but their reign dates are unknown: Monarch Office State Reign datesRef.Nyau wa FaumeSultanBambaoUnknownJa MhabaSultanBajinic. 1880sHadija bint AhmedSultanBajinic. 1880s
Ethiopia Monarch Portrait Office State Start of reign End of reign LengthZewdituEmpressEthiopian Empire27 September 19162 April 1930
Kenya Elizabeth II, Queen of Kenya (reigned 1963–1964) Mwana Mkisi, founder of Mombasa, founded in c. 900 AD Mwana Inali, ruler of Kitao on Manda Island – she was the ruler of Kitao when the Pate Sultan Omar (d. 1392/3) conquered Kitao, according to the Pate Chronicle Queen of Lamu, name unknown (reigned in the 16th century) – she was deposed by Bwana Bashira but was reinstated with the help of Portugal Mwana Mimi, ruler of the Pate Sultanate (reigned 1763–1773)
Madagascar Monarch Portrait Office State Start of reign End of reign LengthRef.Rangita–QueenVazimba1520153010 yearsRafohy–QueenVazimba1530154010 yearsBety–QueenBetsimisaraka1750176212 yearsAndrianaginarivo–QueenBoina Kingdom177717781 yearTombola–QueenBoina Kingdom17781778Less than 1 yearRavahiny–QueenBoina Kingdom1778180830 yearsRanavalona IQueenMerina Kingdom11 August 182816 August 1861Oantitsy–QueenBoina Kingdom183218364 yearsTsiomeko–QueenBoina Kingdom183618404 yearsRasoherinaQueenMerina Kingdom12 May 18631 April 1868Ranavalona IIQueenMerina Kingdom2 April 186813 July 1883Ranavalona IIIQueenMerina Kingdom30 July 188328 February 1897
Ambohidratrimo
Ravorombato
Menabe
Bibiasa
Bemihisatra
Safy Mozongo – Mother of Binao Binao – Daughter of Safy Mozongo
Bemazava
Irana Tsiresy I Tsiresy II
Antankarana
Ambary Soanaomby
Mauritius Monarch Portrait Office State Start of reign End of reign LengthElizabeth IIQueenMauritius1968199224 years
Mozambique Angoche Sultanate