English queens who ruled
English kings were a randy lot. there have been many more English queens than English kings. but England, like the U.S., is part of the great patriarchy, so in many cases we know next to nothing about the queens. even their extraordinary queens are left with a list of accomplishments, but no record of what they said or what they thought. it's just not our way. (in Egypt, there was one female Pharaoh in a string of hundreds of Pharaohs; after her death, her son went back and tried to chisel her out of the record of Pharaohs. that's the patriarchy.) nevertheless, we know that England has been ruled by eight different women. (I will list them; see below.) some have been outstanding; one was queen for nine days; one was a little crazy about morality, or at least about seeming to be moral; one was probably England's greatest ruler; and most I know less about than I'd like to. still, I appreciate them, an outstanding collection of women who managed to get around England's commitment to the patriarchy. brava for each of them!
queen born-died reigned
Matilda 1102-1167 1141
Jane Grey 1537-1554 1553 the nine-day queen
Mary I 1516-1558 1553-1558
Elizabeth I 1533-1603 1558-1603
Mary II 1662-1694 1689-1694
Anne 1665-1714 1707-1714
Victoria 1819-1901 1837-1901
Elizabeth II 1926- 1952-
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