Reigning Ladies

Until Queen Beatrix's retirement in 2013, nearly one-half of Europe's contemporary reigning monarchs were women. Today, most of the European heirs are female: in Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, and Belgium. But it has not always been easy--or even possible--for a female to take power. In fact, none of the most recent ladies (Beatrix in The Netherlands, Margrethe in Denmark, and Elizabeth in The United Kingdom) would have become queen if she had had a brother.  On this page, I am cataloging the reigning ladies of Europe's monarchies. Long live the Queen!

REIGNING LADIES

ALBANIA
Joanna of Durazzo
Komnena of Valona
Rudina Balsic

ARMENIA
Isabella

AUSTRIA
Maria Theresa

BOSNIA
Jelena Gruba

BRAZIL
Maria I

BRITISH ISLES

Elfledda of Mercia

Elfwynn of Mercia

Matilda

Margaret Maid of Norway

Jane Grey

Mary I

Elizabeth I

Mary Queen of Scots

Mary II
Anne

Victoria

Elizabeth II

Byzantium
Irene of Athens
Zoe the Purple Born
Theodora

Cyprus
Charlotte

Denmark
Margaret I
Margrethe II

England

Empress Matilda

Lady Jane Grey

Mary I

Elizabeth I

Georgia
Tamar the Great
Rusudan

Great Britain

Mary II

Anne

Hungary
Mary of Anjou

Naples
Joanna I
Joanna II

Navarre
Joan I
Joan II
Catherine
Blanche I
Blanche II
Eleanor
Jeanne III

The Netherlands
Wilhelmina
Juliana
Beatrix

Poland
Jadwiga
Anna

Portugal
Maria I
Maria II

Russia
Irina Godunova
Catherine I
Anna
Elizabeth
Catherine II

Scotland

Margaret Maid of Norway

Mary Queen of Scots

Serbia
Maria Angelina

Sicily
Constance
Maria

Spain
Urraca of Castile
Berengaria of Castile
Petronilla of Aragon

Isabella of Castile

Juana la Loca
Isabella II

Sweden
Christina
Ulrika Eleanora

United Kingdom

Anne

Victoria 

Elizabeth II

REGENTS

Brazil
Isabel Princess Imperial
Maria Leopoldina of Austria

Denmark

Margaret Fredkulla

Agnes of Brandenburg
Philippa of England

Dorothea of Brandenburg

Marie of Hesse-Kassel

Norway
Ingeborg of Norway

Portugal
Leonor Teles de Menezes
Catherine of Austria
Luisa de Guzman
Mariana Victoria of Spain
Maria Anna of Austria

Russia
St. Olga of Kiev
Sophia

Sweden
Christina of Holstein-Gottrop
Philippa of England