Matilda’s Top Women In History

Beatrix Potter is one of the most beloved authors in English literature - Her ‘little books’ about rabbits, mice, hedgehogs and more have sold 250 million copies over the years. However she was more than just an artist and author. She was a diligent daughter, a loving wife, a nature lover, an amateur scientist, a farmer and a big supporter of the National Trust. She bought up land just so it could be saved from development, and thanks to her large parts of the beautiful Lake District have been preserved for future generations to enjoy.Sources:Dennison, Matthew: Over the Hills and Far Away - The Life of Beatrix PotterGristwood, Sarah: The Story of Beatrix PotterLanzendorfer, Joy: How Beatrix Potter Invented Character Merchandisinghttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-beatrix-potter-invented-character-merchandising-

Beatrix Potter is one of the most beloved authors in English literature - Her ‘little books’ about rabbits, mice, hedgehogs and more have sold 250 million copies over the years. However she was more than just an artist and author. She was a diligent daughter, a loving wife, a nature lover, an amateur scientist, a farmer and a big supporter of the National Trust. She bought up land just so it could be saved from development, and thanks to her large parts of the beautiful Lake District have been preserved for future generations to enjoy. Sources:Dennison, Matthew: Over the Hills and Far Away - The Life of Beatrix PotterGristwood, Sarah: The Story of Beatrix PotterLanzendorfer, Joy: How Beatrix Potter Invented Character Merchandisinghttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-beatrix-potter-invented-character-merchandising-180961979/

Ada Lovelace is considered the world’s first computer programmer, and was a mathematical genius with a sky-high IQ. Her mother was a highly capable and intelligent woman who ran her considerable empire with skill and attention to detail. Both were trailblazers in their different ways, defying 19th Century norms to live life on their own terms.Sources/Further ReadingBrand, Emily: The Fall of the House of ByronPierson, Joan: The Real Lady ByronSeymour, Miranda: In Byron’s Wake - The Turbulent Lives of Lord Byron’s wife and Daughter, Annabella Milbanke and Ada LovelaceWikipedia: Ada King, Countess of Lovelace https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_LovelaceWikipedia: Lady Byron https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_ByronGee, Sue: Lovelace 2.0 Test - An Alternative Turing Test https://www.i-programmer.info/news/105-artificial-intelligence/7999-lovelace-20-test-an-alternative-turing-test.html#google_vignette

Ada Lovelace is considered the world’s first computer programmer, and was a mathematical genius with a sky-high IQ. Her mother was a highly capable and intelligent woman who ran her considerable empire with skill and attention to detail. Both were trailblazers in their different ways, defying 19th Century norms to live life on their own terms.Sources/Further ReadingBrand, Emily: The Fall of the House of ByronPierson, Joan: The Real Lady ByronSeymour, Miranda: In Byron’s Wake - The Turbulent Lives of Lord Byron’s wife and Daughter, Annabella Milbanke and Ada LovelaceWikipedia: Ada King, Countess of Lovelace https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_LovelaceWikipedia: Lady Byron https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_ByronGee, Sue: Lovelace 2.0 Test - An Alternative Turing Test https://www.i-programmer.info/news/105-artificial-intelligence/7999-lovelace-20-test-an-alternative-turing-test.html#google_vignette

It’s a story straight out of a romance novel - the intelligent and plucky heroine who captures the heart of the handsome, notorious rake. For Annabella Milbanke however, the romance story quickly turned sour. Her marriage to Regency Englands most celebrated - and notorious - bachelor was a disaster, except for one thing - her clever daughter, Ada. Both women were highly intelligent and independent, and both challenged the social norms of their restrictive society.Sources/Further ReadingBrand, Emily: The Fall of the House of ByronPierson, Joan: The Real Lady ByronSeymour, Miranda: In Byron’s Wake - The Turbulent Lives of Lord Byron’s wife and Daughter, Annabella Milbanke and Ada LovelaceWikipedia: Ada King, Countess of Lovelace https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_LovelaceWikipedia: Lady Byron https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Byron

Livia Drusilla was born in a republic and died at the head of an empire. She worked alongside her husband Octavian to establish the Roman Empire, and remained at the very centre of Roman politics for 50 years. Her children and grandchildren inherited the imperial throne, and her grandson deified her. Livia was an integral part of her husbands image - she gave him a connection to the most important Roman dynasties and helped create the image of the perfect Roman family.Sources/Further ReadingGillespie, Caitlin C: Livia - Mother of RomeDe La Bedoyere, Guy: Domina - The Women Who Made Imperial RomeGaughan, Judy: Livia Drusilla https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/livia-drusillaNaples, Mary: Livia Drusilla - Mother of the Country or Evil Stepmother? https://femminaclassica.com/livia-drusilla-mother-of-the-country-or-evil-stepmother/Adler, Eric: Cassius Dio’s Livia and the Conspiracy of Cinna Magnus https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267193327_Cassius_Dio's_Livia_and_the_Conspiracy_of_Cinna_MagnusHistory and Archaeology Online: The Empress Livia https://historyandarchaeologyonline.com/the-empress-livia-/#google_vignette

Livia Drusilla was born in a republic and died at the head of an empire. She worked alongside her husband Octavian to establish the Roman Empire, and remained at the very centre of Roman politics for 50 years. Her children and grandchildren inherited the imperial throne, and her grandson deified her. Livia was an integral part of her husbands image - she gave him a connection to the most important Roman dynasties and helped create the image of the perfect Roman family. Sources/Further ReadingGillespie, Caitlin C: Livia - Mother of RomeDe La Bedoyere, Guy: Domina - The Women Who Made Imperial RomeGaughan, Judy: Livia Drusilla https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/livia-drusillaNaples, Mary: Livia Drusilla - Mother of the Country or Evil Stepmother? https://femminaclassica.com/livia-drusilla-mother-of-the-country-or-evil-stepmother/Adler, Eric: Cassius Dio’s Livia and the Conspiracy of Cinna Magnus https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267193327_Cassius_Dio's_Livia_and_the_Conspiracy_of_Cinna_MagnusHistory and Archaeology Online: The Empress Livia https://historyandarchaeologyonline.com/the-empress-livia-/#google_vignette

In 1536 Jane Boleyn lost everything - her husband, her family, her position at court. However bit by bit she rebuilt her career, and went on to serve 3 more of Henry VIIIs Queens, eventually becoming the closest confidant of his fifth Queen Katherine Howard. Once again however she would become embroiled in the marital affairs of the king, and this time there would be no second chances.Sources/Further Reading:Fox, Julia: Jane Boleyn, the True Story of the Infamous Lady RochfordWeir, Alison: The Lady In The Tower - The Fall of Anne BoleynWilkinson, Josephine: Katherine Howard - The Tragic Story of Henry VIIIs 5th QueenRussell, Gareth: Young and Damned and Fair - The Life and Tragedy of Katherine Howard at the Court of Henry VIIISmith, Lacey Baldwin: Anne Boleyn, the Queen of Controversy - a Biographical EssayBorman, Tracy: Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford: The Most Hated Woman in Tudor England? https://www.hrp.org.uk/blog/jane-boleyn-lady-rochford-the-most-hated-woman-in-tudor-england/Easton, Henrietta: Does Jane Boleyn Deserve Her Reputation As The Most Hated Woman at the Tudor Court? https://www.discoverbritain.com/history/icons/jane-boleyn/Ridgeway, Claire: Jane Boleyn - Did She Help Bring Down Anne Boleyn? The Anne Boleyn Files https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/?s=Jane+BoleynTomlins, Thomas Edlyne and Raithby, John: The statutes at large, of England and of Great Britain : from Magna Carta to the union of the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge00raitgoog/page/366/mode/2up