These women were pirates, murderers, queens and sometimes misunderstood. These are thirteen women who did some very bad things and became famous, or should I say infamous, in the process. What is it about these women that is so fascinating? Why do we love to read about them?
1. Anne Bonny - Pirate a cross-dressing female pirate, lover of Mary Read (also a cross-dressing pirate) and mistress to "Calico Jack" Rackman. Was tried for Piracy in 1720 in the Bahamas. Was sentenced to be hanged, claimed to be pregnant to delay execution but escaped and disappeared into the history books.
2. Ching Shih - Pirate
terrorized the China Sea during the early 1900's. Commanded approximately 1800 ships and some 80,000 sailors. Married her lieutenant, who also happended to be her adoptive son, left pirating and opened a gambling hall in 1810. Little else is known about her life.
3. Empress Wu - only female ruler of China
overthrew Empress Wang, current wife of the Emperor by accusing her of murdering one of Wu's children and of witchcraft, so that Wu could then marry the Emperor. Wang was innocent of both crimes, Wu murdered her own child to usurp Wang. Wu murdered several of her own children ( 3 of her 4 sons) and many of her husbands relatives. She acted as regent to three of her sons, when they proved to be uncontrollable, she had them killed. When her last remaining son ascended to the throne, she ruled in his name, and eventually ruled in her own name. She was eventually overthrown by her own ministers and died a short time later of natural causes at the ripe age of 80.
4. Lizzie Borden - Spinster
accused of murdering her father and stepmother with a hatchet. She was later acquitted of the crimes, due in part to poor evidence, but also because people had a hard time believing a woman was capable of such a crime. History, however, will always remember her as a murderer and the subject of a nursery rhyme.
5. Catherine the Great - Empress of Russia
married Tsar Peter III, and promptly overthrew him, in a bloodless coup, with the help of her lovers. The Tsar survived for six months after the coup. She had numerous lovers, whom she always bestowed monetary gifts and titles upon. She effectively excluded her son Paul from court politics and eventually the succession, in favor of her grandson. She was known as a "knowledgeable"despot. Catherine ruled Russia for 34 years.
6. Mata Hari - spy
exotic dancer and courtesan who spied for Germany during WWI. She was known for her intense sensuality, and her ability to get high ranking Allied officials into bed. She was later tried for espionage and executed by firing squad.
7. Barbara Palmer - mistress
lover of King Charles II. While not a great beauty, there was something very enticing about her. She was in the habit of helping herself to the Privy Purse and living extravagantly. During the many years in which she was mistress to the king, she gave birth to 6 children, 5 of which Charles acknowledged. Was later "overthrown" as mistress in favor of an actress, a young and beautiful actress.
8. Katherine Howard - 5th wife of Henry VIII
was approximately 15-18 years old when she came to court as a lady-in-waiting for Anne of Cleves, 4th wife of Henry VIII. Married Henry, after some intense lobbying by her family, a very short time after the marriage to Anne was annulled. Was considered by many to be foolish and easily controlled. Had an affair with Thomas Culpeper,the favorite courtier to the King. They were found out and they were both tried and executed for adultery. Two short years after her marriage began, she was dead.
9. Tokyo Rose - radio propagandist
was the voice of the Japanese radio propaganda machine during WWII. Tokyo Rose was a generic name given to female radio personalities of Japanese propaganda radio. The name is most associated with Iva Toguri. Iva was American born, but went to Tokyo when her aunt became ill. She never renounced her American Citizenship, and was later tried for treason, and went to prison. She was pardoned by President Ford in 1977, his last act as President.
10. Mary Ann Cotton - serial killer
killed up to 20 people, mostly with arsenic, including three of her 4 husbands and 2 of her stepchildren, during the mid 1800's. Insured each husband and child, then killed them for the insurance money. After the death of her youngest stepchild, a county coroner had some suspicions about the little boys death. It was discovered, after the body was exhumed, that he did not die of natural causes. An inquiry was held and the deaths of her other husbands and stepchildren were discovered. She was eventually hanged for murder.
11. Mary Mallon - Typhoid Mary
was the first known "healthy carrier' of typhoid. She infected up to 47 people while working as a cook. She denied that she was a carrier and that she was making people ill. The Board of health quarantined her at least twice, and she died from pneumonia during her last quarantine. "Typhoid Mary" is now a moniker given to people who are carriers of a dangerous disease that refuse to take appropriate precautions.
12. Mary Stuart - Queen of Scots
was tried for treason for her part in at least 3 assassination attempts against her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. Was second in line to the succession after Elizabeth. She claimed she was innocent and that others acted without her knowledge, however papers were found in her possession that confirmed she had intimate knowledge of each plot.
13. Eva Braun - mistress
mistress to Adolf Hitler. She met him before he became Chancellor of Germany, and for a long time was considered his dirty little secret. Committed suicide in 1945, with Hitler, in an underground bunker.
These are just a few of the notorius women in history. Most had bad endings, but not all were guilty of the crimes for which they were accused. While fascinating, I would rather be a famous woman, one who didn't resort to sex or murder to get on in life. What are your thoughts? Are there other, more fascinating women that you like to read about?
Word of the Day: turpitude
remember this is a game...no cheating allowed. Find the meaning somewhere in the depths of your brain, make it up, the person closest (post answer in comments section) gets mentioned on my next post. Have fun.
Useless Information: What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laserbprinters all have in common? All were invented by women.
