Usually, when mentioning the cruelty of monarchs, only male names come to mind, but...
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But history knows facts about rulers whose names have become synonymous with fury and mercilessness.
This review features 5 women's historical figures, remembered for their cruel acts.
Duchess Olga
IN AND. Surikov. Princess Olga meets the body of Prince Igor.
Duchess Olga. Ruled Rus' in the 10th century. She is remembered for her categorical revenge on the Drevlyans for the death of her husband, Prince Igor.
After the murder of the prince, the Drevlyans sent matchmakers to her with a proposal for a future marriage with their prince Mal. The chronicle indicates that Princess Olga ordered the matchmakers, along with the boat on which they arrived, to be thrown into a hole and buried alive.
The vengeful widow did not stop there. She immediately asked me to send her best husbands Drevlyans, they willingly agreed. Upon arrival, the guests were invited to swim in the bathhouse, where everyone was burned.
Then the princess went to the place of her husband’s death in order to, according to custom, perform a funeral rite - a funeral feast. About 5 thousand drunk Drevlyans were killed.
And to complete her revenge after winning the battle with the Drevlyans, Olga, instead of tribute, asked the residents of Iskorosten for three doves and a sparrow from each yard. Having left the city, Olga gave the order to tie a piece of sulfur to each bird and release it. Of course, the birds returned home and the city burst into flames.
Bloody Mary (Mary I Tudor)
Queen of England Mary I Tudor.
Mary I Tudor History remembers it more as Bloody Mary. In England, not a single monument was erected to her, and the people of the country celebrated the day of her death as a national holiday.
The merciless queen was known as a fanatical Catholic fighting against Protestants. Maria mocked noble people she disliked with particular cruelty, cutting off their genitals and then forcing them to eat them. After this, the queen herself watched as the victims, tortured half to death, were burned at the stake.
During the reign of Bloody Mary, more than 3,000 clergy were deprived of their positions, and another 300 lost their lives at the stake. During the uprisings, people were tortured, beheaded, and burned. Many fled outside England. All the atrocities committed by Maria I stopped only with the onset of her death.
Chinese Empress Tsy Xi
Chinese Empress Ci Xi, who reigned for 50 years.
An intelligent, perspicacious and merciless woman was able to go from a low-ranking concubine to an empress. Tsy Xi. A 16-year-old girl weaved intrigues, bribed eunuchs and did not disdain anything in order to get into the chambers of the Chinese emperor.
After the birth of the heir (according to some versions, who was not even their son at all), Ci Xi immediately took the leading place in the harem, despite the fact that the ruler already had a wife. Over time, the woman strengthened her influence on the emperor and informally took part in the government of the country.
After his death, Ci Xi became regent. The woman brutally suppressed uprisings and pursued an aggressive policy towards neighboring and Western countries. Rumor has it that the empress had many young lovers, whom she ordered to kill after the nights spent. Over the course of 50 years of rule, this woman ruined the country and left only negative memories of herself.
Isabella of Castile - Queen Inquisitor
Isabella of Castile. 1490
She zealously supported the medieval struggle against heresy in the 15th century Isabella of Castile(ruler of Castile and Leon, which later became part of Spain).
During the years of her reign, the Queen-Inquisitor “gave the go-ahead” to the burning of more than 10,000 people and the torture of almost 100,000 more. As the ruler herself noted, all her deeds were committed in the name of faith, for which she was nicknamed Isabella the Catholic.
Landowner Daria Saltykova
Sadistic landowner Daria Saltykova.
Although this woman was not one of the rulers, the extent of the crimes she committed was enormous. landowner Daria Saltykova(Saltychikha) personally tortured to death several dozen serfs.
Having become a widow at the age of 26, Daria Nikolaevna received 600 serfs into her possessions. Soon she began to have fits of uncontrollable anger. The landowner often beat her maids with a log, allegedly for misconduct. In addition, Saltychikha starved people, burned their hair, and left them naked in the cold.
Numerous complaints from people about her atrocities had no response from the authorities, since the landowner generously paid off. Only when Catherine II ascended the throne was Saltykova’s case set in motion.
It was established that 138 peasants were tortured in her village, most of which the landowner killed herself. The empress changed her death sentence to eternal exile to the Ivanovo Convent. Did not enter the room where Daria Saltykova was placed sunlight, and she was not allowed to talk to anyone.
For the sake of women, those who were physically strong conquered territories (or in revenge for her), and those who possessed remarkable intelligence created beautiful creations. But history also remembers another aspect of a woman - an avenger, militant and cruel. Well, due to her own weakness (physical, of course), the woman’s resourceful mind always found opportunities and ways to complete her plans, even if it was illogical, scary and bloody. The recklessness of these persons is sometimes mentioned even in a nominal form. So, here are those 10 femme fatales who were not contemplating the world with a mysterious smile for God knows what reason.
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Cleopatra
The legendary last empress of Egypt is known for her power, attractiveness and cruelty. Cleopatra knew how to achieve what she wanted through intimate relationships. To become Caesar's mistress, she was brought to his chambers, wrapped in a Persian carpet, like an expensive gift. Later she became the mistress of Mark Antony, since only he had the money to support the army.
As his money dwindled and the wars continued, Cleopatra tried her best to save herself and her children. Preparing for the inevitable meeting with the enemy, she tried to find out which poison brought the fastest death so that she could use it against her enemies. She used prisoners for her experiments. The enemy was advancing, and Cleopatra's fear increased. When one of the commandants surrendered the fortress, Cleopatra mercilessly executed his wife and children.
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Maria I
Queen of England and Ireland, reigned from July 1553 until her death in 1558. Being committed to the Catholic faith, Queen Mary I was extremely unhappy with the presence of Protestants in her country. During the five years of her reign, she killed more than 280 Protestants, burning them in the center of London.
Raunchy Bettie Page
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Betty was an American pin-up model, and since the 1950s she has been called the "Queen of the Pin-Up" and the "Dark Angel". In addition to being one of the first Playboy models (and also Miss January 1955), Bettie Page was known for her sadomasochistic tendencies. At that time, this caused a storm of indignation among the public. Betty was the first model to pose in the S&M style and is considered to be the forerunner of the 1960s revolution. At the age of 56, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Bonnie Parker
Together with her lover Clyde, Bonnie made up a sensational criminal couple in the United States. They worked during the Great Depression in America. Bonnie herself may not have shot people during robberies, but thanks to this photo with a pistol in her hand and a cigar in her mouth, she caused a real flurry of indignation among the people. Back then it was simply unthinkable behavior for a woman. Not to mention the fact that Bonnie and Treasure were not officially described, and for people in those days this was an additional reason for gossip.
Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette
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Known simply as Colette, she was a French writer in the first half of the 20th century. Colette had many lovers - both men and women, including Mathilde de Morny, with whom she performed together at a show in Moulin Rouge. Their show was closed after they passionately kissed on stage. Later, among her many lovers was her adopted son Bretrand de Jouvenel, who was only 16 years old at the time of their affair, while she was well over 40.
Wallis Simpson
Wallis Simpson was an American who became the wife of the Duke of Vizdzor, former king Great Britain Edward VIII. This was her third marriage, and when she first began a relationship with Edward VIII, it caused a huge scandal. It is not appropriate for the heir to the throne to marry a woman from another country, and even a twice divorced one. But an even greater shock came when Edward VIII abdicated the throne of Great Britain to marry Wallis. Later, when the war began, she was suspected of being a Nazi sympathizer. However, so did her husband.
Joanna Hiffernan
Irishwoman Joanna was a model and muse for many creative people of the 19th century. For that time, her unofficial relationship with the American artist James Whistler was already a reason for gossip and indignation. But the real shock came when she began posing nude for James's friend, the French artist Gustave Courbet. It is also believed that Joanna served as a model for Courbet’s extremely scandalous painting “The Origin of the World” (“L”Origine du monde”), which even today causes a lot of gossip.
Louise Casati
Luisa Casati was considered a muse and patroness of the fine arts in Italy. She inspired writers, artists, fashion designers and film directors. She walked with cheetahs on a leash, while wearing a fur coat right over her naked body. She wore snakes like necklaces. She threw crazy parties with naked waiters covered in gold powder. More than 130 portraits of her were painted during Louise's life; she inspired Jean Cocteau, Jack Kerouac and Pablo Picasso. As she herself often said: “I want to become a living work of art,” and she undoubtedly achieved her goal.
Lady Godiva
Godiva was a countess in the 11th century who became famous after she rode naked through the streets of the city. According to legend, Lady Godiva sympathized with the common people oppressed by the exorbitant taxes that her husband imposed on them. One day, while drunk at a party, he said that he could cut taxes, but only if she drove naked through the city. He was sure that conscience and shame would never allow her to do this. However, she actually did it. All she could cover herself with during this procession were her long hair. According to legend, the city's residents were imbued with Godiva's dedication and on the appointed day they sat at home with the shutters closed so as not to embarrass the countess.
Evelyn Nesbit
Evelyn Nesbit was an actress and model for artists and photographers. She was a very attractive woman, but in people's memory she remained not as a beauty, but as an accomplice to a murderer. She began an affair with 47-year-old Standord White when she was just 16 years old. And she married someone else, Garry Thaw, a drug addict prone to violence. One day, out of jealousy, Harry killed Stanford - he shot him three times in the face. The case of this murder was dealt with for a long time and scandalously: it was revised twice, Evelyn Nesbit changed her testimony several times, and as a result, Garry was declared insane at the time of the murder and remained unpunished.
Famous women in the history of the world who managed to achieve fame,
power or outstanding success in any area of human life, a lot.
Given the nature of patriarchal society over the last ten thousand years, this is no small feat. Many women managed to influence the course of world history no less than men.
The names of these women are known to everyone. There are legends about them, books are written about them and films are made about them. And all because their strong spirit, beauty, and extraordinary courage helped them rise above the boring generally accepted rules in a world dominated by men.
Since there were many such women, it is difficult to determine who are the most famous in history. These are women who were truly famous because most people had heard of them. They got either high degree political power, either had a significant impact on society to the extent that they were able to change the perception of the world and shape policy, or made great scientific discoveries and inventions, etc.
Of course, there are many more worthy women who are not represented on this list.
1. Olympics - the mother of Alexander the Great influenced the course historical events much more than the great Aristotle. She gave birth to Alexander and raised his character. The future legendary commander absorbed the Greek worldview with his mother's milk. The Olympics found him teachers who trained his body, teachers (including Aristotle) who sharpened his mind, and, finally, friends who became his associates.
2. Cleopatra was the last independent ruler of Egypt before the Roman conquest by Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. She is still one of the most sought-after images in art. All because of the image of the femme fatale that she undoubtedly was. Cleopatra gave birth to a son from Caesar, and two sons and a daughter from Anthony.
3. Anna Yaroslavovna, daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, was a French queen. It is believed that it was she who brought the Reims Gospel to France, on which French kings swore allegiance since the 16th century, mistaking the Cyrillic alphabet for the “letter of angels.”
4. Princess Olga - mother of Svyatoslav and creator of the core of Russian civilization. She ruled Russia for her son, she guided him in great deeds. Olga's wisdom was so great that she did not allow her son's heroism to deplete the human and economic resources of Rus'. Olga gave just enough from the reserve so that daring campaigns would benefit society and the state. Princess Olga is one of those who is remembered in conversations about the great women of the Russian land.
5. Catherine II contributed to a significant expansion of the territory of Russia: Russia gained a foothold in the Black Sea, Crimea became Russian, Russia also “grew” into Western lands after three Polish partitions. Catherine was a German on the Russian throne, she maintained close contacts with Europe and corresponded with the smartest people of its time.
6.Jane Gray is the most legendary English queen. She reigned for only 9 days, which is why she is called the “Queen of Nine Days.” But, despite such a short period of reign, Jane Gray remained in history. For the Protestants persecuted by Mary, Jane was a martyr, the first victim of the English Counter-Reformation. Under Queen Elizabeth, Jane's story became firmly established in the circle of spiritual reading, "high" secular literature and folk tradition.
7.Englishwoman Ada Lovelace, daughter of the great poet George Byron, is best known for creating a description computer, the design of which was developed by Charles Babbage. She wrote the world's first program (for this machine) and is considered the first programmer in history.
8. Queen Victoria of England is the “grandmother of Europe” - that’s what her contemporaries called her because of her connections with the royal families of Europe. The Victorian era is about inventions, technological revolution, and the development of gentlemanship. Victoria's reign radically changed both the British and the whole world. In matters of politics, despite the image of a quiet “family monarch,” Victoria was firm. Thus, she believed that England’s colonialist policy brought only good. In justifying the Boer and Anglo-Afghan wars, she said, “It is not our custom to annex countries unless we are obliged and forced to do so.”
9. Queen Isabella of Castile was immediately related to three epoch-making events of her time. The year 1492 can be called “the year of Isabella of Castile.” This year, three grandiose events occurred in which the queen was personally involved: the capture of Granada, which marked the end of the Reconquista, patronage of Columbus and his discovery of America, as well as the expulsion of Jews and Moors from Spain.
10. According to historians, Catherine de Medici was not a ruler, but a woman on the throne. Its main weapon was dynastic marriages, none of which, however, were successful. She was the main trendsetter of the French court, but Catherine de Medici went down in history as the “Black Queen,” a poisoner, child killer and instigator St. Bartholomew's Night. Despite Catherine's terrible reputation, she was very naive in political matters.
11. Margaret Thatcher verbally stated more than once that she was interested in ending Cold War, but the facts indicate that it only aggravated the situation. Margaret Thatcher, this " The Iron Lady“took a pro-American position, lobbied for the deployment of American missiles in Great Britain and Europe, actively increased Britain’s nuclear potential and even started the Falklands War.
12. Queen Elizabeth 1 went down in history as the “Virgin Queen”. Although Ivan the Terrible himself wooed Queen Elizabeth 1 of England, the matter did not come to a wedding, and no one did. She herself repeated more than once that she was married “to England.” Her marriage would change the balance of power in Europe, and she knew this, maintaining her balance. Even with her death, Elizabeth brought benefits to England - by declaring the Scottish king James VI as the heir, she united the two states. Scotland finally became dependent on England.
13. Wu Zetian took the male title of “emperor” (Huangdi) and was formally the only woman for the entire four years thousand-year history China, which had the supreme title. She ruled China for forty years, from 665 until her death. The period of her reign was marked by the widespread expansion of China, the invasion of Central Asia and Korea. At the same time, culture began to develop rapidly in the country, religions Taoism and Buddhism came under the protection of the state.
14. Esther is one of the great women in the history of the world who accomplished a kind of feat. When the financial and military elites came together in a struggle for power in ancient Persia, Esther spoke out for the financial side, most of which consisted of Jews of the same blood. Then the scales tipped in their favor, and the Jews won the desired victory. No one was worthy of the memory of the entire Jewish people that Esther received. But she was just the wife of the king of Persia. But she had such an influence on his decisions that the outcome of the battle was predetermined. It is in honor of Esther that Jews around the world have been celebrating Purim for more than 3 thousand years. Her name is inscribed in the Bible and only because of this has it survived to this day.
15.Elizabeth II is called a woman “with a soft heart, but an iron character.” During the war, she voluntarily enlisted in self-defense units and became the only queen to pass military service. She is currently the longest reigning monarch in British history.
16. Mary Tudor was an English princess and a French queen, although only for 3 months. The marriage to Louis XII was supposed to confirm the peace treaty between France and England, but the king, who was 34 years older than the bride, soon died. Then Mary achieved marriage with the Duke of Suffolk, from whom she gave birth to 4 children. Mary was hostile to Anne Boleyn, which became the reason for Elizabeth I's coldness towards all descendants of Mary Tudor.
17. Queen Anne was the first monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, which included Scotland and Ireland. She took part in the struggle for the Spanish inheritance, and thanks to her efforts the Peace of Utrecht was signed. Queen Anne supported the Tories in Parliament.
18.Only after ascending the throne, Tamara immediately removed from power the rulers who abused her, she eased the lot of the peasants and established internal peace. But then the young ruler switched to offensive tactics. She conquered parts of modern Turkey, Syria, Iran and Persia. Queen Tamara spread Christianity and many temples were built for her. After her death, Tamara was canonized as an Orthodox saint.
19. The French Queen Eugenie was considered a trendsetter in European fashion, but she not only attended social events, but also influenced politics. During the absence of her husband, she actually acted as regent. A devout Catholic, she adhered to ultra-Montana beliefs and did not approve of the Risorgimento and the weakening of papal power. It is believed that it was Eugenia who influenced her husband’s decision to get involved in the Mexican adventure. She also became an indirect culprit of the Franco-Prussian War.
20. During her reign, Marie Antoinette became an example of a “thoughtless” monarch who spent state money on her own entertainment. Marie Antoinette married the future king when she was 14 years old. It is she who is credited with the phrase “If they don’t have bread, let them eat cake!” However, during the capture of the Tuileries Palace by revolutionaries, she remained calm.
21. Queen Min was, according to historians, a talented diplomat and tactician. She secretly ruled the country for 20 years in place of her husband. Queen Min skillfully maintained balance in the country at the time of its “opening” to the West, preventing new allies from depriving Korea of independence. Queen Min changed her policy from “pro-Japanese” to “pro-Russian”, this was the reason for her death at the hands of Japanese mercenaries.
22. Maria Sklodowska – Curie - physicist, chemist, teacher and public figure. Was awarded twice Nobel Prize. Together with her husband she studied radioactivity and together with him discovered the elements radium and polonium.
23. Anne Boleyn was a femme fatale. She managed to force the English king to break off relations with the Pope and become the head of the new, Anglican Church. The king declared his previous marriage to Catherine of Aragon invalid. So Anne Boleyn achieved her goal - she became the wife of Henry VIII and the Queen of England.
24. It was on the night of the wedding of Margaret and Henry of Navarre that the terrible St. Bartholomew's massacre took place. It's on long years determined both the development of events in the royal family and the relationship of the spouses. Even after her divorce from Henry IV, Queen Margot remained a member royal family with the title of queen. She, as the last Valois, was perceived as the only legitimate heir to the royal house.
25. The story of Empress Cixi is amazing. As a concubine of the fifth, lowest rank, she was able to become the Empress of China. And by the end of her life, the full official title of Empress Cixi was called: Merciful, Happy, Beneficent, Merciful, Main.
photo from the Internet
In this article we will talk about the most famous adventurers in history, about the women who, in one way or another, created this very history. Today these women are admired, but then, in their time, it was better not to get involved with them, since such an acquaintance did not promise anything good. Great women deceivers, with a devil in their heads, who manipulated the most famous and richest people, and sometimes even entire countries. Women robbers who were not afraid of anything, neither God nor the devil. Famous swindlers included in world history. This story will be about these reckless, sweet creatures...
The most insidious women in history. Woe to those who stood in their way...
Sonka the Goldhand
Sofya Ivanovna Bluvshtein, nee Sheindlya-Sura Leibovna Solomoniak, was born in 1846 in the small town of Powonzki, Warsaw district. Sheindley spent his childhood among merchants who bought stolen goods - profiteers, moneylenders and smugglers. In the criminal field, Sophia declared herself quite early. There are known petty thefts when she was 13 - 14 years old.
Sofya Bluvshtein did not receive an education, but a life full of adventures and dangers turned this person into one of the most educated women of her era. She spoke German without difficulty and French. Aristocrats of Russia and European countries they took her for a society lady. For this reason, she traveled around Europe without much difficulty and presented herself as a baroness, a countess, or a viscountess... No one doubted her belonging to the aristocracy.
There are known cases where Sonya showed nobility towards poor people who suffered from her actions.
In November 1885, the Golden Hand was nevertheless caught in several thefts of jewelry worth a large amount. She was guarded by the most trained guards. The Bluvshtein case caused a great stir in Russia. The hall where the court hearing was held could not accommodate everyone. The sentence was strict - hard labor. Sending to Sakhalin.
On Sakhalin, Sonya’s criminal talent did not allow her to live without a “case.” She rallied notorious thugs around her and began planning criminal operations against wealthy settlers.
In May 1891, Sonya Zolotaya Ruchka escapes. This escape became legendary in its own way. The disappearance of the Golden Hand was noticed immediately. Two squads of soldiers were sent in pursuit. One squad chased the fugitive through the forest, the other was waiting for her at the edge of the forest. The chase continued for several days. A figure in a soldier's dress ran out of the forest to the edge of the forest. The detachment commander, tormented by anticipation, commanded “Fire.” But the figure fell to the ground a moment before the shots were fired. It was Sonya the Golden Hand dressed as a soldier.
Legend has it that Sonya the Golden Hand died at an old age. She was buried in Moscow at the Vagankovskoe cemetery, plot No. 1. After her death, legend says, with the money of Odessa, Neapolitan and London scammers, a monument was ordered from Milanese architects and delivered to Russia.
Mata Hari
Mata Hari, an exotic dancer and courtesan of Dutch origin, became famous throughout the world for her espionage activities during the First World War.
The girl's father worked at a hat factory. The girl's childhood began relatively happily. When Greta was 10 years old, her mother died. The father soon went bankrupt, and the girl was taken into custody by her uncle, who lived in The Hague. The future dancer studied well. She even entered the teacher training college in Leiden.
However, she couldn't wait to become more mature and break away from her family's care. In one newspaper she read a marriage advertisement, which said that the captain of the colonial Dutch army, Rudolf MacLeod, was looking for a life partner. Margaretha dared to write him a letter. She's lucky. She married him.
They lived in Holland for about two years. The couple had a son, Norman. In 1897 they moved to Indonesia to the island of Java. There was little entertainment or work in the colony. Out of boredom, Margaret decided to have affairs with soldiers. This caused attacks of wild jealousy in my husband. He drank a lot and beat his wife. In Sumatra, Margaretha fell in love with the dances performed by the temple dancers. In 1902 the McLeods returned to Holland. Very soon they divorced.
Mata Hari met Emile-Etienne Rimet, who helped her make her debut
Margareta was left without money and without education. She went to Paris. Just at that time, Isadora Duncan was touring in Paris. Her performance pushed Margaret onto the path of a dancer. Soon Mata Hari met the owner of the Museum of Oriental Art, Emile-Etienne Guimet. It was he who helped Margareta make her debut. She performed as a dancer South-East Asia. It was an unusual, exciting and exotic sight.
In addition to the pseudonym, she came up with a corresponding biography for herself. She claimed that she was given birth to by a fourteen-year-old Indian temple dancer who died in childbirth. Mata Hari was allegedly sheltered by the priests of this temple.
When it came to relationships with men, Mata Hari became incredibly decisive. According to one source, in the spring of 1916, Mata was asked to find out any information about affairs in France when she was on tour there. This business should have paid well. The German consul himself proposed. She was arrested by French authorities in 1917. She admitted that the information she gave to the Germans was of no value.
French counterintelligence had a serious dossier on Mata Hari. According to many testimonies, she was indeed a German agent. However, there is no exact evidence of her guilt, and did not exist. There was only circumstantial evidence. Mata Hari herself claimed that in occupied Belgium she worked for French intelligence. She was going to recruit Ernest-Augustus himself. Indeed, she negotiated with him, according to British intelligence. It lasted two days trial. She was shot near Paris in October 1917. She is still considered a mysterious, seductive and great woman.
Maria Tarnovskaya
Aristocrat, daughter of Earl O'Rourke, who was related to the Stuart kings. She always went over her head and was pathologically cruel to her lovers: her 22-year-old admirer Vladimir Stahl committed suicide near the Kyiv anatomical theater after a night with the fatal beauty. Someone will reasonably note: you never know what could have occurred to a person, especially since the time was appropriate: men fight duels, ladies faint. But here everything was much more sophisticated: Maria Nikolaevna set a condition for young Stahl - immediately after the night with her, he had to commit suicide, having previously insured his life for 50 thousand rubles in her favor. Vladimir swore this on the grave of Tarnovskaya’s mother and kept his promise.
“The King of Russian Poets” Igor Severyanin dedicated the Tarnovsky sonnet
But this was far from the only nightmare episode; she did all sorts of things: she extinguished cigarettes in the hands of her lovers, and forced them to tattoo her name, and pushed their foreheads against their previous lovers... “The King of Russian Poets” Igor Severyanin dedicated a sonnet to her; there Tarnovskaya appears in a multi-layered image of “a dove, a cat, a snake and a romance.
At first, she squandered the money of her lover Donat Prilukov, a once talented lawyer and exemplary family man, in South Palmyra, but as soon as the funds ran out, Maria Nikolaevna came up with a new criminal plan. A wealthy widower, Count Komarovsky, came into her field of vision, who, of course, could not resist Tarnovskaya’s charms.
To his misfortune, Count Komarovsky introduced Maria Nikolaevna to his friend, the provincial secretary Nikolai Naumov, who became another link in the criminal chain. Tarnovskaya forced the 23-year-old boy to become the killer of his older comrade: of course, because 500 thousand rubles were at stake. Maria Nikolaevna, as always, hoped to get away with it, but that was not the case: the unfortunate killer told the police the true motives of the crime. Tarnovskaya, Prilukov and the Swiss Elisa Perrier, privy to the essence of the matter, ended up in the dock. There was a jury trial, more like a theatrical performance. But the jury was deaf to Tarnovskaya’s complaints: she was sentenced to 8 years of correctional labor in the salt mines. ABOUT future fate Not much is known about the insidious adventuress: they say that a millionaire fell in love with her and took her to America.
Jeanne Lamothe
She was born into a poor family, but in her youth she was pretty. This, combined with rumors about her high origins, helped Jeanne get married successfully. The Countess de la Motte was introduced into high society, became the mistress of Cardinal Louis de Rohan and was considered close friend Queen Marie Antoinette; Apparently, the degree of friendship with the queen (Marie Antoinette herself later claimed that she was not familiar with de la Motte at all) was greatly exaggerated by the countess herself and served her and her lover as a means to carry out various fraudulent transactions. She also participated in the enterprises of the famous adventurer Cagliostro.
For two years, from 1784 to 1786, she attracted the attention of the entire European society as the sad heroine of the famous “case of the necklace” (affaire du collier; see Queen's Necklace).
Sentenced to life imprisonment, she escaped from prison (some suspected with the Queen's help) and published in London her exculpatory memoirs, as well as a pamphlet directed against the Queen and senior court officials, entitled "Vie de Jeanne de Saint-Rémy, de Valois, comtesse de la Motte etc., écrite par elle-même" (“The life of Jeanne de Saint-Rémy, de Valois, Countess de la Motte, etc., described by herself”). This pamphlet (the factual side of which is extremely doubtful) had a great influence on the attitude towards the queen during the revolution.
It is generally accepted that Countess de la Motte did not live to see the trial and execution of Marie Antoinette. As stated in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron, in 1791 in London, in a fit of insanity (she mistook her husband, who was knocking on the door of her creditor, for an agent of the French government), she jumped out of the window and died a few days later. Subsequently, several impostors posed as Countess de la Motte.
In 1983, Nikolai Samvelyan published an art-historical investigation, “Seven Errors, Including the Author’s Error,” in which, with reference to various historical documents, he put forward the version that the death of Countess de la Motte was falsified, and she herself subsequently remarried, becoming Countess de Gachet.
In 1812, just before Napoleon’s invasion, she appeared in Russia and, at the age of 56, accepted Russian citizenship for some secret services provided to Russian diplomacy. Until 1824 she lived in St. Petersburg, where she maintained acquaintance with many aristocratic families. In 1824, Emperor Alexander I became aware of de Gachet’s stay in the capital through the chambermaid of Empress Elizabeth Alekseevna, a certain Mrs. Birch. Alexander I invited de Gachet to the palace, and after a conversation she was soon exiled to Crimea along with Baroness Julia Krudener and Countess A. S. Golitsyna. Here de Gachey died in May 1826 in Old Crimea.
Ninon de Lanclos
Born in 1616, Anne de Lenclos belonged to a respected and wealthy noble family. She received an excellent education, was distinguished by her sharp mind and grace, noble pale face and delightful forms, sang beautifully, played the lute soulfully, wrote touching poetry, and danced excellently.
The young beauty's father died when she was barely fifteen, and her mother soon followed him. At the age of sixteen, Ninon, who became the owner great fortune, was left to her own devices. She managed her capital wisely: she turned the money into a life annuity, and conducted her affairs so economically that she managed not only to live in luxury, but also to help her friends in need. And Ninon had plenty of them...
History, which has preserved the names of great rulers, statesmen, philosophers and generals, has not forgotten one of the brilliant galaxy of courtesans: Madame Lanclos. Compilers of the Chronicles of the King's Time Louis XIV testified: her living room in Paris attracted many worthy husbands and famous writers.
In 1664, in her salon, Moliere read his Tartuffe for the first time, causing warm applause. Ninon applauded louder than anyone, meeting her own reasoning in every scene, perfectly captured by the brilliant comedian. In general, Moliere often featured it in his plays. The charming Celimene in The Misanthrope is none other than the “queen of courtesans.”
Ninon's sublimely friendly relations with writers did not at all prevent her from giving completely earthly love to titled admirers like Marshal d'Estrées, Marquis Villarso, Prince of Condé. The wives of her patrons, without hiding their hatred of Ninon, asked Anna of Austria to force the loving girl to enter a monastery.
She still got to court, but much later. A regular participant in literary meetings in her living room, the poet Scarron, paralyzed, married the charming orphan Françoise d'Aubigné, who years later, after the death of her husband, was destined to become the Marchioness of Maintenon - the mistress and then the secret wife of Louis XIV.
Having won a position in the Palace of Versailles, the Marquise introduced her old friend to Louis. The king, nicknamed “the old goat,” decided to court her.
...The years did not have a destructive effect on Ninon. At fifty she was as fresh and beautiful as at twenty-five...
In 1671, Ninon experienced what is believed to be the first and only real tragedy of her life. Few people knew that twenty years ago she gave birth to a son, whose father, according to some sources, was Marshal d'Estrées, and according to others, a completely different admirer, a certain Marquis. However, this was not the only one of the courtesan’s children, whose fate she did not want to know about for many years... he was content with a modest fortune, which allowed him not to live in poverty.
But one day Ninon remembered him, and the young man’s teacher brought his ward to Madame Lanclos. And what inevitably had to happen happened - de Villiers fell in love with the mistress of the house! He did not suffer from shyness and one evening he behaved as, in his opinion, a man should behave alone with a charming woman. The ending turned out to be tragic: Ninon, hoping to reason with the young man, told him who he really was to her. De Villiers ran out of the room. In the morning he was found lifeless in the park - he pierced his heart with a sword (according to other sources, he hanged himself)…
Ninon observed mourning for two years, then she calmed down and lived for many more years without changing her basic habits. She died at the age of ninety in her small house on the Rue Tournelle.
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The femme fatale, whose beauty can cause men to destroy countries, is a theme that is more popular today than ever before. The image of mysterious, seductive femininity seeks its own path, regardless of the consequences, and has captivated people for thousands of years.
Be it a goddess or an ordinary one mortal woman, men will fight, die and tear empires apart because of her, then blame her for everything, and often burn her at the stake. The almost supernatural skill with which she captivates her victim causes men to describe her in different ways, for some she is a demon, a witch, and for others even a vampire.
10. Helen of TroyThis legendary Spartan beauty is said to have been born after the god Zeus, taking the form of a swan, descended from Olympus to seduce her mother Leda. At the age of 10, she was kidnapped by Theseus, but her brothers came to the rescue and saved Helen. Tyndareus, her earthly father, forced each of her princely suitors to swear fidelity to the man he chose to be her husband - Menelaus.
When Paris, Prince of Troy, kidnapped her, all the oath-bound princes went to war in support of Menelaus. The princes and their armies besieged Troy for 10 years until Helen was freed and returned to Menelaus. After an attempt on her life, the god Apollo took her to Olympus, where she became immortal.
9. Jezebel SpiritThis daughter of the Phoenician priest-king Ethbaal married the Jewish king Ahab and convinced him to renounce the Jewish god Yahweh (Jehovah) in favor of Tyrion Baal. When, on her instructions, the prophets of Yahweh were killed, the prophet Elijah predicted that a severe punishment would await her, which would be divine retribution. Jezebel forced Elijah to run for his life. Elijah told her husband, Ahab, that he and his heirs would be destroyed and Jezebel would be given to the dogs.
After surviving the death of her husband Ahab, Jezebel challenged the prophet Elijah, however, she lost and died, and most of her body was eaten by dogs. The name Jezebel still remains a symbol of a vicious and vile woman.
8. The Beauty of CleopatraAfter not receiving the throne following the death of her father, Cleopatra decided to regain her throne through seduction. In 48 BC, Julius Caesar arrived in Alexandria, a year later she bore him a son and followed him to Rome, where he was killed. Returning to Egypt, she helped the Roman heroes (Augustus, Lepidus and Mark Antony), influencing the latter so much that he abandoned Rome just to be with her. She bore him three children. When Antony was defeated by Augustus in a naval battle, he and Cleopatra fled together.
When rumors reached him that Cleopatra had died, the drugged Anthony stabbed himself and died in her arms. Having failed to seduce Augustus, she committed suicide by allowing the snake to bite her. Many consider her to be an Egyptian queen, but in reality she was Macedonian, like Alexander the Great. However, the myth of Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile, whose beauty intoxicated great people, is eternal.
7. Samson and DelilahSamson was a mythical hero and leader of the Jews. Having received supernatural power from God, the angel told his parents that he should never have his hair cut or shaved because the power would be lost. Samson defeated the Philistines, the enemies of the Jews, several times, and even killed a lion with his bare hands. He seemed invincible, but unfortunately for him, he fell in love with a girl named Delilah.
At the direction of the Philistine king, Delilah cut off Samson's hair while he was sleeping, thereby depriving him of his strength. His enemies cut out his eyes and Samson was forced to work as a slave. Although it is still unknown what happened to her, to this day every “Delilah” is considered a dangerous seductress.
6. SalomeThe Gospel of Mark tells how John the Baptist died due to the treachery of Salome, the daughter of Herodias, Herod's wife. Despite John's imprisonment because of Christ's baptism, Herod respected and feared him. Herodias hated John because he called her marriage illegal, but Herod refused to harm him.
Herodias then asked Salome to dance in front of the king, which he liked so much that he promised to give her whatever she wanted. Her mother instructed her to ask for John's head, and Herod could not refuse her. The executioner sent to behead John returned with the prophet's head on a platter. Salome then handed the trophy to her mother.
5. Medea and JasonThe pre-Homeric Greek ballad "The Argonauts" tells us the story of Medea. King Aeete's daughter Medea fell in love with Jason. When the king, betrayed by Jason and his Argonauts, sent an army to attack them, Medea used her magic to calm the warriors, even killing her own brother to help her beloved escape.
Later, she cleverly convinced the daughters of Pelias to dismember their father and boil him in a cauldron, in the hope that by doing so she could preserve her fading youth. When Jason left her for another, she gave his new chosen one a robe, wearing which she burned in the fire, as did everyone present, including Medea’s father. Medea's notorious wrath even extended to her children, and she took the lives of all 14 children they had in common with Jason.
4. Mermaids - SirensFamous stories tell us that the Sirens were the daughters of the river deity Achel. Their names meant - beautiful face, beautiful voice, white creature, beautiful music, charming face, etc. As is known, they challenged the musical muses, but were defeated, so they found themselves in the forest rivers on the rocky coastline of southern Italy, luring sailors who did not know that they were going to their deaths with their songs and beauty.
When Odysseus left the sorceress Circe on his way to home, she warned him to ask his crew to put wax in their ears as they sailed past the rocky shores where these creatures lived. Odysseus wished to hear the sirens sing, so he ordered his crew to tie him tightly to the mast, which was done. Although the sirens asked Odysseus to stop and come to them, the danger was still overcome.
3. SphinxThe embodiment of mystery, in Greek myth she is spoken of as the daughter of Orthus and the Chimera. A mysterious monster, she had the head and chest of a woman, the body of a lion, the tail of a snake, the wings of an eagle and was sent by Hera to punish the people of Thebes. She settled on Mount Fichum near the entrance to the city, where she asked every passerby a riddle, the answer to which was almost impossible. If a person answered incorrectly, the Sphinx would eat him.
The ruler of Thebes, horrified by the number of citizens killed, offered his crown to anyone who could kill it. Oedipus, a very intelligent Greek traveler, accepted this challenge. When he gave the correct answer to the riddle of the Sphinx, she, being defeated, left the city. An alternative ending to the story is that the Sphinx ate herself.
2. Goddess KaliThis cruel Hindu goddess (her name means "black") is something very voluptuous, but also terrible. We all know that nothing lasts forever, according to legend, this is because Kali destroys everything. Human blood drips from her three flaming eyes, her tongue strives to drink all the blood from her victims, snakes writhe on her neck, and her black body decorated with chains of human skulls.
She holds a weapon in each of her ten hands. During the ritual in her honor, people are sacrificed. She is a cunning killer who does not pay attention to pleas for mercy. When her husband Shiva was among the victims, she beheaded him and danced on his body.
1. KarinaKing Solomon, hunting in the Egyptian desert, met a beautiful naked woman who demanded an explanation from him why on earth he was hunting on her land. When she declared that no man could overcome her, Solomon asked who could do it? She replied that only Archangel Michael could do this. Solomon called Michael, whose shining armor frightened her so much that she instantly turned gray and aged, and appeared in the form of the terrible demon Karina.
The mother of dead children and the cause of animal disease, her gaze allegedly prevented cows from becoming pregnant, sheep from raising their offspring, and crops from growing. It has even been suggested that its bright light even causes the male seed to lose its potency.
Originally human, she ate her children to obtain magical power. From then on, she could only give birth to stillborn children, and any woman to whom she showed her bloody external genitalia suffered the same fate. Any man who saw her was at least sick. “It was fate,” she told Solomon.
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