Woman Dictators

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Although I don't recall her holding power directly, to me, Imelda Marcos, wife and now widow of the former 10th president and dictator of the Philippines, fits the bill of dictator. By proxy.

[The United Colonies of Earth]

Although I don't recall her holding power directly, to me, Imelda Marcos, wife and now widow of the former 10th president and dictator of the Philippines, fits the bill of dictator. By proxy.

Dictators' wives since the time of Livia Drusilla and even earlier have been bitchy in their own right and if they had a stick and sack I'm sure they'd be as nasty as their husbands.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Although I don't recall her holding power directly, to me, Imelda Marcos, wife and now widow of the former 10th president and dictator of the Philippines, fits the bill of dictator. By proxy.

Dictators' wives since the time of Livia Drusilla and even earlier have been bitchy in their own right and if they had a stick and sack I'm sure they'd be as nasty as their husbands.

No doubt. I just can't really think of a female dictator off the top of my head. Would Mary Tudor fit that descriptor? Her 5 year reign has been described as terrible.

[The United Colonies of Earth]

Dictators' wives since the time of Livia Drusilla and even earlier have been bitchy in their own right and if they had a stick and sack I'm sure they'd be as nasty as their husbands.

No doubt. I just can't really think of a female dictator off the top of my head. Would Mary Tudor fit that descriptor? Her 5 year reign has been described as terrible.

I guess, if she had absolute power in name or in practice.

[Pope Joan]

Historically, there have been many female absolute monarchs (aka dictators) around the world

This drove Scots reformer John Knox livid with rage.

He penned a screed against "the diabolical reign of women' or something like that.

There was a deMedici queen on the throne of France at the time, and Mary and Elizabeth were trying to kill each other, and it was a bad time.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Historically, there have been many female absolute monarchs (aka dictators) around the world

This drove Scots reformer John Knox livid with rage.

He penned a screed against "the diabolical reign of women' or something like that.

There was a deMedici queen on the throne of France at the time, and Mary and Elizabeth were trying to kill each other, and it was a bad time.

You mean Queen Catherine de Medici?

[The United Colonies of Earth]

This drove Scots reformer John Knox livid with rage.

He penned a screed against "the diabolical reign of women' or something like that.

There was a deMedici queen on the throne of France at the time, and Mary and Elizabeth were trying to kill each other, and it was a bad time.

You mean Queen Catherine de Medici?

Aye aye.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

You mean Queen Catherine de Medici?

Aye aye.

Well, for what I recall of Catherine, she was kept out of state affairs by her husband, the king. After his death, she then was in charge of her frail son, Francis. She became regent after the death of Francis and then her 10 year old son becoming the heir, Charles. Charles too died and she kept regency for her third son, Henry. She has been called ruthless. But many scholars point out that her powers were limited.

I don't know, she was known for compromising, or being able to in the beginnning. She did that with the Calvinists. But since she failed to grasp the theology behind Calvinism, she became impatient and very vindictive. IIRC, wasn't she blamed for St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre?

[Tobleste]

I’m sure I’m not the only one with a fascination of dictators. Even as a staunch defender of democracy, the concept of them is interesting to me. The idealogy, the cult of personality, the idea that one strong force could try to use raw strength to rule a nation, the uniforms, the fancy titles. It’s all great
But one thing I’ve noticed is that many dictators happen to be of the male persuasion. So many, in fact, that on the top of my head I couldn’t name one woman dictator
And so I went and scoured the internet for any examples, and what I turned up was....Margaret Thatcher and Indira Ghandi. Now not being either British or Indian I frankly don’t really know much about their careers, so Im not sure I can really weigh in on that, except a quick Wikipedia read has me thinking Indira probably was. But well, let’s here what mighty NSG thinks.
First a definition
Dictator
a : a person granted absolute emergency power; especially, history : one appointed by the senate (see senate 1a) of ancient Rome
b : one holding complete autocratic control : a person with unlimited governmental power
c : one ruling in an absolute (see absolute 2) and often oppressive way

And with that I’d say we’re set, so NSG, we’re there any female dictators? Who? What about them makes them a dictator?

I'd say it's 2 main factors.

1. Dictators are most likely to take power is less lawful, poorer and more violent societies (e.g. Russia in 1917, France before Napoleon, Weimer Germany or 3rd world countries today). These societies are also the ones more likely to have backward views on women's role in society and the least likely to tolerate movements like feminism.

2. Dictators typically present themselves as strong figures who can defend the nation aggressively. Women are typically seen as being weaker. Even in 2016, Clinton was constantly accused of hiding some secret illness that made her too weak to be president despite Trump dodging the draft. This means voters desperately searching for a strong leader are more likely to back a man while powerful groups like the military are more likely to undermine and disrespect female leaders.

[Pope Joan]

Aye aye.

Well, for what I recall of Catherine, she was kept out of state affairs by her husband, the king. After his death, she then was in charge of her frail son, Francis. She became regent after the death of Francis and then her 10 year old son becoming the heir, Charles. Charles too died and she kept regency for her third son, Henry. She has been called ruthless. But many scholars point out that her powers were limited.

I don't know, she was known for compromising, or being able to in the beginnning. She did that with the Calvinists. But since she failed to grasp the theology behind Calvinism, she became impatient and very vindictive. IIRC, wasn't she blamed for St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre?

I think she enjoyed murder and torture.

By the editorial staff od Encyclopedia Britannica"
See Article History
Massacre of St. Bartholomew’s Day, massacre of French Huguenots (Protestants) in Paris on August 24/25, 1572, plotted by Catherine de Médicis and carried out by Roman Catholic nobles and other citizens.

[Pope Joan]

Here is the full text of The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regime of Women

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/9660/9660-h/9660-h.htm

There you can find the powerful woman leaders who upset him so.

[Petrasylvania]

Here is the full text of The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regime of Women

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/9660/9660-h/9660-h.htm

There you can find the powerful woman leaders who upset him so.

The title sounds like an MRM manifesto.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Well, for what I recall of Catherine, she was kept out of state affairs by her husband, the king. After his death, she then was in charge of her frail son, Francis. She became regent after the death of Francis and then her 10 year old son becoming the heir, Charles. Charles too died and she kept regency for her third son, Henry. She has been called ruthless. But many scholars point out that her powers were limited.

I don't know, she was known for compromising, or being able to in the beginnning. She did that with the Calvinists. But since she failed to grasp the theology behind Calvinism, she became impatient and very vindictive. IIRC, wasn't she blamed for St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre?

I think she enjoyed murder and torture.

By the editorial staff od Encyclopedia Britannica"
See Article History
Massacre of St. Bartholomew’s Day, massacre of French Huguenots (Protestants) in Paris on August 24/25, 1572, plotted by Catherine de Médicis and carried out by Roman Catholic nobles and other citizens.

I will admit my knowledge of Catherine's regency is limited but the info I have come across has never implied she ''enjoyed murder and torture''.

[Pope Joan]

I think she enjoyed murder and torture.

By the editorial staff od Encyclopedia Britannica"
See Article History
Massacre of St. Bartholomew’s Day, massacre of French Huguenots (Protestants) in Paris on August 24/25, 1572, plotted by Catherine de Médicis and carried out by Roman Catholic nobles and other citizens.

I will admit my knowledge of Catherine's regency is limited but the info I have come across has never implied she ''enjoyed murder and torture''.

The Christian underground of that time includes Mennonites, who kept track of the atrocities against the Huguenots. Some who could escape found their way to Switzerland, where The memory was also kept by followers of Calvin and also Zwingli.

[Longweather]

Empress Dowager Cixi?

I think Empress Wu Zetian is closer to the definition of a dictator than Express Dowager Cixi. Although Cixi definitely did autocratic things (such as -- reportedly -- ordering a royal consort to throw herself down the well), she did have a co-regrent for the vast majority of her reign (the Empress Dowager Ci'an).

Wu Zetian ruled in her own right as Empress Regent, horribly executed her opponents and apparently established her own secret police. That might meet the description for a dictator.

Cixi was regent for 47 years. Ci'an died 20 years into the regency. TIL that 20 years is the "vast majority" of 47 years...

Angela Merkel was democratically elected in Germany's 2005 national elections

Not to mention in 2009, 2013 and 2017.

Actually, Merkel wasn't elected in 2017, she was elected in March this year. She presided over a caretaker government for 6 months because she didn't have a coalition in the Bundestag to vote her in and didn't want to settle for a minority government.

[Neutraligon]

How about a few of the highly influential women behind the throne in China?

[Shrillland]

How about Ranavalona I, queen of Madagascar from 1828-1861?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranavalona_I

[Diopolis]

If I’m not much mistaken, Mao’s wife ruled in her own right after he died for a while. Eva Peron is possibly another example.

[Costa Fierro]

I'm not terribly familiar with Indira Gandhi, but it's plainly ridiculous to call Margaret Thatcher a dictator. She came to power by legitimate democratic means and lost power by legitimate democratic means.

Ghandi was fairly authoritarian. She implemented emergency laws in India that allowed her to arrest most of her opposition and also ruled by decree with virtually complete control over the country.

[Sovaal]

Dictators tend to use a very, extremist and traditional power structure, even among the far left dictators, to climb to the top, so Im not surprised that the majority of them have been male.

[United Muscovite Nations]

Dictators tend to use a very, extremist and traditional power structure, even among the far left dictators, to climb to the top, so Im not surprised that the majority of them have been male.

I would disagree that they use a traditional power structure. Most come to power through military or bureaucratic means.

[Oppermenia]

Dictators tend to use a very, extremist and traditional power structure, even among the far left dictators, to climb to the top, so Im not surprised that the majority of them have been male.

I would disagree that they use a traditional power structure. Most come to power through military or bureaucratic means.

*most*

[United Muscovite Nations]

I would disagree that they use a traditional power structure. Most come to power through military or bureaucratic means.

*most*

There are exceptions, yes, but how many dictators have come to power through tribal or feudal means?

[Sovaal]

Dictators tend to use a very, extremist and traditional power structure, even among the far left dictators, to climb to the top, so Im not surprised that the majority of them have been male.

I would disagree that they use a traditional power structure. Most come to power through military or bureaucratic means.

And I would argue that those are extremely traditional power strucutres, at least in modern society. Revolution and political turmoil are as old as civilisation it'self I would bet.

[United Muscovite Nations]

I would disagree that they use a traditional power structure. Most come to power through military or bureaucratic means.

And I would argue that those are extremely traditional power strucutres, at least in modern society. Revolution and political turmoil are as old as civilisation it'self I would bet.

That's not usually what we would refer to as traditional power structures, as they're both thoroughly modern.