lead·er [leeder] a person or thing that leads. ; a guiding or directing head, as of an army, movement, or political group.
Hongi Hika was a New Zealand Māori rangatira (chief) and war leader of the Ngāpuhi iwi. He was a pivotal figure in the period when Māori history emerged from myth and oral tradition and Pākehā began to settle rather than just visit.
Boudica, also known as Boadicea , and known in Welsh as Buddug was queen of the British Iceni tribe, a Celtic tribe who led an uprising against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire.
Osman I or Osman Gazi, sometimes transliterated in the past as Othman or Ottoman and nicknamed "Kara" , was the leader of the Ottoman Turks and the founder of the dynasty that established and ruled the Ottoman Empire.
Empress Meishō was the 109th Imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Meishō's reign spanned the years from 1629 to 1643. In the history of Japan, Meishō was the seventh of eight women to become empress regnant.
Dom Pedro II, nicknamed "the Magnanimous", was the second and lastruler of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. Historians have regarded the Emperor in an extremely positive light and several have ranked him as the greatest Brazilian.
Isabella I , also known as Isabella the Catholic, was queen of Castile and León. Isabella is known for completing the Reconquista, ordering conversion or exile of their Muslim and Jewish subjects and for supporting and financing Christopher Columbus' 1492 voyage that led to the opening of the "New World".
Qin Shi Huang, personal name Zheng, was the King of the state of Qin who conquered all other Warring States by and united China in 221 BC. He ruled until his death, which occurred in 210 BC despite an infamous search for an elixir of immortality.
Liliʻuokalani , born Lydia Liliʻu Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamakaʻeha, was the last monarch and only queen regnant of the Kingdom of Hawaii. She was also known as Lydia Kamakaʻeha Pākī, with the chosen royal name of Liliʻuokalani, and her married name was Lydia K. Dominis.
Ramesses II , also known as Ramesses the Great, was the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt. He is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire and his successors and later Egyptians called him the "Great Ancestor".
Margaret I was Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and founder of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian countries for over a century. She acted as queen regnant of Denmark, although in those days it was not the Danish custom for a woman to reign.
Sejong the Great was the fourth king of Joseon. Sejong reinforced Confucian policies and executed major legal amendments. He also oversaw the creation of Hangul, encouraged advancements of scientific technology, and instituted many other efforts to stabilize and improve prosperity.
Queen Anna Nzinga, also known as Ana de Sousa Nzinga Mbande, was a 17th century queen (muchino a muhatu) of the Ndongo and Matamba Kingdoms of the Mbundu people in Angola. Nzinga converted to Christianity, in order to strengthen the peace treaty with the Portuguese.
Shaka Senzangakhona, also known as Shaka, was one of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu Kingdom. Research continues into the character and methods of the Zulu warrior king, whose reign still greatly influences South African culture.
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. Her reign of 63 years and seven months, which is longer than that of any other British monarch and the longest of any female monarch in history, is known as the Victorian era.
Theodore "T.R." Roosevelt, Jr. was an American politician, author, naturalist, explorer, and historian who served as the 26th President of the United States. He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity.
Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi was a Javanese queen regnant and the third Majapahit monarch, reigning from 1328 to 1350. She appointed Gajah Mada as prime minister and pursued massive expansion of the empire.
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish landowner who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence. In August 1305 Wallace was captured in Robroyston near Glasgow and handed over to King Edward I of England, who had him hanged, drawn, and quartered for high treason and crimes against English civilians.
Wu Zetian was a Chinese sovereign, who ruled officially under the name of her self-proclaimed "Zhou dynasty", from 690 to 705. She was the only female emperor of China in more than 4,000 years. She is the only recorded woman to rule China in her own right.
