Noblewomen

Caterina Sforza was an Italian noblewoman who served as a regent for her son Ottaviano, the Lord of Imola and Forlì. Caterina is among the few women who caught the attention of Italian Renaissance writer Niccolò Machiavelli who discussed her at length. In 2010, she became the subject of a historical novel titled Scarlet Contessa.

Better known as one of Lord Byron’s lovers, Lady Caroline Lamb met a 24-year-old Byron when she was 26, married, and has an autistic son with her husband, future British prime minister William Lamb. An author, too, she is known for her anonymously published Gothic novel Glenarvon.

Khutulun was a Mongol wrestler and noblewoman. The daughter of Kaidu, Khutulun is remembered for accompanying her father on his military campaigns. Khutulun finds mention in the writings of personalities like Rashid al-Din Hamadani and Marco Polo. 

Zahra Khanom Tadj es-Saltaneh was a princess, women's rights activist, feminist, and memoirist. A multi-talented personality, Taj al-Saltaneh acquired the status of a legendary figure among women while she was still active. The first woman to take off the hijab in court, Zahra organized underground women's rights meetings and led a women's rights march against the monarchy under her father.

Deborah Cavendish, the duchess of Devonshire, was the youngest of the popular Mitford sisters. An aristocrat and a socialite, she was one of the rare people who had met both Adolf Hitler and John Kennedy. She played a key role in commercializing Chatsworth Estate and also wrote books on it.

Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia had been raised as a refined young woman, well-versed in drawing, piano, and gymnastics. Daughter of Tsar Alexander III, Xenia was also fond of writing. Her diary mirrors her thoughts about various topical events. She also devoted herself to charity during World War I.

Aspasia was an Ancient Greek philosopher and rhetorician. One of the most influential women of her generation, Aspasia's salon was a famous intellectual center in Athens. Her salon was visited by prominent thinkers and writers, including Socrates. Her name finds mention in the works of important personalities like Xenophon, Aristophanes, and Plato.